OneUp Components Comp Platform Pedals: Rider Review

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

Pedals are one of the major touch points that connect you to your bike. There are plenty of personal preferences and opinions on what is best. In this review, our friend Mike makes the case for why OneUp's composite flat pedals might just be one of the best options out there.

Intro:

One Up allows me to level up!

I’m sure you know the situation. You have a great three-season bike that has full suspension and can take you from out with the kids to screaming over drops with your buddies. The problem in the upper latitudes is what to do when the ground is soft or the snow is flying. This had been my dilemma. This winter we had an unusual amount of snow and the trails were prime for riding. I concluded that I needed a fat bike with wide tires and plenty of float for the sloppy conditions we have in the Midwest. Knowing that rolling resistance goes up with monster truck tires, I decided that the lighter the bike, the more my enjoyment would be.

I switched to clipless pedals many years ago and have always enjoyed the benefit they provide. When considering new pedals for this bike I knew the riding conditions would be different. I would be riding in warm boots and there may be a need to dab around slippery corners. I decided that flats were the way to go.

I began scouring message boards about “the best” pedals for fat biking. I heard reports of snow clogging, lack of grip and too small of a size for boots. I had decided that the lighter I could go the better considering I was conserving weight and saving energy. It had been a long time since I had snapped a plastic pedal that left me stranded in the woods far from my car, but the memory was still there. In reading information about the composite pedals of today, I realized that things had changed. They were durable and light. The pin configuration was similar to many alloy pedals many times their cost. In those message boards, it seemed the overwhelming recommendation was for the One Up pedals.

They had high rider satisfaction with size, grip, durability, and cost. The fat bike community had spoken and I was listening.

Ride Review:

I received my pedals from Worldwide Cyclery and immediately noted how wide they were and how well they had been made. I took note of how light they were in comparison to other pedals I had used. One of the factors I took into my purchasing decision was the number of pins these pedals had. The ten pins were appropriately placed around the wide platform and I could tell they would grip my winter boots well.

They installed easily with either a pedal spanner or an Allen key. They spun easily and the bearings seemed good for this price point. I jumped on the bike for a test ride with my gym shoes and the rubber dug into the pins and there was no foot movement at all. I then switched to my riding boots with a hard Vibram surface and a slightly convex surface. I was concerned they would bite as well. The wide platform and multiple pins easily connected to the boots. My feet felt attached to the bike and I quickly even forgot I was not clipped in.

When you have made the decision to ride in the winter elements, pants, coats, gloves, hats, and obviously boots become part of the riding equation. What you don’t want to have to worry about is whether your feet will stay planted when you ride that icy bridge or take that snowy corner downhill. Having pedals that grip your winter riding shoes or boots firmly is one less thing that you have to worry about with One Up. This leaves you free to focus on having fun and conquering the terrain in front of you.

Final Thoughts: 

If you’re harboring bad feelings about the plastic pedals we all had in the ’80s and ’90s, it’s time to expand your mind to what technology has afforded the low-cost composite market. I’m a believer and I highly recommend the One Up pedals if you’re looking for a light, durable, wallet-friendly option for your new bike build.