hey guys first off i wanted to thank you for all your help with the bike recomendations i went with the hardrock sport.got it for 399. one question i have is the lbs salesman felt i should upgrade the pedals to aluminum pedals and change the tires since i would be riding on pavement what do u think? and again in really appreciated all you guys help.

Smooth tires roll much better than knobbies. If you know you'll be mostly on pavement, go for the swap. As far as pedals go, I've been using clipless for so long, riding doesn't seem right without them. If you are going to change the pedals, consider clipless. If you want a compromise, so you can ride without cycling shoes sometimes, there are pedals that allow clipping in on one side and have a platform on the other.

No problem macdole, I don't think I offered any advise in your irst thread but will in this one.

Yes, slicks or semi slicks will make a world of difference in the way your bike will handle on pavement. They offer much less rolling resistance than knobbies so you will notice a slight increase in your speed at the same exertion level, 1 to 2 mph. The bike will also stick to the pavement much better increasing your ability to corner and brake, from a safety standpoint they are defiantly worth considering. Keep your knobs around in case you do decide to hit a trail but for general road riding you will be much happier with slicks.

Platform pedals are platform pedals weather they are alloy or nylon. They are nice because you don't need to be wearing special shoes to hop on for a quick ride. They are not so nice when your riding in shorts and your foot slips off turning your shin into hamburger as those neat alloy teeth rip you up. They also loose in efficiency because you can only push a platform down. When your foot is physically attached you can also pull up on the pedal to help with your spinning. I road a long time without clipless, but after a few hundred miles with them I am never going back. If I were to recommend a clipless pedal I would go with Shimano M520's, a dual sided SPD pedal. I wouldn't bother too much with the combo flatform/clipless pedals as the side you want your foot on will always be on the bottom. Murphy’s law of clipless pedals :lol: Course if you were to buy a crank brothers acid pedal this would be a non issue.

All in all, get out there and enjoy your new bike. Decide for yourself when and if you are going to upgrade things. You may find you like everything just the way it is. Also, we demand pictures. Safe riding!

Bau

I have just gotten back into cycling and would recommend platforms to a person who is starting out (I'm speaking from a road / commuting perspective). You will have enough things to think about at an intersection (cars, shifting, brakes, etc.)... you don't need the additional worry of unclipping your feet from your pedals. Do get a better pair than what's on the bike (they are intentionally cheap since everyone replaces them... just like saddles). I got a pair of Wellgo platforms that grip extremely well and are nice and wide for my feet (inexpensive too). I can't imagine my feet slipping off. Once I get comfortable with the bike (shifting is 2nd nature, etc.) I will upgrade to clipless. At that point I'll have a nice pair of backup pedals.

+4 on the slicks, I would recommend Continental Town & Country (http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/continental/bicycle/themes/tires/city/town_country/town_country_en.html). I'll chime in about the pedals. The second I received my Trek, I put my M520's on it and now have changed to SPD-similar Time ATAC pedals. They do make all the difference since you get full range of motion of your stride and have very little power-loss.

Now, another viewpoint. When I rode a mountain bike instead of a full road bike, I ran Geax Evolutions. They handle like a slick, roll like a road tire, and do well on hardpack and grass. They are Kevlar Cored and VERY flat resistant. They are a commuting tire.

http://www.where2pedalto.com/journal/aars/vittoria_evolution.gif

hey guys first off i wanted to thank you for all your help with the bike recomendations i went with the hardrock sport.got it for 399. one question i have is the lbs salesman felt i should upgrade the pedals to aluminum pedals and change the tires since i would be riding on pavement what do u think? and again in really appreciated all you guys help.

If your riding on pavement, go with slicks, as for pedals, I would keep the plastic ones on there, when they wear out, then you can maybe look at some clipless. I said that 2 years ago, but the stupid plastic pedals are still working fine......