The Street > The Bike Shop
Pedal design devolving?
JFax:
Im in a food coma after eating way too many tacos. In my state of distress I fled to my safe haven on the sofa and started thinking.
When I started riding some 10-15 odd years ago all entry level bikes came with cheap wellgo plastic pedals. One of the first upgrades the kids who got hooked on riding got was to get aluminum pedals. The most sought for pedal were the sealed magnesium pedals.
As the Twisted PCs had a sudden second rise some years ago the high end designs have given way to the mass of cheap plastic pedals. While I myself have retreated to the plastics due to it being easier on my shins, easier on my wallet and arguably lighter I cant stop thinking about the turn of the market as a whole.
So while many companies try to slightly improve on the design I still feel like the market has devolved. The recent trend is, in a way, a further devolvement as also the bearings are removed.
Idk, mostly just a thought. What do you guys think? Has the turn to cheap wear and tear products hindered companies in making more refined designs/products?
@ss4oLe:
Hard to improve on the DX style/shape.
I seriously have tacos 6 days a week.
Kram 101:
I somehow went a month without tacos. Never again.
I think the biggest thing is price. I've got a set of unsealed aluminum trailmix pedals because I won't ride plastic pedals but didn't went to spend a crazy amount on something I know is going to get trashed. I really like the slim aluminum pedals like the Diety's and others but can't justify spending $100+ on something I step on.
cmc4130:
--- Quote from: JFax on February 19, 2015, 04:05:27 PM ---. . . Has the turn to cheap wear and tear products hindered companies in making more refined designs/products?
--- End quote ---
Yes. But, maybe BMX has also had a tendency for low-tech, at least on certain things.
1. Seatposts and seats. Sure, pivotal is "simple," but the mtb and road worlds still have high quality microadjust posts.
2. Grips i.e. not lock-on. They exist, but it tends to be the bmx race scene that actually use them. http://www.jrbicycles.com/storefront/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=313 Empire offers no lock-on grips: http://www.empirebmx.com/catalog/grips
3. Helmets. Once again the street/park/trails side of things only offers the pro-tec style skate helmet.
http://www.empirebmx.com/catalog/helmets whereas bmx racing has full face options https://www.jrbicycles.com/storefront/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=140. It's not like airing 12 feet out of concrete bowls is any safer for your head, it's just a (sub)cultural thing.
As far as pedals, the mtb world (esp. DH/Freeride/Slope) has been progressing right along. There are a ton of platform pedals to choose from, all claiming various kinds of tech advantages..... http://www.jensonusa.com/Search?q=platform pedals#brm-search?request_type=search&search_type=keyword&q=platform%20pedals&l=platform%20pedals
Prodigal Son:
I refuse to believe that plastic pedal are safer for my shins. There isn't any difference in the area and contours smacking your shins. If anything, I get hit in the shin more when my shit loses its grip and all my friends that have plastic have a slick ground down side.
Does anyone actually think the plastic can deform to your shin and absorb some of the impact?
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