Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - simple question about MKS sylvans

if i read correctly, MKS GR-9s don't accept double straps, but the sylvans do--right? i'm about to buy some double straps since everyone seems to love and rave about them. i plan on riding with soft-soled shoes, so my question is--will the sylvan lites be grippy enough (will i need to add grip tape?), or should i look around a little more/does anyone have any alternatives?

get the Sylvans, you´ll be fine

If you're getting MKS straps to go with the MKS Sylvans, make sure to have your needlenose pliers handy as well...they are absolute hell to install.

If you're getting MKS straps to go with the MKS Sylvans, make sure to have your needlenose pliers handy as well...they are absolute hell to install.

+1

I cut the end of the straps at a sharp angle, which gave my needle nosed pliers more to work with.

I cut the end of the straps at a sharp angle, which gave my needle nosed pliers more to work with.
same here

same here too

im switching over from clipless to clips on my next bike. and stumbled upon this thread. are double straps possible on mks rx-1s? And does anyone know of any makes of clips for double straps besides the double gated soma ones? etc? Will be my first time riding/working with them so it will be all new to me.

Thanks

If you're getting MKS straps to go with the MKS Sylvans, make sure to have your needlenose pliers handy as well...they are absolute hell to install.

instead of pulling the strap through i took my pliers and crunched the actual strap to soften it up..kinda creased it down the middle like a hot dog..not sure if this makes sense but it softened it right up and slid in very easily with no hassle at all after that...:)

im switching over from clipless to clips on my next bike. and stumbled upon this thread. are double straps possible on mks rx-1s? And does anyone know of any makes of clips for double straps besides the double gated soma ones? etc? Will be my first time riding/working with them so it will be all new to me.

Thanks

I'm not familiar with the pedal model you mention, but you don't need double-gate clips to use double straps. On a regular clip, lead the rear strap through the gate and let the front strap go over the clip.

I would not recommend riding the sylvans with soft soled shoes*. The pedal cages are narrow enough that you will definitely be able to feel them. Not very comfortable. The GR-9s, I understand, have a much more comfortable platform for soft shoes.

*I am talking Converse-all-star kind of soft. Most other shoes will be okay.

yeah I rode old school vans on suntours and mks sylvans and after a while your soles look torn up and you start to feel the slots in your feet

the gr-9's are super comfartable, and just ziptie the second strap to the bottom of the gr'9s it seems to work fine for plenty of people

I would not recommend riding the sylvans with soft soled shoes*. The pedal cages are narrow enough that you will definitely be able to feel them. Not very comfortable. The GR-9s, I understand, have a much more comfortable platform for soft shoes.

*I am talking Converse-all-star kind of soft. Most other shoes will be okay.
I'm riding the MKS AR-2 pedals, basically the same as the sylvans but with a smaller quill, they have posed no problems with regular shoes.

I would not recommend riding the sylvans with soft soled shoes*. The pedal cages are narrow enough that you will definitely be able to feel them. Not very comfortable.

This has been my impression as well.

A month ago I switched from some knock-off GR-9 looking things, to some MKS Sylvans.

My pair of riding shoes (adidas goodyears) has reflected the change poorly (There are fresh grooves in the sole of the shoe). Also, even though i find that the sylvans "grip" my shoe better than the other pedals, sometimes the raised section of the platform feel uncomfortable.

They're great pedals, but I think i'm going to switch back to the 9's.

/.02

I've been looking into new pedals and was hoping to run a double strap setup. This is because I've been dealing with a pair of old three bolt style shimano 105 pedas with plastic clips held together by duct tape and reinforced with bailing wire for rigidity, super ghetto. From my research, the soma oppy XX double clips and the soma double straps along with sylvans seems to be the cheapest option (still totals $98 with s/h. from toeclip.com) Does anyone know of a better deal out there?

i've seen several pairs of those soma doublestraps get shredded unrecognizable. they won't last.

for around the same price i'd just as soon get mks fit alpha single straps.

errebi doubles have a reputation for falling apart, too. seems like toshis or mks doubles are the way to go.

I like the zip tie idea + gr-9s. I haven't tried it yet but a single strap is working great with my gr-9s. Really comfortable with all three pairs of shoes. No bit slipping problems either.

you lost me at grip tape

but yeah, i ride some relatively soft soled shoes (asics tiger limber up moscow blah blah) and i havent had any problems whatsoever