11 September, 2012

Name Our Big Pedals

These are our newest pedals. Many VO staffers like large pedals so we wanted to make a really high quality large-platform pedal that would be comfortable even when riding in thin soled shoes. I tested them in espadrilles and minimalist running shoes.

Of course this style of pedal is great for urban riding. But we see other uses too. More and more bike packers, long distance tourists, and adventure cyclists are riding with big BMX style pedals, and these make a more refined alternative.

The two-sided platform is a CNC cut aluminum extrusion. It's big, approximately 100mm wide and 100mm long. There are six replaceable traction pins on each side of the pedal to offer great grip even when wet. We include rounded pins with the pedals so as not to damage street shoes, but they are easily replaced with more aggressive sharp pins.

Most existing pedals with large platforms use either loose ball bearings or are designed for BMX or downhill riding and use durable, but stiff, bushings. We designed a chrome-molly spindle that uses three sealed bearings, two inboard and one outboard. This makes for a very smooth pedal; it feels like a real high-end road pedal. And the bearings are easy to replace. These won't be inexpensive pedals, but we think the durability and feel will make them worth the cost.

We call them "the big pedals." That's the official project name. But we realize that we should probably find something better. So we'll give a pair to whoever comes up with the best name. (Be sure to use your name in the comment so you get credit.) The pedals will be in production soon and we hope to have them here in a couple of months.

Update: We chose the name "Sabot." Please see the post above for details.

129 comments:

Mark Muller said...

La Grande Dame. It is good enough for champagne, it is good enough for pedals.

Anonymous said...

will the three bearings be replaceable? I hope so...

VeloOrange said...

The bearings are easy to replace. You just need an 8mm socket and a pedal wrench.

Mike Jenkins said...

The new pedals remind me of the Tower Bridge in Sacramento. How about Tower Bridge pedals?
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KX3KY3rmrqk/UAOGM8ym5aI/AAAAAAAACuw/dQiq5sogMa0/s640/Yellow+Bridge+4.jpg

Rudy said...

Char D'Assault, after the fast (for the time) assault tanks of WWI. I'm abhor violence, but I think that the "built like a tank" and moderne-ish looks work together.

Anonymous said...

Le Grippe Roi

Dyno said...

They look very art-deco architectural. They are good for urban riding and shopping.

"Pavilion" Pedals.

Anonymous said...

How about "Grand Boeuf".

Rudy said...

...or, Štrombergs, because, well, you know

Anonymous said...

Just plain Grand Cru Pedals? Grand Cru Navatteur Pedals?

Anonymous said...

The Illustrious B.I.G.(s)

2wheelsgood said...

Bigfoot platforms

George said...

I like "Lapin"...bigfooted, yet agile.

ChrisM said...

Plat de jour. Actually, what wouldn't I do for a Steak Frites and a carafe of cheap Fitou right now...

Radical Rye said...

Grand espace

ablejack said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Don Lubach said...

My submission: Big Orange Pedals

I want them. I don't care if I win, just get these in so I can order two pairs.

Todd Morris said...

Fattos - Italian for Big.

The Carlsons said...

-Grand Cru Coliseum Pedals
-Prominade Pedals
-Metropolis Pedals

Mike Bx said...

I concede. Dyno's suggestion "Pavilion Pedals" is better than anything I was going to offer.

Blitz said...

Working off the 100x100 size:

"cent carré"

or maybe... just "grand carré"

carré -> carry... just works well, in my mind

Hans Jatzke said...

You should call this the bon pied. Could mean either "good footing" or "good foot"

Dourbali Star said...

La Pédaleee

Hans Jatzke said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
majarlika66 said...

why not " VO BIGfoot"?

Rommel of Toronto

Brian P said...

Géant Ferré - the mythical french Giant.

-Brian Payne

Eric said...

How about Libre or Grand Libre. Large and free (from clips or retention).

Joe Lawler said...

Généralissime, fondamental, typique, courant, par dignité, haut-lieu, bas-fond, liaison

Matt said...

Sasquatch Pedals.

Sam J said...

Flight Cradle, as in:

First rule of Flight Cradle pedals: Everyone talks about Flight Cradle pedals.

Make your stand on a pair of Flight Cradle pedals.

Always ready for departure with Flight Cradle pedals.

Always wearing the right shoes with Flight Cradle pedals.

Matt said...

Or maybe just Bigfoot.

everett said...

Grand Cru Raquettes

A platform large enough to be a snowshoe.

-Everett

Clancy Anderson said...

B.A.P. Big Aluminum Pedal or Big (insert your choice A word) Pedal

Michael said...

How about the Haussmann Pedals, after the man who is responsible for the grand boulevards of Paris, and who also has a namesake boulevard. Baron Haussmann transformed Paris from a medieval city to what it is today.

