Which pedals: nylon or metal?

(Joe Samangitak) said:

Help me decide on nylon/plastic or metal alloy pedals. My older bike had metal pedals and my newer
bike, a Mongoose hybrid, came with these newer Wellgo nylon pedals; like in the picture below:

harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

Both pedals are of comparable design. Some of the pro's and cons I see between the two are: nylon
pedal lighter (which is good), doesn't spin as easily (which is good), but the teeth will wear out
faster than the metal one (however, its cheap to replace). Only advantage I can see to using the
metal pedal instead is that the teeth don't wear down. Between these two, which would generally be
considered the better pedal?

I just tested this. Wellgo plastic pedals are a bit slippery if any water or lubricant gets on your
shoes or pedals. I switched to Odyssey metal pedals, they are great. Go with metal.

[email hidden] (Joe Samangitak) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Help me decide on nylon/plastic or metal alloy pedals. My older bike had metal pedals and my newer
bike, a Mongoose hybrid, came with these newer Wellgo nylon pedals; like in the picture below:

harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

Both pedals are of comparable design. Some of the pro's and cons I see between the two are: nylon
pedal lighter (which is good), doesn't spin as easily (which is good), but the teeth will wear out
faster than the metal one (however, its cheap to replace). Only advantage I can see to using the
metal pedal instead is that the teeth don't wear down. Between these two, which would generally be
considered the better pedal?

You'll be able to mount toeclips and straps onto a metal pedal. Clips and straps make it *much*
easier to spin higher cadences...and feel better while doing it. Going back to rubber block pedals
after having clips and straps is...unsatifsying.

(although I had to do it, as my present bike has a coaster brake hub)

-Luigi

[email hidden] (Luigi de Guzman) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Joe Samangitak) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Help me decide on nylon/plastic or metal alloy pedals. My older bike had metal pedals and my
newer bike, a Mongoose hybrid, came with these newer Wellgo nylon pedals; like in the picture
below:

harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

Both pedals are of comparable design. Some of the pro's and cons I see between the two are:
nylon pedal lighter (which is good), doesn't spin as easily (which is good), but the teeth will
wear out faster than the metal one (however, its cheap to replace). Only advantage I can see to
using the metal pedal instead is that the teeth don't wear down. Between these two, which would
generally be considered the better pedal?

You'll be able to mount toeclips and straps onto a metal pedal. Clips and straps make it *much*
easier to spin higher cadences...and feel better while doing it. Going back to rubber block pedals
after having clips and straps is...unsatifsying.

I don't believe the Wellgo pedals I described are "rubber block pedals". They have an open cage with
teeth just the same as my metal pedals. Neither pedal has really sharp teeth, like the Odyssey Shark
Bite for example. I do not like clips and straps, I removed them from my pedals, and don't even do
enough long distance cycling to justify their advantages. Any other advantages (or disadvantages) to
using metal pedals over the nylon Wellgo pedals? Is the difference in weight not a factor unless
you're riding competitively?

Quoted message said:

(although I had to do it, as my present bike has a coaster brake hub)

-Luigi

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Joe

Samangitak) said:

Help me decide on nylon/plastic or metal alloy pedals. My older bike had metal pedals and my newer
bike, a Mongoose hybrid, came with these newer Wellgo nylon pedals; like in the picture below:

harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

Both pedals are of comparable design. Some of the pro's and cons I see between the two are: nylon
pedal lighter (which is good), doesn't spin as easily (which is good), but the teeth will wear out
faster than the metal one (however, its cheap to replace). Only advantage I can see to using the
metal pedal instead is that the teeth don't wear down. Between these two, which would generally be
considered the better pedal?

Always the paradigm-breakers, we cyclists.

Why go with either design? If you are resolved against clips/straps and clipless designs, the
current state of the art in flat pedals comes from mountain bike/BMX, where they make these
beautiful flat units with little pegs studded all over the platform. On the better models, the pegs
are very small allen-headed screws, which means when you wear them out you can replace them.

These pedals are remarkably tenacious: step onto them, and your foot will not slide off.

I have found pedals with replaceable pegs at my favourite shop for C$17, which is like US$12.

