Home > Bike Types > Commuter

Taipei Show: Titanium Blades, Plastic Pedals with Metal Pins, Bottom Brackets, and more from VP Components

5 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

VP Components Pedals BBs Steel cup bottom bracket (9)

As is sometimes the case, the VP Blade Titanium pedal started simply as a design exercise. While it was never meant for production, consumer demand was high enough that they made it happen. The result is a handmade titanium pedal with a spidery body that is meant to flex slightly and help absorb impacts. Now in its 3rd revision, the shape has changed slightly but the result is still a sand cast titanium pedal that is finished by hand with a full titanium axle.

Weight on the Ti beauties? Find it, and the answer to metal pins in a plastic pedal after the break!

VP Components Pedals BBs Steel cup bottom bracket (8)

When we saw one of the earlier versions of the Ti Blades, the weight was an impressive 260g per pair. Somehow, that number has dropped again with a total 222g weight per pair! Needless to say, these are really intended for urban/commuter/treking use, but should be fairly durable thanks to their 6AL/4V titanium construction with a CNC machined Ti axle and LSL & double sealed ball bearings. Price will be somewhere around $450-500, but according to VP for the amount of hand finishing needed, it’s a bargain.

VP Components Pedals BBs Steel cup bottom bracket (6)

In the realm of pedals you can actually afford, VP was showing off the 539 Push In 2 Nylon BMX pedal which uses one of the systems for metal traction pins in a plastic pedal that we’ve seen.

VP Components Pedals BBs Steel cup bottom bracket (3)

VP Components Pedals BBs Steel cup bottom bracket (5) VP Components Pedals BBs Steel cup bottom bracket (4)

Instead of threading the pin into the long fiber glass reinforced nylon body, the pedal is constructed with through holes for the traction pin. Each pin consists of a cylinder with a threaded cap, so the pin threads into itself and sandwiches the pedal body. The $60 pedal uses LSL and Dual sealed ball bearings for a total weight of 380g for an oversized wide platform pedal with a CNC machined Cr-Mo axle. Traction pin replacement kits will be available and include the tool needed for replacement.

VP Components Pedals BBs Steel cup bottom bracket (2) VP Components Pedals BBs Steel cup bottom bracket (12)

VP Components Pedals BBs Steel cup bottom bracket (11)

Really known for their pedals in the industry, VP also has a full range of bottom brackets which they are planning to expand on. A little known fact when it comes to VP and bottom brackets, is that the company was instrumental in the creation of the ISIS standard.

Replacement bottom brackets might not be something that would typically be newsworthy, but the mechanics out there will appreciate the fact that all of VP’s BBs use phosphated steel or aluminum cups. No plastic here.

VP Components Pedals BBs Steel cup bottom bracket (1)

While it has nothing to do with pedals other than Terry’s proximity to VP’s Taichung factory (full tour coming soon), VP was pumping out the best coffee in Taipei courtesy of Caffe Terry. A coffee and cycling fixture in Taichung, Terry kills it behind an espresso machine and owns one of Outside Magazine’s Top 10 bars for cyclists.

taispons taipei bike show coverage 2014

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
bent
bent
10 years ago

my mom always said if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything. i guess this quote from the article falls in the latter category. 😉

“VP was showing off the 539 Push In 2 Nylon BMX pedal which uses one of the systems for metal traction pins in a plastic pedal that we’ve seen.”

Tim
Tim
10 years ago

Was hoping the plastic pedals would end up lighter. I guess using a weaker material means you need more of it.

erik
erik
10 years ago

@tim the weight is 331 grams a pair- the model number is VP-539

http://www.vp-usa.com/vp-push-n2-available-spring-2014/

James
James
10 years ago

@bent: If you carry on reading the article under the next picture the comments carry on and the statement makes more sence. Pretty nifty design…

NASH
NASH
10 years ago

A whole new meaning to riding on a knife edge

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.