Mountain Biking - Educate me on Platforms

My Cannondale came with a cheap set of Shimano SPD pedals which I've been using and enjoy. I was used to clipping in/out from my road bike so it worked nicely, and I love the ability to spin the pedals hard up over short climbs and roots and how connected I feel to the bike. I've ridden cheap, plastic platforms and my feet went sliding all over the place.

With winter coming on, I'd like to put some platforms on my bike so I can pick up the bike and just go ride it a little bit easier, and not have to worry about changing shoes. I'd also like to be able to ride in snow boots. I know very little about platforms and need some help. I don't particularly like the bearcage design, and am more interested in the BMX style pedals with pins. Now, what should I look for in a platform? Anything I should avoid at nearly all costs? Replaceable pins, bearing type/body/spindle material to look for? Brands to look for and avoid? Best value recommendations?

My budget is pretty low (<$60), and I don't need them to be the best pedals for freeride or descending Whistler, just good enough to ride hard on Oklahoma singletrack. I've been looking at Wellgo WAM-B25 (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/13100-240_WELB24-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Mountain/Wellgo-WAM-B25-Flat-Pedals.htm), Wellgo WAM-D10 (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/14234-240_WELD15-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Mountain/Wellgo-WAM-D10--Pedals.htm) (which has SPD on one side, but a relatively low stack height compared to other 'campus' pedals), the Truvativ Hussefelt (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/18814-240_TRUHS9-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Mountain/Truvativ-Hussefelt-Pedals-Grey-2009.htm), DMR V8 (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/16873-240_DMRV87-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Mountain/DMR-V8-Pedals.htm), Sun Ringle Octane Mag (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/19113-240_SUNOM9-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Mountain/Sun-Ringle-Octane-Mag-Pedal.htm) (On sale, half off), and Azonic A-Frame (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11539-240_AZOAF2-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Mountain/Azonic-A-Frame-Pedals.htm).

Please let me know all of your opinions, unfounded biases, baseless attacks on my character, and pointless anecdotes passed off as fact. I would like a flamewar on page two over the topic of helmets or singlespeed vs geared etc. It's why I keep coming back to BF.

Please let me know all of your opinions, unfounded biases, baseless attacks on my character, and pointless anecdotes passed off as fact. I would like a flamewar on page two over the topic of helmets or singlespeed vs geared etc. It's why I keep coming back to BF.


I like your style. But you should probably cross-post to A&S (playing the "safety" angle of being clipped in) for best results.


I've seen Shimano DX platforms for close to that price online, the bearings of which will probably outlast the rest of your bike. Is ice/snow buildup on the platforms a possibility in your climate?

I'm too much of a [edit] Wimpy Guy /[edit] to be riding in completely awful weather, but Oklahoma tends to get sporadic snow that sticks around and turns into ice and slush for a few months, so I suppose it's a possibility.

Well, I think that Wellgo's work well on a SS rigid 29r...........don't tell anyone but I even run them on my FS bike sontimes.

I use both Kona Jack ****s and Kona Wah Wahs. The Wah Wahs have a thinner profile, but otherwise almost identical. For <$60, I'd look at the Jack ****s. Replaceable pins, large platform, etc.

I've read that the Kona logo going across the spindle is slightly raised on the JS Primos and that affects how much of your foot catches the pins at the front and rear edges. Some reviewers say this makes the pedals feel somewhat skatey across the middle. Anyone used them?

They came on the Girlscouts Stinky. When he changed them out I used them for a while with no grip issues. Seems to be a solid pedal.

Just about any of the pinned parallelogram platforms you mention will do you fine for your purposes, helmut. It's mostly a matter of what you can get for the best price. And you're right to stay away from the caged platforms. In my newbier days, I tried many - - even tried making my own more-aggresssive cages for a pair - - and found all of them wanting.



[WHY am I seeing a @#%%^%&&^ advertisement in the middle of this thread? :notamused:]

This is a bit off-topic, so we can move the discussion elsewhere if you wish, since it's not second page yet... You're a Okie, eh? What single tracks are you hitting up? I'm going to school in Stillwater (well, until the 12th), so I've ridden the hell out of Lake McMurtry, and I've rode Turkey Mountain a few times when I've gone back home, but I'm looking to expand my horizons.

