Hi 20!

I bike to the train station that is a little over a mile away, in my suit with dress shoes. Which platform pedals (to replace my toe strap crap pedals) should I look at that are:

reasonably priced
wont harm my shoes
wont let me slip off

Thanks!

Haven't used these personally (yet) and I'm not sure what your definition of reasonably priced is but these look interesting................

https://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/pc2

If you shop around they can probably be found a bit cheaper.

sometimes we are lost in the concept that newer is always better, and that idea seems always dominant is american thinking. bUt some times, 'tried and true' works really well or even best.
Having been brought up with much 'European' in my primer, I've had plenty of time and kms on the broadly applicated OPA Fiets. A particularly suitable bike concept for transportation in the 'short trip without frantic preprep' mode. Over ongoing decades of continued dominance of this bike in the area of simple and efficient transport with few issues, they comtinue to come with pedals with rubber foot treadles. Why? Because for best function a hard surface - like a leather sole - is held best by a gripping material surface - like rubber. Seems to work also for rubber tires on a the hard road surface.
I vote for a very classic rubber treadle pedal - no worries about raking your shin or dress pants by some knarly mtb or freeride pedals with bone scarring studs. No need for those shaving of seconds, just an easy bimble to train station. And if the soles or pedals are a bit wet, no problemos.
If the 'classic' pedal is too mundane, well, there's this:
https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165566

Back in '72, while I was visiting my OPA, I noticed his bike pedals were a bit rusty and rough on the bearings - he bought this bike in '47. So I replaced them with similar rubber treaded pedals the local bikesmith suggested I buy. This past June I had the opportunity to again pull his bike out of the storage closet, pumped up the tires and was good to go, to shop and bimble around the local area for 3 weeks - those pedals were absolute perfect for the task.
Finding a quality rubber treadle pedal may be tough in these United States, but they would be the right stuff, like a nice pair of wingtips

I have yet to find a platform pedal that works without some sort of retention. A lot of them will tear up leather soled shoes as well. Are you against toe clips because you don't like how difficult it is to get into them, or that they tend to scratch up a good shine? Half clips can make access quite a bit easier, and MKS makes ones that have leathers on them to minimize scuffing of shoes. I know Ben's Cycle sells them, as I imagine do others. Power Grips might be an option for foot retention too.

As for platform pedals, the MKS GR9 or GR10 might work, if you have clips on the front. The GR9's are narrow though. I have some VO touring pedals that I really like and work really well with flexible soled shoes. All these pedal have a bit of traction to them, but not aggressive enough to chew up leather soles.

Why would you want to wear a nice pair of shoes biking? That's what beat up old running shoes are for! Put your nice pair of dress shoes in the bag and kick on the old pair boom good to go and any old pedals will do. When you get to the station kick em off and lace up the dress shoes good to go!

If you really have to ride in slick leather soled shoes, I'd second the rubber pedal suggest. Any bike store should be able to get you something, probably cheap junk. The MKS 3000 is a nicer one, with good bearings (and rebuildable). They may be a hard to get at your bike store, as I don't think QBP list them, but there's the internet...

If you don't want the reflectors, the blocks can be removed and reinstalled with the reflectors pointing at the axle.

I use those Ergon pedals on my Dutch bike, which is my sometimes commuter/grocery bike. They look dorky as hell but they are the bees knees in terms of keeping your feet in place and providing a comfortable platform while biking in street/office clothes. They have a little tab on them to help seat your foot into the ergo position and keep them in place. I like them a lot.

I use MKS Lambdas on my Peugeot, which is my everyday commuter. I only commute in office attire and these pedals are rock solid through rain and snow. They grip your shoes without destroying them and provide a larger-than-average platform for your feets. I like them even better than the Ergons and they look great.

As for why I ride in dress shoes - my commute takes me less than 5 minutes, and I love the ability to get off the bike, lock it up, and jump on the train. Carrying and changing into and out of sneakers or some other shoes would be a PITA for such a short ride.