Looks a bit like this:

harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] sfu.ca~rcousineOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

Quoted message said:

I don't believe the Wellgo pedals I described are "rubber block pedals". They have an open cage
with teeth just the same as my metal pedals. Neither pedal has really sharp teeth, like the
Odyssey Shark Bite for example. I do not like clips and straps, I removed them from my pedals, and
don't even do enough long distance cycling to justify their advantages. Any other advantages (or
disadvantages) to using metal pedals over the nylon Wellgo pedals? Is the difference in weight not
a factor unless you're riding competitively?

Quoted message said:

(although I had to do it, as my present bike has a coaster brake hub)

-Luigi

Nylon is a good material for pedals. Nylon pedals lack cache, but otherwise will be fine for casual
riding without clips and straps. When you scratch 'em, it won't show since the color is though and
through. They are more gentle then metal to objects they rub against like other bikes. And they are
cheap enough so that if you change your mind about attaching your feet to the bike, you won't be out
much money.

Steve Shapiro [email hidden]

"Ryan Cousineau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Joe

Samangitak) said:

Help me decide on nylon/plastic or metal alloy pedals. My older bike had metal pedals and my
newer bike, a Mongoose hybrid, came with these newer Wellgo nylon pedals; like in the picture
below:

harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

Both pedals are of comparable design. Some of the pro's and cons I see between the two are:
nylon pedal lighter (which is good), doesn't spin as easily (which is good), but the teeth will
wear out faster than the metal one (however, its cheap to replace). Only advantage I can see to
using the metal pedal instead is that the teeth don't wear down. Between these two, which would
generally be considered the better pedal?

Always the paradigm-breakers, we cyclists.

Why go with either design? If you are resolved against clips/straps and clipless designs, the
current state of the art in flat pedals comes from mountain bike/BMX, where they make these
beautiful flat units with little pegs studded all over the platform. On the better models, the
pegs are very small allen-headed screws, which means when you wear them out you can replace them.

These pedals are remarkably tenacious: step onto them, and your foot will not slide off.

I have found pedals with replaceable pegs at my favourite shop for C$17, which is like US$12.

Looks a bit like this:

harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] sfu.ca~rcousineOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

I have some Shimano PDMX-30 which are just as you describe. Metal with small allen screw pegs. Comes
with 1 short set installed and another longer set if you want your shoe just about bolted to the
pedal. They stick real well in rain, snow etc. A bit pricy but I put 8k miles per year on my hybrid
and its worth it. I suspect if you do much trail riding they also are very good at removing layers
of skin from your shins

Luigi de Guzman said:

Quoted message said:

harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

You'll be able to mount toeclips and straps onto a metal pedal. Clips

Those pedals look very much like the ones that came on my GT mountain bike back in '97. I had no
problem using clips and straps on those.

BTW, the original poster said he was concerned about the teeth wearing out. I was able to get very
good engagement to the flat pedal, even without the clips and straps, by wearing cheap baseball
cleats gotten for $4 at Wal Mart. In fact, when I used those shoes with the clips and straps, it was
every bit as secure as clipless, without having to reach down and tighten the strap.

That was on plain, flat, plastic pedals, without any teeth at all.

Quoted message said:

and straps make it *much* easier to spin higher cadences...and feel better while doing it. Going
back to rubber block pedals after having clips and straps is...unsatifsying.

Clips and straps are good, until you get used to clipless... 😉

Quoted message said:

(although I had to do it, as my present bike has a coaster brake hub)

-Luigi

--
Rick Onanian

In article said:

Quoted message said:

I have found pedals with replaceable pegs at my favourite shop for C$17, which is like US$12.

Looks a bit like this:

harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] sfu.ca~rcousineOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni
Fan Club

I have some Shimano PDMX-30 which are just as you describe. Metal with small allen screw pegs.
Comes with 1 short set installed and another longer set if you want your shoe just about bolted to
the pedal. They stick real well in rain, snow etc. A bit pricy but I put 8k miles per year on my
hybrid and its worth it. I suspect if you do much trail riding they also are very good at removing
layers of skin from your shins

Yes. They're the universal choice of MTBers who don't use clipless. Note that this is primarily a
freeride tool, and that most freeriders are aready wearing shin armor.

