HELP! Pedal Help for RANS V2 Formula

Scott Prell said:

Just ordered my first recumbent, a RANS V2 Formula. New to high-tech

Quoted message said:

biking, so I didn't realize the darn thing doesn't come with pedals!

(At

Quoted message said:

least as far as I can tell from the RANS website...)

Is this correct?

If so, PLEASE suggest pedals that I may order...QUICKLY! It would

suck to

Quoted message said:

pick up my bike with no pedals (as you can probably imagine!)

Any help appreciated!

Pedals are about the only item in the bicycle world that are almost
completely interchangeable across the board. There are only two
thread-size "standards" in wide use- your V2 will use 9/16" thread
pedals (cheaper and kids' bikes use 1/2" thread pedals).

In other words, *any* pedals you order will fit.

To start off, you could order ordinary "rat-trap" pedals:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=8036
and equip them with toe-clips:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=8034
That'll get you started. If you want something slightly more
challenging, many (but not all) recumbent riders like "clipless"
pedals:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=2428
which grip your shoes firmly through a special cleat built into you
shoe. Of course, you'll then have to invest in a special pair of shoes:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=10222

A warning: "clipless" pedal and shoe preference is one of the areas
around which there are many opinions. Ask any 10 recumbent riders and
you'll probably get 20 opinions. The only opinion that really matters
is your own- if you're not comfortable pedaling, you won't be
comfortable- period.

Jeff

Quoted message said:

Scott Prell said:

Just ordered my first recumbent, a RANS V2 Formula. New to high-tech

Quoted message said:

biking, so I didn't realize the darn thing doesn't come with pedals!

(At

Quoted message said:

least as far as I can tell from the RANS website...)

Is this correct?

If so, PLEASE suggest pedals that I may order...QUICKLY! It would

suck to

Quoted message said:

pick up my bike with no pedals (as you can probably imagine!)

Any help appreciated!

Pedals are about the only item in the bicycle world that are almost
completely interchangeable across the board. There are only two
thread-size "standards" in wide use- your V2 will use 9/16" thread
pedals (cheaper and kids' bikes use 1/2" thread pedals).

In other words, *any* pedals you order will fit.

To start off, you could order ordinary "rat-trap" pedals:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=8036
and equip them with toe-clips:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=8034
That'll get you started. If you want something slightly more
challenging, many (but not all) recumbent riders like "clipless"
pedals:...

I find toe clips and straps harder to use than "clipless" pedals (e.g.
Shimano SPD). It is also easier to fall over with one's feet trapped in
the pedal with the strap tightened, as it requires reaching down and
manually releasing the tension (why bother with straps at all if one
does not tighten them?) to remove one's foot.

It is also harder to enter a toe clip than it is to "click into" a
clipless pedal.

Power Grips [1] are a better non-clipless solution in my opinion.

[1] <http://powergrips.com/>.

--
Tom Sherman - Rock Island County Illinois
Tetrahedral carbon lattices are not forever.

Oh man, you've opened the pedal Pandora's Box again! I, for one vote
for Bebop pedals: easy clip in and out, lots of free, unsprung float,
and a low center of rotation. They're hard to find but google the
words "Bebop pedals" to locate a source. Let the debate begin again!

BentJay
See my tour journal at: http://aroundthelake.crazyguyonabike.com

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Scott Prell said:

Just ordered my first recumbent, a RANS V2 Formula. New to high-tech

Quoted message said:

biking, so I didn't realize the darn thing doesn't come with pedals!

(At

Quoted message said:

least as far as I can tell from the RANS website...)

Is this correct?

If so, PLEASE suggest pedals that I may order...QUICKLY! It would

suck to

Quoted message said:

pick up my bike with no pedals (as you can probably imagine!)

Any help appreciated!

Pedals are about the only item in the bicycle world that are almost
completely interchangeable across the board. There are only two
thread-size "standards" in wide use- your V2 will use 9/16" thread
pedals (cheaper and kids' bikes use 1/2" thread pedals).

In other words, *any* pedals you order will fit.

To start off, you could order ordinary "rat-trap" pedals:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=8036
and equip them with toe-clips:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=8034
That'll get you started. If you want something slightly more
challenging, many (but not all) recumbent riders like "clipless"
pedals:...

I find toe clips and straps harder to use than "clipless" pedals (e.g.
Shimano SPD). It is also easier to fall over with one's feet trapped in
the pedal with the strap tightened, as it requires reaching down and
manually releasing the tension (why bother with straps at all if one does
not tighten them?) to remove one's foot.

It is also harder to enter a toe clip than it is to "click into" a
clipless pedal.

Power Grips [1] are a better non-clipless solution in my opinion.