Consequently, you could consider any of the "grands" boulevards in the name (even though some are already used in VO parts): Boulevard Beaumarchais, Filles-du-Calvaire, Temple, Saint-Martin, Saint-Denis, Bonne-Nouvelle, Poissonnière, Montmartre, Italiens, Capucines and the Madeleine boulevards.

Ron Leach said...

"Geodesic" because they're constructed like Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome.

Anonymous said...

"Racquette" says the resident French expert, also the word for snowshoes.

"Tourist trap" was a close second, homage to my Suntour XC-II Beartraps.

This is favorite VO pedal to date.

Muskham said...

`Flatliners`

Ian A

tim said...

Launch Pads

Michael said...

These are gorgeous. The only improvement? Accessory rubber pieces cut to match that could be attached using the spike screw holes. Rubber truly makes pedals usable with any footwear in any weather, and the market for them is primarily low-end heavier cruiser pedals. Even high-end bulletproof dutch bikes use inexpensive rubber pedals because that is all that is available.

Muskham said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

how about "sweet pedals biatches"

DI said...

Raquette!!!

Dave said...

Big Flats.

Empty There said...

Pédale Métropole

OBA said...

Eiffel

Unknown said...

Le Grande Lebowski...

Ron Leach said...

Eiffel Pedals (I forgot to include my name earlier) Ron Leach

Anonymous said...

"Estrade mondial" = global platform, a platform that can go anywhere. Could also pass for poorly translated Shakespeare, which is kind of fun.

-TRT

Jeremy said...

"Fats Waller," after the great Jazz artist that wrote "Your Feet's Too Big."

John said...

This pedal reminds me of my grandpa's old blue car that we lovingly referred to as, you guessed it, "Old Blue". We never buckled up in the backseat because there weren't any seat belts back there. These pedals are like those bench seats of old. I propose the name be a tribute to the bench seat, which sadly will go extinct in a couple of months when the Chevy Impala goes out of production. The name then would be, VO Bucketless Pedals.

Andrew said...

Big Paddle Masher

Le Grand Bloqueur de Pagaie? (yeah, my french is not awesome).

Andrew in Seattle

brandon alexander said...

I think you should call them simply; Piatta 'forma

Unknown said...

They look like warehouse/waterfront pedals to me - used to wheel around large loads of this and that. How about Pedals Entrepôt?

-Adrian Fine

Kilroy said...

Greetings,

My submission is: "Pedales de Randonnee"

Best regards,
C. Ray

Mathieu Ruellan said...

Grand Panard

Peregrine Ward said...

The Big Orange
Albatross
Magnum

Matt in Tacoma said...

VO Mezzanine Pedals. Great looking design.

-Matt Newport

ablejack said...

Accélérateur(s)

Frenchy speak for gas pedal. Step on it!

Chuck E. said...

These look great!

1. Journey Finder
2. Country Road
3. Rivet

- Chuck

Michael said...

"Le Grande Lebowski"

Yes! The Dude's Pedals.

Eric Phillips said...

These kind of remind me of the Air Stream RVs, so how about Air Stream Pedals?

Anonymous said...

How about the Radiator pedal? Kind of like the radiator on some early 50s Citroen.
Michael Burdge

everett said...

Sabot Pedals

French for clogs or big shoes, the perfect footwear for these pedals. Also a carrier for projectiles, in case you are running late for work.

-Everett

Jay Fox said...

Ventoux

everett said...

^...by projectiles, I was alluding to riding fast; certainly nothing violent.

reverend dick said...

Ferrocious Heap.

Andrew said...

Big, thin, flat:
Grande crêpe

JAM said...

Butterfly Pedals
Monarch Pedals

jj said...

The Big Step.

William Blake Stephens said...

the Sasquatch Trap Pedal.

William Blake Stephens,

Forest Beach Designer Goldsmiths said...

Q step,
Lily pads
Crumpets
Stompers
Landings
Launchpads
Stepping stones
Platters
Doormats
Millstones (oh, that's good!)
Pancakes
Omelettes
Trivetts
Manholes
Frying pans
Silver dollars
Medallions
Coasters
Mesas
Hub caps
Pizza pedals..... Ok, thats enough, but I've got more!

eli said...

The Toe Slab

The Boot Canal

The Plateaus (Platoes)

The Toe Slab Launch Pad

Martin said...

Thirding (or so)...
Raquette
Very good

Anonymous said...

All-Soles.

-Henry Schaefer

The Distance Drifter said...

Since it will excel at "urban riding" and has a late 20's sort-of feel why not....

The VO Metropolis Pedal!!!

-The Distance Drifter

Gabe DeFelippis said...

Flat Jacks

-Gabe DeFelippis

eric said...

"Neil Armstrongs" (one big step for mankind)

"Squares" (because everyone loves peddling them!)

"Flatbeds" (Got a Cargo bike?... you need flatbeds)

"Significant Others"

"BFF's" (big flat feet)

"big box"

"Damn Foreigners"

"FlatPorms"

"flattletraps"

"flatsoes"

"Bipeddles"


Eric Meyer

Dave said...

