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What kind of pedals do people use for their winter rides?
I'm thinking of those wide downhill/freeride platform pedals like this:
http://images.mec.ca/media/Images/Products/Cycling/5001143_v1_m56577569830526578.jpg
(These HTI A-100's are going for 20 bucks at MEC.)
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I ride clipless on my road bike Spring until Fall.
Not look to buy another pair of footwear for the winter.
SPDs.
More rarely, DX platforms.
I don't use my clipless in snow and ice. Last week reminded me why. I was climbing an icy hill and the back tire broke loose, then the front did the same. Down i went, but i was separated from the bike and it was almost fun as i gracefully rolled across the road. I don't think it would have been as fun if my feet were attached to the pedals throughout the ordeal.
I love clipless pedals, but I don't think them wise when the threat of crashing or needing to put your foot down is frequent. Bear in mind that i ride a lot of gravel and dirt roads with tons of ruts etc. It is not uncommon at all to have to throw the foot down in less than a split second. I had to do it three of four times on this morning's ride.
I just use the alloy pedals that came on one of my Trek's. The ones you pictured look like shin grinders, and that isn't something i am interested in.
I don't use clipless pedals on my winter bike. Any platform pedal with some sort of grippy, knobby, something, to grab onto the bottoms of your boots is good. Snow, ice, ruts, slush, etc, you need to be able to get off the pedals in a hurry and do a little bit of fancy footwork.
Now, that's doesn't mean that I'm above breaking out a different bike, with clipless pedals, if the roads and weather permits during the winter months. I use Looks. But if there's a chance I'm going to be sliding around at all, it's the winter bike, and just plain old platforms. That split second it takes to un-clip could mean the difference between a funny slide track in the snow, and a broken collar bone or wrist or something.
I use Power Grips. They're great for winter riding. I'm not limited to using my uninsulated, cycling-specific SPD shoes with them. I can throw on my hiking shoes if there is snow and ice on the ground.
http://powergrips.mrpbike.com/images/pg_in_action1.jpg
SPD FTW. I ride to work everyday in the winter, so I have winter cycling shoes already. When I do get a chance to ride offroad, I use a SS with studs, and the pedals make a big difference in terms of control and feel.
I use Power Grips. They're great for winter riding. I'm not limited to using my uninsulated, cycling-specific SPD shoes with them. I can throw on my hiking shoes if there is snow and ice on the ground.
I ride clipless all spring/summer/fall, but for winter I'm also using Power Grips. I wear Sorel winter boots with them and I couldn't be happier - they're not that different motion wise from clipless. If you do go with Power Grips, note whether or not they're the straps only if you order them online (you'll need your own pedals if so - I just grabbed a pair of $12 Forte pedals to go with them). Oh, and Power Grips come in two sizes - get the "Extra Long" if you're planning on using big winter boots. The standard version should be fine for most all hiking boots though.
Those DH pedals with the aggressive pins cause me some knee pain. They don't let my foot work side to side at all. I run SPD DH pedals, 647s, the ones with platforms. If I need to be clipped out because of conditions then I just clip out and keep riding.
What kind of pedals do people use for their winter rides?
I'm thinking of those wide downhill/freeride platform pedals like this:
http://images.mec.ca/media/Images/Products/Cycling/5001143_v1_m56577569830526578.jpg
(These HTI A-100's are going for 20 bucks at MEC.)
Go clipless until its too cold or treacherous to do so. After than you can't go wrong with those pedals, which are based on the original Shimano DX pedal, originally intended for BMX racing. There is a reason why this parallelogram design has persisted for so long and has been imitated by so many other brands. With those metal pins, you'll get pretty good grip even with a thin layer of ice or snow on your shoes and pedals. As for knee pain suggested by the above post...its not hard to lift your foot and reposition it:)
Those pins screw down so if you want to reduce the length you can... I use Diamondback Bigfoot pedals which are about $20. I wear gortex Hikoran boots which clamp on to the pins nicely, so my feet are weatherproof at the same time. The lack of mobility does give a little knee strain but I commute, I'm not biking aggressively.
There are times, like deep snow or some errands, when even I eschew SPD's. But then I run boots on the same pedals. The mechanism is on both sides, but sits flush. You get ATAC and Egg Beater versions as well.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/imgWrapper.aspx?img=/27/27055.JPG&type=2
I ride clipless on my road bike Spring until Fall.
