QUESTION: Am I really handicapped by flat pedals? I’ve tried clipless pedals, but I don’t find it comfortable to use them, and I don’t like having my foot locked in one position. —Dave R.
RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: Unless you are cycling competitively — where you’re likely to want every bit of equipment that boosts your speed, even if only marginally — you are not handicapped by flat pedals.
There are two main advantages of clipless pedals. One is that, when properly fitted, clipless pedals keep your feet in the so-called ideal position — with the ball of the foot over the pedal spindle. Most cycling coaches say this alignment puts more of your pumping power into propelling your bike forward.
The second advantage is that they keep your feet from slipping off the pedals. Obviously, the more your feet are actually on the pedals and revolving the cranks, the more forward progress you will make. And clipless pedals also eliminate the (usually) minor but nonetheless painful injuries to your shin or calf that can occur if your foot slips off the pedal while cranking.
Today’s flat pedals are a long way from the old steel “rat trap” flats — so called because they had toothed edges, intended to prevent the rider’s foot from slipping off while pedaling, but they were often responsible for those injuries. (I once received a nasty gash in my shin that way, and I bruised my calves from rat traps as well.)
Most modern flat pedals are made from either nylon or aluminum and have small studs to help keep your foot from sliding off. I seldom find my foot slipping off these, and if it does, the ensuing whack is less severe.
I’m not an evangelist for one type of pedal over another. I rode for years using first, flats, then toe-clips and later clipless pedals, and now I’ve switched back to flats —mostly because, as rider in my senior years, I want to be able to get my feet off the pedals instantly so I can (hopefully) catch myself should a fall occur.
But there are people who present reasoned arguments maintaining that riding on flats has some advantages over clipless pedals. Here’s one such argument from certified bicycle coach Laura Henry, who is also a certified bike fitter. (Scroll down the subhead “Advantages of Flat Pedals.”) Henry concludes “… it’s a good practice to mimic flat pedal riding mechanics when we are riding clipless pedal systems.”
Stan Purdum has ridden several long-distance bike trips, including an across-America ride recounted in his book Roll Around Heaven All Day, and a trek on U.S. 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas, the subject of his book Playing in Traffic. Stan, a freelance writer and editor, lives in Ohio. See more at www.StanPurdum.com.
I started riding clipless pedals with the first Looks in 1984. I ride flat pedals the last few years. Deity Supervillians currently. They feel great on my 14 wide feet. I use them with Giro flat pedals shoes and they are pretty good at sticking to the pedals. There have been multiple Kinesiology studies showing pulling up on pedals doesn’t actually work and our legs are not capable of it. I do take issue with the idea that pedals on the ball if your foot are next. That’s a legacy of toe clip and strap pedals. Which is what I started riding with. I like a midfoot position myself. Anyway the flat pedals give me great stability and power and I’ll probably never use clipless pedals again and don’t miss them.
Though I ride a road bike, I wear Specialized 2FO DH Flat Mountain Bike Shoes, which seem ot stay in place on my flat pedals quite well.
I agree with Darwin on the mid-foot position.
My wife and I both converted to flats after decades using clipless pedals.
Actually I feel like I’ve gone full circle. I started riding on flat pedals (rat traps and bear claws) then got toe clips, then clipless, and now flats.
Advantages include: wearing comfortable shoes (no more foot pain on long rides), feet are not locked into one position (no knee pain, no need to mess with cleat adjustment), step on the pedals and go (no futzing around to click in), no need to unlock your foot when you stop or crash (actually I haven’t crashed since switching) and my wife’s favorite you can walk normally when taking a break.
Yes. All those benefits you list for flat pedals are correct. And IZ too prefer the mid-foot position.
Try pedals with toe clips — that’s what I use on my hybrid bikes. They eliminate the feeling of your feet being locked into one position, but still help you maintain efficient pedaling.
Straps & toe clips since 1981 for me. One cannot pull up on a flat pedal. With clips, both the up & down leg muscles are used which equals more power per rev.
That has been disproven many times by multiple kinesiology and other studies.. Our physiology is not capable of it for one thing. It’s also in the article referenced in this one which you must not have https://www.fullcircleendurance.com/blog/coach-tip-tuesday-dont-pull-up-on-your-bicycle-pedals
I use platform pedals that have small screws which stick up from the pedal and grab onto the sole of my shoe. It’s not the same stroke as a clipless arrangement, but I can still get more power in a stroke than a more ordinary pedal plus my foot is free to move around. I use flat sole shoes (Vans) on the platform pedals. I use the flat pedals on trails. I switch out to clipless for longer road trips.
If you never get off the seat on a climb or sprint you will not need clipless pedals.
What about climbing/standing up with flats, is it problematic?
I find a touch of pulling up after the downstroke gets the pedal out of the way allowing the next downstroke to have a few extra watts. This suggestion is from my training coach and also gives one something else to focus on while riding centuries etc.
He is wrong.
1 High end Mountain Bike shoes w/ orthatics.
2 Mountain bike type pedals with plenty of float. “Eggbeater Candy”
Your feet will not fly off the pedals when you hit dip in the road, you can walk on a hardwood floor without damage or rock climb. It’s easy to keep a 90 rpm spin with ROUND pedal stroke, You feet will feel ok after a 100 mile day.
Jim Langley published my compromise solution, using modified SPD cleats. Filing off the back tabs allows most of the benefits of clipless pedals and instant disengagement.
I am 67 and recently had half my lung removed due to cancer. I am looking at the Trek Domane+ AL electric road bike and was considering flats but I have not seen any road bikes with them, although I dont place too much emphasis on looks I was wondering how flats are on climbing as my current road bike has clip in