Pedal Question

[illadelphia]

What's up?
First post here, and im excited to be a part of ur community.

So Ive been hittin the trails for about a year now and until the last month have not done any formal research or reading on mountain biking. I am looking to upgrade my stock pedals. Im not interested in clipless pedals, but i am however interested in pedals with baskets, or toe clips.

It seems like they're kinda out of vogue though, no one seems to be using them, and the selection is pretty limited. I have no experience with them, so am i missing something?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[(P.)]

Try these friend:http://powergrips.mrpbike.com/

[rockyrider]

You can still buy good quality flat pedals for toe clips, like these WTB's (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/index.php?category=394) and then combine them with a set of toe clips (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=20495&category=1670) and straps (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=7043&category=1670)

[Fixed -N- Fly'n]

illadelphia -
Black plastic mtb cages - Bike Nashbar has them $4.99 on sale :) > pedal accessories, although did not see the straps on the page.

They're old skool items - in the late '80's it was a challenge to ride with those:eek: The common pedal was a bear claw type design - they were circular with many sharp points (if you rolled that pedal - cuts and scraps!). Can't remember if anybody made cages for those, a large bmx style pedal. When people started racing mtb's the pedals became like road pedals with low spiky ridges. The bike were ATB's, all terain bicycles - marketed for back country exploring.
The right way to use them - is similar to the old road pedals, but with out a cleat. On the old road pedal, there's a cleat that stradles/clips the rear cage - then when the strap is pulled tight. The shoe should not be able to come out until one reaches down and releases the the strap - quick release design.
Instead of the cleat, the pedals spiky ridge sections would grip the rubber hiking boot type sole - pull the strap tight....very hard to get the shoe out. Now-a-days just twist. The new shoes are much stiffer too.
But - if your not a racer type, and all you want is your foot not to roll off the pedal - cages and straps work fine. Just don't pull the strap tight. :eek: It's hard to beat a clipless platform pedal for overall comfort (those cages could be painful: pressure points - toes, top of foot) and overall function....but they do cost a bunch and so can the shoes:( I'd recommend the Time platfoms - and an entry level rubber soled shoe - if you go the clipless route.
I'm currently using some old Shimano DX bmx pedals with no/zero cage or strap. Also riding in Van's skate/bmx shoe, on my 29er ss, I find the abilty to move my feet around is nice - the bike is not a fixie....as my name would imply :D
Options are out there - hope this helps:cool:

[MEAT]

Toe clips? Baskets?
First off they are stupid looking and some what dangerous if used during mountain biking.
Your best bet is to go with the combination clipless/platform pedal.
One side of the pedal is a flat platform and the other side a clipless.
Google Shimano M324 and see what you think.

[bomberbarnes]

Toe clips? Baskets?
First off they are stupid looking and some what dangerous if used during mountain biking.
Your best bet is to go with the combination clipless/platform pedal.
One side of the pedal is a flat platform and the other side a clipless.
Google Shimano M324 and see what you think.

Stupid looking? That is in the eye of the beholder and in no way a truism.

Dangerous? Don't be daft. I rode mountinbikes for years before switching to clipless. I don't say I regret the decision to change but they aren't dangerous ... unless perhaps if used with a full cleat but full cleats are for wierdos anyway ;P

Clipless are worth a go though, the single sided ones mentioned are the route that many in my club (including Bubble, my better 1/2) took into clipless. I can't think of anyone who didn't swap up to fully clipless within 3-4 months. You will suffer teh obligatory fall over at the traffic lights because you forget how to unclip. Your friends will point and laugh, but only because tehy remember doing it themselves.

Meantine, powergrips are hardcore and best used fully rigid with thumb shifters, like I used to :p

[davkatreb]

full cleats are for wierdos anyway ;P

Meantine, powergrips are hardcore and best used fully rigid with thumb shifters, like I used to :p

Yes and no. Full cleats still have a following in track racing, but durned if you'd catch me riding them in the woods. Your mileage may vary.

As to Powergrips; had 'em, liked 'em, wish I still had 'em, but my feet are huge and the size large barely held my foot with a skinny sneaker. I'll be getting a set of XXL sooner or later, though when I've built my Monocog up fixed.

They're great, though. Powergrips. They really do perform as advertised, and the ability to run whatever shoe is a wonderful advantage.

But yeah, you might consider a clipless pedal. I can recommend the daylights out of CrankBros Mallets. It's about the simplest retention mechanism made, engagement and release become instinctive and best of all they have a gigantic platform so you can ride them in street shoes in a pinch.