Not look to buy another pair of footwear for the winter.
You don't need another pair of shoes for winter. You need covers. Performance (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=24344&subcategory_ID=1344) sells some of the most rugged cheap ones around. Mine are going on 5 years now without problems. Just buy them big enough to avoid the struggle of putting them on.
http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/250/10-0082-BLK-FORM.jpg
I ride SPD year around and have since I got my first pair in the mid90s. Riding with them on ice is not much different from riding with them off-road on a mountain bike. I seldom crash because of the pedals and even then my foot is out before I even think about it.
mihlbach wrote ..."..its not hard to lift your foot and reposition it"
The problem isn't when the foot is unweighted. With SPD there is float available even when the foot is weighted whether clipped in or not because there are no pins maintaining foot position on the pedal.
What kind of pedals do people use for their winter rides?
I'm thinking of those wide downhill/freeride platform pedals like this:
http://images.mec.ca/media/Images/Products/Cycling/5001143_v1_m56577569830526578.jpg
(These HTI A-100's are going for 20 bucks at MEC.)
Looks like BMX pedals. Tip-be careful, sometimes when your feet slip off they can poke holes in your shin and make em bloody. My experience with that pedal style in the rain was, it was still somewhat slippery. The shoes could have been a problem too maybe.
I like my Kona pedals for winter use.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/jogiba/IMGP0392.jpg
Candy C's here, they have enough platform for me when it get's real hairy and I unclip.
You don't need another pair of shoes for winter. You need covers.... I ride SPD year around and have since I got my first pair in the mid90s. Riding with them on ice is not much different from riding with them off-road on a mountain bike. I seldom crash because of the pedals and even then my foot is out before I even think about it.
Yes, but it's not just a question of covers. I ride SPD-SL. Having footwear without huge cleats sticking out at the bottom would be nice for winter.
Nothing I have tried keeps my feet warm in winter. I suppose I could use foot warmers. Anyhow, my MTB came with bmx style pedals such as in the OP. They worked wonderfully yesterday while I was riding in the snow. I think I may quit using clipless pedals in winter (especially on my snow bike).
It was nice being able to put a foot down a split second faster when I lost traction.
Yes, but it's not just a question of covers. I ride SPD-SL. Having footwear without huge cleats sticking out at the bottom would be nice for winter.
Damn Shimano! SPD used to mean mountain bike pedals but they have to mess with stuff and confuse us:mad:
Generally speaking, however, I'd suggest mountain bike shoes for any kind of riding. Easier to walk in without losing any pedaling efficiency.
Nothing I have tried keeps my feet warm in winter. I suppose I could use foot warmers. Anyhow, my MTB came with bmx style pedals such as in the OP. They worked wonderfully yesterday while I was riding in the snow. I think I may quit using clipless pedals in winter (especially on my snow bike).
It was nice being able to put a foot down a split second faster when I lost traction.
My feet are what bother me the most in winter riding. Long experience has taught me that to keep them warm, I need wool socks...preferably knee high XC ski socks. Unfortunately, you can't find them at much anymore. I find them now at Cabela's for fishermen in breathable waders. Pair with the neoprene shoe covers, aluminum furnace tape, fleece ...like 'Baaaa' fleece;)...insoles and at least one size larger shoe, I can get down to 20 degrees pretty easily. For lower temps, I add a pair of thin summer socks under the wool ones.
Just like you layer your upper body, try layering your feet too.
I have huge wool socks and even layered it has done no good. My larger shoes worked a tad better but my feet still get cold. At this point it is not a battle I think I can win.
So, when riding clipless below freezing I keep my rides to one hour or so. If longer I guess it will be on my MTB without clipless.
Unrelated--- after my touring bike was remodeled by the front end of a SUV I replaced it with a fixed gear. My feet had been complaining about the small platform on my eggbeaters so I put shimano m970 pedals on the new bike. I now have a new favorite pedal. When things start warming up I think I will put a pair on my MTB.
Those are the exact same pedals (at the same place too) that I'm going to get. I noticed my boots kept on slipping off my pedals, and something studded like that would help a lot.
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