I've heard of Keystone, and a few places around southeast Oklahoma by the Arkansas border, but haven't really ever talked to someone who rides a lot in Oklahoma. All I can go off of is OKearthbike.com. What trails do you ride? Distance? Type? Difficulty? Thanks for the help...

Of the ones you listed, the only ones I've had hands-on (feet-on?) experience with is the DMR V8. Out of all the platforms with replaceable pins I've tried, they've been my least favorite. I just don't grip onto them as well as the others, even with Impacts. If you don't mind fat, Kore Race pedals and Primo Tenderizers are really cheap and stick pretty well, but they're fat and ugly. Wellgo MG-1's can also be had for under $60, and are a little more aesthetically pleasing than the Kores and Tenderizers. I wouldn't mind trying a set of those Sun Ringles you posted though...they look pretty sweet.

Bikernator - I mostly ride in and around OKC, so my main trail is Bluff Creek just north of Lake Hefner. It's a short 3.75m loop, but it's twisty and technical in spots and I like it. I also ride at Lake Arcadia if I want to go for a longer ride, as it comes in about 14 miles. I've yet to hit these up, but New Draper and Clear Bay trails in Norman are pretty cool according to a co-worker. I ordered some new handlebars and stem yesterday to get a slightly better fit on my bike and will try to hit Clear Bay this weekend to test it out. PM if you want to join me. A couple of buddies might tag along.

Clear Bay has some neat features including a big teeter totter and some other cool technical features. Draper is more of a fast and long ride with some little "expert" loops here and there including a log crossing and some other stuff. So the greater OKC area has 4 trails you should check out, with Bluff Creek being my favorite so far.

If you don't mind fat, Kore Race pedals and Primo Tenderizers are really cheap and stick pretty well, but they're fat and uglyThose Tenderizers are cheap, but very ugly. The Kores look alright, but they weigh double the SR Octanes, which makes a difference, if only in my mind. I'm leaning towards the Octanes ATM because they're half off MSRP (according to Pricepoint). They have gotten only positive reviews that I've seen, whereas the reception is mixed regarding the Kona JS. Any other suggestions for value-for-money platforms?

If you want to go $10 less, they have the SR Zuzu for$35 right now. Zuzu isn't as flashy but it's been a defacto standard in platform pedals for years.

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11562-240_SUNZZ9-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Mountain/Sun-Ringle-Zuzu-Pedals.htm

If you want to go $10 less, they have the SR Zuzu for$35 right now. Zuzu isn't as flashy but it's been a defacto standard in platform pedals for years.

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11562-240_SUNZZ9-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Mountain/Sun-Ringle-Zuzu-Pedals.htm

I did notice those there, and they look the goods. Now I need to convince my wife to let me buy them as a Christmas present for me from her.

On a separate but related subject, what kind of shoes work best with these pedals? I'm wearing skater type DC shoes as I type this. Would shoes like this work well, or is there another style/brand to look for? I've heard Six Six One makes a good shoe, but I've also heard they're pricey. Any good value alternatives?

Hmmm.... Educate me, too. I'm new to the sport, or at least have newbie-ish skills and knowledge. I bought some Diamondback Bigfoot (https://shop.sunrisecyclery.com/item/10843) platforms at the LBS, and they seem ok to me. They do not have removable pins though, and weigh about 17oz for the pair.

Are removable pins an important/desirable feature?

FWIW, I usually ride in low-top Hi-Tec hiking boots. They seem to stick to these pedals extremely well.

They look like this ( removed the reflectors :)):

https://shop.sunrisecyclery.com/item-picture/11026/picture

If you want to go $10 less, they have the SR Zuzu for$35 right now. Zuzu isn't as flashy but it's been a defacto standard in platform pedals for years.

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11562-240_SUNZZ9-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Mountain/Sun-Ringle-Zuzu-Pedals.htm

yep, zuzus are cheap, work okay, and ehxibit good longevity


I did notice those there, and they look the goods. Now I need to convince my wife to let me buy them as a Christmas present for me from her.

On a separate but related subject, what kind of shoes work best with these pedals? I'm wearing skater type DC shoes as I type this. Would shoes like this work well, or is there another style/brand to look for? I've heard Six Six One makes a good shoe, but I've also heard they're pricey. Any good value alternatives?

The best type of shoe for a platform pedal is one with a sticky rubber sole. Five Ten is the standard, SixSixOne and I think Nike also offer some. Any skate shoe like your DCs would be your next best choice but there's really no comparison in terms of grip. The 5.10's have stiffer soles than most sk8 shoes too, which is nice.