[1] <http://powergrips.com/>.

--
Tom Sherman - Rock Island County Illinois
Tetrahedral carbon lattices are not forever.

Tom's advice is good. He knows his pedals and tires.

In the beginning I suggest dual "clipless"/platform pedals such as these:
http://tinyurl.com/2h8yr

Get the SPD shoes/sandals sooner than later. Set the clip retainer for a
easy release in the beginning. If you use sandals keep the retainers at an
easy release point.

skip

If you have never ridden a recumbent before, start with regular platform
pedals, as cheap as you can buy. Ride with these until you are comfortable
with your abilities to handle all other aspects of the bike. During this
time, look closely at what you want to go to next. Talk to people, look at
how and what they use. Don't invest a lot of money up front.
"Scott Prell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:7zOvd.4322$N%6.2299@trnddc05...

Quoted message said:

Just ordered my first recumbent, a RANS V2 Formula. New to high-tech
biking, so I didn't realize the darn thing doesn't come with pedals! (At
least as far as I can tell from the RANS website...)

Is this correct?

If so, PLEASE suggest pedals that I may order...QUICKLY! It would suck to
pick up my bike with no pedals (as you can probably imagine!)

Any help appreciated!

"Scott Prell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:7zOvd.4322$N%6.2299@trnddc05...

Quoted message said:

Just ordered my first recumbent, a RANS V2 Formula. New to high-tech
biking, so I didn't realize the darn thing doesn't come with pedals! (At
least as far as I can tell from the RANS website...)

Is this correct?

If so, PLEASE suggest pedals that I may order...QUICKLY! It would suck to
pick up my bike with no pedals (as you can probably imagine!)

Any help appreciated!

I can only suggest one thing in particular - get decent cycling shoes first
so that the hot spots that come with soft soles shoes like runners do not
happen so quick.

I use regular pedals on my recumbent, and have had no problem with them.

I would recommend as many have to start with regular pedals - or the SPD one
sided so that you can upgrade to clip ins later.

Doug Thomas

$kip said:

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Scott Prell wrote:

>Just ordered my first recumbent, a RANS V2 Formula. New to high-tech

>biking, so I didn't realize the darn thing doesn't come with pedals!

(At

>least as far as I can tell from the RANS website...)
>
>Is this correct?
>
>If so, PLEASE suggest pedals that I may order...QUICKLY! It would

suck to

>pick up my bike with no pedals (as you can probably imagine!)
>
>Any help appreciated!

Pedals are about the only item in the bicycle world that are almost
completely interchangeable across the board. There are only two
thread-size "standards" in wide use- your V2 will use 9/16" thread
pedals (cheaper and kids' bikes use 1/2" thread pedals).

In other words, *any* pedals you order will fit.

To start off, you could order ordinary "rat-trap" pedals:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=8036
and equip them with toe-clips:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=8034
That'll get you started. If you want something slightly more
challenging, many (but not all) recumbent riders like "clipless"
pedals:...

I find toe clips and straps harder to use than "clipless" pedals (e.g.
Shimano SPD). It is also easier to fall over with one's feet trapped in
the pedal with the strap tightened, as it requires reaching down and
manually releasing the tension (why bother with straps at all if one does
not tighten them?) to remove one's foot.

It is also harder to enter a toe clip than it is to "click into" a
clipless pedal.

Power Grips [1] are a better non-clipless solution in my opinion.

[1] <http://powergrips.com/>.

--
Tom Sherman - Rock Island County Illinois
Tetrahedral carbon lattices are not forever.

Tom's advice is good. He knows his pedals and tires.

I have fallen over several times with clips and straps when I was unable
to extricate my foot promptly, even with the strap loosened. It is also
much easier to clip into a "clipless" pedal [1] than it is to enter a
toe clip with straps on it. Good riddance to clips and straps, I say.

Quoted message said:

In the beginning I suggest dual "clipless"/platform pedals such as these:
http://tinyurl.com/2h8yr

The Shimano M-324 (and its predecessor, the M-323) work better on
recumbents than on uprights, since the pedal naturally hangs with the
SPuD cleat facing backwards, making pedal entry easier than on an
upright where the rider has to rotate the pedal before clipping in.

A word of caution: there are generic pedal and clips that are nominally
SPuD compatible, but do not work well with genuine Shimano pedal and
cleats. Entry and exit can be difficult due to binding – I suspect
Shimano has tighter manufacturing tolerances, as the same problems can
occur with badly worn Shimano cleats.

[1] No, it doesn’t make sense, but that is terminology in common use.

--
Tom Sherman - Rock Island County Illinois
Tetrahedral carbon lattices are not forever.