VP Components VP Vice Flat Pedal

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This past season, I put 3.5 months of the VP Vice on test at mammoth bike park, with other parks ridden as well. The bike was a Commencal Furious, and the shoe I wore was a Specialized 2FO (last years model)

Now VP makes tons of pedals. TONS. they have the manufacturing background and capabilities to make a solid platform pedal, while reducing costs. Now these pedals aren’t “free range, Non-GMO and raised without antibiotics,” but they are cheap. And when you’re looking to upgrade from the plastic wellgos to a decent pair of flats, these are what you need. Shop around, but I got mine for $45 on Amazon

I put these through the rough stuff, especially the washboard and chatter sections, places where flats tend to get me off the pedals. The grip through it was pretty good, but I did feel a little bit of lift. But here’s where it helped out in the rough stuff - I had zero attachment to them. $45? I’ve seen pedals go for 3 times the price. Rocky section with a chance to hit the pedal? Who cares. They’re solid and metal, so I had no worries of cracking the pedal. And it never did. 

So the off chance you come off during a slip, it is pretty easy to reposition. Although that is said for the “lack” of grip. The pins aren’t sharpened to a shiv, but they’re not like the end of a ballpoint pen. Although they do wear pretty quickly, as I was replacing the first one after about 2 months.

Speaking of wear, at the end of the season, only a tiny amount of slop was noticed. Probably a bit longer till a rebuild, or just buy another pair.

As far as the shape goes, it’s pretty flat, with no concavity. That with a little wider platform would help tons, although I do have big feet. Small complaints, but an overall solid foundation.

Bottom line - you just upgraded to a decent spec bike, but you don’t have much budget left over, these are a top choice. If the profile was a bit more modern, and the surface a little more grippy, then it would be a killer contender.