Pedaling Innovations "Catalyst" Pedals: My Long Term Review!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 พ.ค. 2023
- Will I be keeping my full-foot support Catalyst pedals by Pedaling Innovations? In this presentation is found my unequivocal answer!
pedalinginnovations.com/ (where to get these same pedals), but they are certainly NOT the only choice for efficient full-foot support pedaling.
Full foot pedaling provides benefits that pedaling on one's toes does not. The major negative aspect of toe pedaling, as is done with SPD pedals, is ankle instability, which greatly reduces the ability to deliver maximum power to each pedal stroke. Toe pedaling also leads to Nerve Compression Syndrome (NCS), commonly known as "hotspots" in the cycling world, a painfully miserable condition that can become permanent over time.
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"TAKE IT EASY ... TAKE A TRIKE!" - trike hobo
Steve's current recumbent trike is a 2021 HP Velotechnik Scorpion fs26 Enduro, outfitted with Schwalbe Marathon PLUS road tires instead of the stock knobby off-road tires. He has also owned a 2015 ICE Full Fat off-road trike, a 2014 Catrike 700 speed trike, and a 2007 ICE Qnt trike ... not to mention three bikes (Specialized Roll Elite - Motobecane Night Train fat tire - Easy Racers Gold Rush recumbent)
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Useful video, thanks! I appreciate your observations and experience. I probably will get some Catalyst petals once my trike arrives.
I have now been riding with these pedals for more than a year, and I love them. I have so much more useful power going up hills that I can now see, looking back, how terribly inefficient SPD clipless pedals were for me (which I used for thousands of miles ... not good at all for my foot health). I have done nine videos so far about these pedals since this one you are commenting on, so check out the "Catalyst full-foot support pedals" playlist I have if you wish to see all of my later thoughts about the pedals.
steve
I just ordered a pair of catalyst pedals. I watched your first ride video several months ago. Ordered them and then saw this video. Can't wait to try them out. Thanks for the review!
I think you will be very satisfied with these pedals, and your feet will certainly be healthier, not to mention the greater power transfer when going up hills and steep grades. Over two dozen riders so far have switched to these pedals since I first talked about them last summer, and all (so far) have expressed similar results.
steve
Thanks, Steve for the reviews and recommendations for these Catalyst pedals. You have described exactly what I've been experiencing with the stock pedals on my Catrike Villager. As someone who has peripheral neuropathy, I believe this pressure distribution will be just the thing that will keep me triking for years to come. They're in the mail en route right now. I'll keep you updated.
Hi Mike,
In case you didn't know, I have a total of nine videos about the pedals now, under the playlist titled: "Catalyst full-foot support pedals" ... I have done these talks over the past months since my original talk on the pedals. After about 15 months of using the Catalyst pedals now, I absolutely love these things because I can pedal as far as I want, as long as I want, and as hard as I want, with no foot discomfort at all. I am a recumbent triker now with HAPPY FEET, a fantastic thing after years and many miles enduring the agony of hotspots (Nerve Compression Syndrome), which will ruin a rider's forefoot nerves permanently over time if not addressed. This nerve aspect is serious business in my opinion. On my cross country trips with SPD clipless pedals, I would have to stop regularly, get off the trike, and walk around for a while just to get my feet feeling normal again. And as the day wore on, I would have to stop more frequently. Check out my other Catalyst pedal talks for much more insight about the pedals. I would never go back to clipless and the discomfort associated with them!!
steve
Great info! And I agree with your statements. I have a bent with MTB type pedals (little screws like the ones in your vid) and my foot has never slipped in all the years I've been riding. I'm putting together a new build and will look into these. I like the idea of a longer pedal. Thanks
Yes, I think that traction pins are excellent for keeping feet on pedals. In the 10+ months I've been using these long pedals, I have really enjoyed cycling MUCH more (more power to the pedal and never any foot discomfort). Give them some thought! I don't think you'd be disappointed.
steve
I now use the same combination of pedals and Merrill Moab shoe. I'm into my fourth month and very happy with using these pedals. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
Glad to hear Timmy that you are having a similar experience! Riding these pedals is believing, which is why most riders will continue to use standard platform pedals or SPD pedals ... Few are willing to shell out $149.95 to experiment, but those who do become believers themselves. Standard flats can be placed under the rider's arch, but they are too short to provide support nearly as much as these long pedals. Such a scenario still tweaks the foot unnaturally because the forefoot and heel are not supported.
steve
@Trike Hobo I'd love to have paid $149 . I had to import these and a set cost close to double what they are in the US. Still worth it .
