Guide to Cycling Pedals:

There are a huge range of cycling pedals out there, from massive flat mountain bike pedals, to tiny road cycling pedals etc. Here at Grip & Pedal we have put together this guide cycling pedals to simplify the difference between types of pedals so you can find the right pair for you. If you are still unsure feel free to email us and we will gladly advise on the best pair of pedals for you.

Guide to Mountain Bike Pedals (FLAT):

Generally nowadays flat mountain bike pedals are for real aggressive types of riding. Downhill, freeride and dirt jumping are most common in these, the pedals usually have a large surface area for great foot support and tall studs for incredible grip when needed. These pedals are also still used across trail and enduro styles as well, some riders prefer the easier to move your foot around feel or just aren’t as comfortable using the clipless SPD system. Generally speaking, the more aggressive the riding style the bigger the pedal platform.

Mountain Bike Pedals (CLIPLESS):

The most common pedal for trail and cross country riding, would be a clipless SPD system. This allows maximum power efficiency by literally locking your feet to the pedals, it also allows greater control of the bike by enabling you to move the bike around without your feet moving and stop the annoying ‘shin dig’ if you slip a normal flat pedal. There is a large range of clipless mountain bike pedals available for different types of styles, for example a trail rider would benefit from a caged clipless pedal for greater foot support across aggressive terrain. Yet a cross country rider would not need a caged pedal because they do need the same foot support and are just looking for pure weight and performance.

There is also a demand for caged clipless pedals in the downhill/BMX race market, these guys want to get the most speed out of the bikes yet with the support on there feet across tough terrain. These pedals will have a considerably larger cage for support.

Guide to Road Bike Pedals:

Most road riders will ride clipless for the best power efficiency, being attached to the pedals allow road cyclist to pull up as well as push down there for producing more power. Road pedal cleats generally have a bigger surface area for a stiffer a contact with the pedal, therefore not losing any power with pedal/shoe flexing. A lot of road pedals are available with ‘light action’ or different ‘floats’ depending on how stiff and locked into the pedals you want to be, generally the stiffer the pedal the greater the power.

Hybrid Bike Pedals:

Hybrid pedals are used on a range of different bikes, whether that be commuters, touring bikes or just your general cycle that comes out on nice Sundays. The platform is generally smaller than others, as the support isn’t needed for the riding indented for and the studs are smaller as less grip is required. There is a range of different stylings available, so you can match the pedals to how you like.