New Commuter questions: pedals and headsets

[d_douglas]

Hi folks,

In a fun diversion from high-tech/hydro/11spd/etc., I am building a new commuter. 7spd Deore DX with cantilever brakes! I have a couple of questions for ya'll

1) I need new flat pedals and am trying to do this on the cheap, so no $150 Canfield superlight things here. I am a clipless person, but my old commuter (RIP) had junk flats that I have kinda grown to appreciate - work shoes/hiking shoes/flipflops are all fair game.

Ive seen some kinda cool BMX type pedals that are either plastic or resin with pins in them. Are these things durable and safe (I weigh 200lbs)? I am thinking a MAX of $40 should do it and the only thing I want is good grip and good bearings. They can be black or whatever and get all scratched up.

What do people think of these? Are they slippery in the rain? If I am so inclined to try using them offroad, are they able to be used for this purpose?

2) Can I use a zero-stack headset on a vintage Rocky Mountain steel frame and fork? eg: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ca/en/cane-creek-10-series-zs44-zerostack-headset/rp-prod115631

The HT is tall, so dropping the overall stack would be fine. This will ONLY be for commuting, so I am OK if the handling speeds up due to the low stack height.

Can anyone advise? Thank you...

[Cicli]

You can get some nice alloy pedals in your price range. Think Welgo.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/wellgo-v8-copy-flat-pedals/rp-prod563

[vqdriver]

i use the fyxation gates and they work fine, tho the bearings didn't last long before getting a bit rough. the bodies can take a beating tho, no worries there.

edit to your edit: yes, the pins hold perfectly well when wet. the pins have sufficient bite to grab onto soft soles with less of a shin penalty if you miss, tho it still hurts. i've moved mine around from the cafe bike to mtb without issue.

[eBAUMANN]

ive been commuting on a set of super cheap odyssey bmx pedals year round for the past 4 years...still going strong. i think they were like $15 or something.

[CMiller]

Any $20 BMX pedal from your LBS would probably work great. Odyssey Twisted on one of my bikes now, super solid and don't murder your shin when they skrape you!

[kevinvc]

My recommendation for pedals would be based on your riding conditions and what types of shoes you plan on wearing. If you're going to be doing a lot of foot down stops, pedals with pins can be real shin-biters. Every time you have to backpedal to get the pedal in position for starting up, you run the risk of smacking yourself. It's not the end of the world, but it does kind of suck.

However, I find pins to work really well with pretty much any style of shoe. My Spank Spike pedals work with any shoe in any condition, but are a potential hazard if I'm not paying attention. I've used flats with built in nubs rather than actual pins, and when wet (which is about 10 months out of the year here), a lot of my shoes slipped badly. I've also used track style pedals and find them to be a fair compromise.

I would assume there is a happy middle somewhere. I wouldn't suggest spending much money until you find what style you like the best.

[d_douglas]

Thanks folks. I am game for cheap resin pedals but think I will go with real metal pins. I like to live on the edge. I recall you saying those cheap Twisted pedals were good as well, Eric.

That said, there are some Wellgo V12 'copy' pedals for CHEEP that seem of good quality as well. Why are they called 'V12 copy' pedals? Sounds like a lawsuit type of thing.

[Ken Robb]

MKS Touring work well and look nice.

[bigman]

Makes a great alloy cruiser pedal, also has rubber for good grip and built in reflectors, under 20 bucks shipped on eBay.

[giordana93]

There are worse choices than the shimano version with one side spd and other flat. There are some nice resin/plastic ones but don't go super cheap. They will fail in the elements and I've seen the plastic deform and shear. Not worth it

Edit: forgot to second the mks suggestion. Not sure if they are as good today as back then, but they were always bulletproof in a few different cage options

[classtimesailer]

I second the MKS. Get the fancy ones for 29 bucks. (maybe 34?)

Not throw away. Very cool. Rebuildable. Grippy.

[Black Dog]

VICTOR VP-565 PEDALS: $12 CDN at MEC. Just put a set on my neighbours bike and they are fine. You will have to adjust the bearings by removing the end caps to get them spinning smoothly. But alloy at a good price and reasonably well made.

https://mec.imgix.net/medias/sys_master/high-res/high-res/8806928842782/4013710-NOC02.jpg?w=900&h=900&auto=format&q=30&fit=fill&bg=0FFF

[Ken Robb]

Grant Petersen wrote that IF MKS bearings felt a little grainy when new riding them anyway would soon smooth them out. I took all of mine apart and found very little grease so I packed them with good grease, reinstalled the loose ball bearings and adjusted them for perfect preload and they spin like butter. I think some MKS may come with cartridge bearings but I don't have any like that.

