
Imported.
Item 788131
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| SPD compatible | |||||||||||
| SPD-SL compatible | |||||||||||
| Time compatible | |||||||||||
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| Crank Brothers compatible | |||||||||||
| Speedplay compatible | |||||||||||
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| Material(s) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Reviewed by 4 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-4
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Power Grips High-Performance Pedal Kit:
The winters in Korea can be extreme and normal cycling shoes just won't cut it in temps this cold. These pedals allow you to wear winter boots and still have that feeling of being clipped-in, which is great on longer rides. These pedals are well-built and very light. The strap is made of a material that feels almost unbreakable, so these should last for years. My only complaint is the small screw used to tighten the strap and hold it in position. I am always worried that it is going to come lose during a ride. It hasn't yet, so maybe I will worry less after a season of riding on them.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Power Grips High-Performance Pedal Kit:
A bit pricey for pedals and straps, but the combined weight is exactly as light as a pair of SPDs I have. They'll work with any shoes, too! And the adjustable strap lets you set it to have your full foot on the platform, or cinch it down for more of a toe-only approach. I prefer the later, but it makes for a long strap dangling under the pedal. Not really an issue, so much as an aesthetic complaint. I do wonder if when I flip the pedal up, if I'm mashing down on the strap too much. They seem really durable, though.
I did have an issue with losing the strap clip and screw on the first pair. It could have been user error, I don't know. The screw popped out on a ride and I couldn't recover it. I always check the strap now to see if it needs tightening. Maybe a little lock-tite is in order.
Comments about Power Grips High-Performance Pedal Kit:
Power Grips have a clever design that gently locks your feet into place on your pedals.
The cons: it's a pain to adjust. If you ride with shoes of different shapes, you would have to adjust each time you rode to get that sweet fit... and you would need a hex key each time.
Also, the strap is not quite as wide as I'd like. It's strong enough as it is, but I'd like more material on my foot. Similarly, on the model I got, the pedal was a bit narrow. I understand that this was a "performance" model, so maybe I should have known, but for my needs (I have a cargo bike), I'm more comfortable with a wide pedal.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Power Grips High-Performance Pedal Kit:
When the bike I purchased came without pedals, I spent the greater part of a day researching bike pedals, particularly ones that locked the footin place by some means or another and ones that did not require a special shoe (as I did not like the idea of purchasing a uni-tasker shoe). The result of my internet research led me to purchase the Power Grips High-Performance Pedal Kit.
I chose this over the other Power Grips option because I wanted to avoid plastic components and wanted the higher quality sealed bearings system. I suspect that in the long run, I will appreciate this feature of my product.
I chose the Power Grips over other available options for a number of reasons. Few (if any?) plastic components meant that the Power Grips would outlast other products whose polymer based products break down in strength and integrity over time, due to a number of factors, many of which are encountered while mountain biking (e.g. sun, weather, rough use). The strap mechanism promised a tighter grip than toe clips due to the ability to twist the foot and cinch it in tight. It also promised easy release, unlike pedals which require you to use your hands to attach or free your foot. Finally, the Power Grips have a long tenure of production, use, and customer satisfaction. I suspect that this product will continue to be manufactured for the foreseeable future.
I have now been using my Power Grips for a full summer season (May to August). Just today, I finished a 48 mile mountain biking excursion on technical trails with lots of hills, roots, and rocks. I never once experienced any problems in relation to my pedals during my ride today. The straps do show some general wear. There is the slightest fraying on one of the straps in a particular location, but not such that I expect it to unravel. The straps have, as promised, proved durable in both hot and wet conditions. I have yet to use them during the winter in sub-freezing temperatures, though I read that they resist freezing or that freezing does not seriously undermine their integrity. I suspect that eventually these will need to be replaced, perhaps in another year, but they are reasonably priced and the old straps should be easily disposed of in an environmentally sustainable way (i.e. our compost bin).
On occasion, I have had the straps come loose, requiring me to stop and tighten the mechanism that holds them in place. I suspect that, in those instances, I either hadn't tightened them enough, or that I had not maintained tightness over long periods of continuous use.
The pedals hold my feet in nicely, but I also find it easy to quickly release my feet in the case of an anticipated halt or crash. It took me no time at all to get used to the angel at which I must twist my foot for it to be released (or, for that matter, to get used to the feel of the Power Grips). There are some occasions on the trail where this angle is hard or impossible to achieve. This represents one weakness of the Power Grips in comparison to clipless pedals. When I completely fall over (usually on my right or left side) and for whatever reason do not manage to get my foot out of the strap, it can sometimes prove difficult for me to free my foot in the fallen position. I imagine, though I do not know this for sure, that in such a case it would be easier to escape a clipless pedal. If you are a road biker, you would not experience this problem.
I find it moderately easy to strap myself in to my pedals. If I am on the road or a straight and relatively level trail surface, I can get both feet strapped in within just a few pedal strokes. Sometimes, the strap does not remain arched and if fiddiling with it with my toe doesn't work, I reach down and quickly pull the strap over my toe. After this is accomplished the rest of the shoe (to the ball of my foot) slides in easily. As one might imagine, this can prove more difficult when I find myself "unsaddeled" on a difficult part of the trail. I have the option in such cases of using the pedal as a normal pedal, though I personally prefer the feeling of being strapped in. My clipless co-riders seem to manage to clip themselves in on such areas of the trail much easier than I, and this perhaps represents the greatest weakness of the Power Grips over that of the clipless. However, as I become more proficient on my bike and local trails, I find this scenario occurs less often. Once I am in the straps, I find myself as secure to my bike as others who ride with clipless pedals. They make bunny hopping easier, and provide great stability on bumpy and jarring rides.
One other minor disadvantage of the Power Grips over clipless pedals concerns the clearance beneath your foot. Due to the broad base of the pedal, you have an added half inch of space that is liable to bang against rocks or large roots when riding on rough terrain. Of course, the large size of the pedal base is something that some clipless co-riders have sometimes envied of me, so it depends on whether you prefer greater clearance beneath your foot or a broader base.
I am very satisfied with my purchase. The shoes I use while mountain biking also double for playing frisbee and other such sports. Also, I am not limited to using these shoes only, though using different shoes with different shapes may require you to adjust the straps for optimal use. And if, for whatever reason, I don't want to ride strapped in, I can easily flip the grip to the bottom or stand on the grip and ride un-strapped.
I have never met someone who believes that they posses the perfect pedal, nor am I under any delusions that mine are such. Like any product, they have their strengths and weaknesses. For my money, the strengths of these pedals outweigh their weaknesses, and they likely outweigh the weaknesses of any other comparably priced pedals (including clipless, if you consider the added expense of a pair of uni-tasker shoes). If, after reading my review, you find the strengths of these pedals to your liking and you are ready to ride strapped in or already do, I would not hesitate to suggest that you purchase these pedals. If you are wary of the weaknesses or of riding with your feet strapped to your bike, I would recommend you first visit your local bike shop to discuss with a professional their opinion given your concerns and riding habits.
Happy shopping!
Displaying reviews 1-4
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