General: Are there any 1/2" platform pedals that I can’t bend?

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- CommentAuthorstinky pete
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2009
I recently bent the 1/2” pedals on my old Winsor (http://velospace.org/node/19839) while riding up a steep hill while seated & would like your advice in finding some replacements please. I’m 6’ 3” & 300 lbs. Obviously I’m not doing any massive air time on this bike but I am quite strong. I would prefer a non-round BMX style pedal for its gripping abilities.
I have a set of old XT MTB pedals that have served me well for many years, but they are 9/16. Should I invest in some step-down adaptors instead? Anyone have any experience with these? (http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1330)

Thanks in advance...
- CommentAuthorJoshua A.C. Newman
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2009
They'll increase your tread, which might be OK with you or might not. I like a wide tread because my toes point out, which means my heels hit the cranks if I don't use extenders.

My bigger concern is that you're adding leverage to your pedal-bending problem.
- CommentAuthorNash
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2009
check ebay. GT and Tioga made some pretty good 1/2" platforms that are still around and you can pick up pretty cheap.
- CommentAuthorSkidMark
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2009 edited
Wellgo makes copies of Shimano DX pedals, and so does Haro, Redline, GT, Diamond Back. It's hard to find high-quality BMX platforms in 1/2" these days because of the switch to 3-piece cranks.
- CommentAuthoreaglerock
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2009
Alternately, since I'm guessing that 9/16" pedals bend less easily than 1/2", could you get the pedal threading tapped out to 9/16? That's an LBS-doable thing for French 14mm holes, which are a little bigger than 1/2. Granted, it'll permanently alter your cranks,if you care about that stuff; but then you'll always have your choice of pedals, without the increase in spindle length that you'd get from adapters.
- CommentAuthorSkidMark
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2009 edited
Usually the pedal shaft and bearings are the same diameter whether a pedal's threading is 1/2" or 9/16". Production-wise it wouldn't make sense to have the so many internal parts different on the same pedal. There is not much material available on a 1-piece crank to tap it out to the next size, and the pilot hole for a 9/16" thread may not even be big enough to get rid of the 1/2" threads. And when you are done spending the money on labor, you've probably paid for an extra set of pedals. There is also the danger that the shop monkey might fuck up your cranks.

14mm = .5511"
9/16" = .5625"
So almost the same size.

And I found these 1/2" road pedals on the Harris Cyclery site. They also sell a 1-piece crank that is threaded 9/16" for $12.95

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/opc.html#pedal
- CommentAuthorstinky pete
- CommentTimeAug 31st 2009
Well, I didn’t see this one coming...
It seems that I didn’t bend the pedals at all, I BENT THE CRANKS! At the top of the pedal stroke, the crank end where the pedals enter the cranks is twisted slightly down ward, giving me the feeling that I had bent the pedal axles.

SO, now I’m looking into a new bottom bracket that will allow me to use a normal 3 piece alloy road crank set up with one chain ring.

Any suggestions?
- CommentAuthorNash
- CommentTimeSep 1st 2009
I rock the single chain ring with a dura-ace 7410...love it

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