Plastic Pedals Are Good Enough For Most People

from Rookie’s keyboard,

Hello, friends

Many rookie riders often wonder whether it’s necessary to invest in luxirious pedals made of alloy. I have nothing against those models. I even have 2-3 sets of metal pedals taken from retro road bikes. I specifically ordered one of the sets as I wanted a Lyotard model.

But at the same time I am not a pedal snob. And I would be a liar if I told you that aluminum pedals are always better than the composite ones. They are not. In most cases, it comes down to aesthetics, preferences and budget.

The vast majority of people will do just fine running basic plastic/composite/nylon models such as the one above.

Weight Comparison

The table below compares the weight of popular “synthetic” and metal pedals.

Plastic Pedals	Weight	Metal Pedals	Weight
CrankBrothers Stamp 1 Platform Pedals	299g	Xpedo Face Off 18 Platform Pedals	385g
bc basic Platform Pedals	370g	CONTEC 2Black Platform Pedals	420g
DMR V6	327g	DMR V12 Platform Pedals – 2021 Model	430g
3min19sec Composite Platform Pedal	345g	Xpedo Traverse 9 Platform Pedals	296g
e*Thirteen Base Flat Platform Pedals	388g	Procraft Freeride Pro Platform Pedals	440g
NC-17 Sudpin Zero Pro Platform Pedals	339g	XLC PD-M14 Platform Pedals	318g
HT Nano-P PA 01A Platform Pedals	345g	CONTEC Rapid Platform Pedals	243g
Race Face Ride Platform Pedals	330g	Hope F20 Platform Pedals	390g
Supacaz Smash Platform Pedals	180g	OneUp Components Aluminium Platform Pedals	365g
Odyssey Twisted	411g	crankbrothers Stamp 7 Platform Pedals	345g
Average:	333.4g	Average:	363.2g

Somewhat unsuprsingly, the composite pedals in the table are 29.8 grams or 8.9% lighter.

But as you can see in the table, some aluminum pedals are actually lighter.

In other words – the weight depends on the model.

Cheaper

Plastic pedals are cheaper. Some companies even make composite versions of their best-selling metal pedals to reach an audience that doesn’t want to invest a lot of money.

For example, the DMR V6 pedals are a plastic version of the DMR V8 alloy pedals.

The Pins Aren’t As Brutal

The pins on plastic pedals aren’t as sharp. That’s good news for your shins in case of a hit.

Having said that, plastic pedals can still cause a lot of pain.

More Colors

BMX plastic pedals come in a variety of color schemes which appeal to people who want their bikes to look more artistic.

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The Disadvantages

Composite pedals have the following issues:

The Pins Have a Shorter Lifespan

It doesn’t take a genius to realize that composite materials are softer than metal. Consequently, the plastic pins wear down faster. The result is a less grippy pedal. This outcome is accelerated when the bike is used for grinding.

Most plastic pedals have non-replaceable pins. Once the pins are worn, the only way to restore the grip of the pedals is to buy a new set.

Plastic pedals with metal pins are an exception to this rule as they use the same replaceable pins as metal models.

Somewhat weaker

Plastic pedals, especially the cheaper variants, are weaker.

In practice, however, average people are highly unlikely to break a plastic pedal, especially one designed for BMX riding as those are thicker and extra strong.

Mediocre Bearings

Most plastic pedals have cheap non-sealed/greasable bearings that do not rotate as freely as those found on more expensive metal pedals.

In contrast, metal pedals often come with sealed cartridge bearings that rotate smoothly and last a long time.

That said, greasable bearings do have a major benefit – they’re easily serviceable. All you need is grease and replacement ball bearings.

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Ultimately, both types of pedals get the job done. If you’re on the fence, you could go for the cheaper plastic pedals at first and then replace them with more expensive metal ones as they wear down.

If you want to purchase one set of pedals and use them for as long as possible, then it makes the most sense to buy full metal pedals or plastic pedals with removable metal pins.

But at the end of the day, the most important part is to just ride. Don’t obsess. Just go outside. You don’t need the perfect equipment ot have a perfect day.

Until next time,

Rookie