Stupid pedals!

[Spooly]

Hi all i got my first road bike couple of weeks back now its a carrera virtuoso 2011/2012 from Halfords. It came with pedals...well i think thats what they pathetically attempt to be! anyway they have the straps on them and i can only get one foot in and then just put up with the other not being in. after a while the unstrapped foot kills as the pedal is upside down .

anybody know of a decent pedal? or have any up for grabs?

cheers
Matt

 

[paul04]

That was the 1st job I did when I got my bike from halfords, swap the pedals, I just got some cheap pedals from the local bike shop for £6.
Then a week later I got some clipless pedals from wiggle (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/)
Pedals in halfords start from £9.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_566835_langId_-1_categoryId_165566

 

[vickster]

How much money do you have to spend, reasonable flat pedals start at around £10, e.g. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5207

or cheaper http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=84499

Lots of people happily ride with straps, just make sure they are very loose, takes practice

 

[Nigelnaturist]

How much money do you have to spend, reasonable flat pedals start at around £10, e.g. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5207

or cheaper http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=84499

Lots of people happily ride with straps, just make sure they are very loose, takes practice

I get on with them fine, takes a bit of practice getting the foot in that you set of from.

 

[simmi]

Go for clipless they are a revelation got my first set for new a bike a few weeks ago.
Shimano Clipless Spd A520 Pedals, bought Shimano R064 SPD-SL Road Shoes Black 43 to go with them but have since had to fork out for a new pair in a 44 wide, an expensive mistake.
Oh and the first time you go out in the remember to twist your ankle out to release

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

I've done 4000 miles on cheap toeclip pedals over the past 2.5 years.
In this past week i've fitted clipless pedals on my three bikes and love them!!

The only downside ... my cycling shoes are for summer use, and with two pairs of socks on this mornings 30 miler at -2c
was painful on the toes.
Also the "two sided" pedals on the mountain bike "self level" cleat side up, which is annoying when i'm cycling home in work shoes.

 

[simmi]

The only downside ... my cycling shoes are for summer use, and with two pairs of socks on this mornings 30 miler at -2c

Yeah get the same, have bought overshoes and sealskinz socks, better but still a few white toes after 33 miles

 

[mrandmrspoves]

I agree with the advice to go for SPD's Matt - but before you go that route keep persevering with what you have. Pedals with toe clips take some getting used to and the secret is to just use your toes to flip the pedal over and then insert your foot. Make sure the straps are not too tight to impede your foot going in or out.
Strangely SPD's are referred to as Clipless (because they don't have toe clips) even though you clip in to them.

 

[Spooly]

the straps make it top heavy so it just naturally want to go to the floor when i spin it over with my foot should they spin so easily ??

 

[Nigelnaturist]

the straps make it top heavy so it just naturally want to go to the floor when i spin it over with my foot should they spin so easily ??

If they didn't spin easily they would create more friction and take some of the energy you create away from going to the rear wheel.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

the straps make it top heavy so it just naturally want to go to the floor when i spin it over with my foot should they spin so easily ??

Yes, that's normal.
I usually kept my right foot in and got quiet adept at "launching" by pushing down on the "upsidedown" left while pulling up with the
already clipped in right, then once moving at 8-10mph i'd flip the left pedal and in.
My straps were set to "slightly grip" my shoes and i never altered them, (unless using different shoes).

 

[Easytigers]

+1 for clipless. Have Shimano M520s on both my bikes. They're reliable and easy to clip and out of. Had my reservations at first but once I got them on (and fell over slowly...you'll find out) they're brilliant!

 

[PpPete]

It took me a long time to learn how to flip the pedals over so as to get into toe-clips... and I persevered with it for many years.
Finally, and with great trepidation, I bought some cheap Lidl shoes and some M520s.
OMG - so much easier
And you can ignore anyone who suggests MTB pedals on a road bike is just wrong.... actually you can do or say anything you like to them, however big they are, because in MTB shoes you can run away faster than anyone in Road shoes

 

[Spooly]

cool thanks for the advice guys . i think ill just stick with the pedals that came with it until the weather warms up again. anybody else have the same bike as me ?

 

[Alex808]

Hmm I here'd halfords road bikes are really good value, the mountain bikes I know are shocking but how are the road bikes? Apparently there really good