Ergon's biomechanically designed platforms

[slw]

Thanks for the review Grits! I may have to check these out myself.

[wackyjacky1]

Have had them on my bike for several weeks now, so they've been put through their paces pretty thoroughly.

At first, though they seem so big and chunky, the outside edge of my foot felt like it was hanging over the side. Then I realized it was the shoes I was wearing -- they were Merrell hikers, and the soles flare out quite a bit, so my feet weren't snugged-up to the inside of the pedals like they would be in other shoes. My running shoes, and all other shoes I've tried, fit perfectly on the pedals, and that "hanging off" feeling isn't an issue.

As far as everything else goes, they are great. No slipping whatsoever. When I come to a stop, one foot goes down on the ground, and when I raise the other foot, the pedal grips my shoe enough to raise up with it, as if I were clipped in.

Being a commuter, I love the super-sized (and very bright) reflectors.

Customer service is also excellent. Due to a severe brain cramp on my part, I managed to strip the hex-key slot of the end caps that on the outside of the pedals (don't ask me how ). I emailed the company about this little problem, and voila, yesterday a replacement set of end caps arrived in the mail, at no charge.

These pedals get two thumbs up from me.

[shootingstar]

What are they like going up hills?

[Grits]

I have now gone on an 18 mile and a 24 mile ride on the road with them. I still like them and plan to continue using them.

A couple of things I have noticed:

With clipless, less thought is required. If you find yourself in a gear that is too easy and your feet are spinning, no problem, the clips keep you in. Not so with these. I think it goes back to that link someone posted that you can get into some bad habits with clipless pedals. Even in this situation, my feet did not fly off the pedals, but I had to think about keeping them planted.

The other thing I think is probably peculiar to me because of my foot injury. My left (uninjured foot) automatically goes to the correct position and stays there with no thought on my part. I find myself repositioning the right, injured foot sometimes during the ride. I think it is because I am still favoring that foot and not putting full, even pressure where I should be.

As far as hills go, I had no problem except as related to the above - being in too low a gear a time or two going down hill and my feet spinning. I still don't miss the pulling up action on the clipless. I'm realizing that I must not have done it.

The ride I was on today was at a 15.5 pace and these pedals were fine.

[wackyjacky1]

Yeah, hills have been no problem, whether spinning or climbing out of the saddle.

I have to say that, try as I might, I am not a crazy-good spinner; don't know what my cadence is, but it's not super high. Therefore, no problem whatsoever with "outspinning" the pedals.

Conversely for me, the pedals have helped with the awkward position my right foot tends to naturally fall into (had a bizarre bicycle-related toe injury a couple years ago, and things have not been right with that foot ever since). Because of this injury, I seem to always swing the heel of my right foot in towards the crankarm; with these pedals, my foot doesn't slip into that position, and the result for me is a much more comfortable pedal stroke.

Have never ridden clipless, so I can't make any comparisons there (although I used to use toe cages, and don't miss them at all since switching to platforms).

[Catrin]

Interesting reviews, has anyone tried this mountain biking yet?

[Grits]

I stay on pavement