Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

Platform pedals for commuting

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

Platform pedals for commuting

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-08-15 | 06:12 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Anywhere I roam
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 261
Likes: 23
From: Rockies, U.S.A.

Bikes: Three blind bikes

Platform pedals for commuting

. We've been getting a lot of rain, and I quickly learned that these brand new pedals have very low grip when wet. They are made by All City. When dry they are decent, and I do like the overall quality of them even though they don't have quite enough surface area toward the pinky toe. I know a lot of people use platforms to commute on, so if you're looking for a new pedal with all seasons grip, you might spend your hard earned cash on something other than this one.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
image.jpg (98.0 KB, 141 views)
Wolf Dust is offline  
Reply
Old 05-08-15 | 06:43 PM
  #2  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,701
Likes: 2,506
From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Those type of pedals work best with toe clips and straps. I have something very similar on my FG bike and I would never use them without toe clip/strap...I also have pinned BMX pedals on some of my other bikes and they are very grippy.
wolfchild is offline  
Reply
Old 05-08-15 | 07:27 PM
  #3  
Thread Starter
Anywhere I roam
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 261
Likes: 23
From: Rockies, U.S.A.

Bikes: Three blind bikes

This is hands down the grippiest, best pedal I have ever used. It is by MKS, but I can no longer find them anywhere. They were also pretty pricey. I've even ridden them in super slushy,snowy slop and they grip like claws!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
image.jpg (99.4 KB, 158 views)
Wolf Dust is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-15 | 07:21 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,207
Likes: 45
From: Northern VT

Bikes: recumbent & upright

Originally Posted by Wolf Dust
. We've been getting a lot of rain, and I quickly learned that these brand new pedals have very low grip when wet. They are made by All City. When dry they are decent, and I do like the overall quality of them even though they don't have quite enough surface area toward the pinky toe. I know a lot of people use platforms to commute on, so if you're looking for a new pedal with all seasons grip, you might spend your hard earned cash on something other than this one.

What type of shoe do you use ? with Chrome Kursk shoes, I pedal with MKS sylvan road pedals and MKS touring pedals - neither are especially slippery with "sneaker" like shoes. However I have worn leather soled shoes a few time with them, that combo was slippery.
martianone is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-15 | 08:38 AM
  #5  
Thread Starter
Anywhere I roam
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 261
Likes: 23
From: Rockies, U.S.A.

Bikes: Three blind bikes

Originally Posted by martianone
What type of shoe do you use ? with Chrome Kursk shoes, I pedal with MKS sylvan road pedals and MKS touring pedals - neither are especially slippery with "sneaker" like shoes. However I have worn leather soled shoes a few time with them, that combo was slippery.
I like to wear the same shoes for everything, so I wear Merrels that are a typical light hiker/trail runner style shoe. I suppose the tread isn't the best for the Sylvan style pedals. The All City pedals pictured above appear to have larger teeth than the Sylvans, but don't seem to make much difference. I understand that they'd work much better with toe clips as the first poster mentioned, but I chose to stop doing that years ago. Maybe it was dumb of me to think they'd work well without the clips.
Wolf Dust is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-15 | 09:51 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 12,948
Likes: 9
From: England
It is a case of matching your sole to the pedal style. Studded platforms work best with Vans which have a waffle pattern. On slick office shoes, they can gouge the sole.
Sylvian tourists like a bit of tread but not a knobbly style.
With toe clips, the mach becomes even more important. Disregarding race cleats, you need enough stiction to stay in place with lose straps, but free enough to slide backwards on demand.
I use Hi Tec Silver Shadows, which are a famous 1970s trainer, used by generations of army recruits and popular with guys with more sense than money, who don't run. Occasionally they feature as retro-style, which usually encourages the designers to mess with the classic design and screw it up.
MichaelW is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-15 | 01:02 PM
  #7  
Thread Starter
Anywhere I roam
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 261
Likes: 23
From: Rockies, U.S.A.

