Pedals - yes to pins?
 

Hi guys, it's finally time to replace the pedals on my Rincon. After 17 years, 3 rebuilds (tear down, clean, paint, grease), the plastic bodies won't hold the inner bearing cups in place. I've only ever had pedals with metal cages. I'm concerned about pins being even harder on the shins. I'm 36, 160lbs, 5' 10", and ride what I consider to be XC. Fairly fast, aggressive riding, but with little or no jumping and no downhill/extreme stuff.

The two pedals I'm looking at are Foundation Composite Flats (I think these are Jenson house brand, these use pins) and Race Face Ride flats (plastic grips rather than steel pins).

Links for reference:

https://www.jensonusa.com/Foundation...te-Flat-Pedals
https://www.jensonusa.com/Race-Face-...te-Flat-Pedals

Treat your old soldier to some decent pedals

after riding that long, you havent gone clipless?

Pretty sure either I listed will be better than the stock Giant ones. This was a low end bike, only the Boulder and Boulder SE came below it at the time.

And yeah, platforms/flats for me. I like being able to bail in a hurry if things go pear shaped.

I'm a fan of pins on my flats. They will scrape ya up but they grip really nice. If ya got thinner soled shoes on you can feel em.

Cages aren’t always gentler on legs.

When I was a teenager I cut the back of my leg with the cage of an Odyssey Black Widow. If I remember right the cage was cromo so it was thinner/sharper/grippier than aluminum.

I was wearing shorts and the cut was behind my knee so I could see the wound open and close with every pedal stroke on the way home.

I do think flats with pins have more grip and are more comfortable than caged pedals.

Those pins will bit ya!!!

If you want to bail in a hurry I suggest the Time ATAC pedals and 10 degree easy release cleat. I guarantee you will have no problem getting out of them.

https://www.sram.com/en/time-sport/r...levancy&page=1

For flat pedals, go big. As in a large platform. And definitely yes to pins, though they don't have to be super aggressive. My favorite pedal is the Deity Deftrap. Flat pedals (especially affordable composite/plastic ones) have come a long way.

Cycling specific flat pedal shoes (Five-tens, Ride Concepts, etc) make a ton of difference as well.

You will be so happy you ditched the cages for a good flat pedal/shoe combo.

the nice thing about cages or 1/2 clips is you stuff your foot in & fuggedaboutit
1/2 clips give you that speed, brainless foot placement & some foot retention but also allow easy/fast bailout
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c3ee2065fa.jpg
been experimenting with flats & pins & they are OK. take more time to place the foot exactly where you want it & requires a touch more thinking while riding. feet never slip off
can't imagine using cleated shoes & pedals after stepping in mud, snow or horse droppings

but flats w/o pins? not for me
fwiw - these live on my MTB right now & they seem OK. they were the biggest (left to right) that I could find. here they are w/ extenders but I've since, taken the extender off
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b5f0327acb.jpg
ROCKBROS Mountain Bike Pedals Nylon Composite Bearing 9/16" MTB Bicycle Pedals with Wide Flat Platform

Always pins for me. They might bite, but nothing as bad as an old set of bear traps, especially the Hutch ones. I still have a round dotted scar on my chest from the 80's BMX days. :50:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ff70065796.jpg


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Pins for me. Big, tall, fresh ones and a new pair of Five-Ten Freeriders, please. Molded pins are useless if your shoes get wet.

I'm a fan of Kona Wah-Wahs, and OneUp Components composites (pictured).

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0f0aa92e21.png

Pins all the way. I run dual option pedals, clipless one side and pinned platform on the other, almost never use the clips unless racing. Once or twice the foot has slipped but technique will keep you on them most of the time. That includes jumps and drops, just not been an issue.

I definitely prefer a big pinned platform AL pedal. I find pins to be safer for my legs because my feet don't slip off of them, therefore keeping my shins from getting bashed by the pedal. AL largely because why not go for the non-plastic option. They're nicer and it's better for the environment to stop buying/promoting use of plastic. They'll probably last longer too. My current set is on, probably, 10yrs and I haven't done Anything to them. No signs of them giving up anytime soon. If the bearings eventually go out, they're a common size sealed bearing and I'll buy a couple more for $5.

Pins make my shins hurt just looking at them. :D

I have a pair of five ten free rider high tops for sale if you or anyone else are interested. They are either size 10 or 10.5. I don't remember at the moment.

Any pedal is gonna hurt if your foot slips off of it; the pins keep your feet where they belong.


I might be interested if they're 10s, but I'm not sure about the hi-top...

My feet don't slip off my Time Atac pedals. :D


The hi-top is nice. Provides a little more protection around the foot area, plus some ankle support.

Think of the positive side; by constantly replacing the skin on your shins and other areas of your leg, you're reducing the incidence of skin cancer (don't ask me how I know). Otherwise, IMO, pins are necessary unless you have clips or some other retention system, and those look like a good value.

I rode a somewhat technical 24 mile loop today on flats and 5.tens.

Since 1993/4 ish I’ve ridden flats only one other time, 2 days ago.

So far, I haven’t missed clipless. I’m climbing great (still got the new bike mojo) and descending as well or better than I ever have. I’m not going to switch out my road bikes but for the mountain bike, I’m pretty close to sold on it.

Flats and pins for me. I prefer VP Components VP001. I rode with clipless for a while, but had a couple of get-offs that resulted from my inability to dab as quickly as I needed to. At my age, I don't crash as well as I used to. I have never had pin induced riding injuries. My shins have received character marks when walking my bike.

With flat pedals on the trails it does not hurt to wear shin guards of some type. I do not have big feet (10.5 C width) but still found it beneficial to go to a wider pedal, the Stamp 7 in Large that gives me a larger target and allows for more movement of my foot on the pedal.

Pins can be adjusted in height (and a small washer added) and it is not necessary to have a pin in every hole of the pedal. Different approaches as to which pins to leave in, often only the ones at the outer edges of the pedal.

I rode flats with pins at one time. When things get a little rough your feet will still come off the pedals. My shins are proof of this.

I have both and prefer flats with pins for recreational riding. If I raced XC it would be a different story.

DMR Vault

If on a budget, RaceFace Chester or One Up (composite body with metal pins).

+1 for the Rock bros. I don't MTB but put them on my FX for better grip coupled with RC Livewire flat pedal shoes is a good combo for me. I have lower leg/foot neuropathy and the pins keep my foot positioned well to where I really don't have to move much. Rock Bros are also the much cheaper alternative to RF Chester's.

In my experience having really grippy shoes like 5.10s in your pinned flat pedals will greatly reduce the chance of your foot slipping off and mangling your legs.

I rode off-road for decades before owning a road bike. Tried clipless, maybe I didn't get the best ones-they were Shimano, model??. DIdn't care for them. Tried flats with pins and even use them on my road bike as well as the mtn.bike now. I use "trail running" shoes, which have "tread blocks" on the bottom. Haven't had a problem with my feet coming off of them.