Interbike trends: Flat pedal resurgence – VeloNews.com Interbike trends: Flat pedal resurgence | Bike Self Locking Pedals

Crankbrothers takes a very unique approach toward their flat pedals. Rather than making a single pedal for everyone, they make them available in different sizes based on foot size. The large Stamp pedals that I tested are designed for US shoe sizes 10-15.

None of this is to say that I’m above putting on unsophisticated music in order to psyche myself up for a ride; in fact, I was listening to Carcass while wrangling myself into a pair of bib shorts as recently as two weeks ago. And while you may now not be able to unsee that horrendous image, at least I had the decency to do it in the privacy of my own home.

OneUp’s aluminium flat pedal offering delivers super sharp and grippy pins with variable heights for their location on the pedal and a super thin and large platform for maximum clearance and stability, making it a cool contender. It’s not quite up there with some of the best in terms of grip and shape, but then its cheaper than some and despite the minor bearing roughness from the get-go, they’ve been hammered in the muck since with no further deterioration. The pins thread through from the opposite side too meaning they can still be removed and/or replaced when you’ve knackered the sharp end. All in all, a very good flat pedal with well thought out features and a reasonable price tag.

Usually a variant on one of two basic shapes: full-length axle and three-quarter (ish) axle. Full-length axle bodies have an end cap on the outer end, then a hole all the way through it to the crank end (the DMR, Superstar, and Spank pedals in this grouptest are examples of this). It’s a simple and time-tested design that’s typically, but not always, built around bigger and more long-lived moving components than thinner pedals have.

Bottom line, says a national e-bike advocate, is that bicycling in general has to become safer and be perceived as being safe for a substantial increase in participation. Meantime, says a Portland State University transportation research expert, e-bikes will become a bigger player in the Portland-metro area multi-modal scene.

The XC5s are available in either black (as tested) or a lighter grey/orange option. Additional laces are provided, with our black sample supplied with both orange and grey laces. The shoes span a size range of EU38-50, all in a single width option. A women’s-specific version is available too, spanning sizes EU36-44 and in a black/magenta colourway.

“I have had a few weird squeaks coming from the worn metal faceplate, but a drop of chain lube quietens them down for a few months.”

Moving away from cross country shoes other mountain bike shoes have more flexible footbeds, making them better all rounder’s for comfortable trail riding, the odd bit of walking or hike-a-biking and also offering more grip on larger platform pedals like these Crankbrothers Mallet E pedals. Something like the Giro Manta is a typical trail shoe design, it has the tidy looks of an XC shoe, it’s pretty light, fends off weather well and is stiff without being impractically so.

That difference is a factor in which system’s best for you. If you’re clipping and unclipping a lot — while commuting, for example — then the easier clip-in action of two-bolt systems means you won’t find yourself fumbling with the pedals as you set off from the lights.

Well TimothyD you’re right and for road riding where you basically hold a position for most of the time I can see how that works. For mtb where you’re changing position all the time I just have concluded that flats are better for riding and better for your knees.

As CXR94Di2 has demonstrated and I can confirm that road shifters do work with the XT mechs, but as I said you must use front and rear. I took my advice from CXR94Di2

“I was skeptical when the Blades first came out a few years ago, but I’ve liked them so far. I’ve used Look or Look-compatible pedals for most of the time I’ve been riding, with a couple of forays into Time and (Shimano) SPD-SL.”