But except for clips and straps, I can't think of a pedal model that will both hold your foot well
and not make a big mess if you hit your shin against it.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] sfu.ca~rcousineOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

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

Quoted message said:

(Joe Samangitak) said:

Help me decide on nylon/plastic or metal alloy pedals. My older bike had metal pedals and my
newer bike, a Mongoose hybrid, came with these newer Wellgo nylon pedals; like in the
picture below:

harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

Both pedals are of comparable design. Some of the pro's and cons I see between the two are: nylon
pedal lighter (which is good), doesn't spin as easily (which is good), but the teeth will wear
out faster than the metal one (however, its cheap to replace). Only advantage I can see to using
the metal pedal instead is that the teeth don't wear down. Between these two, which would
generally be considered the better pedal?

I just tested this. Wellgo plastic pedals are a bit slippery if any water or lubricant gets on
your shoes or pedals. I switched to Odyssey metal pedals, they are great. Go with metal.

I agree. Nylon can be downright dangerous when wet. Metal pedals have better grip and are much more
durable. What's more important than that?

Since I don't know your riding habbits, that's about all I can say. Like others have said, look at
downhill/BMX style platforms.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Luigi de Guzman) said:

I've actually never seen anyone with nylon/rubber pedals and clips/straps....

My most recent foundling acquistion actually came with rubber flatties with clips. I subsequently
bought a pair of straps for it. I'm used to metal pedals myself, so the rubber ones feel funny.
Believe it or not, I even took the trouble to overhaul the bearings in those cheap pedals. They're
as good as new, now.

...

Quoted message said:

at the moment, the next major bike-related buy will be a new 7-speed freewheel (and maybe cables,
etc) for the old Raleigh, then a schmidt hub dynamo and associated lights for the 'home'
bike....but the latter might have to wait until I get enough cash together to fund it.

I'm all too familiar with that situation, myself. Nevertheless, I've trimmed my wish list down to
just one item -- a big whack of money :-)

cheers, Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn
[point] bc [point] ca

Rick Onanian <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Luigi de Guzman said:

Quoted message said:

harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

You'll be able to mount toeclips and straps onto a metal pedal. Clips

Those pedals look very much like the ones that came on my GT mountain bike back in '97. I had no
problem using clips and straps on those.

I've actually never seen anyone with nylon/rubber pedals and clips/straps....

Quoted message said:

BTW, the original poster said he was concerned about the teeth wearing out. I was able to get very
good engagement to the flat pedal, even without the clips and straps, by wearing cheap baseball
cleats gotten for $4 at Wal Mart. In fact, when I used those shoes with the clips and straps, it
was every bit as secure as clipless, without having to reach down and tighten the strap.

That was on plain, flat, plastic pedals, without any teeth at all.

And besides, you could dig deep and beat the tag at second... *grin*

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and straps make it *much* easier to spin higher cadences...and feel better while doing it. Going
back to rubber block pedals after having clips and straps is...unsatifsying.

Clips and straps are good, until you get used to clipless... 😉

I'm sure. At the moment though I'm shie-ing away from the whole clipless thing... being able to jump
on the bike with any shoes I happen to have on is a plus; having to put on a particular pair of
shoes just to get on the bike is a bit much for me at this point. After my crash I can see the
safety benefit of clipless (had I been strapped in, I would have tumbled with the bike and god only
knows how beat-up I would have been) but that still doesn't sell it to me. Can't go to church in
cleated shoes, after all.

at the moment, the next major bike-related buy will be a new 7-speed freewheel (and maybe cables,
etc) for the old Raleigh, then a schmidt hub dynamo and associated lights for the 'home' bike....but
the latter might have to wait until I get enough cash together to fund it.

-Luigi

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

...

Quoted message said:

I'm sure. At the moment though I'm shie-ing away from the whole clipless thing... being able to
jump on the bike with any shoes I happen to have on is a plus; having to put on a particular pair
of shoes just to get on the bike is a bit much for me at this point. After my crash I can see the
safety benefit of clipless (had I been strapped in, I would have tumbled with the bike and god
only knows how beat-up I would have been) but that still doesn't sell it to me. Can't go to church
in cleated shoes, after all.

FYI, Shimano makes a double-sided pedal, with a standard platform on one side, and SPD-compatible
mechanism on the other side. You can also get (from Nashbar, etc) a gizmo which clips into your spd
pedals and gives you a standard platform to use with regular shoes.

