Mountain Biking - bike pedals

I've never actually payed much attention to pedals, so the only pedals I ever had were pretty similar to the ones in the first pic. What's with the other two? What are all the different parts for? (and don't post something just to insult me because...yes, I know it's a stupid question)

the first pedal is what you would normally use with your shoes. the second and third are designed to clip into shoes, but they're called "clipless"... which is beyond me.

Those are clipless pedals, meaning: you wear shoes that have special clips on the bottom that clip into the pedals. The pedals in the first picture are called platform pedals.

the first picture you posted is just a regular platform pedal. The next two pictures are a diffrent type of pedal called the clipless pedal. which is a stupid name because you are "cliped in" to your bike. This pedal makes your feet "stuck" to your pedal. The only way to get out of them is to twist your foot to the side.

anyone know the reason why theyr'e called "clipless" when they clip into a shoe?

No idea why...I would think that platform pedals could also be called clipless.

anyone know the reason why theyr'e called "clipless" when they clip into a shoe?

These are called clip or strap pedals. When the "clipless" pedals came out they referred to the fact that you had no straps with clips on them.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0007D5KEQ.01-A3NN9THRUBU1AW._SCMZZZZZZZ_.gif

Okay, thanks. I always thought clipless pedals were the ones without the clips..
Anyways, so my pedals are now all twisted from too many sharp turns and I have some BMX pedals lying around. Will they do for a while?

Okay, thanks. I always thought clipless pedals were the ones without the clips..
Anyways, so my pedals are now all twisted from too many sharp turns and I have some BMX pedals lying around. Will they do for a while?
Yes, as long as the interface is 9/16" i think it is.

So, basically any pedal should be fine as long as it fits? Where can I find the size of the interface? Do I just have to try and put it on?

One more thing..do I have to buy a special tool to put the pedals on, or can I make do with wrenches and stuff?

you can just do it with wrenches.

anyone know the reason why theyr'e called "clipless" when they clip into a shoe?

Ive always wondered that myself

The 3rd pedal pictured is a road pedal.

Most aluminum cranks are most 3 piece (two crank arm bolted to a bottom bracket spindle) are 9/16".

Old style one piece, (metal crank arms that are fit through the bottom brackett) found on cheaper bikes use a 1/2".

You can use regular wrenches, but you'll find the space between the pedals and the crank arms might be tight, so you might not be able to get the wrench on there all the way. An open ended wrench will usually work. Size is 15 mm.

Hey, what's that one on the end? Looks like an egg beater but I've never seen it with that kind of platform before...Doesn't look like Candy or Mallet...

Strange...

Hey, what's that one on the end? Looks like an egg beater but I've never seen it with that kind of platform before...Doesn't look like Candy or Mallet...

Strange...

It's the roadie Crank Brothers pedal. I think it's called the Quattro.

the guy at my local bike shop said once i get my bike that i should definatly get pedals with clips on them. he was very inthused and said they are MUCH better and they are GREAT to have. he also said it takes some time to learn, which doesnt bother me.

so my question: what do you have on your bike(s) and why???

oh yea i am going to be doing some XC trail riding

Actually, you should put "clipless" pedals on your bike. Clips are what the old cage and straps are called. The newer, ski binding-like pedals are actually called clipless.

There are several types out there and they all have their plusses and minuses. Personally, I like Speedplay Frogs. I had major problems unclipping from the SPD type pedals, but none whatsoever with Frogs. I haven't tried the Time/Eggbeater type, but they'd probably be my second choice based on float and ability to clear mud.

One important safety tip: Your first ride or two should be on nice smooth grass until you have figured out how to reliably get your feet unattached from your bike! Doing so on pavement will result in not only bruised ego (just accept the fact that you're going to look foolish the first couple of times you wind up on your back with your bike, still attached, above you), but a bruised ego, too. On grass, you'll have a nice soft landing and only have the ego to deal with! :D

Don't we already have like three different pedal threads going in this section already?

yes but ..... I swear by TIMES. they were very easy to learn in . no adjustments, they dont unclip accidently while pedaling from being too loose, and if you want faster unclip speed , put a little triflow( or other evaporating chain lube) and they slide out super quick and shed mud even better but still dont come unclipped unless you twist . Shimanos can unclip while pulling up if they are too loose. Times are like chinese handcuffs,the tighter you pull against them the better they hold. I ride aggresive cross country in good or bad weather

For the love of ....... Mod Merge se vous plait

Platforms eh? Hmmm... I imagine some guy wearing platform shoes and using platform pedals...

Don't we already have like three different pedal threads going in this section already?

actually its 4 right now

I've never had any trouble with going clipless.... In the beginning, they came as easy as toeclips. I never fell or wrecked once because of them. Some people have trouble spelling their own name....

sorry for adding to the pedal threads. i am going to go with the clipless ones, just need to look at some at the bike shop.

thanks

sorry for adding to the pedal threads. i am going to go with the clipless ones, just need to look at some at the bike shop.

thanks

Yes, key word being "look". Save yourself some $$$ and buy elsewhere, unless your a Newbie.

