Bicycle Touring Pedal Review

Having more than 30,000 miles cycling with these pedals, this is what we found that works best for us when bicycle touring and commuting. Thank you for watching. Please leave your questions and comments below and do not forget to cycle over that "Subscribe" and "Like" button!
Amazon links:
MKS Lambda Pedals - amzn.to/2g16P6z
Power Grips Straps - amzn.to/2ywlZrX
Shimano A530 Pedals - amzn.to/2gk50yr

[@keithdrummond7526]

Great to hear an adventurer's review - I would never have known about water coming up into the shoes around the cleat.

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Hello Keith and thank you for your feedback. Yeah most people probably don't really think about this being an issue and it's probably not when you're on a short tour and/or in warm weather. Same with those fancy shoes covers! They look great, but honestly they're just not very good or practical on a long tour. ~Ron

[@kempreece7727]

Used toe clips in the 70's to 80' for touring, back to cycle touring and commuting using clip less (but not in our Canadian winters) in 2004. This video has convinced me to go back to toe clips. Thanks for the happy feet!!!!

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Hello Kemp, thank you for feedback and your insight to what you wore back in the day. We'll never go back to clip less pedals for commuting or touring. Happy cycling and safe travels. ~Ron

[@davidhall5015]

Thank you for the video. I have been evolving long the same pedal path as you have but you have summarized compelling reasons to go to flat pedals. I do like the power grip straps and will need to test them out. Thanks.

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Thank you David for the feedback. We are still using the same pedals now as we cycle "The Americas" from Deadhorse to Ushuaia. Sadly though in Alaska my (Ron) power straps broke so somewhere down the road I need to get another pair. No complaints though since they've lasted for many many many thousands of miles. Happy cycling! ~Ron

[@gam1471]

I've use traditional Christophe toe clips and leather toe straps for 50 years with Campagnolo quill-style or track pedals - these pedals are no longer made, but MKS make a nice replica. I use traditional leather cycling shoes with no cleats. The soles are stiffer than ordinary shoes, so no 'hotspots' - but not many firms make these shoes now. The toestraps I use are adjustable; you can reach down whilst freewheeling to tighten or loosen them. Your foot can't slip out - you have the metal toe clip at the front of the shoe, with the leather of the toestraps at the side, yet you can get your foot out instantly by pulling your foot backwards provided the toestraps aren't too tight. It's an instinctive action. I don't like clipless pedals - they don't always unlock immediately, and for this reason I think they're potentially dangerous.

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Many thanks Eric for input and experience. I still use clipless on my MTB and road bike, but while touring, the MKS pedals are for us. Happy cycling! ~Ron

[@gam1471]

Thanks for your comments, Ron - it's very useful to see comparisons such as those you make here. For interest, below is a link to the type of cycling shoes I like, which I obtain from Ian Alexander, proprietor of Cycle Touring Supplies in the UK: www.cycletouringsupplies.co.uk/store/c26/Arturo_Leather_cycling_shoes.html

[@PedalPowerTouring]

@@gam1471 those are some very nice looking shoes. Very classy! Thank you for sharing.

[@rmsantet]

You convinced me enough. Power straps it is!

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Good choice if you ask us. Just practice getting in and out of them before you get yourself in heavy traffic. Let's us know what you think about them after some time cycling with them. Cheers.

[@planetvegan7843]

Super helpful thanks!

[@PedalPowerTouring]

thank you for the feedback Planet Vegan and happy to hear it helped you out. Happy cycling!! ~Ron

[@JogBird]

for touring, i just use flats esp if its meant to be fun

[@PedalPowerTouring]

thank you for the comment and we agree! :-)

[@jamesgaris5042]

Thanks for the video! I like clipping in for racing stuff and climbing, but prefer flats for most other things. I've been admiring my buddy's Power Grips for a couple of years, and just bought a pair and was wondering how I was going to attach the back part to my favorite flats, the MKS Lambdas. KZbin sent me to you. Time to go give them a spin.

