ShannonM

If you've wanted to try flat pedals on a road, commuting, or general-purpose bike, but you're not sure you'll like it and you don't want to spend much money but you still want it to be a fair test, try these:

Odyssey Grandstand V2

105 mm W x 108 mm L. I wear 12.5 - 13 shoes, and they're big enough. Bigger would be better, but they're big enough.

Reasonably thin for a plastic pedal, and a mild dual-concave curved shape that most feet will get along with.

Molded-in pseudo-pins provide decent grip on normal shoes, and a bit more on bike-y shoes. I've ridden them in Skechers, Chuck Taylors, and 5-ten Freeriders. Obviously, the 5-tens are the most locked in and solid, but they all work.

They're decently made. The bodies sit straight on the spindles, which are 14mm heat-treated cro-moly. The threads spun right into a Deore LX crank without making me nervous. The bushings spin smoothly out of the box. (There is no box. They're zip-tied to a card.)

Available in red, army green, blue, purple, white, and black. (Why anyone would want white pedals is more than I can say, but if ya do, they got 'em.)

They're 20 bucks.

20 bucks.

So, even if you hate 'em, which you probably won't and if you do it'll be because you just hate flat pedals and that's OK, you're out less than the cost of a fine dinner for two at Taco Bell.

--Shannon

phughes

For that price you can get metal Wellgo pedals, and others, with real pins. Both work, real pins grip your shoes better. Both are good options.

ShannonM

Granted that it's been a long time, but every cheap Wellgo flat pedal I've used or seen has been way too small for my feet, and felt like they used Grape-Nuts for bearings.

That said, got any models to recommend?

--Shannon

bikelif3

Nah, unless you're doing wheelies and "combos" I prefer the spikey, grippy pedals...

phughes

Here are some BMX pedals by Wellgo that are actually a decent size, 113.5 x 102 x 27.6mm.

Wellgo B102 BMX Pedals 9/16" Black BMX / Mountain Bike Platform Pedals

Polaris OBark

I have large feet as well. These Black Ops Torqlite pedals have a wide platform that is slighly concave, and overall a very low stack height.

I mostly use XTR trail pedals now.

phughes

Spend $50 and get these magnesium pedals by Wellgo. They are 114.6 x 106.2 x 30.8mm. I use DMR V12 magnesium pedals and love them, they are only 95mm x 100mm, but they are great pedals.

https://www.amazon.com/Wellgo-MG-1-M...6797403&sr=8-8

phughes

Good thread BTW. Nice to see options.

MarcusT

I like them. Sometimes, you don't want metal pedals or metal pins.
My condition is they must be serviceable.

TC1

I cannot post a link due to the insufficient age of my account, but Bike Closet has Crank Brothers Stamp 1's for $20 right now. I only know because I ordered a set yesterday.

( No interest, yadda yadda. )

VegasJen

I only ride flat pedals and I have a pair of Venzo flats on my TT bike. They're a bit more than the ones in the OP, but they come in aluminum with pins and SPD cleats on the reverse side. I like them because they're not overly big, but I don't have giant feet anyway.

HelpSingularity 

For 20 bucks, I consider that a consumable item.
Especially since there are so many different size and shape flat pedals out there to try.

wolfchild

Plastic pedals are junk. Get some alloy metal pedals with steel pins.

xroadcharlie

I installed a new set of pedals on my bike last month. I just bought the cheap plastic ones the shop sold. They're about the same size as the ones they replaced, much gripper, and they look good and are very light. What's not to like. Quality control that's what.

The left pedal bearings are properly adjusted. No play, almost zero resistance, smooth as silk. The right pedal bearings where over tightened resulting in noticeable resistance. I can feel the bearings grind some.

Out of curiosity I checked the pedals on cheap bikes at a sport shop in the mall. Same thing, most of the cheap bikes pedal bearings where grinding. I checked reviews on some plastic pedals and many had the same problem. Is it asking too much for manufacturers to build their products with consistent quality control.

Kapusta

That used to be true. It no longer is. There are many excellent nylon/plastic pedals with steel pins: RF Chester, Kona Wha-Wha 2, Deity Deftrap are just a few examples. There are many more.

skidder

There are some really good nylon-bodied pedals on the market these days. I think they're mostly for the BMX market, but they'll work on road bikes, too. Plenty of color options if you're inclined to bright-colored pedals. I bought a pair about 10 years ago to use on my commuter bicycle and they didn't wear out before I retired. Check out you LBS and see what they have, you might be surprised. My favorite was the Crank Bros 50/50 pedals, but those got redesigned and the price doubled to +$100/pair. Nashbar sold a really nice pair of pinned flats, I still have a pair on one of my bicycles. Unfortunately they are no longer sold through the combined Performance/Nashbar websites.

Germany_chris

I love how the OP brings up a pedal and emphasizes the price then people bring up pedals that are double to 6x the price. I like one up aluminums but they are a $140 pedal, they're not being cross shopped with $20 pedals.

Ironfish653

+1 ^^

Typical commuting/ utility / "fitness" riding in regular street shoes/ sneakers, that the poly-body BMX pedals, like the Odyssey , Animal, and others in the $20-$25 range are more than sufficient to the task, and hard to beat in value -for-dollar upgrade.

I run Animals on my Klunker rigid 26er for fire roads, the MTB park, and general hoonery; all the kids' bikes got Odyssey Twisteds, since they come in 1/2", and are way better than the OE.

Except when 15 built his latest MTB, he wanted my old DK Iron Crosses "because they're Gnarly". Fine, but just wear long pants when you ride it (IYKYK)

soyabean

Not everyone loves pins, especially if your only cycling is commuting and your footwear are Lebron Nike shoes, flats, crocs, flip flops, or barefeet.

Granted most city pedals are plastic on boron spindles (includes Trek Bontrager, Giant), but Shimano does make premium ones that are footwear friendly to the above.

GamblerGORD53

CHEAP pedals will come with garbage bearings, like maybe loose 1/16" ones. They will grind like dragging your foot and will slow your speed. There is NO way to loosen them.
You save NOTHING in the long run.
Those 3 mm hex screw-in pegs come loose. I had to PL glue mine.

ofajen

I put about 15,000 miles on two sets of the Grandstand pedals and they are good.

I have since switched both bikes to the VP-538, which RivBike calls the “Clem Smith” pedal. The Grandstand uses bushings, while the VP-538 has sealed bearings, and I learned over time that I preferred the sealed bearing pedals.

Otto

Calsun

I would bet that the local bike shop has cheap pedals they removed from customers' bikes and would put them on your bike for $20 - and they have the tools.

ShannonM

That brings up another thing about these pedals that doesn't suck:

The spindles have both 17 mm wrench flats and a 6 mm allen hole on the end. Many cheap pedals don't have the allen hole.

You should use the allens to install... Pedal wrenches are for removal.

--Shannon

MarcusT

Very disagree. I've had aluminum pedals that broke after hitting rocks where the nylon (Chesters) just got a good ding and kept going.

t2p

two thumbs up for the VP-538 pedals

and they are relatively light weight @ 260 g (per pair)