The best type of shoe for a platform pedal is one with a sticky rubber sole. Five Ten is the standard, SixSixOne and I think Nike also offer some. Any skate shoe like your DCs would be your next best choice but there's really no comparison in terms of grip. The 5.10's have stiffer soles than most sk8 shoes too, which is nice.

+1 on the Five.Ten Impact. I have a pair of Impacts and a pair of DC's and it's like night and day. Skate shoes are better than something like a running shoe though, so they'll work if you decide you don't want to pony up the cash for new shoes.

On a separate but related subject, what kind of shoes work best with these pedals? I'm wearing skater type DC shoes as I type this. Would shoes like this work well, or is there another style/brand to look for? I've heard Six Six One makes a good shoe, but I've also heard they're pricey. Any good value alternatives?A skate shoe is fine really but don't tell anyone I said that. What you will find with a bike-specific skate-soled shoe (like the SixSixOne Filter :shameless plug: ) is that it has a stiffened midsole like an SPD shoe, so that it transfers pedalling energy a bit more efficiently.

There are those here who will tell you that the 5.10 Impact is the cream of the crop with its tacky climbing-shoe-rubber sole. I'll just have to let them believe that :D. I suppose they're good but will have to let you decide for yourself if they are worth the money.

My DCs are proper skate shoes and have a fairly soft sole that I imagine the pins would cling to like crazy. I'll probably use these.

Are removable pins an important/desirable feature?Yes thay are important. The cast traction 'nubs' will sooner than later wear down, leaving you with no traction. And the replaceable pins are tallerthan the cast-in ones to begin with.

The cheap Diamondback pedals are only OK. I have two removeable-pin pairs kicking around - - one came stock on my son's XTS Moto and the other pair I bought because I was too cheap to spring for Zuzus. Both pair are worn out because they are unsealed and eventually, even if you periodically clean and regrease (which I did not), grit and grime will chew them up.

Yes thay are important. The cast traction 'nubs' will sooner than later wear down, leaving you with no traction. And the replaceable pins are tallerthan the cast-in ones to begin with.

Good to know, and thanks for the response. Next time, maybe I sould ask before spending the money. :)

The good news is that I'm only out $20, and now I know better.

There are those here who will tell you that the 5.10 Impact is the cream of the crop with its tacky climbing-shoe-rubber sole. I'll just have to let them believe that :D.

http://shopfiveten.com/images/items/Fullsize/6254720150051.jpg

DIY special. Under 35 bucks. You can put em on your 661's, we won't tell. :D

I'm going to resole my moto boots with this stuff.

http://shopfiveten.com/images/items/Fullsize/6254720150051.jpg

DIY special. Under 35 bucks. You can put em on your 661's, we won't tell. :D


Maybe for the right price we will. :D

I've been looking at Wellgo WAM-B25 (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/13100-240_WELB24-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Mountain/Wellgo-WAM-B25-Flat-Pedals.htm), ....
I would recommend these pedals, based on personal experience. Good price, too (better than REI). I have two pairs of their more inexpensive brothers (w/non-removable pins) on my commuter and my trail bike. On the commuter especially, I have been using them 6-7 days a week for over a year, smacked them on curbs and worse with no pin wear or breakage. Aluminum bodies and chromo spindles, they're pretty tough and not too heavy. I've never had a problem slipping off of them, even with really agressive riding. On really rough terrain, I may bounce up off them a bit (like any platform) but come right back down on the pins and stay put. Just watch your bear shins with those pins when straddling the bike. My one and only gripe is the reflectors on the pedals I have (the ones you're looking at don't have them) attach loosely and eventually break off. Doesn't really matter on a trail bike, but it's important on a street bike. I had some better reflectors off the stock pedals from my trail bike to replace them anyway.

So I went to the LBS yesterday to see if they had any decent deals. Usually they have a limited selection or are double the price I can find it on the internet, but I have been surprised in the past. They had a ton of pedals under $50, but they were all 1/2 inch BMX pedals. The only 9/16th inch pedals they had were Shimano DXs, which is a very nice, but expensive pedal. Internet 14 - LBS 2. (I bought my bike and some fenders for my road bike at the LBS one time).

[WHY am I seeing a @#%%^%&&^ advertisement in the middle of this thread? :notamused:]

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