[MEAT]

When was the last time you saw a mountain biker wearing a caged or toe clip?
I also forgot to say out dated.

[davkatreb]

When was the last time you saw a mountain biker wearing a caged or toe clip?
I also forgot to say out dated.
The other day about five miles out. Dude was railin'!

Oh yeah, and he was probably old enough to be your granddaddy.:D

[Spatafore]

The other day about five miles out. Dude was railin'!

Oh yeah, and he was probably old enough to be your granddaddy.:D

Watch out Dave. We're probably dealing with a real hipster here...

[jerman]

But yeah, you might consider a clipless pedal. I can recommend the daylights out of CrankBros Mallets. It's about the simplest retention mechanism made, engagement and release become instinctive and best of all they have a gigantic platform so you can ride them in street shoes in a pinch.

I frickin' love my mallets! To me they are the best all-around clipless pedal out there.

[davkatreb]

Watch out Dave. We're probably dealing with a real hipster here...
Nah, just a real straightforward old (to some of yinz) dude that's been there and done that, knows what works for him and never saw a reason to change. Abit Ward Cleaverish, actually.

[MEAT]

Are we talking about the same toe clip pedals?
And if so where do you guys live?
You can't be from the states....lol
http://i33.tinypic.com/282gze9.jpg

[mimbresman]

Are we talking about the same toe clip pedals?
And if so where do you guys live?
You can't be from the states....lol
http://i33.tinypic.com/282gze9.jpg

Don't knock it Meat. That pic looks like Suntour XC Pro with toe clips. Classic set-up. Done lots of Moab/Durango/northern New Mexico/Gila riding on pedals like that. I had the metal Fisher double clips however, with homebuilt toeflips. Still have my Suntours. I'll never get rid of them, (though been a Shimano SPD user since the generation 1 pedals came out in the early 90's).

[Rock Star]

Are we talking about the same toe clip pedals?
And if so where do you guys live?
You can't be from the states....lol
http://i33.tinypic.com/282gze9.jpg

I'm from Mass, USA. My riding buddy uses those...although other than him I can't remember seeing anyone else using them in years.

[MEAT]

Toe clips....well they are kind of "old school" and something you don't see your better mountain bikers using. But oh well...to each his own.
I still think you should check out the Shimano M324 pedals. Best of both worlds and hopefully one day you will graduate to clipless only.
Good Luck....

[Liberal Monkey]

Toe clips....well they are kind of "old school" and something you don't see your better mountain bikers using. But oh well...to each his own.
I still think you should check out the Shimano M324 pedals. Best of both worlds and hopefully one day you will graduate to clipless only.
Good Luck....
You must go to a tanning salon unlike my own. Someday I will learn.

[myron]

Toe clips....well they are kind of "old school" and something you don't see your better mountain bikers using. But oh well...to each his own.
I still think you should check out the Shimano M324 pedals. Best of both worlds and hopefully one day you will graduate to clipless only.
Good Luck....

Hello nice man, is the M324 suitable for MTB's also, or just comfort bikes?

Thanks,
Ron Mytowski

[tryandgetme]

in the club I used to ride with, out of 50, 4 would use those exact toe clips, and do very well with them.

[Rock Star]

Toe clips...you don't see your better mountain bikers using them

Oh no?

I'd disagree. In my experience you cannot judge who is a better or worse mountain biker by the equipment they use.

The shimano pedals you recommend are fine. Although when I used them they were never on the side I wanted. If I wanted to clip in they'd be on the flat side, if I wanted flat I'd get the clip side.

I actually switched from clipless to flat for the riding I do. I call it extreme xc/all mountain. I like to be able to get my foot down in an instant without a thought. I find the clipless efficiency edge to be somewhat over rated.
I still use them for road riding or smooth fast xc. But on technical trails I like my flats.

[MEAT]

From the original post "illadelphia" was looking for an alternative or an upgrade pedal. I don't think he should give up on going clipless and the pedal I mentioned was a good intro into clipless....which is usually the next step from flats for most people. And although he didn't mention what style of riding he does...we shouldn't assume what is best for him or others for that matter.
And he also did make reference to "toe clips" not being as popular which seems to tell you something.

[CT-CT-CT]

Hello nice man, is the M324 suitable for MTB's also, or just comfort bikes?

Thanks,
Ron Mytowski

Halo nice peoples

The M324 are what I bought after I smacked up my stock Wellgo jobs. The M324 allow ypu to clip in when necessary, but also use regular shoes on the platform side for casual rides.

I posted n pic of the pedals in question in an old thread when I bought them, you may find it here.
http://www.dirtragmag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11144