Thoughts on MKS pedals?
 

Just picked up a new set of MKS pedals. Not sure the model but they've got that old Campy track look. Any of you guys know anything about the durability/safety of these things?

/I suppose I should've asked this before I bought them

Sylvans?
http://harriscyclery.net/merchant/37...-syl-track.jpg

Pretty nice and basic.

you mean the Sylvans? good, all around pedal/

safety = you should have purchased clips and straps with them (if not already in your possession)

after numerous light hits, and a few hard ones, these pedals stand up to pedal strike VERY WELL.

my dustcap shattered due to pedal strike (or the resultant going-down), and i didn't replace it, and now the bearings are subpar. alas.

Moxi, didn't you snap part of one of your Sylvans off in the Huck Finn's parking lot?

I've got Sylvans on my around-town bike with MKS clips/Errabi cheapo straps...they work fine, good deal at $40 for the set from IRO. At the other end of the spectrum, cardstock's got MKS Custom Royals with MKS double straps and cot DAMN, are those some nice-looking pedals.

best pedal for the money that there is. Get the GR-9's unless you ride in the rain a lot or have big feet.

I am also riding the GR-9's gotta love em.

those are the worst ****in pedals ever! ****in heavy, terrible bearings and last about 1000 miles and blow up. the worst **** ever.

There is your answer. Return the *****es!

I think I had a hard-ass time jamming my straps through those little holes, is what I think.

I just got the GR-9's as well, but the bearings don't feel smooth...

the gr-9s are the jam of jams. not super smooth, but they are a cheap platform pedal... and the best pedal i've used with soft soled shoes. **** the ****ing **** out of cage pedals with chucks, vans slip-ons, etc, etc.

Most nice, especially for the money. I have a set of "Touring Lites" (I think from Rivendell) that I fricken love.

I love my Sylvan Lites.

if you spin a nicer pair of pedals in your hand, and the sylvians, you can feel why they are only 30 bucks.

then again, they are about the best you can get for 30 (25) bucks

i've got the platforms and they are pretty good

i got the rx-1's there pretty narrow

Mks sends these out with the bearing cones screwed too tight. My pedals felt like they had sand in the bearings when I first got them. If you loosen up the bearing cones they will spin smooth as butter.

You can put anti slip tape (same stuff they put on skateboards) on if you need extra grip in the rain.

Good point, but I still gotta find a cure for my 11.5 EEEE feet. I run MKS touring pedals, the GR9 feels like riding a speedplay in sneakers for me.

On the bearings, Sheldon used to have a note about this on his site that has since disappeared into the anarchy of that rig, but MKS ships them with the bearings like this on purpose. They feel really smooth once you stand on them, the tight bearings compensate for the fact that pedal spindles are cantilevered out in a way that no other bearing system on the bike is. If you loosen them, they'll feel smooth, but you'll be riding on only 2 bearings in each pedal all the time, just like with any cup and cone system that's not properly preloaded.

On the other hand, I could be wrong about this theory, as the rivendell guys argue that they are too tight and should be loosened (ok, they actually say adjust them in one write-up, and leave them alone in another), but suffice to say that if the rivendell guys like them, they're probably good.

you mean 'grip-tape' ehehhehehe

Thats a good point. You have to be very careful when you loosen the bearings. If you loosen them too much they will not spin properly. I good rule of thumb is: "if there is side to side play on the spendal than the bearings are too loose". There is a sweet spot in tightness where the bearings are compressed and roll smooth, but it takes time and patients to find it.

Awesome! I'll give it a try when I get home!!