Pedal Sustainability

A recent discussion on BikeGuide spurred my interest in the sustainability of component manufacture. At the center of the debate were plastic pedals (1, 2), and their disposable nature. Most people, as soon as the pins have worn off of the pedal body, will simply toss the pair of pedals and buy some new ones. Even if you were to recycle those pedal bodies, spindles, and bearings, we still have to use extra energy to recycle those components, as well as manufacture new spindles, bodies, and bearings. On top of that, many thermoformed plastics are much more difficult to recycle. Note: This last comment about thermoformed plastics is not necessarily true. If you have a link to help, please post it :) -Peter 1/19

So where does this leave us? Can we use plastics in pedals? Yes. Odyssey's JCPC pedals have a good solution by using steel pins to hold the pedal together, allowing the pins to be replaced. Odyssey also provides replacement pedal bodies and spindles. By doing so, we can now replace only the part that fails, reducing waste. Reports are that the nylon used in the pedal bodies are recyclable, which is another plus. Now, in fairness, I should say that these are some of the ugliest pedals I have seen on a bike. 0 sex appeal. And they use a bushing setup, which can develop a bit of lateral play. Some people (such as myself) are bothered by this, but there is little reason it shouldn't work well.

And then we arrive back at the Aluminum pedal. For a long time, these have had replaceable pins, and (on high end pedals) spindles. Although there is a lot less probability of damaging the pedal body, I do not know of any BMX manufacturer that provides replacement pedal bodies. Aluminum pedals, due to their higher cost, and resiliancy, are a longer term investment.

Which pedal is right for you?

The Pedal Grinder: look for replaceable pins, and a tough pedal body. The worst situation is investing in a nice pedal only to knock a chunk out of it on a grind or stall, and not be able to get a replacement. In this situation, Nylon, or a thicker aluminum body is the appropriate choice.

The Spindle Bender: Usually you will see this when someone takes an impact to the end of the pedal. Look for sealed bearings or bushings bearings. Unsealed spindles must be case hardened to slow spindle wear, whereas sealed bearings or bushings allow the spindle to be focused on strength and stiffness. Of course spindle diameter and material play a significant role in strength. Here is a a few measurements of spindles from BMX-U

The Budget Rider: This has been the great aspect of plastic pedals: inexpensive, with fair performance. However, I would argue that this rider would be better served investing in a better plastic pedal (JCPC with all it's replaceable parts is a good long-term investment), or an inexpensive aluminum pedal (Un- or sealed bearings are your choice. Though if you dislike play, go with sealed). Why avoid the myriad of cheap plastics available? The pins. As soon as those are gone, so is your grip. And lets face it, slipping a pedal, even on plastic, is annoying. As more pedals come out, we may see some resilient pins, but until then, replaceable pins are the safest choice.

The Weight Weenie: I know you are looking through catalogs searching for the lightest pedal. I did this too, and ended up with a pair weighing 9 oz! But performance sucked, and the bodies were mangled easily. Even though most plastics are lighter than aluminums, I suggest investing in some good aluminums, for a few reasons: 1) they will run longer without problems; 2) they are available with good bearing systems (i.e. sealed); 3) they come in pretty colors, and BMX is about fashion isn't it ;)