Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - MKS Pedals - Sylvan Track/Tour/Road

http://www.yellowjersey.org/MKS_TECH.JPG
A general warning to people thinking of buying MKS Sylvans...

the NJS straps didn't fit through the holes on the sylvan tracks...
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u70/familybrothers2/P1020590.jpg
also they're pretty narrow... not good for people with big feet (i've got size 13). the custom nuevo's had much smoother bearings... they spun freely, whereas the Sylvans grinded to a halt with their own friction after a spin or two, but the custom nuevo's are about $100, and the sylvan's are about $35...

anyways, i'm thinking about trying the Sylvan Tour's because they're wider and just as affordable.... does anyone have any experience with these pedals? any other suggestions?

merry christmas...

the custom nuevo's had much smoother bearings... they spun freely, whereas the Sylvans grinded to a halt with their own friction after a spin or two,

Sylvans usually need a shot of grease or repacking out of the box. MKS seems to ship them pretty dry. They do get better as they wear.

do you have the sylvan tracks? what sorta straps do you use with em?

thats what you get for bying NJS. :D

yeah for 35$ and a bit of grease, its worth it

related question:
i run mountain biking cages. which of these three pedals can they be mounted on? only the tours? or the road and track as well. (i would guess not)
http://www.freemanscycles.co.uk/images/Pedals/toeclips_straps/zefal41.gif

do you have the sylvan tracks? what sorta straps do you use with em?

I have the tracks with cheap single straps. I also have small feet (9.5-10). I've had them for 2 years. I only run them in the winter so I can wear shoes that keep my toes warm.

People who want to run clips and straps should just do with this guy did:

http://www.mashsf.com/uploaded_images/10_yohei-788541.jpg

Yeah, straps are tough to get through the Sylvans. What you do is forcefully push the end of the strap through the hole as much as you can, then pull it with plyers. I cut my Toshi's (omgz!!1) at the end like this: /\ to make this easier. There's been threads about that in the past too.

I like the Sylvan roads the best... but I have tracks. Tourings are a bit wide; personally I wouldn't rock them on crank arms over 165mm.

And the Sylvans come packed tight like that for a reason - once you get them on your bike and start using them they'll loosen up.

By the way, I hate to be the dutret of the thread but... Time ATAC beats double straps :)

just so you guys know:

there is only 1 type of pedal that is good for everybody.

And the Sylvans come packed tight like that for a reason - once you get them on your bike and start using them they'll loosen up.


It just means they weren't adjusted properly. It's simple to fix and with a repack right out of the box, they spin really nice.

i agree w dre dog. i really ke the roads there a perfect fit for my foot. aesthetically i like the tracks better but there really narrow. on both pedals straps are hard to push through. they ruined the edges on my mks straps =O(

I picked up a pair of the touring's for rainy days due to the amount of traction and that aspect is great. but they are wider than Oprah and I've clipped more with them than any others. they are all right but I wouldn't get them again other that the traction.

i've shoved campagnolo straps through sylvan track pedals, but i ****ing hated it

the pedals are great. 2+ years and spinning wonderful.

On a related note, what is the general opinion of the GR-9s? The tracks look nice, but far too uncomfy.

On an unrelated note, this is my first post in BFSSFG. Hi all. :beer:

yohei's nagasawa is sick imho

On a related note, what is the general opinion of the GR-9s? The tracks look nice, but far too uncomfy.


i don't know about the general opinion but i love mine. i switched from the track pedals and i'll stick with the gr-9s for sure. very narrow but a good platform, even for big feet.

yeah loving them seems to be the general opinion

MKS Touring Lites are the One True Pedal.
http://entirely-adequate.com/cook.jpg

Aside : screw all that double strap nonsense.