[Closed] New flat pedals- axles quite stiff. Do they need breaking in?

Yes IME

The shimano ones were probably running on open ball bearings, the new pedals probably run on at least one bushing to deal with radial loads (your bodyweight / pedaling) and a cartrige bearing to deal with axial loads (cornering).

bit of grease?

I don't know about stiff, but my SS Nanos certainly don't spin easily, which is how it should be IMO.

They will wear in a bit. My Vaults didn't spin freely by hand, but now they are a tad looser, the left one moreso for some reason? If they feel fine to ride but don't spin much that's ok. If you can feel it pedalling then maybe get inside them to back off the bearing compression nut.

Did you get the 5tens?

SS Nanos

These are the ones that I have...but why?

Surely it takes more energy for your legs to rotate the pedals?

Did you get the 5tens?

Nukeproofs here, they're a little stiff. You get perhaps one rotation if you flick them by hand. Not like my bikes as a kid, they just kept spinning for ages.

These are the ones that I have...but why?

Surely it takes more energy for your legs to rotate the pedals?

It's so when you pull a superman on your lokal skillz spot the pedalz are still ready for you to plant your feet, innit bruv.

hora - Member

Surely it takes more energy for your legs to rotate the pedals?

An unnoticably tiny difference, but yeah.

They'll break in though.

It's so when you pull a superman on your lokal skillz spot the pedalz are still ready for you to plant your feet, innit bruv.

Either that or you don't want them spinning ferociously like a shin band-saw with those teeth coming towards you 😆

I couldn't get on with the bearings in the DXs. A pain to adjust ime

The pins are almost impossible to remove, even from new and the short ones offer no grip when it's wet.
Heavy and fat (tall). I could go on.

My least favourite Shimano product ever, sorry.

I meant the Shimano DX spds

Just re-read the your op. Some big landings to flat will shake them loose.

FS: DX flats. One frustrated owner!

Been quite a mission this swapping to flats hasn’t it... When I tried them it went like this:-

Bought flat pedals.
Fitted flat pedals.
Put skate shoes with waffle sole on.
Went for a ride.

Didn’t like it.

Put trusty 520's back on.

My process went like this:-

Bought Flat Pedals
Fittes Flats
Put shimano flat shoes on
Went for a ride

Did't like it

Persevered

Now never going back to spd's.

hora, my superstar nanos were noticeably less freely spinning than the DMR V8s they replaced. a few months in, they move a little easier but not loads. it's not a problem, tbh i prefer them to be like this than spinning all over the place.

My process went like this:-

Bought Flat Pedals
Fittes Flats
Put shimano flat shoes on
Went for a ride

Did't like it

Persevered

Now never going back to spd's.

If it ain't broke don't fix it, there is nothing being clipped is stopping me doing.

tinsy - Member

Went for a ride.
Didn’t like it.

If you really didn't give it a chance or put in the time to adapt, why even bother? It's like the damn fools that fall off once because of their SPDs and decide it's not for them, as if it doesn't get better.

I was not trying to start a debate just pointing out that trying them is not hard to do.

FWIW I only tried them as I had a knee opp & still had stitches in, I thought it would save me twisting to get my foot unclipped, it was not a fair test really, but I just did not like the not being attached feeling.

Each to their own.

I got a cheap pair of flat pedals (that were still ok-ish), rode in my trainers. Found it difficult and didn't like it - which told me I needed to practice more.
Eventually got some good shoes. Learned to love flat pedals
Then got some good pedals.

You are really overthinking something which is very simple.

I wouldn't worry about the pedal being a bit stiff sapping your energy. Can you rotate them by hand? Now imagine how much more power your feet generate.