Oh, that's easy! "Grande Cru Passo" from the Italian "grande passo" meaning "big step" in English.

Earle said...

Sasquatch!

Mark Inglis Taylor said...

How about "Tartine pedals" because they sort of have the shape of a slice of toast.

margiwarg said...

Grand Confort

Nick said...

How about "Estrade Pedals"?

French for platform or stage, I believe.

thechammp said...

'grand cru crampons'

or 'VO cleats'

Unknown said...

Petit Pedals

as a joke

or Eclair Pedals; they remind me of Divorcé but eclair sounds better

ezra said...

aerilon

- after the flat flaps on a wing lifted up and down to control rolling and tilting of the aircraft.

I don't fly planes but these look like they'd be at home as floor controls in a design-informed cockpit.

They'd help me fly on a bike fer sure.

Das Kaltblut said...

The VO Blockpedal - German for those nice shiny metal roadster pedals.

Jerome said...

Plateaus.

Empty There said...

Or...

Métro pedals

Métro Nouveau pedals

Métropolitain pedals

Ruben said...

CANEVERAL PEDALS

(a solid 'lauching' platform helps you accelerate better + it sounds pretty snappy too...)

SocialBlunder said...

10mm = Centipède!

Robert Davidson

pedalhead said...

La Pédale Parfait.
At last you guys are finally getting a decent set of pedals! I've been using a set of the Lambdas with my own pins added for years on a commuter bike and the system works great. Yours are better looking though.

rigtenzin said...

Sabo

alan said...

ks9 Mega Pods. Or a decent pedal that finally fits my feet.

James said...

Steal Me

everett said...

Jacana Pedals

A bird that has the largest feet in proportion to its body.

-Everett

Jrome said...

Nice Dream Sandwich pedals

jerome haines

everett said...

Grand Cru Nenaphur/Nenuphur

A European white water lily

Also a variation: Lily Pads

-Everett

drew said...

These look great- I'd call them Surefoot pedals.

Unknown said...

Broadway Pedals.

will said...

Will they work with PowerGrip straps?

Serial Retrogrouch said...

VO Astro Pedals
'A' for the shape carved into the platform twice on each side.

el viejito said...

Thomas McCause says they should be called twisted steel and sex appeal pedals!

Anonymous said...

Klamath

Karl Fundenberger said...

Clodhoppers. Or plat en fonte.

eric said...

"Flapjacks"

Not sure if somebody already mentioned this one... but they are such nice big pancakes...

Eric Meyer

Louis said...

mesa
le hauteur (french for plateau)
platypus
duckfoot

retired and loving it said...

"Silk Stockings"

Anonymous said...

Grand Poobah...for Flintstone feet

Peter Carlberg said...

"Grand Pied"

...or however the frogs spell it ("Grande Pied"?, "Gran Pied"?) because I'm no longer sure. My last French lesson was in 1970.


Peter Carlberg

Unknown said...

The VO "Voyageur" Pedals

Larry Lakos

Anonymous said...

Metropolitans: Urbane, chic, sleek, a bit deco

Velocios: Practical, sturdy with a joie de vive

Grand Cru Capitals: they have a classic column look

Streamline Ramblers

mafairbank@comcast.net

HamHamJamon said...

VO Filet Pedals

Chris H. said...

Le grand boucle = literally translated "the big loop"

Chris Hilfiger

doc said...

le pedal

Blogging Agent said...

"Grand Palier" is Big Platform, or also, Big Bearing.

Kyle Hord said...

VO Rounders

Anonymous said...

Three names come to mind:
Waffle Irons,
Flyswatters,
or Sasquatch


Regards,
Ints Luters

ofoab said...

marGrand Garcon

Anonymous said...

1. Townabout
2. Decoped
3. Wholesole
4. Podianaut


-Martin Thomas ***-8689

R. Simpson said...

Tres Grande Feet-esse

Anonymous said...

pied de graisse

wormsign
at
G mail

Christopher said...

They remind me of bmx rat traps.
How about, Piège Rongeurs Pedals

Alistair said...

Southside, or Southsiders

Neither Eastside nor Westside these pedals are hip to both side of the tracks.

They can dress up one bike or dress down another. Cool.

These are the pedals I hoped for when you mentioned the project.



Nicolas Andres Ibarra said...

Panzers or Panzer Pedals

-Nick Y.

Raiyn said...

Hmm,
presse-citron
caisse d'oranges
cageot à oranges
Marteau de Citron
Marteau de Oranges

Anonymous said...

100 mm x 100 mm = 1 square decimetre
So, either dm2 (the 2 in superscript) or décimètre carré (dm carré).

Kevin Kavanagh

humblecyclist said...

"sole support"

Shane said...

"Le Grand Pedale" - sounds cool!

nextSibling said...

pied-à-terre