At Contender Bicycles, we are occasionally asked “Why doesn’t my bike come with pedals?” That’s actually a pretty good question. Cycling veterans know, but for less-experienced and newcomer cyclists - and after the 2020 pandemic, there are thousands of new cyclists out there - this is a very legitimate question.
The answer, while as complicated as you want to make it, is also super simple: Pedals, shoes and cleats are a very personal choice. No pair of feet is the same and no riding style preference is the same. So bike shops, especially when selling upper end bikes, tend to let the cyclist make the decision and choose the pedals that best suit their individual needs and preferences.
On mountain bikes, flat pedals are common. On road bikes, you won’t see flats in the peloton very often. Flat pedals allow greater freedom of movement for mountain bikers who find themselves needing to put a foot out quickly to maintain balance. Clipped in pedals create a much more powerful complete pedal stroke and if speed is your goal, clipless is the way to go.
Like everything else in the bike world, you can spend a lot of money on pedals or you can save a handful of bucks for a pedal that will still provide a great ride experience. There are pedals with a clipless side and a flat side so you can ride with one pedal and change the shoe you choose to ride on any particular day. Additionally, the ‘both side’ pedals enable mountain bikers to clip in on climbs and sprints and use the flat side on those tricky descents.
Let’s take a look at the different types of pedals, their pros and cons and discuss why you should, or shouldn’t choose any particular type of bike pedal.