Why no toe straps? They do mess up a shine, and, my dress shoes must be longer than my sneakers, so my toe clips aren't long enough. I have no problem with my road bike and Look pedals and cleats. But on this bike (Diamondback Sorrento), the ability to stop and quickly get back on the pedals is hindered by straps and clips.

The rubber pedals are another good suggestion, but I can't add that much more weight to my already heavy bike. My hitch has a limited tongue weight, and with 4 bikes, every pound counts! Plus, any serious spinning is out with those.

I think I may try the MKS Lambdas. They have the reflectors, and look like they would be comfy. Ginko says they work with office attire, I ride in office attire - bingo! Or, the MKS RMX - sneaker pedals. They look a little more like the pedals I'm used to (not sure if they work with dress shoes).

Also, my dress shoes have rubber soles, so they aren't Armani handmade leather slipper soles.

I keep a pair of dress shoes at work. Solves all sorts of problems.

For the record:

I find these two constraints work against each other...

Only $12

https://www.jensonusa.com/Wellgo-WG5-Comfort-Pedals

Ive been OK with Ergon's pedals , curved surface, plus the traction grip material in the center,
(shin safe)
rather than grip pins on the edges, .. wrap around reflectors .


fitted with an 8mm allen wrench in the back side of the spindle
[uncommon enough to not be stripped while parked]

I should say wont let me slip off EASILY. I realize no platform without straps/clips will keep my feet on perfectly.

I have to wonder why the price on the Ergon pedals is friggen $80?? I bet they would be great for barefoot riding, though.

*edit check out the pics on the Amazon product page, shows someone using them with dress shoes. $54 from there, same price as my Shimano PD-A530 platform/SPD pedals!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-me...e=UTF8&index=1

Jeez, it is that hard? Decent fixie straps on a pedal without teeth or pins works fine, and you get a solid foot retention. I ride with the Retrogression V2 straps on a few bikes, but there are a variety of different nylon straps on eBay, Amazon, online. Powergrips are harder on shoes, the resin fabric tends to leave black rub on the shoe surface.

This is what purefixcycle offers, as example:

Check the catalog of the MKS company (many pages) already mentioned before. For many people, their touring pedals have been the first choice for riding with dress shoes. Myself, I moved from their touring to RMX pedals, with a bit longer platforms that are a tad easier on the soles.

Do you think the RMX pedals will be OK with dress shoes?

+1. A simple firm strap, with no metal frame, should be pretty easy on the shoe shine and keep your foot secure. I've been using home-made ones because I'm a cheapskate (and they work great), but I'd like to try those velcro ones.

.. you did say they are rubber and not leather soles?

the many grip pin MTB pedals out there, offer the bite into either sole.

I decided to try the MKS RMX pedals - ordered them from Riv Bike because they had a nice description and provided measurements/photos.

Hopefully they will be comfy since they are nice and wide.

Thanks for the advice - I'll report back with the results!

Yes, they work very well for me. I ride them in all weather, including rain and snow. There is a slight cost cost compared to MKS Touring in that there may be a slight, but nothing serious, slip in the rain. The Touring, with a tad better grip, could damage though, again nothing very serious, the softest soles of my shoes, those at the sticky side. I think I've got my RMX at Rivendell.

Cool. I wont be riding in the rain or snow, so that should help make the RMX work well!

I use this kind, with any shoe that has a soft sole. Sandals, dressy sandals, hiking boots, running shoes, the works. And no, they don't tear up my shoes.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/c...FUhk7AodWW8Apw

OP; Really my best recommendations is to follow the lead of many ladies in the workforce. That being to bike/run/walk to work in sneakers/running shoes/bike shoes and either carry their dress shoes in a backpack/saddle bag, or just leave them under the desk each night.

I go through the twice daily shoe swap as my cubie has an extra draw with a key lock cylinder just right for stowing them. Dress shoes tend to be costly...

I'll see how it goes with the new pedals. I'm hoping to avoid the shoe change!

seen a pictures of a Copenhagen Rider or so, in spike heels turning a rubber block pedal,
on their way to work.