14R 

Pretty simple thread: you come here, you tell us what kind of pedals you have, what you think about them and what are the flaws.

I'll start: my halfway came with folding pedals that have all plastic surface. Besides some plastic "bumps" it's pretty slippery. For casual 2-3 miles rides it does not bother but for longer/fast paced rides it may become an inconvenience.

I am considering something better, even if not foldable (as long as it doesn't compromise folded size that much). Is there anybody there using clipless pedals on folders?

Just doing a little research before making my upgrade.

Rafael Guerra

hubs

My Speed Pro came with folding pedals. They weren't too slippy, but I happen to like being clipped in. I put nashbar spds on it and I love it. My bike is more for trips away where I can stash it in the trunk/back than as a daily commuter or anything. I love having the clipless and don't mind sacrificing a little space to the pedal. Maybe if I were hopping on the train with it daily I'd notice the wider profile.

v1nce

I transplanted the pedals that came on my second hand racer. They are nothing really special but have some rather good characteristics:

Light, cheap (seen them in a store) and very grippy. The latter is because the edge/circumference (they are kind off cage style) is a narrow one with quite a bit of "teeth". If you got some soles that work well with them you don't slip at all, not even in heavy rain. They are non-folding and neither big or small. They are also suitable for clips. If you are interested i could look up brand and model. You can also chk my site for pictures.

Basically i'd be very happy with them if it wasn't for one thing...: They are not symmetric!!! By that i mean there is one side that is supossed to face up, if you use the other side it is not as comfortable. This is just the way they are designed and i guess if i had clips it would not matter. Still i think it is rather dumb and inconvenient. I am going to make very sure my next pedals don't have that issue!! So i am looking into Cheap, super grippy BMX style pedals that take Clips. These are not light and pretty large but i like them.

They suit my riding style which is: many shorter trips during which i cycle very active (getting up out of saddle sometimes, taking real sharp corners etc) and a few longer trips.

CaptainSpalding

I really like the feel of the MKS Promenade quick release pedals on my Jetstream XP. They are plenty stout, and easy to remove and replace. My only worry is that I will lose them or forget them someplace.

14R 

Captain, can you add clips to these?

Bacciagalupe

I'm with hubs, I put Shimano SPD clipless pedals on my Dahon almost immediately. The difference in width between the folding pedals that came with the Dahon and the SPD pedals is negligible. Plus, with a 7-speed bike, I'll take any mechanical help I can get to go up hills

james_swift

I'm a clipless fanatic. I've owned Look, Time, SPD, and Crank Brothers. Now that I'm commuting, I use a recessed-cleat style shoe-pedal system on my folder:

Crank Brother's Candy-C pedals:

Likes:
1.) Good float (6 deg)
2.) Multiple entry: aside from the convention toe-first clip-in method, you can also land the back of your cleat onto the spring, then just push down and pull back (same motion as when pedaling). This is a very cool way to engage the pedal.
3.) No tension adjustment required/allowed.
4.) Wide, flat platform: an easy-to-hit target in addition to the mutliple engagement makes clipping-in a no-brainer.
Dislikes:
1.) You have to grind-down the tread on the bottom of your SPD-compatible shoe to clear the pedal platform. Makes choosing a shoe a bit of a hassle.
2.) Float is not smooth, as shoe binds against pedal platform.
3.) Cleats are brass: mine wore-out after only 5 months!
4.) No positive "click" feel: sometimes I can't tell if I'm engaged in the spring mechanism or not.

I recently replaced my C-Bro's pedals with these Perfomance SPD-knock-offs:

Likes:
1.) Fully Shimano SPD compatible: no problems with shoes.
2.) Float is smooth: although only 4 deg of float, the motion is smoother than the C-Bros. No binding of the shoe tread on the pedal platform (see #1 above).
3.) Cleats are steel: should last way longer than the brass C-Bro's.
4.) Positive "click" feel/sound.
5.) Dirt cheap: I got these for only $4.00 more than a set of replacement C-Bro's cleats!
Dislikes:
1.) Only 4 deg of float: you have to be a bit precise in the cleat mounting orientation.
2.) Hit-or-miss engagement: sometimes I can engage the pedals without even looking, other times I completely miss the platform and end-up pushing-off from a red light with only one shoe engaged.

Having turned a few hundred miles on both pedals, I have to say that the Performance SPD-knock-offs are better than the C-Bro's. The Shimano SPD design is time-tested and is the standard with which all MTB shoes are designed around. Pedal engagment is positive, and the shoe feels solid and stable on the pedal platform (compared with the first-generation SPDs I owned back in '94). The C-Bro's certainly have a better engagement motion, but the engagement is not as positive. The SPDs could use more float, while the C-Bro's could make their float smoother.

BTW: I wrote-up a mini how-to on setting-up clipless pedals/cleats here: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...05#post1631405

CaptainSpalding

Yes.

14R 

See,

Clipless pedals were THE WAY for me until 2003. The reason I got a folder was to skip that entire "get ready to ride" feeling that included mounting racks, making arrangements and choosing shoes. together, that "ritual" became and excuse to avoid riding.

Now with the folder all I want is to park my car, get it and move (efficiently) from A to B and, on trips and weekends, go for a little longer rides (20-30 miles/ day, 50 would be the peak). Clipless pedals may not be the most adequate choice for my needs but CaptainSpalding's pick sounds like something right in between...

