In addition to the necessary cycling accessories for athletes on the track. The equipment for bicycles is very good to meet the conditions due to the weather, participating locations, cycling shoes will more or less affect the movement process.
A good pedal makes the connection between your foot, the shoe and the bike smoother. The form of cycling has many meanings for each person such as for exercise, or cycling around the house after stressful working days.
Going back, when choosing bicycle pedals, the first thing you need to do should immediately think of the type of cycling you do including road bike or mountain bike. From there, you'll choose based on the bike's features over the effectiveness of the gripless pedals; where there are pads on the bottom of the shoe that help keep your foot in the pedal or the ease and flexibility with flat pedals.
When it comes to bicycle pedals, we will judge based on the pedal stroke and how effective they are. Pedal stroke is divided into: down stroke and up stroke. What about the effectiveness of the pedal when the foot exerts force during the descent (forward and down), and the foot on the pedal when going up (back and up).
Besides, you need to create a lot of pressure to keep your foot on the pedal while pedaling, which forces you to use more energy to complete. On the market there are many types of pedals from effective to less efficient pedals such as: Clipless pedals; Cage pedal; Flat pedal. Most cyclists only drive on paved roads, so they tend to use gripless pedals. For off-road cyclists use flat pedals.
Also, if you choose clipless pedals, make sure the cushion and shoe are made to work as a common system. And considering pedal and shoe compatibility, cleats can be sold with the pedals or separately. Whatever the purpose of using your pedals, below are some of the pros and cons of different types of pedals you need to know.
1. Flat cycling pedal
Flat pedal is also known as the 'platform' pedal. This type of shoe does not require any special shoes, they are not very effective because you have to put more pressure on the pedals during pedaling to prevent the foot from slipping out.
They are quite suitable for those who do not like to wear a pair of shoes and help you get in and out of the car easily. Plus, the flat pedals are also ideal for light touring and will ride on some types of dirt during the tour as they provide you with a stable surface that's wide enough to allow your feet to be on either side. and they are not designed for use with clip-on shoes.
The reason you choose flat pedals is beyond convenience, but they are the type of pedal combined with a specially designed shoe with a stiff sole or spike. This will provide grip and control, with easy exit in the event of a collision.
Besides, with high recreational function, commuters or cyclists who often get on and off bicycles may want to have flat pedals because they are very comfortable. Furthermore, you can choose toe-clip pedals, which are designed in a cage frame that attaches to the front of the pedal base and wraps around the toes.
Flat-pedal mountain bikes: mountain pedals are increasingly popular with many downhill, mountain, enduro and trail bikers. Their popularity is due to their ability to react quickly when putting their feet down in the event of a tire drift emergency.
In general, flat pedals designed for mountain bikes are hard metal bases with spikes or pegs for extra grip and use comparable to regular skate models. In fact, higher priced flat pedals will use special materials such as magnesium, titanium because these materials will have weight when used and add replaceable and adjustable pins to accommodate grip.
Besides, there are still some flat pedals on the market with grease ports that help lubricate the bearings without removing the pedal. The purpose of mountain bike pedals is to help reduce ride height, improve ground clearance and bike control. However, there will still be many low-level pedals with poor bearing strength. Along with other accessories, you only prepare a pair of flat, narrow-heeled sneakers to clean the chain when going up.
On the other hand, flat pedals are also used on road cycling. The pedals are built with a wide platform for stability and comfort if someone is not suitable to step on the clipless pedal. But with slippery surfaces, the risk of falls is high, which can cause injuries similar to those of a bicycle fall.
2. Clipless cycling pedal
Clipless cycling pedals are clipless pedals that typically work by attaching a small piece of plastic or metal to the sole of the shoe. In addition, they are attached to a spring-loaded clamp on the pedal face.
The reason you should choose gripless pedals is because they provide good control when you drive too fast, can perform difficult movements such as dashing onto the curb or overtaking obstacles. You can rest assured that your feet won't bounce off the pedals when you apply force or when going through bumpy places.
On the other hand, clipless pedals require detailed shoes to be most effective. The connection between the shoe and the pedal is very strong, so if you want to remove the shoe from the pedal, turn your foot off. However, you should practice them regularly if you don't want to fall unexpectedly, and make sure you're in and out of the pedals before riding.
