Factors to consider when selecting Bike Pedals

Pedals for Competitive Road cycling

If you are involved in continuous racing, then your priorities are likely to be quite simply the efficient delivery of power, while maintaining a reasonable level of comfort. For this purpose it doesn't matter whether the cleat on the bottom of your shoe sticks out or is recessed and in addition, if you are not in and out of the pedals very often then you don't need a double sided pedal to make that process easy.

As a result of this many competitive road cyclists opt for a three bolt cleat, which allows for a wider distribution of pressure onto the pedal, combined with a single sided pedal which gives the lightest weight solution.

Pedals for Competitive Mountain Biking

Cross country and trail

This type of cycling is probably closest to road cycling in its demands, where you could expect to be in the saddle for long periods of time without getting on and off. As a result, clipless systems are very commonly used, giving all the power transfer and efficiency benefits that a racer needs. In addition, clipless pedals for mountain biking also keep you more secure when the bike is jumping around, or when you have to do hops.

The main difference with this type of cycling is that it will be necessary to walk or climb over stones and rocks occasionally so rather than have a protruding cleat, most MTB cyclists in these disciplines will use recessed cleats and often double sided pedals, to allow more easy clipping in and out.

Some clipless pedals are also designed to be very open and therefore to be able to throw off dirt and to be cleaned easily.

All-Mountain, Downhill and Freeride

With this sort of cycling there is much less need for constant power output into the pedals and much more likelihood that your feet will be needed either to stabilise you, or to put down quickly on the ground to stop a crash. There is also a greater need for being able to use fairly substantial shoes or boots in some circumstances and those are not widely available when using a clipless pedal.

As these rides could involve a wide variety of terrain, its important to consider the combinations of the material on the pedal and the material on the bottom of your cycling shoe, to make sure that you have sufficient grip.

If you are likely to be in muddy conditions, then a pedal with some good solid metal protrusions might be suitable, so that they cut through the dirt and engage with the sole on your shoe. On the other hand if you are likely to be walking quite a lot, then you may be better finding a shoe with a substantial grip pattern and a flatter style pedal, in an open design that allows the dirt to drop through it.

Bike Pedal float type

If you have decided to use clipless pedals, then there is one other important factor to take into account, which is the way in which you pedal as a result of your physique. Because the cleat is putting your foot into a relatively fixed position, you need to be careful not to put strain or stress on to your knees by peddling in an unnatural way.

Fortunately pedals and cleats are adjustable in several directions. This allows the cleat to be moved forwards and backwards, left and right, and to be rotated into the best position depending on whether you "toe in", "toe out” or have your foot in a straight ahead position.

Some systems also have "float", where the cleat allows some rotational movement of your foot, to allow for the fact that most people do not have the same position on their downstroke as they do on the upstroke.

There is also the option of a fixed cleat, but this takes quite a lot of rides and adjustments to get its position right.

Pedals for Leisure Riding and Touring

Even with this type of cycling there is a use for clipless pedals for touring, because the increased peddling efficiency can make for a less tiring ride. Again, because you are likely to be walking in your shoes then a recessed cleat is probably the best selection.

For longer rides a pedal with a toe clip is an obvious possibility, as this will just help to keep your foot in position without it slipping.

For simple leisure rides where you may be on and off the bike quite frequently, particularly if you are going off-road, it is probably best to consider a flat panel, mainly because the process of frequently flipping a pedal with a toe clip, to get your toe in, could be quite irritating.

Pedals for Commuting

If you are a long commute on quieter roads then perhaps clipless pedals might be suitable, otherwise for a lot of people safety is the most important factor. The obvious requirement is being able to put a foot down on the ground very quickly to get out of trouble, or to get up and down curbs and various other hazards. Toe clips are still appropriate, but perhaps not with a tight strap around your foot that stops you getting out quickly.

Pedals for Triathlons or Time-Trials

There are not any specific pedals for this type of cycling, as its requirements fall into the same category as road racing. Riders only need to get in and out of their pedals occasionally, therefore attention can be given to the best way of transferring power and saving weight. This will quite often result in the use of a single sided three bolt system, with a protruding cleat.