I'm getting my first bike and need pedals for it. I've been looking on amazon and ebay but there are just so many. I don't think I need to go clipless yet or maybe ever. I plan on doing some big rides but even then, very casual. I'm just wondering what some good brands are to cut down the searching, or a good set that someone has had experience with. They don't need to be vintage, but can be if they aren't crazy expensive

And thanks!

A C&V platform pedal that I really like is the Ofmega Sintesi from the 80's, as it has a nice aero design, plus they are lighter than most platform pedals. They will also look good on pretty much any 80's vintage bike.
A couple of Euro sellers have been selling them NOS at eBay for pretty cheap last few months (Less than 50 bucks, IIRC) You might still be able to catch a pair from them if they have not sold out. I got a pair from one of them for future projects and except for the box, the pedals are in perfect, NOS condition, complete with the special toeclips that have longitudinal mounts to the pedal body.
If you want to go cheaper, you can also try to find Maillard's basic version of their CXC pedals (not the "700" version), that were basically throw away pedals as the bearings are not servicable. They usually last long enough to make them worth the very cheap prices they go for. I've sometimes seen them go for less than $20, NOS. Only thing with the CXC's a lot of them are sold out there without the special clips that go with them, and they are not easy to find. So if you want cheap and don't need clips, they could be something you might consider.

Chombi

I like Wellgo 908 and 965 for cheepies. If you wanna save weight and spend a little more Wellgo RO-25.

Here's a 908: (I bent the outer tab out, inline with rest of back pedal cage on mine, made strap insertion easier and offers more support for wide running shoes.)



My favorite clip-n-strap road pedals are ye olde Shimanos (105, Ultegra or DA), but the clips are getting difficult to find. The pedals are usually pretty cheap, though. Got a pair of 105s recently for $5.

I have a set of MKS GR9s on my '84 LeTour. They don't need special toe clips and the quality is very good. I've been using mine for almost two years now with no issues whatsoever.

EDIT: Here's a photo.

Velo-orange.com has some really nice platform pedals at reasonable prices, as well as toe clips and straps. Personally I would spring for their road pedals with sealed bearings so I wouldn't have to worry about cleaning and regreasing the bearings.

https://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/pedals.html

I've got clipless pedals on all of my bikes, but I am tempted to put some of the VO road pedals on my retro bike because they look so nice.

Whatever you do, do not use these:



They clip onto spd pedals to make a platform, which seems like a good idea to me, but in this incarnation I find they don't work well. I tried them last weekend and at the first bump in the road my sneakers both lost their grip and left my softer body parts to take on the next bump by themselves. They are not made for that.

My favorites so far are the aero style pedals like LesterOfPuppets suggested, but make sure that the clips are the right size (i.e. big enough). Sneakers need a bit more space than the cycling shoes for which they were designed.

At $35 shipped brand spanking new on ebay, those MKS GR-9s are good value, especially if you're inclined to ride with soft-soled shoes. The substantial platform (rather than just a couple of cage plates) is great with shoes that might otherwise be uncomfortable to ride. Good for wide feet, too (no 'spike' at the outer edge, as with Campy SL and Campy clone pedals such as the MKS AR-2). And takes, as Robofunc notes, standard toe clips. Also great with half clips (i.e. compact clips with no straps), such as those available from Velo Orange or MKS. That latter setup serves me well on my Nishiki, which gets pressed into service for all my errands and for rides up to a couple of hours when I'm home in Vancouver. I like 'em.

I also like the basic MKS touring pedals (for a double-sided option), or Suntour pedals for function & style (Cyclone, Sprint, Superbe), though the latter are not cheap.

Those clips for the triangular Shimano pedals really are getting hard to come by. I have a pair of 600Ex pedals with one XL metal clip and one broken size-Large resin clip, and I've temporarily retired them in favour of a pair of Suntour Sprints with matching, non-broken clips and straps.

We're using the MKS Touring pedals and like them a lot. Look good too, IMO.

The VO Touring pedals are spendy, but wide, super grippy and lightweight.

