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A riding buddy needs to get rid of his plastic pedals, he wants some good flats.
Can someone recommend a set of cheap but grippy flats, preferably not ones with cheese bearings ?
I ride SPD's so cant help him. He was looking at some Crank Bros ones, I suggested there may be alternatives he could consider. Ones that will work a couple of British winters without disintegrating.
preferably not ones with cheese bearings ?...............He was looking at some Crank Bros ones
Does not compute.
Absolutely loving my Deity Deftraps at the moment. Oodles of grip, nice platform, and seen pretty damn tough. Only had them about 6 months but bearings are fine so far.
By plastic pedals do you mean cheap plastic pedals without metal pins?
Because composite / plastic body pedals with metal pins are actually pretty good. I really like Nukeproof Neutrons. Light good grip and only £35
CRC / Wiggle have them in stock
Another vote for the Dietys - plastic pedals ftw
Well he had some (cheap) plastic ones with little plastic lumps sticking out for grip. He kept slipping off them.
But if you guys (with experience) are saying plastic is fine so long as they have metal pins, then I'm sure that's fine. I've no personal experience.
Nukeproof neutrons. They are lighter than most metal pedals cost a 1/4 of the price and last just as well.
I had burgtec penthouse mk4 (metal) on an old bike. I have just purchased another pair of neutrons for a new build. I couldn’t tell the difference between the burgtec and nukeproof so saved the cash.
But if you guys (with experience) are saying plastic is fine so long as they have metal pins, then I’m sure that’s fine. I’ve no personal experience.
TBH we're being a bit faceious, not all plastics and pedals are the same. I'm sure the factories producing them would also slap us for implying they were simply plastic too. e.g. the Dietys mentioned are a tad more serious than the kind of crap that gets shipped with a new bike
Composite body with metal pins from a decent manufacturer are very different to the cheap all plastic pedals you get free with bikes.
The good examples are light weight and gripy and usually cost much less than a metal body.
Durability is different to a metal body. When skimming over obstacles the plastic can have less friction and sides over rocks etc better than a metal design. But when smashing into things the pin holes can get damaged more so you can’t thread a new pin as often as a metal body. So depending on the impact type they will react and deal with the impact differently.
Nukeproof and Superstar pedals are often recommended on here and are towards the cheaper side. Burgtec and Deity are also mentioned here a bit and usually cost a little bit more.
Similar to the Neutrons, I've been impressed by the DMR V11 so far. Too early to comment on longevity yet though.
OK, thanks guys. I will send him a link to Nukeproof and Superstar. Then look forward to next weekends ride where he doesn't slip off the bike (much).
I no longer really use flats, but have a pair of DMR V12 and a pair of V8s knocking around in the spare parts box. I would recommend either of these.
What shoes is he using? A proper pair of MTB flat pedal shoes and some proper flat pedals will result in grip like a limpet stuck to a rock. And gouged shins on the first shin smack.
Yeah, you're much less likely to slip off the pedals with proper grippy metal pins but when you do its like walking into a cheese grater!
Most of my shin injuries are caused when off the bike and walking around with it, much more likely to bash my shin into it than when on it. 🙂
i’ve just bought some xt flats. the are comfy underfoot and have a pretty large platform. they feel pretty bombproof, too.
the supplied pins are either too short or viciously long.
Also very happy with my Nukeproof Neutrons. Raceface Chesters are another composite that seem to be well regarded. Was a toss up between the two when I got mine.
That said, a bite to my left shin sustained in November has fully healed only this month. 🙁
Similar to the Neutrons, I’ve been impressed by the DMR V11 so far. Too early to comment on longevity yet though.
Exactly the same as you. I thought I'd try the V11s and so far I like them .I like the contour which helps for a consistent foot placement quickly. As to longlevity.... time will tell.
Cheap and good superstar. Bombproof then you have to say hope f20s. But they aren’t the grippiest.
Been though loads and oneup are my favourite. Have metal ones on the big bike and plastic ones on the trail bike
Personal preference but I like my Superstar Nano Evos - got 2 pairs of them and they seem pretty good. Using them generally with 5-10 freeriders - but also sometimes with Adidas Terrex. The freeriders grip better.
I use the Raceface Chester 'plastic' (composite) pedals - they're very hardy. I've given them my fair share of pedal strikes and they're fine. Grip a shit tonne too.
Burgtec Mk4's here and they're excellent, even in my Samba Supers and they used to be terrible on flats!
Burgtec composites here. Ive smacked them a fair bit and bent pins but the body is tough and they have been fine with new pins in. For £36 they are great.
For wide feet (if your friend happens to have wide feet) the nukeproof horizon pedals are great. I just swapped out a set of composite Bergtec for them, the only thing I didn't like about the Bergtec was the width as I have wide feet, everything else was great.