9 Comments

1. 

   Joy on May 17, 2009 at 6:08 pm

   Yes, my facility uses these pedals. They do present problems. I am patiently waiting for your removal tool to be available!

   I don’t like the risks presented by the pedals: risk of injury as I attempt to remove them; risk of injury to a student as they attempt to remove them; risk of damage to the pedal (one pedal was broken by a student); risk starting class late.

   I ride Sidi/Look on the road and invested in Sidi/SPD for class (and mountain biking). Several of my students do the same.

   If my management were to ever ask me, I would recommend changing pedal systems to mitigate all of these risks.

   Thank you for working on your removal tool!! jd

2. 

   Liz on May 17, 2009 at 7:45 pm

   One of the gyms where I teach uses them and, as an spd user, they don’t bother me, except for the clicking that sometimes accompanies the pedal downstroke as the cage hits the floor. My question is this- what would you propose as an alternative?

   There are many indoor cycling fanatics who will never invest in an spd/look clip shoe. This pedal seems to be trying to meet the needs of many- those with Look, those with spd and those who (heaven forbid) want to cycle in non-cycling specific shoes.

   I’m all for a removal tool- why wouldn’t there be such a thing? What concerns me about this thread is that we risk focusing on “cycling enthusiasts” and not on serving the general population. As professional instructors, it is our responsibility to make our classes accessible to a wide-range of participants. Does this pedal need an easy way to be adjusted for spd/Look and non-clip participants to use it? Yes, but let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water.

   I am a big fan of this pedal, as it allows many different kinds of users to participate in class together. Isn’t that the point of group exercise?

3. 

   Jody Dougherty on May 18, 2009 at 5:29 am

   I teach at 2 clubs that use these pedals…Luckily, the instructors bikes have clip ins only, with the toe cages removed…We have had problems with students removing the cages and then someone tries to reattach them, only to have them slip off the pedals, while riding…..I find then VERY difficult to remove…and just a as hard to replace…although it is nice to have all 3 options…some people just ride in the clips to avoid all the work!

4. 

   Joseph Edwards on May 18, 2009 at 1:30 pm

   How selfish! You would get rid of the pedal because of your expensive taste.

   TripleLink pedals are great. Let’s focus on the common man and woman, not those doing spin classes in $200 Sidi shoes! Forget a special tool — head over to Nashbar and get some reasonably priced SPD shoes and clips. Be done with it. Geesh!

5. 

   John on May 18, 2009 at 3:19 pm

   My interest is in making everything safer and more convenient for the participants while retaining the “multi” use functionality of the TripleLink pedals.

6. 

   julz arney on May 19, 2009 at 9:36 am

   When indoor cycling first became popular, riders bought “road cycling” shoes with LOOK cleats. But as indoor cycling became a mainstay in clubs, folks figured out that with SPD compatible cleats we could get shoes with the cleat recessed, and therefore walk around the club in them – avoiding having to wear one pair of shoes to walk to the cycling area, then change shoes to ride the bike.

   As an instructor, I prefer LOOK cleats. They are so much easier to help students clip in with! How many of us have spent a good 10 minutes getting a rider with new shoes (SPD cleats) connected to the pedal? And if they don’t practice getting in and out several times right there and then, we’ll be doing it again for them next time!

   So, there are definitely pros and cons to the type of cleats we use indoors. But, on to the Triple Linkâ„¢ Pedal…

   I love the option of the Triple Link Pedal. It serves everyone. Although, I appreciate they are tough to get on and off. They are specifically designed to be very tough to remove. No one wants that pedal coming off with their tennis shoe in it the first time they get out of the saddle – so, if they are a bear to remove, that is actually a good thing.

   The best solution I’ve seen in clubs is to have a row of bikes where the Triple Link Pedals always stay on. Those bikes are marked on the sign in sheet, and riders with tennis shoes are directed to those bikes. Additional pedal cages are available if needed, but this seems to work well.

   I dig the idea of a tool to remove them. Although, I find that by using a towel to protect my hands, I can get them off with a little elbow grease. (That’s saying something, because I’m not very big.) A club I work with in Central CA invented a handy removal tool also, so John, you better hurry with that patent! 🙂

   Lastly, if you are working with Triple LInk Pedals, and you have a big box of them in the back of the room, take a moment to learn how to quickly re-string the straps so you can make a “right” pedal into a “left” pedal in 30 seconds or less and visa versa. This can be a lifesaver to a new rider, and make you their hero.

   Happy Riding,
   Julz Arney
   Lead Master Trainer, Schwinn® Indoor Cycling

7. 

   Spook on May 20, 2009 at 11:59 am

   In a room of 32 bikes we have 4. I teach at a couple of other clubs that are not Spin sites and they don’t have any.

8. 

   John on May 27, 2009 at 7:24 pm

   My “Red Pedal Tool” that solves the problem of removing the shoe basket, without hurting yourself, is now available to pre-order at an introductory price of $39.95 + free shipping.
   See the video showing how it works https://www.indoorcycleinstructor.com/indoor-cycling-news/schwinn-triple-link-pedal-removal-tool/
   John

9. 

   Josh G on June 9, 2009 at 1:57 pm

   The bikes at the gym I teach at has these pedals. I have found that just putting your shoe covered foot in and twisting like you have clipless on, removes them easily. Some of the smaller ladies in the class have problems popping them out, but for the most part they are not too hard to get out. Sometimes I have to cinch the toe strap to pop it, but normally it just comes off. I use SPD but I cant stand the clickity-clickity of the staps hitting the deck. Nice tool, but I for one don’t need it.
   Josh

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