@@timmytom You bet Timmy ... if these were priced at $300 I would still purchase them! For me, the money is nothing compared to long-term foot health and cycling comfort. The Nerve Compression Syndrome (hot spots) that occurs on recumbents can become permanent if not stopped, so it's nothing to fool around with. On my second cross country trip (close to 1,000 miles in three weeks), I had those tiny Shimano PD-M520 clipless pedals, and once the trip was concluded, it took me about two weeks before my feet felt normal and comfortable again (I was worried for a while that I had permanently ruined my foot nerves). Lessons hard learned for me, which is why I really love this full-foot support pedaling option! Thanks for your commentary!
steve
@Trike Hobo I agree. I no longer have the foot issues from using both SPD and standard pedals.
I have 3 pair of Catalyst pedals, they worked great for me from day 1. Road or mt bike or gravel bike.
I run 9 out of 18 pins and use the long pins catalyst includes. Everybody does it different.
On a mt bike on hard landings these pedals are great!
I have been riding these Catalyst pedals for a year and a half now, and I absolutely love them! Yes, I would imagine that landing from a jump on a mtn bike would be much more comfortable with these than with clipless pedals (and much easier on your feet also). For my non-competitive use on this recumbent, I am just using the full 18 stock pins, with no modifications.
steve
Excellent video Steve! I just bought my first trike and it came with standard pedals. I put heel loops on to keep my feet from spinning off and slamming my heels into the ground. I have a pair of Merrill boots and love those, so a pair of hiking boots would be great. I was just going to look on TH-cam to see if anyone put out a video on pedal upgrades when I got the notification of yours. Right on time.
Hi Kelly,
I'm glad to hear the timing was just right for you! It has taken me many years, lots of money, and a ton of experimentation to get to this point where I have finally found the ideal pedaling setup for myself ... but now that I have it, I am definitely sticking with it! I have never been this comfortable pedaling a trike, and knowing that I can pedal as far and long as I want with no negative foot problems is awesome!
steve
I love them, I'm in my second pair and I will go for the EVO version, but a good idea is to put the longer pins and take out every other pin in order to the ones left can go deeper into the sole.
I've been riding these Catalyst pedals now since the summer of 2022, and they have proven to be worth every penny spent on them. The new EVO version is even more costly, but I think a person's foot health and power output are more important than spending a few more bucks on a worthy pedal. From what I can see on James' website, the EVO has fewer pins, and the pins are smooth on the sides and tops, compared to the original pins that are threaded on the sides and fairly sharp on the tops. It makes me wonder if the EVO will provide as much adhesion to the pedal with the shoe sole. With either pedal however, the longer length is the key to the extra power gained compared to just using the forefeet as done with SPD or Eggbeater pedals.
steve
Thank you for speaking the truth! I started using the old BMX bear trap pedals some years ago. Now these spike pedals are the way to go for me as well. And any waffle stomper shoe works.
Yes Jim, they do indeed work well with any shoe, which is a big plus! You can even pedal in sandals.
steve
I've had too many "Laugh-In" type fall-overs with clipless pedals to ever use them again. Luckily, I was on a recumbent bike when that happened, so I didn't have far to fall. Still, I have shoulder pain to this day from those events. I also place my feet so the arch is above the pedal axle. It reels wrong to use the balls of my feet on any recumbent.
I'll consider the Catalysts, PLUS pedal spacers seem they'd help put my legs in a better position. I feel kind of pigeon-toed with my current "normal" pedal spacing. Got to find a color that goes with my bright orange Challenge Trike.
I have other Merrills for hiking. Yours look better for that, as mine have almost no tread as delivered. They seem too heavy and clunky for spinning well on my trike.
Thanks for all your testing and info.
Yes, the Merrill Moab Ventilators I use are what could be considered bulky compared to other shoes, but I had them laying around unused, so figured they would make a great pair of cycling shoes with these Catalyst pedals. A non-hiking shoe with flat softer soles would do better with the Catalyst traction pins because the pins would embed more compared to my Merrill shoes.
Placing the arch of the foot directly over the pedal axle is important, but a long pedal (like these) is necessary to get the full power, and also so the foot is not distorted at either end (support for both the forefoot and heel simultaneously is essential.
I've been using the Catalyst pedals now since the summer of 2022, and I love these things! They have proven their worth very well to me.
steve
Maybe not so much with bicyclist, but ANYONE who uses the traditional CLIP IN pedals on a recumbent trike, will get numbness and Hot foot in the ball of their feet.
The reason why is because all the power pressure is focused on just a 2"×2" spot on the ball of their feet.
I use what I custom made and designed, a whole Platform for the entire shoe. Thus spreading the power pressure of your foot throughout the whole foot.
