Captain Jake

I recently acquired a Trek 520 Cirrus and am looking to make it into a touring bike. I need to only do a few things to it, although I will likely do a bit more than I need to, replace the rear derailleur, change the wheels from 27s to 700s, add front and rear racks, perhaps a couple of other things. I know what I want for most of it, however I'm not sure what to do about the pedals and would like some advice. I would really like to be able to use any set of shoes on the bike, would I be better off with a normal set of platform pedals perhaps with a toe clip? would BMX pedals be a good alternative since they are much wider, providing me with a greater surface area? I don't think the extra weight is going to bother me. Should I just suck it up and go with a set of clipless pedals and a touring shoe?

curbtender

https://www.velo-orange.com/mkstope.html

Hasek

Shimano A530's; clipless on one side and platform on the other. $65 at Amazon which Universal Cycle will come close to with their 30 second price match.

Captain Jake

https://www.velo-orange.com/votopesebe23.html are those ones better than these?

bedian

https://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...roducts_id=471

Captain Jake

Thanks, it looks like I can get around BMX pedals for a wide platform pedal. I like that Shimano clipless platform pedal as well, I'll keep that in mind.

twodeadpoets

I've tried many different clipless/platform (campus) pedals and eventually found and love the Shimano A530's. So much so that I put them on three of my bikes.

SweetLou

I would not use quill type pedals with soft sole shoes, but your feet may be different. If you want to be able to wear soft sole shoes, I would go with a platform pedal, like the MKS GR-9. I just find quill pedals to be uncomfortable in soft soles for longer trips.

bragi

I've been using wide, studded, BMX-style pedals (Speedplay Drillium) on my touring bike with very good results. My feet stayed glued to the pedals, even while cranking hard uphill, yet I still get to wear whatever shoe I want, and I don't have to mess with clipping in during heavy, sometimes hilly traffic. Many people like clipless, but I think they're hugely overrated in terms of performance, and inconvenient besides.

Dellphinus

MKS touring pedals with Power Grips.

gmrv4

+1 MKS touring pedals.

Captain Jake

Thanks I was hoping to hear something like this, can anyone tell me the advantages of the MKS over something like this https://www.masherz.com/products/crankbrothers/5050x.htm

rhm

+1, and I don't even bother with power grips, clips, or anything.

DuckFat

I use Shimano M324's. They are mountain bike oriented and can take a lot of abuse. They are dual sided like the 530's above. Seriously, you'll like the versatility of being able to use any shoe/sandal but still have the ability to clip in for better efficiency. The 324's have a very wide platform (like a BMX pedal). I think they make the most sense of any solution out there. The only downside is a bit more weight but durability is my overriding concern.

https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-PD-M32...4190136&sr=8-2

staehpj1

Two data points...

I have been very happy with spd on both sides for touring. I could ride short distances in camp with my Crocs on. When actually riding any distance I want to be wearing my Sidis and be clipped in.

My daughter used the Performance Forte' Campus pedals and they were OK. She said for the TA she would have just as soon have used SPD on both sides. She loves the campus pedals on campus though. They did completely wear out after the Trans America and a year and a half of local riding including commuting. I wonder if the Shimano ones would hold up better.

skookum

A lot of it boils down to personal preference.

For touring longer than a weekend, I like a shoe I can hike in, and I don't want to carry extra shoes so I don't use clipless pedals but other people won't cycle without them.

It is hard to find a decent walking shoe/platform pedal combination where the shoe is stiff enough that you don't feel the pedal but the shoe isn't too stiff for walking.

I usually use some kind of BMX pedal and put plastic toe clips on them.

What is the difference between a quill pedal and a platform pedal? I thought they were the same thing, and Sheldon doesn't explain the difference.

bokerfest

+1
I love having the different option.

ekitel

I use these https://www.shoebuy.com/merrell-chame.../261337/556798 with these https://www.rivbike.com/products/list...product=14-053

I like tread because sometimes I'm on trails and need to push up a steep part once in while. Gore tex keeps feet dry in most conditions, and the shoes are nice for hiking. I'm sure other pedals would be just as good or better but those are what I got.

Thasiet

+1
My touring bike started life with MTB rat traps and I sorely regretted it on the 92 mile first day of my first tour. Rat traps just do not have enough support for soft soled shoes, something I learned the hard way.

I love my Time ATAC Alium pedals, but I am not interested in carrying a second pair of shoes, and all of the "walkable" spd shoes I've used are inadequate for lounging or hiking. Clipless is a good option for incurious puritans who would rather have done a bike tour than be on one

So, my touring bike now has these BMX platforms from Nashbar:
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...tform%20Pedals
and I looooves them! Stiff axle, large, and terrific traction. I toe-clipped them (needed to make a shim out of HDPE because the platform has an overbite), but really, toe clips aren't explicitly necessary with the secure feeling platform and traction pins. BMX platforms allow cycling in any imaginable shoe, even flip-flops. You'll never get that with a pair of rat traps, however nicely those may fit in with certain people's touring aesthetic.

BMX pedals are the mutts nuts.

bedian

MKS weigh less and cost less. They can be used with toe clips and straps (or power grips) if desired. I

find them to be comfortable with different types of shoes.

PlatyPius

I agree with that. I have several different sorts of studded platforms that I use on various bikes. I have Easton "Cully"s on my mountain bike. My touring bike has Primo Tenderizers. I have others (Animal, Wellgo) on a couple of other bikes. My road and randonneur bikes, however, do have Shimano Ultegra SL pedals on them. No, I don't notice much of a performance gain. Maybe it's because I'm from a MTB background and am used to pulling the pedals up withOUT clips, straps, or cleats. Pedalling in circles helps too. lol

Captain Jake

I've been told that hot spots can be a problem with that pedal on longer rides, has anyone had that problem?

zeppinger

https://www.rivbike.com/products/list...n#product=none

Look at the Grip King pedals by Riv. They look great but I do not own them
I used regular pedals with power grips on my last tour and was pretty happy. Though I did have knee problems on the tour that some people have told me might have been related to the power grips... I have no idea.

rhm

Okay, no one ever explained it to me, but here's how I always understood it. For those of you who actually know, this may be good for a laugh at my expense, so enjoy!

Quill, first definition, is a bird's feather (especially a big one).

Second definition, a quill is a large feather that's been cut at a sharp angle to use as a pen; this puts a distinctive shape at the end so it holds ink and makes a nice fine line.

Third definition, a quill is anything shaped like that.

Two bicycle parts are called "quills" by this last definition: the handlebar stem part that looks like it's cut at an angle, and the rounded end of a pedal with that curled pointy bit.

Now that quill pens, quill stems and quill pedals are all obsolete, the usage of the terms gets pretty strange at times....

GTPowers

Has anyone had luck/problems with any of the two sided SPD/platform pedals from Nashbar?