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Hello James and thank you for the feedback. For some reason KZbin marked your comment as SPAM, so I apologize for the late reply. I'm with you on clipping in for racing and climbing, but for touring and commuting flats are the way to go. Let us know how the Power Grips work out for you. Happy Cycling! ~Ron

[@recyclespinning9839]

thank you. I am picking up a touring bike soon . I only had cleats and then clipless on road racing bikes . Thinking of just platforms pedals

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Thank you for your comment. Well you have our opinion and what we use for touring. Happy touring! :-) ~Ron

[@tsiganed]

PowerGrips was my best bike equipment discovery, they are great for bike touring. But it is hard to convince my friends to get rid of those damn clip pedals. I will show them your video, thanks

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Hello Tsiganed and thank you for the comment and feedback. Much appreciated! Yeah we too were a bit hesitant at first, but once we made the switch, we never looked back. We feel for bike touring and even for daily commuting this is the way to go. Thank you for sharing and fingers crossed your cycling friends will make the switch too. Cheers from Florida! ~Ron

[@briteidea08]

Been using Power Grips for years.

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Hello Eric and thank you for the comment. Yeah same here and for touring they are the way to go. ~Ron

[@bulletsforteeth5029]

@Pedal Power Touring Do you have a link to the strap you put on the MKS pedal? Thanks for the video, sub'd.

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Hey there Bullets! I am sitting in a campground in southern Hungary 🇭🇺 so I hope this works! Grabbed this link from my cell phone. I just replaced ours a little over a month and ordered them from Amazon 👉 www.amazon.com/Power-Grips-Strap-Set-Black/dp/B0011ZH312/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=power+grips+pedal+straps&qid=1658600722&sr=8-3

[@mrshortsighted3053]

Are the lambdas provide good grip with the straps? Because I'll be using sneakers (NB 373's) when commuting to work.

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Hey there Mr Short Sighted. We wear Crocks, hiking boots, Keen sandals, and various brands of sneakers we have not had any issues. Then again we are touring and not racing, but we have commuted with these pedals in the past as well and they've been good to us. Hope this helps and happy cycling. ~Ron & Petra

[@Panzerbeast]

Having had Shimano SPD clip ons for a while on a drop bar bike, I found both that bike and pedal set up were not ideal for commuting. Had my drop bar bike for 5 years and recently sold it and got a flat bar hybrid which I hope to use for both commuting and touring. I am never going back to clip ons, but since coming across previous review on Panniers, then coming here for the pedal review, it confirmed my thinking. Clip ons... meh! So ordered a set of MKS lamdas tonight. Hopefully arrive in time for new bike up next Saturday! (24th August 2019).

[@PedalPowerTouring]

Thanks for the comment Signum. Are you going to attach the Power Strap as well? If so, it takes a few rides to get used to the way you pull your foot out just as it did when you first started riding with your SPDs. As for the drop bar... yeah after years of cycling with one we too ditched it for commuting and touring. I've been meaning of putting together a video about my thoughts on this too, but I'm not sure I want to open that can of worms. :-) ~Ron

[@Panzerbeast]

@@PedalPowerTouring Hi Ron, I'll try the pedals initially without, but looking to get the strap at some point. Out on the road I found the drop bar fine. However, when I entered the City (Edinburgh, UK), I felt vulnerable as feet clipped in and couldn't manoeuvre effectively to take immediate action if a bus, van etc came into my path... Plus the new trams that have appeared added another dimension. I test rode a flat bar hybrid and felt more 'free' whilst riding. Each to their own though and it's whatever suits people. Some will always be locked into drop bar mentality, but with a flat bar with road bike set up (Whyte Stirling 2020 model I got) it's the ideal combination for me.

[@PedalPowerTouring]

@@Panzerbeast sounds good. Yeah give the pedals a go without the strap and you can always add it later. As for cycling in the city with heavy traffic and tons of pedestrians.... yes that is a whole new level of awareness for sure; especially, if you're fully loaded. Try cycling through SE Asia!!! haha this is a whole other experience all on its own. Crazy and definitely not for someone just starting out. Really hope those pedals work out and if you please give us an update after you have a few miles on them. Cheers Ron

[@Panzerbeast]

@@PedalPowerTouring MKS Lamda pedals arrived today. 😁

[@PedalPowerTouring]

@@Panzerbeast right on. Let us know what you think after you get a few miles on them. ~Ron