Pedal

Given the fact that bicycle commuters have to carry a lock with them at all times, we've seen a number of bike parts that double as locks. One of the latest, the ET-one, lets a pedal do the job – partially, at least.

Although there are now bikes with 3D-printed titanium frames, they're out of most cyclists' price range. That said, if a current Kickstarter campaign is successful, you may soon be able to buy a set of thin, light pedals made in the same fashion.

Back in 2019 we reviewed the magped Enduro mountain bike pedals, which keep the rider's feet in place using magnets. Well, the Austria-based magped company has now announced a new-and-improved model, called the Sport2.

The pedals are a part of the bike that we don't give much thought to, but perhaps we should. Here are a few unique pedals we've come across, which show that someone out there has indeed been thinking about the things.

While plastic mountain bike pedals tend to be lighter and cheaper than their aluminum counterparts, they certainly don't last as long. Canadian company Squidworx has set out to combine the best features of both, with its Modular Flat Pedal.

Although many cyclists like the retention offered by "clipless" pedals, there's something to be said for the ease-of-use and wide platform offered by flats. Hustle Bike Labs has tried to combine the best features of both, with its magnetic REM Pedal.

Pocket Pedals are designed to bridge the gap between clipless and platform pedals, temporarily converting the one to the other.

​In 2013, David Packouz sampled some beats played by a top drummer and put realistic percussion at the feet of guitarists. That drummer-in-a-pedal got a baby brother a couple of years later, and now Singular Sound is aiming to shake up the looper space with the Aeros Loop Studio.​

​While many mountain bikers don't like the idea of having their feet mechanically fastened to clipless pedals, they do see the advantages of such a setup. Austria's magped set out to reach a compromise, with its magnetic platform pedals – I recently got to try a set out.

​Regular readers of New Atlas may recall Maglock mountain bike pedals, which use magnets to keep the rider's feet secured to the pedals. Well, if a new Kickstarter campaign is successful, Maglock could be in for some competition, in the form of the Austrian-designed magped pedals.

​Emulating the tones of iconic guitars is not exactly new, we've seen a number of amps, instruments and apps giving players access to legendary sounds. Italy's Sim1 is aiming to stand out from the crowd by not only cramming classic tones into a stomp, but doing so without any sampling or MIDI help.

If you have a commuter bike that you fuss over, then you doubtless try not to ding its paint when locking it up. Taiwan-based cycling entrepreneur Sumchi Wu has developed something that should help keep that from happening, in the form of his Pedal Park magnetic pedals.