Since my new project is fixed instead of ss, I need to get something other than the bmx platforms I love so much.

What do you guys suggest as a budget pedal that will allow for clips and straps?

mks sylvans are a good choice, as are almost any other type of mks pedal for that matter. Id also go with nylon straps since in my experience the leather ones come loose alot easier. As for cages i also like MKS they are alot stiffer than other cages that ive used, also make sure you get steel ones not aluminum. Plastic cages are fine too. Im using Soma Quads and im pretty disapointed with them, so i would stray away from those.

Another vote for MKS. I have the touring pedals and love them.

Sylvan tracks were too narrow for my feet (size 12) and tore up the soles of my shoes. I like Sylvan road pedals, they are wider and don't ruin your shoes. Contrary to ksyrius' experience, I hate nylon straps, I found that they twist around alot and loosen under pressure. Get a decent leather strap and you should be golden.

Even though lots of people willing suffer through them, MKS Sylvans are really a terrible choice for anyone not running shoes with slotted cleats. However, both the MKS GR 9 and Touring pedals are excellent choices.

That said: Clipless.

Nah....no clipless. I ride my bikes strictly recreationally and I have no desire to wear specific shoes to do it.

On another note...I will be running a front brake....are clips and straps really necessary?



I'm liking the price on both the MKS Stream and the GR-9's, and if I do clips, the mini clips. What about just using the Power Grips?



OR....I could just go with these at only $12.99. Too bad they're ugly as sin:

Oh come on. I ran 5 year old new balance running shoes on them and they were fine.

I use MKS touring and powergrips and it works for me. It's a good compromise between efficiency and ease of use. No foot retention system kind of sucks though. Even putting aside the safety issue, riding without retention feels slow and sloppy.

Thanks for that input. I've never ridden fixed before so I have no idea.

where can one find slotted cleats ?

Are you serious?

I have the MKS GR9 pedals and they are both way more comfortable then slotted pedals. Those will dig into your feet after a while if you dont have thick soled shoes.

i dont think the mini clips are a good idea. even if you use a front brake, i dont think you'd get any feeling of security with minis. and its all about feeling secure.

+1 on gr-9 with either clips or powergrips

gr9 + mks clips + straps of your choice

Its not finding slotted cleats that's hard, its finding shoes to use them with.

MKS Touring Lites are a gift from a loving deity.

Straps are definitely NOT necessary on a fixed gear if you're running a front brake. In the summer, when I take my bike on camping trips out of the city I switch over to bmx pedals for riding in flip-flops, which is lovely if you've never tried it. That having been said, for year-round city-riding, I am a huge fan of MKS Sylvan Road pedals MKS and leather toe straps. Velo Orange has ALE leather straps several colors and they're cheap and great.

Look at some campus pedals, cleat on one side and platform on the other. One go go clipless, though, you'll never go back.

Go with the metal ones.
I put some plastic 2 hole ones on my Brooklyn Machine Works for a little bit, and they were super heavy compared to the old steel ones I had on it that I had to relearn how to get my feet into them.

Also, make sure you get the right size.

For me, the black soma quad gates are next on my list.

+1 on this. Don't even try clipless. You will get used to the feeling and clips and straps will just not feel right after that. Thats what happened to me at least.

I'm about to try clipless, I have some used sidi road shoes on the way then I have to find some pedals (prolly eggbeaters).

I was running GR-9s/mks clips/toshi doubles but I was getting hot spots and I don't really walk that much when I ride so I figure why not go clipless.

For most people I've known, going clipless was when they finally committed to serious riding.

That's the thing....I don't see myself becoming a serious rider any time in the near future.

My experience with nylon straps is that they wear down and fray apart. One snapped when I was going up a hill and while it didn't ruin my day it was annoying enough for me not to want to use them again. I'm riding with fake leather straps and they're holding up really well, BUT, they do come loose a lot. If I'm going anywhere farther than my commute to work I need to tighten them or else they're practically useless. Regular tightenings every week.

that's because toe straps are meant to be loosened every time you take your foot out and retightened upon foot insertion.

this is the second time today this issue has come up on here. why is this such a complicated idea for people to grasp?