Thus totally eliminating all Hot foot pain and DAMAGE to the nerve in your feet.
Great points! Nerve Compression Syndrome will become permanent with enough time and pressure, which pretty much messes up the feet for life.
steve
@@EZSteve yes!
You are exactly right Steve.
Also you are exactly right about people who have been brainwashed into thinking that Clip-in pedals are the ONLY way to go. And anyone else who rides in traditional shoes, are either not serious riders or don't measure up in some way.
None of us are riding the Tour DeFrance, even though there are A LOT of wannabe riders who a Legend in their own minds.
Recumbent trike riders especially don't need clip-in pedals; not even the fast Recumbent racing trikes.
I had some really bad hot foot pain when I wore those narrow totally uncomfortable clip-in bicycle shoes, when on my first tour from Palm Springs, ca to Tucson, az.
Soon after that I came up with a rudimentary version of what I use on my trike currently.
People automatically have negative feelings about non clip-in pedals. Just shows how conditioned they have become regarding those things.
@@The-GreenHornet I have seen numerous times here on TH-cam where cyclists strongly infer, if not outright state, that SPD clipless pedals are the top-of-the-line best option for "serious" cyclists! A channel like GCN (Global Cycling Network) is one such channel, but there are many more. GCN is only concerned about racing bikes, really nothing beyond that, and even though they have done a handful of talks about recumbents, it's only to compare to see if a recumbent is faster or slower than a carbon fiber racing bike. Their main focus is speed, being super fast, as is the focus of many wannabe racing bike riders. I have never used SPD pedals on a racing bike, in fact I've never raced bikes at all, so I cannot speak to whether those guys experience hotspots, but for us recumbent trikers, is is indeed shortsighted to not seriously consider full-foot support pedals instead of SPD clipless (one channel I watch, called "Bikes, Trikes, and Razors" features two twin brothers who are racing bikers, and they also both have ICE VTX speed trikes, where they continue to use the tiny SPD pedals, probably out of habit I suppose. With those riders, it would likely be unthinkable to have a huge pair of these full-foot support type pedals on ICE VTX racing trikes!).
steve
@@The-GreenHornet And yes, those who say SPD clipless pedals are the pinnacle for serious cyclists have also said that those pedals are the goal that all cyclists should strive to meet once we get good enough or serious enough to use them. We are not serious about cycling until we use SPD clipless pedals for pedaling on our toes!
steve
Thanks
You are most welcome!
steve
Merrell's are my favorites too. They grip the pedals more surely.
These Merrell shoes are great for many activities, and I see a lot of people wearing them everywhere. I like them for cycling because they are a robust shoe that really protects the foot if the foot hits something.
steve
Hi Steve, I agree those pedals are great. They are worth every penny. We have over 10,000 on my video. thanks George Chase
Glad to hear all is well George! Thanks for your thoughts and update on the channel views!
steve
I have been using these pedals for several years on my XC mountain bike - I gladly give up the weight penalty for the benefits you outline. While you can ride them with hiking shoes or sneakers, etc, I'd suggest trying a pair of Five Ten or other riding shoes designed for flats. The shoes will really stick to the pedals due to the rubber compound that is designed for the pins. They will be more efficient and less likely to slip off the pedal resulting in a leg strike.
Yes, the Five-Tens would remain on these Catalyst pedals even better than my Vibram hiking soles. I had these shoes already, so decided to give them a try, and so far, so good (but I don't race off road, only ride around easily on pavement most of the time). So far so good for me. Thanks for the suggestion ... it is a valid one! Five-Tens are made for traction pin platforms.
steve
I'm between sizes with 12.5 with flat feet. Would you still suggest the normal sized version or XL?
All I can do is offer my opinion here. I have the standard size (5.6 inches long), and I wear a size 10 shoe. The XL version is 6.3 inches long, which is only 0.7 inch longer than the standard (less than three quarters of an inch).
On his Catalyst website, James Wilson says:
"If you wear a size 12 or smaller shoe then the larger pedal won’t work for you."
If you wear a size 12.5 shoe, I would think that the XL pedal would work best, based on my usage of the regular size for over a year. The pedal basically connects the forefoot to the heel, and with my smaller size, the pedal reaches the ball of my foot and the midpoint of the heel. I would not want it any smaller than this in my situation.
This is why I am thinking the larger size is your best option. It might be a good idea to contact James directly and ask his opinion. He is very good about customer support (I had questions initially before I bought a set of these pedals). My speculation is that the standard size might be too short for you, but you should actually ask James, because he is the expert.
