When buying bike pedals, it’s good to remember that they help you to get all of your energy from your legs down into the road so it’s important that you feel happy using them…and safe too.
Here’s some advice on which types there are and how to choose.
Flat Pedals or Clipless?
Pedals are generally split into two types: standard flat pedals or clipless pedals.
Flat pedals are generally favoured by casual riders. Some cyclists feel more comfortable with them as you can take your feet off whenever you like. For mountain bike riders, there are specific off-road pedals with pins in them to help you grip the pedal. A tip for any cyclist using flats is to use the ball of your foot to power yourself along – this is the most efficient way to get the most transfer of power from your legs to the bike. When using flat pedals, casual shoes can be worn.
Many riders like being clipped in as it allows you to pedal smoothly but ‘clipless’ pedals it’s a bit of a misnomer, although they don’t have toe straps or cages, instead they have a locking mechanism that the pedals use to attach to the cleats. However if you’re thinking of buying clipless pedals, you’ll need some cycle shoes. These shoes have stiffer soles for better power transfer and holes to attach the cleats. When you buy a set of pedals you may be provided with a set of cleats suitable for them. Make sure your shoes are compatible with these cleats. There are two different types of shoes: one is a three-point road clip fixing and the other is a two-point mountain bike style fixing.
Clipless bike pedals do need a little practice though so try and clip in and out a few times while leaning against something also try to work out which foot you feel more comfortable clipping in first. To attach your foot, you simply step on the pedal. Most systems make a clicking noise so you know you’re locked in. When you’re coming to a stop and you’re ready to remove your foot, you swing your heel out and the cleat detaches from the pedal.
Conclusion: Flat or Clipless?
Most studies show that clipless pedals on their own don’t improve efficiency as such but, they do encourage an improved pedalling technique, for instance you can pedal through more of the pedal stroke by pulling up thus you’re applying more power to the pedals. This extra action allows for faster climbing and acceleration. Clipless also ensure that your feet stay in the proper position on the pedal at all times and are favoured by road bikers. On the other hand, flat pedals are best for short commutes or quick nips here and there. Unless you’re racing, flats are a great all-rounder for local trails and bike parks on a mountain bike. However, always remember that your feet are more likely to slip off this style of pedal.
Combination Pedals
There’s also a third choice of pedals and that is combination single or dual-sided pedals – these offer a clipless mechanism on one side and a flat platform on the other which means you can flip between both options. Of course, the downside is that you have to make sure the right side is facing upwards when you put your foot on the pedals!
In the end, when choosing pedals, it is best to try and see which ones feel the most comfortable and, if you’re upgrading, you may find it useful to search online for which pedals are a good choice for you, your biking activity and your bike type (mountain, road, etc) before looking for the best price when you actually buy a set.