Trying to get into MTB

[indysteel]

Here's a lengthy discussion on MTBR's Women's Lounge on shoes/pedals.

I'd add that there are any number of good platform pedals on the market. There are also any number of threads on MTBR about pedals. You can drive yourself crazy with it. One less expensive pedal that comes up a lot with favorable reviews is the Forte from Performance.

[Irulan]

Here's a lengthy discussion on MTBR's Women's Lounge on shoes/pedals.

I'd add that there are any number of good platform pedals on the market. There are also any number of threads on MTBR about pedals. You can drive yourself crazy with it. One less expensive pedal that comes up a lot with favorable reviews is the Forte from Performance.

what's funny is I read that thread, and a lot of other discussion out there in internet land. I learned more from a really good shop guy in Seattle, in ten minutes, than I did from hours of reading pedal discussion.

[indysteel]

what's funny is I read that thread, and a lot of other discussion out there in internet land. I learned more from a really good shop guy in Seattle, in ten minutes, than I did from hours of reading pedal discussion.

I find myself more dependent on the internet for information because we rarely go into bike shops these days. My husband does most of our wrenching and we buy most of what we need on internet. Plus, the best shop for mountain biking is nowhere near our house anyway. So, I end up wading through a lot of threads here, and on RBR/MTBR trying to sort things out. It can be maddening.

One thing is certain: There are a lot of platform pedals on the market. I thought deciding on road pedals was complicated, but it's nothing compared to platforms. Jeez! Which pedals do you use, Irulan?

[Irulan]

(total thread derail)

Here is what I learned in ten minutes with Zeb at Big Tree Bikes in Seattle:

More pins is not necessarily better; too many can push your foot away instead of holding you on ( think of an guru on a bed of nails.... too many pins decreases tension)
Look for a slightly concave pedal that you can press into.
You do not want a lot wider than your foot.
Ease of bushing rebuilt/pin replacement needs will depend on how much you thrash your pedals. IE< if you are going to bash the heck out of them, you many need to replace them before you rebuild them.

I purchased some lightweight Wellgos for $70. I'd been lusting after some anodized Canfield Crampons or Twentysix. I coudn't justify $275 for pedals and the Crampons were just too huge for my girly feet. The magnesium Wellgos weigh in at the same weight as a lot of the magnesium more expensive ones

[indysteel]

Thanks for sharing that, Irulan. As it turns out, I think my Straightlines Amps follow that advice.

[indysteel]

I googled, but where did you get yours? And how much is reasonable to pay?

I got them online from Modern Bike for $124. You might do a bit of research to see if any of the online vendors have a Black Friday sale on them. I'd note that the pedals were a splurge for me. There are other, perfectly nice, platforms out there for a lot less if you don't really want to spend that kind of money on them.

[thekarens]

I really wanted the Amps, but couldn't afford them right now so I got these from Performance for $40 http://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1085037_-1___ for their Black Friday sale.

I picked them due to the price and reviews.