For touring, road, etc, I love them. Don't get me wrong. But when you are dealing with a "constant" drive train, I have found other pedals, especially those with traditional flip tabs, are much easier to get into from a regular "foot down" start. As for the slippery comment, unless you reach down and really synch your straps while you are riding berthets, a pedal "con dente" give you much more grip than the smooth surface of a Berthet.
Of course, all this changes on the track in a race situation. I was more referring to around town rides on track and fixed drive trains.
However, hands down, my favorite track pedal is TA piste. Smoother than campy SL or record, a bit wider, overall nicer IMHO.
Sean Flores San Francisco, CA
On Dec 2, 2008, at 9:33 PM, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos wrote:
> Actually, I find them just about the easiest toe clip pedal to get
> into, due the the large rear lip designed for just this purpose.
> Don't think "slippery" is an issue, unless one is riding without
> toeclips, which is almost never done on the track. TA pista pedals
> are nice, and indeed I have them on several road bikes, but for a
> track bike with Stronglight 49 cranks, the Berthets are about as
> authentic as it gets. The late lamented Sheldon's favorite pedals -
> mine too. BTW, for value, I don't think you can beat the MKS Sylvan
> track pedals. I have a pair with black anodized cages on the
> Assenmacher custom touring bike I have been commuting on the last
> two weeks. But not correct on a Carlton with 49D cranks.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Big Spring, Texas, USA
>
> --- On Tue, 12/2/08, Sean Flores <seaneee175@gmail.com> wrote:
> From: Sean Flores <seaneee175@gmail.com>
> Subject: [CR]Re: Classicrendezvous Digest, Vol 72, Issue 7
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 10:57 PM
>
> I have to say, if you plan on riding your build out and about,
> Berthets might not be the best choice. I've utilized them on fixed
> drivetrains before and they are not the easiest to get into and also
> find them to be a bit "slippery". Keep in mind that riders such as
> Berthet and Egg were well secured into their pedals from standing
> starts- not a very commonplace way to get going when heading around
> the block.
>
> I would lean more toward, TA, Lyotard or perhaps Campy Piste Con
> Dente!
>
> Sean Flores
> San Francisco, CA
>
>
> On Dec 2, 2008, at 9:04 AM, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org
> wrote:
>
> > From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
> > Date: December 2, 2008 5:50:47 AM PST
> > To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org, Andrew Gura
> <agura@earthlink.net>
> > Subject: Re: [CR]pedal suggestions for stronglight 49D track cranks
> > Reply-To: jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net
> >
> >
> > Lyotard Marcel Berthet steel platform pedals. These were made from
> > the 3
> > 0's into the 80's. Totally appropriate for track, as Marcel
> Berthet
> > hims
> > elf is most famous for trading World Hour Records with Oscar Egg.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Jerry Moos
> > Big Spring, Texas, USA