Pedal for a bicycle or similar device

A bicycle pedal or the like comprising:

• (a) pedal body means defining a housing;
• (b) a transverse spindle defining an axis of rotation and having first and second ends with said first end projecting out of the housing and adapted to be fixed to a crank;
• (c) first and second rotary bearings provided respectively near the first and second ends of said spindle, for rotatably mounting said pedal body means on said transverse spindle, said second rotary bearing having an external diameter which is smaller than the external diameter of the first rotary bearing, said housing including a barrel having an external radial dimension and surrounding said first bearing, said second rotary bearing being a needle bearing having an external diameter which is smaller than the external diameter of said first rotary bearing, said housing including a sleeve portion in which said spindle of the pedal extends;
• and
• (d) means defining a bearing surface on the pedal body means for the sole of the user's foot, said bearing surface being constituted by a substantially flat surface which is parallel to the geometrical axis of the said spindle and extends as far as the external edge of the pedal body means without any unevenness or projection, said bearing surface extending over said second rotary bearing and being situated at a distance from said geometrical axis which is smaller than the external radial direction of the barrel in the vicinity of said first rotary bearing, and said bearing surface being situated outwardly of said first rotary bearing, said bearing surface including a rear edge which projects towards the rear with respect to said sleeve portion of the pedal and said rear edge including a hook portion for engaging a block of a user's shoe, said body of the pedal including a pair of side arms each extending rearwardly to define an opening between said arms for receiving the block of the shoe of the user, said side arms having ends carrying support means supporting automatic engaging means for holding the block of a user's shoe when inserted in said opening.