Link to the XL pedal:
pedalinginnovations.com/product/xl-catalyst-pedal/
Telephone to James:
970-589-6418
steve
Hi Steve, Thanks for this review. I'm still pedaling my trike much like my a diamond frame bike, 80 to 90 rpm cadence, Smaller gears. (So I'm still using SPD's. Riding with that cadence and Platform style pedals, I'd be concerned with my feet slipping off and suffering "heel suck". Have you had any instances of your feet slipping off of these Catalyst Pedals?
Hi Donald,
I have never had my feet slip off of these pedals. There are 18 traction pins on each side of each pedal (don't hit 'em with your shins), and slippage is non-existent. I have had my shoes jarred slightly on unexpected bad bumps, or if the chains doesn't catch a cog properly, which results in a little foot movement on the pins, but based on my experience so far, I am not at all worried about my feet leaving the pedals.
I rode SPD clipless for years, and when I decided to try these pedals, I wondered if I would miss being able to leave my feet on the pedals at stop lights, or if I would have to consciously think about keeping my feet on the pedals. Well, much to my delight, my experience with these is no different than clipless in that regard. My shoes remain firmly planted even when stopped ... no slippage whatsoever.
The other day on a ride, I placed my right foot as I would with clipless pedals, with the ball of the foot over the pedal axle spindle, while leaving my left foot properly placed with the arch of my foot over the pedal axle, as I was climbing a hill. What an amazing demonstration this was for me! It served to reinforce the beauty of these pedals, which allow for such a dramatic power increase. I had not tried this experiment before, and it just blew me away the difference in pedaling power between my two feet, and I could immediately feel the ankle instability on my right side, something that I just took for granted all those years I rode clipless.
As I have reported prior, and in this video, for someone who remains concerned about a foot coming off of a pedal, Utah Trikes makes several full-foot support pedals with heel cups and straps. Personally, having ridden these Catalyst pedals now for over ten months, I prefer them over the heel cup and strap pedals because these pedals are made by a professional MTB racer to the same exacting standards as high quality aluminum pedals. They are super light weight, which I like.
I ride some off-road trails on my trike now and then, and even in rough conditions, I have never had a foot leave the pedals, so I am not the slightest bit fearful of injury. The most incredible thing I have noticed, right from the start, is how much easier it is to ascend hills pedaling with the full foot instead of pedaling on my toes as I did with SPD clipless!
steve
Anyone use on a road bike or time trial bike for triathlon? Thoughts on switching?
Update: I have used in now a road bike and tri bike and holy moly I’ve actually improved speed. Even on a similar course with just the road bike I can increase speed by .2 mph or so and now I don’t have to switch shoes in transition!
I know the inventor of these pedals, a mountain bike racer, has testimonials on his company website, but I am not sure if any of them are from road or triathlon riders. Might be worth a check on your part to see if they have chimed in at all.
Read over these pages:
pedalinginnovations.com/rider-feedback/
pedalinginnovations.com/catalyst-pedal-reviews/
steve
Ive used these flat pedals, and other flat pedals on my roadbike for tons of miles, I dont go any slower what so ever with them. Roadbikers cannot handle seeing me using these pedals. They just cant.
After 5 years of all flats I could care less what they say or think. I like flat pedals.
You should check out the Kamway PedLs. I love them. You can use street shoes and I found out just using the rear strap works great and don't need to use the other straps.
Yes, I am aware of the Kamway pedals, which I first came across several years ago. They look like a really great choice too! Any pedal that allows the recumbent trike rider to push with full-foot support is superior to standard bicycle pedals, both from the standpoint of greater power delivery as well as vastly improved long-term foot health. At the time I first saw the Kamway pedals, I was still a die-hard clipless pedal rider, so I had no interest in them. Kamway has several different styles of pedals, some with restrictions on what they fit, so a buyer should call them first to make sure they will work.
kamway.com/collections/pedals-1
steve
@@EZSteve I loved bicycling but my father woke me up. He said after a long ride I need to take a mirror and look between my legs. So I did and had the life scared out of me. So bought different seats from 30 to 150 and still got the horrible Bruising and being a Diabetic and blood thinners from getting the MAC Disease.
But the clip on felt like I had a giant marble in the middle of my shoe and when just walking got a little scary.
@@SFCRambo60 Yes, the clip-in shoes place all the pressure directly on the forefeet, as if there were a giant marble as you said, in the middle of the shoe. This is not healthy over the long-term. I did a talk about how much pressure (approximately) is placed on feet when using the clip-type pedals:
th-cam.com/video/KM-wO-LuKOA/w-d-xo.html
With recumbent trike seats, there is no pressure or adverse effects as a rider experiences with typical bicycle seats. The recumbent seats are super comfy, allowing all-day riding (which would be uncomfortable on a bicycle seat, based on my experience).
steve