COMPONENT DAMAGE - PEDALS

Pedals are about the only component in a worse location than the rear derailleur.  Pedals stick way out there and are usually the first thing to contact the ground in the case of a crash.  The pedal always makes contact when the bicycle is laid, gently or otherwise, on its side.  The pedal is the only thing, other than tires of course, that can touch the ground while the bicycle is being ridden.  Pedals have a tough job to do and they are often treated like you know what.

It is common practice to temporarily lay a bicycle on its side when not in use.  I do this all of the time when there is no secure place to lean my bicycle.  When I do have to lay one of my bicycles on its side, I do so with care.  I lay the bicycle down gently, and preferably, on soft grass.  If I can't do this, I at least protect the end of the pedal with one of my riding gloves.  Doing so will reduce the possibility of scratching up the pedal cage or dust cap.

Most pedals will have some form of damage, usually minor, to the end of the pedal.  Most of this damage is cosmetic, caused by carelessly laying the bicycle down on its side – again and again.  This is not something to get upset about but it does indicate careless use and might well show up elsewhere in the bicycle.

If the ends of the pedals are scratched or gouged and actually deformed, then the bicycle has either been treated very carelessly or it has been crashed (another bad sign).  When you come upon this kind of pedal damage, begin to look elsewhere for additional damage.  Are the cranks bent?  Are the bottom bracket bearings damaged?  What about the frame set itself?

Then there is one more concern with respect to pedal damage – the worn dust cap!  When a bicycle is leaned over hard in cornering, there is just a chance that the end of the pedal will touch or scrape the ground.  I have never experienced this situation because I do not push my bicycle hard enough to lean it over that far.  However, someone who races a bicycle will, and the worn off dust cap might well mean that the bicycle was ridden hard.  If that is the case, what else has experienced hard use damage?

NEXT- COMPONENT DAMAGE - SIDE STANDS