Bikes: Three blind bikes

Originally Posted by MichaelW
It is a case of matching your sole to the pedal style. Studded platforms work best with Vans which have a waffle pattern. On slick office shoes, they can gouge the sole.
Sylvian tourists like a bit of tread but not a knobbly style.
With toe clips, the mach becomes even more important. Disregarding race cleats, you need enough stiction to stay in place with lose straps, but free enough to slide backwards on demand.
I use Hi Tec Silver Shadows, which are a famous 1970s trainer, used by generations of army recruits and popular with guys with more sense than money, who don't run. Occasionally they feature as retro-style, which usually encourages the designers to mess with the classic design and screw it up.
Very bad combo! Same shoes grip awesome on the MKS's.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
image.jpg (103.4 KB, 128 views)
Wolf Dust is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-15 | 01:16 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6,431
Likes: 44
From: Minneapolis, MN
Grippiest looking pedals I've run across:

Straitline BMX Pedal SC Platform Pedals
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003RLJDM0/...U5SZ5CV0&psc=1



Some others:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZH1H7M/...CTW3UH47&psc=1
Amazon.com : Xpedo Face Off Pedal XMX13 9/16" Black : Bike Pedals : Sports & Outdoors
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Q4PBO8/...C5A2MNHW&psc=1

Specialized Bicycle Components


The pedals in the OP's post **should** have good grip though. The edges should dig into the bottom of the shoe. I'm surprised they don't, and wonder if the shoe the OP is wearing is particularly bad at grip.
PaulRivers is offline  
Reply
Old 05-10-15 | 10:54 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,441
Likes: 235
As noted in the thread that I started entitled "Platform Pedals for Sneakers," I just installed a set of Twisted PC platform pedals by Odyssey. They weren't what I went shopping for, but they were what the LBS had and they were dirt cheap ($17), so I gave them a shot. At first, I liked them but didn't love them. Now, after a good long ride or two, I'm finding them just fine. Good grip on my sneakers and a decent sized platform.
Papa Tom is offline  
Reply
Old 05-10-15 | 12:16 PM
  #10  
TransitBiker's Avatar
contiuniously variable
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 9
From: Southeastern Pennsylvania

Bikes: 2012 Breezer Uptown Infinity, Fuji Varsity

I may change my breezer over to something like this:

VP-001



The green would pretty much match the frame, plus i love green!

- Andy
TransitBiker is offline  
Reply
Old 05-10-15 | 07:01 PM
  #11  
Paramount1973's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 25
From: The First State.

Bikes: Schwinn Continental, Schwinn Paramount, Schwinn High Plains, Schwinn World Sport, Trek 420, Trek 930,Trek 660, Novara X-R, Giant Iguana. Fuji Sagres mixte.

I like the VO touring pedals on one of my commuters for their excellent grip, foot comfort, and light weight. You do have to be careful of your shins, however as these pedals have a sandblasted finish and sharp edges.
VO Touring Pedals

i recently found a very similar pedal, the Wellgo M138. I have bought the magnesium alloy model from Taiwann via Ebay. These are the same weight as the VO pedals with a painted finish that seems to be less scratchy but equally grippy. The Ebay price is in the mid-$30 range, considerably less expensive than the VO pedals.
M138 - Wellgo
Paramount1973 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-11-15 | 02:11 AM
  #12  
kelsodeez's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: SF bay area

Bikes: are pretty cool

ive been using this pedal on my bike and i highly recommend them. good construction, removable studs, a grease port, great grip and they look like they belong on a road bike.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

kelsodeez is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
michaelm101
Touring
11
01-31-18 12:36 PM
AndyK
Commuting
30
10-01-13 01:35 PM
seely
Touring
8
02-19-13 01:19 PM
claude
Commuting
6
11-21-11 10:27 AM
diff
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
27
11-06-10 02:36 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.