Bicycles

Rubber-bodied Bumper Pedals are made to spare cyclists' shins

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The Bumper Pedals are presently on Indiegogo
Intrinsic Cycles
The Bumper Pedals are presently on Indiegogo
Intrinsic Cycles
One pair of the Bumper Pedals is claimed to weigh in at approximately 1 lb, 1 oz (482 g)
Intrinsic Cycles

For many bicycle commuters, painful shin scrapes caused by pedal strikes are just an unavoidable part of cycling. They might not have to be, however, if the designers of the rubber-bodied Bumper Pedals have anything to say about it.

Manufactured by Salt Lake City-based startup Intrinsic Cycles, the Bumper Pedals are currently the subject of an Indiegogo campaign.

They feature a conventional steel/aluminum frame and axle, but those are covered in a thick coating of industrial-grade closed-cell urethane foam. Both sides of each pedal also sport a large replaceable patch of grip tape, so they shouldn't get too slippery when wet.

One pair of the Bumper Pedals is claimed to weigh in at approximately 1 lb, 1 oz (482 g)
Intrinsic Cycles

Needless to say, the Bumper Pedals won't be showing up on Tour de France bikes anytime soon. They're aimed squarely at everyday cyclists, who value not getting whacked on the shins by bare metal pedals over performance. As a side benefit, the pedals also won't take gouges out of door frames or furniture when the bike is being wheeled around indoors.

Each pedal measures 3.45 inches wide by 3.95 in long by 1.19 in thick (88 by 100 by 30 mm), with a set of two reportedly tipping the scales at about 1 lb, 1 oz (482 g).

Assuming the Bumper Pedals reach production, a pledge of US$35 will get you a pair – the planned retail price is $49. There's more information in the following video.

Sources: Indiegogo, Intrinsic Cycles

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1 comment
Trylon
The campaign doesn't provide important details like what the internals are. Is it serviceable? Does it use loose bearings, sealed bearings or DU bushings? I'm guessing the last based on the low price, so are the bushings a standard size? Banging pedals on the door frame isn't a big risk as the handlebars are usually wider. Ergon pedals are well regarded and their plastic bodies won't damage shins or door frames. Personally, I have some old Nashbar mountain bike pedals that I removed the grip pins from, then added grip tape and half toe clips. My feet never slip off but come out easily and I like how the sealed bearing cartridges are easily replaceable, which isn't often as the seals are effective.