While it won't fit into the suggestions here because I ride completely casually and clips are definitely more of a PITA than worth it for me, I say get some cheap ones like the Wellgo B087(reflectors just pop off if you don't want them) if you're looking to spend $20ish, or some of the really light, thin pedals available if you've got $50 to spend. I don't remember what model they are, but Wellgo has some really light platforms that aren't very expensive at all. IMO a thin platform pedal looks fine on a road bike as long as the platform isn't too big. Here's a link to the B087 and the Forte Convert. The Convert is definitely a very nice quality pedal and looks better on the bike than it seems like it would in the picture. Since it's very thin it looks nice and sleek on the bike.
Wellgo B087
Forte Convert

+1 on the old 105/600 pedals, although the ones I have picked up cost me more than $5. On toe clips, you can still get new plastic ones, in sizes that fit those pedals, for less than $10 a set. The metal ones are not available, except on the used market.

Not to hijack things here, but: Where? And are these the original three-bolt attachment style, or an alternative attachment? I've seen people use old Sakae ones that are different (2 slots? or 1 like Campy aero?), but do work. I've not had success finding anything with the three-bolt attachment. Must not be looking in the right places!

Three holes, I usually get these from Niagara, I can't find them on their site right now. I see Amazon says they are temporarily out of stock.

https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-PD-105...imano+toe+clip

XL in stock here for more $$, XL is all I use (10 1/2 EEE)

https://www.modernbike.com/itemgroup....176460&TID=367

Myself, if I needed some, I would contact Niagara Cycle. Their site is hard to navigate, and I have gotten many items from them over the years that were not on their site.

Universal had them on their site 'til a few months ago and I was amazed that they still had them. I'm kind of afraid they're gonna be strictly eBay finds from here on out.

Thanks! I'll try that. Hopefully LesterOfPuppets' worry (re: these being strictly ebay in future) turn out to be unfounded.

For the modernbike.com price ($28 plus shipping, which is always a hit as I'm in Canada), I'd likely just keep up watch for an affordable set on the 'bay, or a cheap set of pedals with clips for me to pull off, local or otherwise.

Perhaps Niagara will have some behind the scenes. And, come to think of it, I do still have one metal clip; I should re-post in the ISO thread to see if someone has an orphan...

MKS Sylvan Touring if you're going for a traditional look or MKS Lambda if you want something even more comfy and with great grip.

MKS Sylvan Touring


MKS Lambda

+1 for the MKS Sylvan Touring. Very retro, and very sturdy. Mine have been used heavily on my city racer for 2 years (c. 6000 miles), and spin as when new. No play, all smoothness.

I love Sylvans UNLESS I'm wearing old school Vans or Converse, then they're awful - you can really feel both cages and the spindle when you wear flexible thin soles.

I've yet to find a pedal other than my 600's that was even remotely comfortable with my PF Flyers or Converse. Everything just stabs right through the soles. I've given up on using them as a judge of comfort.

I just got MKS Gr-9s with Power grip straps. Work really well and cheap too.

I have a pair of those and they are pretty nice. The proprietary toeclips didn't last long, though, and I ended up fabricating replacements out of plastic clips. The replacements have held up well for over 20 years:



The one issue with the Sintesi is that the platform is rather narrow. Lyotard mod. 23 "Marcel Berthet" pedals offer a wider platform, but they've been getting crazy-high prices on the used market lately:



The extra-large tab on the Berthet pedal makes it particularly easy to get the shoe into the clip and has been copied by several other manufacturers. White Industries makes a very nice, albeit very spendy, clone:



More recently, MKS has offered a more affordable clone of the Berthet pedal:



Alas, neither the White Industries nor MKS Urban pedal will accommodate slotted cleats. Not a big deal for most people, but it is a show-stopper for me.

Another favorite of mine is the Campagnolo "Triomphe" pedal:



These offer very good support for soft-soled shoes, and do accommodate slotted cleats as well. But they've been out of production for many years now.

ive got the Shimano 600EX version of those pedals.. they're fine except the rear plate sticks up above the rest of the platform. depending on the shoes you wear it can be uncomfortable

Also out of production, but I see MKS Esquartz pedals coming up on ebay from time to time, including a couple pairs NOS with toe clips quite recently.

Platform in front, cage plate in back; thus accommodating the slotted cleat. An interesting option, and look good too.

I ride with soft-soled shoes or with old-school cycle shoes with a stiff, smooth sole, but no cleats - but I can see the appeal.

$30 for the requisite little nylon cleat on the other hand...

MKS pedals are hard to beat for bang for the buck.