MKS Sylvan track pedals getting bad rep as of lately.
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 532
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
MKS Sylvan track pedals getting bad rep as of lately.
Why? I was going to these pedals but having doubts now. Why are they so bad?
#4
partly metal, partly real
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Philadelphia.
Posts: 3,597
Bikes: Hummer H2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i think it's because they're sorta in an awkward middle zone of MKS pedals-- not as sensible as the similarly priced gr9s, but not as slick as the higher end (and sealed) rx1s or custom nuevos.
i rode them in the past for about a year, i think, and didn't have any major complaints-- except that they (like the gr9) are loose bearing which means you'll have to waste time cleaning and re-packing them at some point.
i rode them in the past for about a year, i think, and didn't have any major complaints-- except that they (like the gr9) are loose bearing which means you'll have to waste time cleaning and re-packing them at some point.
#5
MFA
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,186
Bikes: 1973 Italvega Nouvo Record; 1965 Hercules; 1982-83 Schwinn Mystery MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've been riding Sylvans for almost 4 years with no problems. The design is about 40 years old when Campagnolo made them originally. Certainly the originals were better, but MKS's version is still respectable.
I suspect that the real "issue" is fad and fashion.
I suspect that the real "issue" is fad and fashion.
#7
Top Tube Brake
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 175
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The main reason the Sylvans get so much crap is because the actual surface area of the point(s) where the pedal meets your shoe is pretty small.
Looking at the picture above, check out the thin piece of metal which wraps around the pedal (the part that has the little spike coming off of it, and the holes to mount toe clips). If you look where it meets the actual pedal there is a pretty big vertical gap.
So really, all of your weight is going to be pushing into the outer railing, that thin little piece of metal. If you're wearing soft sole shoes that means the pedal is going to be eating into your shoe. You'll feel it, and at least for me it began to hurt my feet after a while. A bruised sort of hurt.
Gr-9's are actually a flat piece of alloy, so the entire surface of the pedal is going to be making contact with your shoe. Comfy
#8
bum style
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: CT
Posts: 664
Bikes: Poprad, Fuji conversion, Quattro Assi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah, I've got Sylans and don't like how the rear plate digs into my sneaker. It's higher than the front plate, and designed for the old style slotted shoes. Random old SR road pedals I had were more comfortable. MKS touring lites were better for flat shoes too. Haven't ridden GR-9s, but they look better for flat soled sneakers.
#9
Street Pharmacist
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: the yay
Posts: 257
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
my sylvans are fine..
+1 on hating on sylvans being a fad
Though i've tried gr-9's for a quick minute and were pretty comfy.
+1 on hating on sylvans being a fad
Though i've tried gr-9's for a quick minute and were pretty comfy.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 978
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I hate on sylvan tracks because they corners of the cages dug holes in all of my shoes and were just uncomfortable, not because its the new cool thing to do.
I got the road version that whalesalad posted and those are pretty good for about 50 miles or less. I had to file the quill off though, otherwise I couldn't stand them.
I got the road version that whalesalad posted and those are pretty good for about 50 miles or less. I had to file the quill off though, otherwise I couldn't stand them.
#11
Top Tube Brake
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 175
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I hate on sylvan tracks because they corners of the cages dug holes in all of my shoes and were just uncomfortable, not because its the new cool thing to do.
I got the road version that whalesalad posted and those are pretty good for about 50 miles or less. I had to file the quill off though, otherwise I couldn't stand them.
I got the road version that whalesalad posted and those are pretty good for about 50 miles or less. I had to file the quill off though, otherwise I couldn't stand them.
#12
some new kind of kick
+1 for Sylvans. I've had them for over a year. The only complaint
I have is that they hurt my feet when riding rollers, but it turned
out to be the shoes I was wearing. I have yet to take the apart
and repack the bearings and they spin fine. I don't see any reason
for getting nicer pedals on a bike that is primarily my commuter
in rainy weather and for riding rollers.
I have is that they hurt my feet when riding rollers, but it turned
out to be the shoes I was wearing. I have yet to take the apart
and repack the bearings and they spin fine. I don't see any reason
for getting nicer pedals on a bike that is primarily my commuter
in rainy weather and for riding rollers.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 848
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I like the Sylvan Lite but I can say that I'm pretty sure they're ripping apart my shoes...I donno if other pedals will do that, but maybe they don't.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 475
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
the only problem i have with the sylvans is they wear through the soles of my shoes, as other have said. it's not a big deal to me though, since i buy a new pair of $40 slip ons every few months and ted shred through the heels anyway.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,754
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
11 Posts
The design of these pedals was intended for narrow, hard-sole cycling shoes with a cleat. If you have big feet and wear fat modern sneakers then your shoes will overlap the quill ("pointy thing" referenced earlier), and that's not a good feeling.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 978
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wait, what? What is there not to get? My feet are pretty wide, so the quill digs into my the sole of my shoes and make my pinky toe numb. Why would I ride pedals that are exclusively designed to be used with toeclips without them, or on the slippery underside, when I can just file off the offending protuberance and have a comfortable pedal?
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 532
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I see the main complaint is the wear and tear on shoes, not bad. So GR 9'S are these even considered a good petal for a fixed? They look like a bmx pedal, even though they look really comfortable I wonder if it would look good on my fixed. Plus I wear a size 11 shoe, I don't even know the GR-9's will fit my feet.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Brooklyn finally.
Posts: 832
Bikes: Bianchi San Jose, fixed
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have zero complaints with mine, I've used them with the L MKS Clips and my feet are just fine. Even when I ride them with my converse.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 280
Bikes: 1994 Trek 1200, 1984 Raleigh Prestige, 1980 Motobecane Grand Jubile, custom 531 track, and a bunch of tinker bikes of all type
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Have used these pedals with the XL toe clips, size 14 shoes, 2+ years, no complaints. There are, sadly, some shoes you just can't fit securely into the clip/strap setup. I just deal with that.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: California
Posts: 74
Bikes: Niner RLT 9, Fairdale Goodship, Specialized Langster London
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
eggbeaters > that. smaller body, more response. idk why the fixed community hasn't embraced it yet.