The 8 Degree Pedal team traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the legendary GRANDS USA BMX Tulsa – Race of Champions, our very first USA BMX event.
Exhibiting alongside some of the biggest names in BMX, we introduced riders to our breakthrough floating flat pedal technology in one of the largest indoor cycling events in the country. The sheer size of the arena and the nonstop flow of racers made for an electric atmosphere all weekend.
The booth saw constant traffic, with riders lining up to demo our pedals on our demo bikes. Watching reactions as people experienced true foot float for the first time was easily one of the highlights of the event. Riders consistently commented on the natural rotation while pedaling — something they had never felt before — and the immediate increase in comfort once clipped-free movement was allowed to happen naturally.
We were especially honored to spend time with so many racers and families, including Dosty & family from the 41–45 Expert class, who stopped by the booth to connect, demo pedals, and share race weekend stories.
We were also thrilled to host Nebraska Hall of Famer AC Chambers, who rides our pedals and spent time at the booth signing posters featuring his career accolades for fans and fellow racers.
During the weekend we had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Kitty, a longtime and highly admired figure in the BMX community, alongside AC Chambers. Moments like these reminded us how tightly connected and welcoming the BMX family truly is.
We also connected with John Bradley of John Bradley Customs, a well-known custom BMX apparel designer whose work represents the creative side of the sport.
Another highlight was introducing our newest team member, Blake, 8 Degree Pedal’s newest sales associate, who helped riders understand the pedal technology and get dialed in for demo rides throughout the weekend.
One of the weekend’s competitive success stories came from Steve Sherrod, who raced on 8 Degree Pedals to a 2nd-place finish in the 56+ Intermediate class.
Seeing our pedals perform under real race conditions — and contribute to podium results — was incredibly rewarding.
One of the most common questions throughout the weekend was simply: “How does your pedal work?” After explaining how our floating design maintains natural lower-body alignment while supporting better power transfer — something no other flat pedal on the market does — riders fully understood the system once they felt it for themselves. Initial concerns around weight were quickly eased once riders understood how the pedal’s design enhances comfort, biomechanics, and ride efficiency. Many also expressed interest in future smaller pedal options for youth and lighter riders.
Feedback from demo sessions was overwhelmingly positive, with riders sharing comments like:
“These are the most comfortable and natural pedals we’ve ever tried,” and
“After testing your pedals, we’ve had no more pedal slips.”
Another fun discovery from the weekend came through conversations with BMX legend Barry Nobles, who shared that he already uses our pedals regularly while practicing on his home track — which was incredibly cool to hear and further validation of the technology’s real-world appeal.
The crowd at GRANDS was beautifully diverse — casual riders, MTB racers, gravel cyclists, bike shop owners, and BMX media were all represented. Multiple shops expressed interest in carrying 8 Degree Pedal products after seeing firsthand how strong the rider response was at the booth. While we didn’t sell pedals directly at the show, the event generated excellent lead traffic, with many riders choosing to place online orders after their demo rides.
With thousands of riders under one roof in a massive climate-controlled arena, GRANDS USA BMX Tulsa delivered an unforgettable experience. It was truly our best event to date, and we’re already looking forward to returning next year.