Platform pedals for commuting
#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
#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.
#3
Thread Starter
Anywhere I roam
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 261
Likes: 23
From: Rockies, U.S.A.
Bikes: Three blind bikes
#4
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,207
Likes: 45
From: Northern VT
Bikes: recumbent & upright
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.
#5
Thread Starter
Anywhere I roam
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 261
Likes: 23
From: Rockies, U.S.A.
Bikes: Three blind bikes
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.
#6
Senior Member

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.
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.
#7
Thread Starter
Anywhere I roam
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 261
Likes: 23
From: Rockies, U.S.A.
Bikes: Three blind bikes
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.
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.
#8
Senior Member

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.
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.
#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.
#11
Senior Member

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
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
#12
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
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
diff
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
27
11-06-10 02:36 PM







