PEDALS

Whether you’re a fan of flats or clinging onto clips, our pedal test will help you put your best foot forward

-  Paul Burwell

The pedals on your bike are uniquely personal, but one thing is a given – you’re either going to be riding flats or clip-in. Yes, we know some riders chop and change, but generally, you will worship at one church, which is why we’ve split this pedal group test and have included five of one and five of the other.

It may look like there’s little difference between two sets of flat pedals, but it’s like the difference between a fine wine and a cheap bottle of plonk. Not only will the build quality be superior, a good pedal will also have a more refined shape. The general consensus is to have a large, low-profile platform with a slight amount of concavity and perfect pin placement.

With clip-in pedals, you’re mechanically attached to the binding via a cleat bolted to the bottom of the shoe, so the test for clip-in pedals is not grip but how easy it is to get in and out. Getting stuck in a clipless pedal is a sure-fire way to get on YouTube but it can also be pretty dangerous if you’re riding somewhere exposed.

Regardless of whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool flatty or a clipless convert, we’ve picked the best pedals in each category, that way you’ll always start with your best foot forward.

USED & ABUSED

How we test

The grip on a flat pedal comes from a combination of the shape of the platform, the pin arrangement but also the rubber sole of your shoe. To make this as fair as possible we tested all the flat pedals with the same pair of test-winning Five Ten Freerider Pro shoes. Five Ten’s Stealth rubber is the best out there and it’s a popular choice with most flat pedal users.