Which pedals: nylon or metal?

(Joe Samangitak) wrote in message om...
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:

http://harriscyclery.net/site/page.c...=49&SKU=PD1037

Both pedals are of comparable design. Some of the pro's and cons I see
between the two a 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

(Luigi de Guzman) wrote in message . com...
(Joe Samangitak) wrote in message om...
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:

http://harriscyclery.net/site/page.c...=49&SKU=PD1037

Both pedals are of comparable design. Some of the pro's and cons I see
between the two a 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?





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

-Luigi

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?





(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

On 17 Aug 2003 11:41:27 -0700, Luigi de Guzman wrote:
http://harriscyclery.net/site/page.c...=49&SKU=PD1037

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.

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...

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

-Luigi
--
Rick Onanian

Rick Onanian wrote in message ...
On 17 Aug 2003 11:41:27 -0700, Luigi de Guzman wrote:
http://harriscyclery.net/site/page.c...=49&SKU=PD1037

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....


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*


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 ,
(Luigi de Guzman) writes:

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.

....

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

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In article ,
says...

....

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.

Rick Onanian wrote in message ...

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

Who cares, either metal or nylon are both poor. The design is what
counts and it is just bad. Why don't you look at the progress of pedal
design over the last 50 years, say clips.


David Kerber wrote in message ...
In article ,
says...

...

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.