thms

Hi,

Sorry if this sounds stupid. Currently I'm using "bear traps" on my commuter/city bike.

I'd like to change them and I'm looking for flat pedals. Most of them seem to have pins and on some sites you can read that you need special MTB shoes with stiff soles for them.

Can't I just use my normal shoes (e.g. running shoes, shoes that go with a suit, or even sandals) or will the pins ruin the soles?

TIA

jimmie65

Pins have never ruined my soles. But they have torn the top of my shoes when I've kicked the pedal up into position.
And be careful in sandals.

wsteve464

I use platform pedals with pins and trail running shoes and yes they do tear up the sole slightly, no chunks missing, it is not enough for me to worry about. You do not use hard sole shoes with platform pedals if you want maximum performance, the point of the pins is to dig into the sole. The only time I have a problem with them is off road on really bumpy terrain and my foot bounces up.

Flip Flop Rider

can't stand the rough bottom of the "pin" pedals, rat traps, whatever. If you ride in regular tennis shoes they will cause foot pain and damage shoes.

I switched to these

https://www.amazon.com/Ergon-4801000...on+bike+pedals

thms

115€? o.O

https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B004PDZGI4

prathmann

Yes, quite the price comparison. Currently I see 151.44€ on the German site vs. $36.74 in the US (both with free shipping).

55murray

I've never noticed any problem, but I do use fairly soft soled shoes when I ride those. Really reduces slippage, so I like the pins a lot.

Paul Barnard

No issues with mine.

joelcool

They tear up my legs - I don't care about my shoes.

Fitness Rider

We use the flat platform Shimano Saint MX80 pedals with the pins set to the normal height as we do not see a need to extend them any farther for our type of riding. The wife and I wear what I would call a normal style of New Balance sport shoe and there is no evidence of any type of damage to the soles of the shoes. I would imagine if you were to continually twist and grind your shoes around on the pins while riding damage would certainly occur. We have not found foot slippage to be an issue, our feet stay positively in position with no movement on the MX80s so the soles of our shoes look no different than those we do not use for riding.

Frank

bikemig 

I've never had an issue but my favorite for kicking around town are these,

https://www.amazon.com/MKS-Lambda-Si...rds=mks+lambda

fietsbob

if the 'pins' are provided, using little set screws , you can screw them in, further..

Sy Reene

Nike SB shoes ftw for pinned pedals. Current favs are the Paul Rodriguez Ten series

Gresp15C

I realize they're plastic, and cheap, but Avenir "resin" pedals have worked great for me on two bikes. They're just knobbly enough to keep my feet from slipping off. This is for normal pavement and gravel riding, not MTB'ing.

Make sure you get the correct thread diameter -- there are 1/2" and 9/16" versions of this pedal.

ph0rk

I wear various sneakers with no issue. Some pins with crappy chrome will discolor light rubber soles, but no ripping or tearing yet. And no feet sliding off pedals when damp, which will lead to ruined shoes much faster (not to mention ruined other things).

Sci-Fi

Might consider MKS RMX pedals. But I never tried leather sole shoes, mainly athletic shoes and sandals or dress shoes with synthetic soles.

canklecat

Stolen brand Thermalite pedals are all hard plastic, very tough, grippy, and haven't torn up my soft sole Merrell shoes. Cheap, too, only $15 retail, cheaper online. I've run a set for almost a year and a half, no complaints.

The Thermalite SP version adds replaceable steel pins. If the pins tear up your shoes, remove the pins. Only $20, less via online discounters.

IamAlan

Saucony, Merrill, New Balance, Keen, no issues with pins in any sole.
I did pick up a tip on this forum - if you do buy platforms, put a drop of lock tite in the threads to keep the pins from backing out. Don't know if it was actually necessary, but I did it and the pins are staying put.

GrainBrain

Another sneaker/flats with pins rider. I just wear a pair of Asics and run raceface Chester pedals. No slipping, doesn't tear the sole much to notice.

Someday I'll buy click-ins.

rollagain

With a few hours of practice you can train yourself not to do that. I did. Just do lots of little starts and stops and make yourself position the crank from the top of the pedal only. I did this because my pedals were starting to abrade the tops of my shoes.

thms

These look very nice. Unfortunately there's no distributor in Germany

Kapusta

I have never had issues with them tearing my shoes.

Much prefer good flats with pins to classic bear trap pedals.

canklecat

Check Amazon.de -- I'm seeing Stolen brand Thermalite pedals for 18.07 Euros (about $22 U.S.).

There are probably some very similar pedals available from other manufacturers and brand names.

wipekitty

I have something similar on my clipless-less bikes, made by Azonic. Most of the resin BMX type pedals are quite similar, and work better for me with normal shoes.

I learned a while back that pins and rat traps will really do a number on leather soled shoes and really aren't that comfortable with synthetic soled dress shoes, either.

canklecat

Yeah, I put some old Sakae Low Fat plastic/nylon shark tooth cage pedals on my comfort hybrid, which I only use for errands now. Even for short trips those pedals dig into my feet through anything but heavy hiking boots.

I need to overhaul the soft nylon platforms that originally came with that bike. Much more practical for its casual purpose.

The Sakae Low Fats came from my Univega. They might have been practical for muddy trail rides but I prefer the Thermalites on that Univega now.