--
David Kerber An optimist says "Good morning, Lord." While a pessimist says "Good Lord,
it's morning".

Remove the ns_ from the address before e-mailing.

Ryan Cousineau said:

But except for clips and straps, I can't think of a pedal model that will both hold your foot well
and not make a big mess if you hit your shin against it.

1. Clipless pedals -- not all of them will destroy your shin

2. Shoes with ballsy soles, with less aggressive plastic pedals -- Baseball cleats worked for me,
but golf shoes (with their replacable metal spikes) would do even better

--
Rick Onanian

Luigi de Guzman said:

I've actually never seen anyone with nylon/rubber pedals and clips/straps....

You never saw me, back then; I rode on and off road with them.

Quoted message said:

I'm sure. At the moment though I'm shie-ing away from the whole clipless thing... being able to
jump on the bike with any shoes I happen to have on is a plus; having to put on a particular pair
of shoes just to get on the bike is a bit much for me at this point. After

No problem, and cheaply done at that: Nashbar item NS-DHP nashbar.comprofile.cfmOpen ↗
ry=108&subcategory=1078&brand=&sku=2447&storetype=&estoreid=

If these are anywhere near as good as the "Nashbar Special SPDs" that I ride...then great. I expect
these ARE those pedals that I ride, with the addition of a platform.

I have the Shimano pedals that look just like the ones I reccommend above, and they are great
regardless of which shoes I wear. Easy entry/release, too.

Quoted message said:

my crash I can see the safety benefit of clipless (had I been strapped in, I would have tumbled
with the bike and god only knows how beat-up I would have been) but that still doesn't sell it to
me. Can't go to church in cleated shoes, after all.

There are multitudes of SPD shoes you _can_ wear to church, without looking, sounding, or feeling
bad, unless you mean real dress shoes; but I expect you wouldn't wear really nice Sunday dress
clothes on a bike, even on the way to church.

I could easily be wrong about that.

Quoted message said:

-Luigi

--
Rick Onanian

Rick Onanian said:

Luigi de Guzman said:

I've actually never seen anyone with nylon/rubber pedals and clips/straps....

You never saw me, back then; I rode on and off road with them.

Quoted message said:

I'm sure. At the moment though I'm shie-ing away from the whole clipless thing... being able to
jump on the bike with any shoes I happen to have on is a plus; having to put on a particular
pair of shoes just to get on the bike is a bit much for me at this point. After

No problem, and cheaply done at that: Nashbar item NS-DHP nashbar.comprofile.cfmOpen ↗
gory=108&subcategory=1078&brand=&sku=2447&storetype=&estoreid=

If these are anywhere near as good as the "Nashbar Special SPDs" that I ride...then great. I
expect these ARE those pedals that I ride, with the addition of a platform.

I have the Shimano pedals that look just like the ones I reccommend above, and they are great
regardless of which shoes I wear. Easy entry/release, too.

Quoted message said:

my crash I can see the safety benefit of clipless (had I been strapped in, I would have tumbled
with the bike and god only knows how beat-up I would have been) but that still doesn't sell it
to me. Can't go to church in cleated shoes, after all.

There are multitudes of SPD shoes you _can_ wear to church, without looking, sounding, or feeling
bad, unless you mean real dress shoes; but I expect you wouldn't wear really nice Sunday dress
clothes on a bike, even on the way to church.

I could easily be wrong about that.

Quoted message said:

-Luigi

--
Rick Onanian

I ride my old mtn bike with toe clips less straps on black non metal pedals, and ride the Marin
hybrid with metal Wellgo pedals with Mt. Zefal toe cups. No problems with either one. Riding this
way feels so much more secure than doing without. Of course I can and do ride in whatever footwear I
care to use at the time, from dress shoes to hiking boots. Right now barefoot sandals are tops tho.
I refurbished an old pair of all metal pedals last winter as well. They work like new! Hard to
believe, even though they are cheap enough to use and abuse and throw away, they could be brought
back to fully functional in about 20 minutes tinkering (each side) :-}. However you do it, enjoy the
ride. Bernie

In article said:

Ryan Cousineau said:

But except for clips and straps, I can't think of a pedal model that will both hold your foot
well and not make a big mess if you hit your shin against it.