For the love of ....... Mod Merge se vous plait

Please spell properly. That's "S'il vous plaît" :p
Edit: Forgot to answer the original question. I have Candy SL pedals and love them. In retrospect I think I should have just bought the plain Eggbeaters.

so my question: what do you have on your bike(s) and why???

oh yea i am going to be doing some XC trail riding

I have Crank Brothers Mallet M's on my XC trail riding bike. I use them because they (in conjunction with stiff-soled cycling shoes) allow me to ride longer and faster.

Most serious trail riders (and many downhillers) use clipless.

i like big beefy pedals. kuz they're cool.

between time and crankbrothers what are advantages and disadvantages?
my spds just can't keep my feet in when riding ss but they are pretty old.

Okay. I've merged pedals??? what do you like and why??? into this one because the two topics are so similar and were running concurrently.

kuz
Are you just trying to piss me off? This is getting REALLY excessive STOP NOW!

between time and crankbrothers what are advantages and disadvantages?
my spds just can't keep my feet in when riding ss but they are pretty old.

the times work like chinese hancuffs, the harder you pull up the tighter they get on the cleat. plus they will clip and unclip with anything you can name stuck in between the shoe and cleat. Ive had sticks, rocks,mud, horse crap, thicker mud,ice, leaves,snow, and mud so dense I had to scoop it out with a stick before I put them in my truck and have yet to get stuck clipped in or not be able to get clipped in

Are you just trying to piss me off? This is getting REALLY excessive STOP NOW!

no, i'm not trying to piss you off, but at that time i couldn't be arsed to type because.

um, were all the pedal theads compressed into this or did i post in this thread by mistake before?

um, were all the pedal theads compressed into this or did i post in this thread by mistake before?

I apologise. I should have notified you by PM that I merged your thread into this one which was already running and had a similar topic. Scroll back to post #31 for the explanation.

ok, no no need of apology. u was just wondering

no, i'm not trying to piss you off, but at that time i couldn't be arsed to type because.
If you don't have the time to post properly - come back to it when you do.
http://img78.echo.cx/img78/4488/textspeak6vu.jpg

FWIW I reely like my SPD shimanos that SUM1 suggested. They allow me 2 stay in snugly and kuz the shoes fit so well I kan feel more secure while bustin a trail with ppl. 2nite i was riding and had some silly sk8ter roll right out in front of me, I had to unclip in a hurry, thats why ya need to practice M8.

CUL8R!!



:D

Does anyone use Platform Pedals? I'm nervous about buying Clipless after listening to my friends road story about how he got stuck and fell on the street. That would be me except I would fall into a tree then hit the ground and come away with Bruised Ribbs.
I hate my current pedals which are like the 1st pic in the thead.

Does anyone use Platform Pedals? I'm nervous about buying Clipless after listening to my friends road story about how he got stuck and fell on the street.

I made the switch to clipless just 2 months ago and bought pedals that have platforms and the spd mechanism only on one side. My rationale was that I can try it out and if I can't seem to get it right at first, I can always use regular shoes on the platforms while I practice with the clipless on the weekends.

It took me 15 minutes of practicing clipping and unclipping to feel safe. I had one near crash with the patio on my way back from the park and I was fine after that. I just set it on the loosest setting so that it's easy to clip out and I crank it up a notch every once in a while. There's nothing too hard about it and it's not a major hazard. I fell once in loose gravel while commuting, but quite honestly, I would have been down with or without clipless.

Note that I did fall once the humiliating way. You will fall once. You will be thinking about work or about someone else or more probably just be looking at someone cute walking down the street as you're approaching a red light. You will. And your brain is programmed to stop at red lights and look around (okay, maybe not everyone's brain but at least it should be programmed to slow down a tiny bit and look for danger), but not to unclip. And just then it will happen. Slowly but surely, you will tilt and will see the pavement approaching your body and you will be lying on your side with a bicycle attached to your feet.

If your friends depicted that as a horror story, I would suspect (unless there was a truck coming behind them) that they are emphasizing the danger of the situation to take away from the shame of having fallen off your bike after age 10.


That would be me except I would fall into a tree then hit the ground and come away with Bruised Ribbs. I hate my current pedals which are like the 1st pic in the thead.

It most likely won't hurt. The only bruised part of you will be your ego.

I should mention I have never used the platforms once. I always have my bike shoes somewhere with me. The platforms have only been annoying. But they were cheap and it reassured me to have platforms when I first made the switch.

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For reference, I bought the wellgo version of these pedals, the wpd-95b. Shimano makes the original, which was quite the price. Shoes are shimano-M038, which have a recessed clit so it goes on most surfaces without the 'click, click, scratch' sound of the metal clit against the floor. I still take them off on wooden floors, but it's comfortable to walk-in.