SoCalTrev

@mountainsofsussex: TLD offers a crash-replacement discount(In the US at least. Not sure if the same program is available in the UK.). You have to email their customer support and after you send a picture of your helmet with the chin-straps cut, they'll email you a coupon code that can be used on their website. Made replacing my last crashed Stage sting a little less. I used the discount code on one of the reduced-price helmets on their site (They often discount the "less desirable" colorways.), and paid about half what I would have otherwise. Sounds like in your case the sale price was just as good though.

I've done a full 180 on my pedal preferences. I've been around long enough to have started out with actual clips & straps, and clipless pedals were a revelation when they became available for MTBs, as they were a huge improvement over clips & straps (You could actually remove your foot when things got dicey.). Had a BMX cruiser around the same time and learned to jump, bunnyhop etc. on it, so the "flats are better for learning technique" argument was kinda moot. Went down the wormhole of XC racing/singlespeeding for the better part of a couple decades, riding clipless the whole time, and probably learned some bad habits as I no longer had a BMX bike to play on. It wasn't until upgrading my old hardtail singlespeed to a modern FS trailbike a couple years ago that I switched to flat pedals. Originally it was in an effort to unlearn bad habits learned from riding exclusively clipless for so long, and I figured I'd switch back at some point. I just find them more comfortable now and haven't bothered switching back. Thinking of getting a gravel bike for longer mellow terrain rides/bike-packing and will most likely put clipless pedals on it.

I'm just wondering how many US jaws are dropping thinking that's MPH and not KPH. Not that 50MPH isn't still flying...

Does no one run crank boots any more? Certain pedals in the test, with a large flat area where the pedal interfaces with the crank, can't be used if you're running carbon cranks with crank boots. Namely the PNW and RaceFace pedals. Seems that might've warranted a mention. Was also kinda curious about a comment on the Stamp 7s. Personally it never even occurred to me to leave the pedal axle attached to the crank while servicing them. Lot easier to take the whole thing off and service it on your bench, and part of my pedal service routine is to clean/regrease pedal axle threads anyway. Then it occurred to me, I've never seen another rider or mechanic service a set of pedals, and now I'm kinda wondering, am *I* the weird one? Is it common practice to just remove the pedal body from the bike, while servicing pedals?

@Sweatypants: IME the crossfitters are pretty much the opposite of vegan. Eating paleo/keto bragging about breaking their intermittent fast w/ a slab of beef washed down with a protein shake is more of a crossfit vibe.

Is this a regional thing? I've been skiing/snowboarding for ~30 years, mostly in CA but w/ occasional trips elsewhere (UT/CO/Europe/Whistler) and almost always put the bar down. I've never heard anyone complain about it. I like having a perch to rest my board on rather than having it hang uncomfortably off my foot for the duration of the chair ride. On chairs w/o a foot-rest, it's still nice to have something to lean on. Haven't done enough lift-served park riding, to say whether the attitude is different amongst mountain bikers.

Was going to comment that these look a lot like the SDG Slaters on my 7yo's bike. Good to see more options on the market though.