1. Clipless pedals -- not all of them will destroy your shin

Yeah, I guess a Speedplay pedal might be okay, though I still wouldn't want it to hit my shin. Most
mainstream pedals, SPDs for sure (I can prove it...) will take a nasty chunk out of your shin.

Quoted message said:

2. Shoes with ballsy soles, with less aggressive plastic pedals -- Baseball cleats worked for me,
but golf shoes (with their replacable metal spikes) would do even better

Hm. Interesting idea. Maybe this will be the latest trend.

But that last solution means you need funny shoes, just like clipless. Most people with pegged
platform pedals are using them either because they don't want to be attached to their bicycle--they
are already wearing shin guards. The rest are using them because they work with street shoes. They
aren't wearing shin guards, but they don't want to wear funny shoes. If they're really worried about
their shins, these people just go to rubber block pedals and take the grip penalty.

If I was going to set up a bike for use in civilian shoes, I'd pick pegged platforms. rubber pedals
would annoy me, and my experience with road bike leads me to believe that I wouldn't bang my shins
against the pedals often enough to matter.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] sfu.ca~rcousineOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

Rick Onanian <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

There are multitudes of SPD shoes you _can_ wear to church, without looking, sounding, or feeling
bad, unless you mean real dress shoes; but I expect you wouldn't wear really nice Sunday dress
clothes on a bike, even on the way to church.

I could easily be wrong about that.

at home, it's not very far to ride, so yes, I do. In the absence of a trouser clip, the old London
commuter trick of tucking the cuffs of your trousers into your socks works in a pinch.

Also, oddly, nice dress shoes make passable cycling shoes; it's the stiff sole, see...

-luigi

Ryan Cousineau said:

In article said:

Ryan Cousineau said:

But except for clips and straps, I can't think of a pedal model that will both hold your foot
well and not make a big mess if you hit your shin against it.

1. Clipless pedals -- not all of them will destroy your shin

Yeah, I guess a Speedplay pedal might be okay, though I still wouldn't want it to hit my
shin. Most mainstream pedals, SPDs for sure (I can prove it...) will take a nasty chunk out
of your shin.

Quoted message said:

2. Shoes with ballsy soles, with less aggressive plastic pedals -- Baseball cleats worked for
me, but golf shoes (with their replacable metal spikes) would do even better

Hm. Interesting idea. Maybe this will be the latest trend.

But that last solution means you need funny shoes, just like clipless. Most people with pegged
platform pedals are using them either because they don't want to be attached to their
bicycle--they are already wearing shin guards. The rest are using them because they work with
street shoes. They aren't wearing shin guards, but they don't want to wear funny shoes. If they're
really worried about their shins, these people just go to rubber block pedals and take the grip
penalty.

If I was going to set up a bike for use in civilian shoes, I'd pick pegged platforms. rubber
pedals would annoy me, and my experience with road bike leads me to believe that I wouldn't bang
my shins against the pedals often enough to matter.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] sfu.ca~rcousineOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

Geez! I keep telling you. Just use toe clips less straps or Mt. Zefal toe cups. Any shoe will fit,
you won't slip out, will spin as fast as you choose, even on rough ground, rr tracks, whatever and
will not lose your footing on the pedal. What's wrong with that? Bernie

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

Quoted message said:

Geez! I keep telling you. Just use toe clips less straps or Mt. Zefal

toe

Quoted message said:

cups. Any shoe will fit, you won't slip out, will spin as fast as you

choose,

Quoted message said:

even on rough ground, rr tracks, whatever and will not lose your footing

on the

Quoted message said:

pedal. What's wrong with that?

I suppose it depends on how often you ride with toe clips and straps. I tried out those toe cups
for a few weeks. I kept forgetting that just because I had some pressure on my toe it did not mean
that I could pull up. I had a number of incidents where I tried to pull up and ended up getting
all squirrelly when my foot lifted completely of the pedal. I went back to full clips and straps
on my commuter.

The big trick for me is to use mountain clips which have a wider top to spread the strap. I ride
in everything from cross-trainers to dress shoes and rarely have a problem. It also helps that I
use an aggressive all-metal "rat-trap" style pedal. I found that nylon pedals get a little too
slick when combined with certain shoes. Of course, I still have clipless pedals on my mountain and
road bikes....

-Buck