Does anybody has anything negative to say about the MKS forementioned? One way or another I can wait another week or two to make my decision, but that is looking good so far.

Rafael

spambait11

The only knock I've heard on the MKS quick-release pedals is that you can accidentally release them if you're not careful. In real life, this is almost impossible to do especially if you install toe clips because your foot will be isolated and shouldn't float around too much (thus those little black plastic clips shown above which are worthless).

These pedals can't be installed with a regular pedal wrench because a regular wrench is too thick. You have to use a thin 15mm wrench. (However, you might be able to tighten them with an allen key though at the moment I forget if this is possible. I just use the wrench.)

MKS gives you a small bag in which to store the pedals, but if you have toe grips (or PowerGrips) you won't be able to fit these pedals into the bag easily, if at all.

Lastly, these pedals are fairly expensive, but I would definitely buy more if I had to.

(The Promenades shown above look to be an ideal width as the AR-2's are narrow. Harris Cyclery didn't have the Promenade quick-releases at the time I was buying.)

CaptainSpalding

Hasn't happened to me yet. (Knock on wood.)


Allen key works fine. Just as you suggested.


I've never put them in that bag after removing them for the first time.


One fellow with the promenades lamented that he caught the corner of his pedal on the ground in a steep turn and damaged the pedal. He said he wished he had the RR-2s from Harris Cyclery, which are angled at the outer edge. They will also take toe-clips or power grips.




Another thing to consider: according to a gentleman at Dahon, MKS has some QR clipless pedals in production. Reportedly they will not be SPD compatible.

14R 

Out of stock for at least a month. (9/16/05)

Bacciagalupe

*sigh*

Personally I'd just toss a pair of SPD shoes in the trunk of the car, and leave 'em there. But, clipless aren't for everybody. I'd just get a nice standard pedal, and not worry too much about the folding / QR bit, especially if the plan is to throw the folding bike in the car and go. Even with regular pedals, you should be able to fit two 20" folders in the trunk of a car without any problems.

spambait11

Did you check Gaerlan?



Ouch.

clayface

Old rubber blocks for me. They're heavy and a bit slippery when wet, but mine are still going strong after 20-odd years and so wide, they provide an excellent support.



Roberto

Bacciagalupe

I believe the appropriate term is "Old School."

v1nce

Def. Old School! But how many modern fancy Smancy 50, 100 or 150 Dollar pedals can last even a fifth of that time. Sigh.... the good old days when men were men and bikes indestructible...

14R 

Anyone with experience with these?




https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...egory_ID=5240#


Clip on one side, ride wearing whatever you want on the other side (no folding/quick release option though)

Sounds interesting, but is it?

Rafael

PS: look @ the price!

jasong

I have Nashbar´s version of these, which I assume is more or less identical.

I like them. I had problems with one pair at first because I think either dirt had gotten trapped in the bearings or they were tightened too much. There was a clicking noise that would come through on every revolution after a long ride. But their warranties are about as good as it gets, so I wouldn´t worry about it.

BTW - Nashbar´s price was $20 when I bought them. These prices fluctuate like river levels though.

yangmusa

Do both sides weigh the same? When I was a kid and first got a bike with spd pedals, I couldn't afford spd shoes to go with them. So I used a plastic platform that clipped on, making the pedal dual sided a bit like the ones in question. But the platform side was heavier, and would always flop down. In practice they were so frustrating to use I could cry!!!! They used to piss me off something cronic, so I saved up my pennies and bought spd shoes as fast as possible!!!!

BUT: if these Nashbar/Performance pedals really did work, I could definitely see the value of them for my commuter/city bike!

14R 

"...the platform side was heavier, and would always flop down. In practice they were so frustrating to use I could cry..."


Good point. Jasong, do yours flip?

Rafael

Bacciagalupe

I could'a *sworn* I dissed the "clip on one side / platform on the other" earlier on in this thread!

I have and use a pair of the Shimano version of this on my hybrid. They work ok, no problems keeping the platform side up, very solid, no problems yet with dirt or mud. However, you do need to be a little more aware of the pedal, as you need to make sure you're not either clipping / stepping onto the wrong side.

I only used the platform side a few times -- they grip OK, about as well as you'd imagine.

Not my favorites, but they do work ok once you get used to them.

landstander

I've got a pair of Wellgo WPD-95B pedals that look absolutely identical ('cept for the vendor name ), which I'm very happy with. While I use the SPD side most of the time, I really like having the option to use normal shoes... it comes in handy from time to time.

IIRC, they cost $50 at my LBS.

jasong

The SPD side falls underneath normally. So the platform side defaults to being on top (preferred).

I like them. Because the SPD side is fairly low profile, even stepping on thisside inadvertently isn't going to cause a problem. You'll feel the difference and toe-lift it to the platform without thinking much.

The platform side onthese grip quite well.

oboeguy

I have the cheapo Performance SPDs on my SpeedPro. There's no way I'm using flat pedals after 10 years of clipless life. The flats are a couple of wrenches away should the need somehow come-up (so are the Look pedals on my road bike ).

The wife has the "campus pedals" pictured above and is quite pleased. One word of warning -- they are not compatible with "multi-release" SPD cleats, if that's your cup of tea.