All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

right. that's what I'm saying.

a sub 1k$ bike comes with poopy slip on grips, poopy uncomfortable saddle, poopy pedals. makes sense.

a 1k-3k$ bike comes with lock on decent grips, a decent comfortable saddle, poopy pedals. why?

a 3k$ plus bike comes with good lock on grips, good comfy saddle, poopy pedals. why?

why is it always the pedals that are poopy lol

 

You ever try riding a bike without a saddle? Not my cup of tea.
But really, most supplied bike saddles suck. They're too narrow for the vast majority of riders, but again, you kind of need a saddle. I know, same with pedals.

Most grips can be had for sub $40. And most of the time, they are the same brand as the bike. And there's much less of a variety in grips vs. pedals. Grips, you get lock ons or ESI style grips. Not much of an in between. Sure you get color and all that, but that's just customizing colors for 95% of riders. Most companies do go with lock ons and again, they can be had for sub $40.

Pedals have so many options. Flat or clip, or even flip flop with flats on one side and clips on the other. You want clips, okay egg beaters or XT with the cage? Flats, okay metal or plastic, adjustable stubs? The list goes on and on and pedals can range far more than just $100.

I understand that saddles and grips can be had for more than that price point too but I don't know many mountain bikers that spend that much on a saddle or grips considering expensive saddles tend to have carbon bits that are subject to much more abuse than it would on a road bike. And it's a lot easier to swallow $40 for different grips than it is $200 for a set of pedals.

At the shop I worked at, we would have a box of shit pedals. They were plastic and most of them didn't even have their pair. But they worked for a test ride and that's all they needed to do.

 

I get it, I do.

All the bikes come with shitty FLAT pedals, or no pedals, but never clips.

I just really think, that for the mid range biker...that like sub $3500 bike rider....that a "raceface chester" type flat pedal should come on those bikes instead of the crap plastic ones. If the companies, say Specialized, had their own version as they do lock-on grips, saddles, etc...that all fit in that sub 50$ category....why not throw those on there? the mass quantity would bring the price down to negligible on the overall bike price as I said and just make it a similar item that always gets changed out like grips, but these could be reused, or sold instead of tossed and wasted like the crap plastic ones that NOBODY uses. people actually would keep the "chester" type pedals. less waste...

just my thoughts..

 

Specialized does...
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/b...6166?color=228774-156166&searchText=0912-2200

And they don't supply them for a reason. Because all the Bobs in the world want green pedals to match their green wheel decals. And all their black pedals would fill Jimmys extra parts bin. And Specialized's pedals would ultimately be something they never sold as an add on accessory since Jimmy has a shit ton of take offs.
And a lot of that does have to do with mark ups and % profit. Because bikes don't have nearly the mark up that accessories do. And unfortunately, the more tech squeezed into a bike - typically a smaller % profit. So help all the Jimmys in the world and buy green pedals.

I do get that there are plenty of Gregs out there that would be happy with the black pedals, but there are more Bobs that want green pedals, and Jareds that want to clip in.

 

well they could have a less than 80$ version of that...

I'd venture to say the same % of folks that buy colored pedals, also change out their grips or something similar to match. so why not put some shitty slip on grips on all the bikes like they do all the plastic pedals?

 

ok funnier note....somebody painted this root to look like a snake.

(no I don't condone painting nature)

 

They could but they don't. And these pedals fall almost exactly in the middle of your $50-100 pedal statement earlier, plus their Specialized per your request.

And what about all the people that go clipless instead of flats?

You'd also be surprised by how many bikes have the same grips on them that were supplied with the bike. Because for 95% of riders that switch grips, it's a form over function thing.
Most riders wear gloves and most riders think all grips feel just about the same while wearing gloves.

Variety and price of pedals.

Also, shitty slip on grips suck to take on and off continuously, were as Jimmy can swap pedals in 30 seconds. And shitty grips have a shelf life, unlike shitty pedals that get ridden around a parking lot.





Side note: Ever rent a high end bike? Notice that the only question about components after picking a bike is about the pedals. Because so many people can live with a saddle and grips, but still want there preference for pedals.

 

ok, ok. I get it.....still think it's stupid.

I do think your last statement "only question is about pedals" also occurs most often because the bikes don't have pedals lol. I'd bet if they did, that question would get asked less.

 

Most rentals come with flats. Because they appeal to a large amount of riders, plus those that are new at the sport and don’t have any experience with clipless pedals. But those Greg’s in the world will still come in and ask for their clipless pedals be thrown on their rental bike.

 

I still think I provided a response (or solution) to each of the "reasons" you gave for the pedals being poopy on bikes. You made fair points, and those are probably the reasons they always are poopy, but I still believe they could do better at minimal to no cost and appeal to the mass market of buyers....not the "specific people" you mentioned over and over.

 

I'm not saying my reasoning is right, wrong, or otherwise. Same with the points you made. And shit, this is the most I've talked about bikes and their components since working in the bicycle industry - makes me miss being in it.

I only used Bob, Greg, and Jared just as three typical customers you'd expect to see on an everyday basis. Sure there's more than that - I didn't even mention the Karen's.

But what you want and what I want is a great point of the differing views on pedals. You seem to want a good, solid, better than shitty quality flat pedal - and you'd be stoked to see them come with your bike. I want my SPD pedals. And a bicycle manufacturer giving me a good, solid, better than shitty quality flat pedal would do me no good and therefore be a waste.

 

haha absolutely. It's at least more reasoning or thoughts than I had. just always thought it to be weird af.

"hey man here's your three thousand dollar bike, absolutely everything is great and wonderful, but you gotta get some pedals"

 

Not just a snake, Coral Snake has the most potent venom of any snake in the US

Red on Yellow, kill a fellow, Red on Black, Venom lack

 

I do condone making friends shit their pants.

 

Yeah I’d probably shit my pants if I saw that

 

Or shoot at it!

 

the comments under the picture cracked me up

"I bet if you check Strava heart rates increased in this area"

"I bet this screwed up folks lap times on Strava"

 

obligatory "ship my pants" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xwUuSM06xQ

 

I bet a few folks were wishing they had stronger bunny hopping skills.

 

I’m not a hater of E-bikes. I support anyone trying to get in to shape and ride bikes, I know some people need help, or want to go further on each ride, and that’s Totally cool with me.

but if you are riding an E bike and pass me on a hellish climb while barely breaking a sweat while I am huffing and puffing and near death, and you say, “Don’t work too hard!!”; I believe I am entitled to throw rocks at you until you are out of my throwing range.

it’s only fair.