Time to change pedals
7 04 2008
The Kangaroo Bike’s pedals have worn quite badly in the past 14 months and 2,500 miles, with the rubber tread blocks becoming smooth, the high points of the metal frames wearing smooth and the bearings starting to fail in the right-hand pedal. I did consider refurbishing the pedals but the bearings are sealed-for-life units, the rubber blocks can’t be replaced and, unlike all-steel pedals, there were no toothed edges to file back to shape. It was in marked contrast to the pedals on the bike I was given when I was 12—it was already 25 years old and had been refurbished several times. I have fond memories of replacing ball races and roller bearings on it several times, filing pedals and sprocket teeth back into shape, and getting covered in grease.
One of the things that the wear pattern revealed was that I wasn’t getting a good, centred grip on the pedals. My feet were sliding back and out, which meant I wasn’t pedalling as efficiently as I could have. The solution was to fit either clipless pedals or pedals with toe clips. I quickly ruled out the former as the combination of new pedals and new shoes to go with them couldn’t be justified on our budget. It also seemed a little extravagant to have more than three pairs of footwear (I have a pair of wellies, a pair of black dress shoes, and a pair of brown lace-up ankle boots—that’s all I need). Pedals with toeclips it would be.
The left-hand pedal came off easily, but the threads on right-hand one had welded themselves into the crank threads. Initially, I thought it was just stiff and applied WD40, but to no avail. In the end, I had to wait for the Other Half to come home and stand on the opposite pedal while I used brute force to turn the spanner. The pedal came off eventually, but I was convinced I’d have to replace the cranks as well. Close inspection, however, revealed almost all the damage had been done to the pedal threads and cleaning out the crank threads revealed they could still be used, at least for the short-term.
While I was decided which pedals to buy, a copy of Velovision dropped through our letterbox with a review of the Pedalite illuminated pedals. Each pedal has a small dynamo that powers three LEDS, plus a capacity maintain the lighting for a few seconds when the bike is stationary. The review said the pedals were well made, they could be bought with toeclips, and they had metal grips instead of plastic or rubber ones. The extra side lighting was useful as my experiences have shown that it’s not so much about being visible to motorists as being able to prove that you’re visible.
The toeclips are not full ones, but are well suited to the trike’s use. They fit comfortably around the toe of my lace-up boots, are quick to get in and out of, and have just enough ground clearance that they catch when upside down. There is just enough drag from the dynamos to be noticeable when compared with a conventional pedal, but I don’t think it will make pedalling noticeably harder. In fact, they rotate more easily than the old, damaged right-hand pedal. The only problem I found with the Pedalites is that the screws that hold the toeclips on a difficult to fasten with a conventional L-shaped Allen key due to the limited space inside the pedal frame.
Over to the test pilot! The Wee ‘Un was quick to claim a ride on the bike with the new pedals fitted, but then it was over to me for a quick spin around the steading. The Pedalites turn freely, the LEDs are bright (although perhaps not as bright as the 1,000-metre visibility claims) and the toeclips even work with narrow-toed wellies. Now I just have to wait to do a night-time test. Oh, and I much prefer the Pedalites with their built-in dynamos over other illuminated pedals that use batteries. No batteries to change, charge or dispose of.
It looks like you are going to have to slim down a bit soon and fit into that front seat…. the test pilot is almost big enough to fill your saddle now
Cheeky!
I’m just back from taking the Wee ‘Un to nursery—in fairly damp conditions, more on which later—so have a few views on the Pedalites.
There is a slight but noticeable increase in the amount of drag from the new pedals, due to some of the mechanical energy being converted to electrical energy to power the LEDs. It’s no more drag than was coming from the old, damaged right pedal, but it is there and it means pedalling requires a little more effort on the steepest uphill stretches of my journey.
I’ll quickly become accustomed to the increased drag and in a week or two, I suspect I won’t even notice it—until I change to bike with standard pedals and find them delightfully light!
I’m also going to have to accustom myself to the new feet positioning. My muscle groups, particularly in my right leg, were feeling the strain of my feet being locked in a fixed position on the pedals. It’s definitely more efficient, but it does means a change in muscle use.
And that brings me to the one real problem with the Pedalites. The toeclip is non-adjustable and while they fit over my boots in width and height, they’re about 15mm too short for my size 10 feet. It means my feet aren’t in the best position on the pedal, although it’s much better than it was with the old pedals.
I can come up with a fix easily enough. All I need to do is fit a 15mm thick space block of metal or had plastic between the front of the pedal and the back of the toeclip, using longer screws to hold everything together.
But it is irritating that the manufacturers did not think to offer spacers and longer screws, either with the toeclips or as an accessory. After all, it’s plainly obvious that feet come in different lengths and a toeclip that takes a short to medium foot may not take a longer foot.
Finally, did the lights make a difference? Well, I had children pointing at them and shouting (they’re used to the bike by now so it was the lights—at least I hope it was and that I didn’t have the bum out of my trousers!), while several parents commented on the flashing pedals. A good result.
And to people like the person who just emailed to point out my “hypocrisy” in buying a product that includes plastic, is made in China and includes “umpteen transport miles”, I have one thing to say “get a life”.
I’m not setting myself up as an uber-green eco prophet or anti-consumer guru. This blog is the musings of a crofter who tries to minimise his impact and that of his family. That’s it.
I needed better pedals that held my feet in place, the old pedals could not be refurbished (and didn’t hold my feet in place), and I decided to take the opportunity to buy pedals that make me more visible. They may not be made in Britain but they were designed here, they were packaged in just a single layer of cardboard, and they don’t need any energy other than that provided by my muscles.
It can be perilous blogging about trying to lead a moderately comfortably but low-impact life as the cynics perpetually try to expose your flaws and failings. Mel, of BeanSprouts fame, has written a good piece in response to this sort of thing—Confessions of an Eco-Sinner. Read it, then look at your own “eco sins” before pointing the finger.
Stoney,
I have been reading your blog since I was alerted to it by someone on the NEEPS forum and have to say; I am addicted!
Your musings are an absolute joy. I’m slowly working my way through all the archives too. My admiration for what you and your family are doing (and attempting to do) is boundless.
When I hear about all the unpleasant e-mails you receive, it really sickens me. Would people have the courage to say to your face what they say to you on-line? I think not. They should indeed get a life.
Off to read Confessions of an Eco-Sinner!