[ColonelJLloyd]

I'm not suggesting you spend the money on them for a commuter, but I put the Xpedo Spry pedals on my MTB and boy are they nice. Light, thin, grippy. . . just love them. The very large platform is awesome.

[d_douglas]

VICTOR VP-565 PEDALS: $12 CDN at MEC. Just put a set on my neighbours bike and they are fine. You will have to adjust the bearings by removing the end caps to get them spinning smoothly. But alloy at a good price and reasonably well made.

https://mec.imgix.net/medias/sys_master/high-res/high-res/8806928842782/4013710-NOC02.jpg?w=900&h=900&auto=format&q=30&fit=fill&bg=0FFF

Yes, I did see those yesterday as I went on at lunch. Damned cheap, but they just feel cheap as well. I am OK with one step up from these. But the price makes it tempting. My current pedals are 30yr flats that have never likely been serviced and rattle as I pedal, so anything is an improvement!

[David in Maine]

I really like these VP pedals. Reasonably priced and work well with lots of different footwear.

http://www.vp-usa.com/vp-001/

[bicycletricycle]

I like shimano saint pedals, sealed bearings, last forever, good traction. they can be had for $60 dollars on ebay or used for cheaper, a used pair is up for $30 dollars right now. I would just buy the new ones, you will have them for at least 20 years.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2016-Shimano-PD-MX80-MTB-SAINT-Mountain-Bike-Down-Hill-BMX-Pedal-DH-New-/272598083607?hash=item3f781ca817:g:OXYAAOSw241YgmZ K

[oliver]

I really like these VP pedals. Reasonably priced and work well with lots of different footwear.

http://www.vp-usa.com/vp-001/

I have these VP pedals since they were a bit cheaper for me:

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/vp-components-flat-pedalsl-vp-015-vice-black-60897

[bicycletricycle]

if the headtube on the frame is a standard 1.125 jobber than no go on the headset.

[d_douglas]

if the headtube on the frame is a standard 1.125 jobber than no go on the headset.

Thank you - I figured so,.

[Ronsonic]

I'd love to be able to buy a new pair of the old (like 1980s old) Shimano Deore MTB pedals. Those were great. My last pair lasted 25 years before dying of neglect and I'm a little ungruntled with myself for letting that happen.

Among the greatest pedals of all time.

[Ken Robb]

I'd love to be able to buy a new pair of the old (like 1980s old) Shimano Deore MTB pedals. Those were great. My last pair lasted 25 years before dying of neglect and I'm a little ungruntled with myself for letting that happen.

Among the greatest pedals of all time.

The flat ones with clips/straps that came on my 1989 MB-3?

[Jeff Borisch]

Those rmx pedals from rivendell are really good. On my wife's commuter that gets left out in the rain, they are fine after two years.

I just opened them up to check on them and there is very little grease, the inboard grease is a little dirty but way better than I expected to find.

[JAGI410]

Any $20 BMX pedal from your LBS would probably work great. Odyssey Twisted on one of my bikes now, super solid and don't murder your shin when they skrape you!

Be careful though, BMX pedals come in 2 spindle sizes. You want 9/16", not 1/2"

Fyxation Gates and Xpedo Spry mentioned here are great, as are the raceface chesters. Those are all a bit more expensive though. Cheaper pedals like the Odyssey's or Wellegos will work just as well.

[stien]

This thread needs more cool commuter pics.

I've got a very (very) old Rockhopper that needs a makeover. I got it when I was 8 y/o.

[Fatty]

I like shimano saint pedals, sealed bearings, last forever, good traction. they can be had for $60 dollars on ebay or used for cheaper, a used pair is up for $30 dollars right now. I would just buy the new ones, you will have them for at least 20 years.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2016-Shimano-PD-MX80-MTB-SAINT-Mountain-Bike-Down-Hill-BMX-Pedal-DH-New-/272598083607?hash=item3f781ca817:g:OXYAAOSw241YgmZ K

That is what I would do. I've run flats in the past, some last some don't. I'm thinking the Saints are going to be good for a long time and I like the shape.
Got mine for for $46 from Merlin.