There are two different cleat systems out there: the 3-hole cleats system and the 2-hole cleats system. You should choose shoes and pedals with the right cushioning system because they are not interchangeable.
- 3 hole cleats system: Usually shoes with a three-hole cleats system will have a very stiff sole design and a locking system that protrudes from the sole. This protrusion will be uncomfortable for the user. In particular, this system is ideal for those who mostly stick to paved roads and like to travel long distances, using little energy.
Besides, road cyclists love to ride without clamps because the connection between the shoe and the pedal enhances the safety of the user, they also accelerate power and the effect of cycling faster. In general, road bike pedals have levers with a 3-hole design called the Look lock type or the SPD-SL system.
Usually these soles are large and made of plastic and protrude far from the sole. For the 3-hole design, it will create large grooves, easily distributing the force on the pedal over a wide surface. This will limit the force on the safety connection points when running on high tonnage roads.
- 2 hole cleats system: The 2 hole cleats system is also known as the hybrid system, most of the pedals are heavier than the 3 hole cleats pedal. Shoes have a rigid construction and their locking system is recessed into the sole.
Clipless mountain bike pedals will also have a 2-hole design and are recessed into the base, making your walking more comfortable. Furthermore, the screws are placed primarily through two holes to secure the pad to the two grooves or slots in the bottom of the appropriate shoe. Most mountain bikers can opt for gripless pedals, if they want to pedal efficiently or want good control of the bike and don't care about their feet slipping out.
The use of clipless pedals takes practice. Because there were some people who were not familiar with its system, there were many collisions. Before practicing, find a flat grass and soft ground that can help you avoid injury.
Depending on your purpose, you can practice clamping in or out while on the exercise bike. Moreover, how to clip into clipless bicycle pedals is also very necessary. While moving to start a corner, you should apply the front brake to keep the bike from rolling forward. Next, clip onto the first shoe and start rolling forward.
If you are already balanced and on the move, continue cliplessing on the second pedal. In general, the practice step is quite easy when on a flat surface or downhill. After the practice is complete, the step of removing shoes is equally important because of their complexity. You are rolling towards the stop, need to pay attention to your heels and prepare in advance. If you cut out before being completely stopped. If stopping briefly, just skip one pedal.
If you ride a road bike or go to work, usually don't slide with your dominant foot. For mountain biking, you should do it both ways depending on the situation. The first is to rotate the ankle, the second is the heel out, away from the bike. There will be a clicking sound when your shoe and foot separate from the system. Finally, put your feet down.
During use, it is also necessary to clean them and make sure they still work properly. You can clean and lubricate the pedals when mounting or removing gaps is difficult. To grasp the best way to clean it, you need to find out its signs of damage first. Then, scrub the pedals with warm water to remove mud or debris. Next, let the pedals air dry and continue to apply a drop of both-sided lubricant if you have a dual-sided system, into the clipness on the pedals.
3. Cage cycling pedal
This is the last petal we offer, they are like the flat cycling pedal in that they don't require any footwear and come with rubber, plastic or leather straps. They give high efficiency when pedaling but compared to clipless cycling pedals, they are no better.
Very convenient for those who don't like to visit with an extra pair of shoes and easy to get in and out of. The cage pedal section is suitable for paved and flat dirt roads, if you want to participate in mountain biking trips, think again because they are not suitable.
For cages or pedal straps, which are grounded in the middle, the foot slips into the cage and can be used with a hook to tighten around the foot. This provides stronger traction, but they are still a bit difficult to get in and out of. In case if you don't want to use the cage cycling pedal, you can flip the pedal up and use the normal plane.
Conclusion
Like the way to split the bicycle pedals. Not only based on the form of cycling, but also consider the type of bike you choose, the cycling terrain you want to participate in, including the choice of cycling shoes. And they all include three types, so the selection needs to be carefully considered to ensure the compatibility of pedals and shoes.
In addition, you can optionally adjust the firmness through the 2 hole cleat and the 3 hole cleat under the shoe sole because they help the connection between the shoe and the pedal become firm and safe for the user. Here is some gearinstant background information about cycling pedals.
