|   Pedal question: flats vs. cages | Fabulous
Dec 19, 2001 9:54 PM | | I was just looking at the pros' bikes on biketrials.com, and noticed that the majority of them use cages instead of BMX style flats. Is there anyone out there who's tried both types, and can explain? Is it purely a weight issue, or is the grip really better? It seems like drops would be easier to take on a larger platform instead of a cage. The reason I ask is that my Wellgo B27's are constantly working loose, and I was looking at a pair of VP double cages.. anyone have any input on this decision? Thanks in advance-
Nick |
| re: Pedal question: flats vs. cages | Dog Welder
Dec 19, 2001 11:35 PM | | This is my thoughts. I've got a cheapon set of Wellgo cages that grip like mofos. But when i comes to doing long trackstands most of my weight are on the cages, a smaller surface area,and after a while my feet hurt to the point where I can't hold the track stand. I've had a set of Haro BIg blocks lying around and I tried those out, and i find that I like them better because its a bigger pedal with pins so that my weight is distributed. I think it all depends on your style. the cages were great for everything except extended trackstands which of course isn't a move you hold for more than a few seconds. Problem with pins is taht there are many different styles of pins. I've noticed that there are basically two types. screw types with threads on the side and an hex hole on top,Easton Cullys, Atom Labs air corp to name a few. second type are usually shorter but bigger in diameter polished pins that are screwed in from the bottom, Haros, Sun Zu-Zu. Screw type's in my opinion grip better be cause they are samller in diameter but are REAL easy to bash in. And although they say they are replaceable, 1. I haven't found a single bike shop that stocks them nor do many Mail order places stock them. 2. I've slammed my eastons hard enough that the pin bent at the base making them VERY difficult to remove. Polished pins are more difficult to bend becasue they are bigger and shorter, they are just as hard to find replce menst for but so far I've never bent one, down side is that they don't grip as well though I've found as I've gotten better I dont' notice it that much. Hope this helps |
| re: Pedal question: flats vs. cages | grandma
Dec 20, 2001 4:55 AM | | The advantages of platform pedals are mainly for jumping stuff like one foot or no foot moves. When getting the feet back on the pedals for landing chances are your foot is gonna land on the small side of the pedal and stay there. This is especially with thick cages. Then when actually landing the pedal might turn 90 degrees causing your foot to go off and eventually you crash.
With platform pedals beeing flatter and parallelogram style the pedal will turn automatically when placing your foot back on.
This benefit you will not need riding trials.
When riding trials you may often place the pedal on a concrete bench kind of obstacle and hop of from this position. This causes alot of stress on the pins bending them or even ripping them out of the pedal.
Even bending can destroy or widen the thread in the pedal body thus even if you get replacement pins (which is rather difficult but some pedals like primo already come with some extra pins) they will not fit or hold anymore.
I guess that is the main reason for not using platform pedals for trials and maybe because they are abit cheaper and offer more grip on obstacles but not neccessarily on your foot.
Grip on your foot and feeling of the pedals is just personal preference but the main benefits are the above mentioned.
hope this helps your decision
grandma |
| My experiences... | AndyT
Dec 20, 2001 9:29 AM | | For my first year of trials riding I used those VP double caged pedals and I thought they were the greatest thing on earth. Then I got some Planet X platform pedals and they blew my mind! They grip so well that in the 5 months I have had them they haven't slipped once. They also have a MUCH wider surface area and I feel more planted on my bike. They did eat up my shoes but its been worth it. With the double caged VPs you get a SUPER light pedal for really cheap and you can replace them often. They don't grip as well as some platforms and they are horrible when they are wet but they are light and cheap and this makes them desirable. I have sheered of all of the pins from my left pedal (the one I land on things with) which is about 8 or so pins per side but this has been since riding them during the summer so I would expect them to die out. It's all a matter of personal preference- try them both...You'll probably be converted as I was! |
| re: Pedal question: flats vs. cages | Regder
Dec 20, 2001 9:25 PM | | just to back up what everyone has been saying so far. The VP pedals are pretty light (and can get lighter if you take out the inner cage as most pros do) but they aren't all that comfortable under your foot and the cages get mashed pretty easily. I like platforms a lot, even the cheap ones work well. As long as they have a large base I'm happy, something the VP pedals lack. Your shoes will stick to both of them so that's not really a factor |
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