One of the most apparent differences when upgrading to a road bike is they generally have clipless pedals fitted. But what if you have never experienced using clipless pedals? Is it even safe to ride your new road bike?
Unfortunately, people avoid buying road bikes because they believe you have to clip your feet into the pedals. If you are not confident with clipless pedals, can you ride a road bike with flat pedals instead?
You can ride a road bike with flat pedals without difficulties and still experience a great bike ride. Flat pedals on a road bike can create a larger surface area, making them easier to use than clipless pedals, and you can use any type of shoe, including trainers.
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Are Flat Pedals Safer Than Clipless On Road Bikes?
Flat pedals can be safer than clipless pedals, especially when you’re just getting started. New cyclists don’t want to have their feet clipped into pedals because it can make them unbalanced and increases the risk of falling.
However, depending on your skill level and how comfortable you are with your bike, you might want to upgrade to clipless pedals. Clipless pedals provide more wattage for each rotation as you pedal, and the power to effort ratio improves dramatically.
But if you are not confident in having your feet clipped to your pedals, the safest option is to fit flat pedals and build up your skill level on the bike.
Beginners Cyclist
There are many things to think about when you are cycling, but having the ability to put your feet down fast will keep you balanced and stable. Flats are safer for beginners as they’re straightforward for getting onto and off the bike. It can give the rider more confidence cycling in traffic, busy streets and cities.
Intermediate Cyclist
For intermediate riders, it depends on your riding style. For those with stiffer legs, clip-ins are safer as some are not able to stay in contact with flat pedals. For others, the flat pedals offer enough control and allow more foot movement on the pedal.
Advanced Cyclist
The vast majority of advanced cyclists will upgrade to clipless pedals because they provide more power. Furthermore, clipless pedals are intended to be used with cycling shoes which provide a better cycling platform. Clipless allow you to take on challenging terrains and steeper hills and are more comfortable over longer distances.
Top Flat Pedals Compatible With Road Bikes
[amazon table=”2403″]
Clipless Vs Flat Pedals What’s the Difference
A clipless pedal indicates your shoe clips into your bike pedal using cleats. In contrast, a flat pedal is the regular bike pedal with a flat surface, compatible with any type of shoe.
Clipless Pedals
The name “Clipless Pedals” might seem confusing because it’s the opposite of what you actually do. They are called clipless pedals because it’s superseded toe clips and straps back in the early 80s.
Commonly, clipless pedals fit into two categories: Road clipless pedals and mountain bike or off-road pedals. Road bike pedals will be slightly wider and bigger, but you can only clip into one side of the pedals.
As for mountain bike pedals, they are smaller but can be clipped in on both sides, making it easier for the cyclist. Nevertheless, you can use both road bike or mountain bike clipless pedals on your road bike, so it does come down to personal preference.
Clipless pedals are not always easy to use and require time to learn before being good at them. It is recommended that you spend time practising in a safe place before heading on the road. These pedals will help you become more efficient as they become second nature to you, and you’ll be willing to take on challenging terrain and develop a better pedalling technique.
Clipless pedals are more effective when combined with the right cycling shoes and help shave off time for serious cyclists. It is mainly in part because the footing is more secure as it uses a locking mechanism.
The clipless pedals allow you to pedal in circles rather than ‘stomping’ in an up-and-down motion. They are more powerful as you can pull on the pedal on the upstroke and drive down, improving wattage.
A word of caution as clipless pedals can cause injuries, including damage to your hips and knees when they’re not adjusted appropriately. If you’re experiencing pain, you need to make adjustments. The lack of pain means your set-up is good to go.
| Advantages Of Clipless Pedals | Disadvantage Of Clipless Pedals |
| You’ll look like a professional cyclist | They aren’t as comfortable as those for flat pedals |
| They won’t allow your feet to slip off the pedals, especially riding in the rain or mud | You can only use clipless cleats on clipless pedals |
| The smaller pedals mean when your cornering, you’re less likely to catch the ground | The shoes have to be clipped and unclipped when you stop and start |
| These stiff-soled shoes allow efficient power transfer | They do not look as good when off the bike |
| They are more technologically advanced | Road bike shoes have a mounting system on one side |
Flat Pedals
The flat pedals are great for those who are commuting or general recreation, as well as some less intense competitive racing. Flat pedals are easier to learn as they are what you start with when you begin riding, so there’s no learning curve.
However, they are less efficient as they do not allow you to pull the pedal when heading uphill. And if your shoes are wet, your feet can slip off the pedals.
Some flat pedals may be notched or have metal pins that allow for more grip as they intersect with the waffle pattern on the cleats, and they are less inexpensive to replace than the whole pedal. The flat pedals are frequently made with plastic which allows for more colour options. (Here is my favourite flat pedal)
If you have a knee or ankle injury, flat pedals are also a good option. These kinds of injuries could make performing the sideways twisting motion difficult when trying to disengage from clipless pedals. There is more lateral support with the wide platform of flat pedals.
| Advantages Of Flat Pedals | Disadvantage Of Flat Pedals |
| The mounting system is on both sides and easier to use | Your feet will slip when they get wet |
| They are easy to walk in, making them good for recreational and commuting riders | Reduced power transfer |
| They have a more casual look and work well with regular clothes | Not compatible with cycling shoes |
| The tread grip that is large and good on off-road terrains | Larger and bunker and weight more |
| Great for beginners new to road cycling | Generally made from plastic and they break easy |
Can You Change Pedals On A Road Bike
Pedals for bikes are designed to have the same thread size (commonly a 9/16″ x 20 threads per inch), and it is easy to switch between pedals. Changing pedals on a road bike to a mountain bike SPD pedal or a flat pedal is possible.
Advanced road bike riders are better staying with pedals specific to the road you’re going to be riding on. One of the challenges with changing pedals is making sure you have the right cleat system, as they are not interchangeable.
Another consideration is the way the cleat systems look—flat pedal cleats are more multi-purpose and can be worn to walk around. Flat pedal cleats also last longer and are more usable when not on the bike.
Top 3 Recommended Pedals
1. SHIMANO Ultegra R8000 XL Axle Carbon Road Pedal
- Ultegra performance – pro-level performance for the enthusiastic road rider.
- Lightweight – yet robust design, weighs only 248 grams.
- Extra-wide platform – wide platform delivers efficient power transfer and stability
- Integrated contact surface – durable integrated stainless body plate reduces weight; flex, and wear
- Wide bearing stability – wide bearing placement for stable and uniform load distribution
[amazon box=”B075SWJDFR” Title=”SHIMANO Ultegra R8000″ description=”I really like the extra width since pedal because I have wider feet. They are spaced out from the crankshaft so the sides of my shoes don’t rub onto the shaft, which happens from time to time. Furthermore, they are effortless to clip in and out of.”]
2. FOOKER FLAT Pedal
- LIGHTER BUT STRONGER: aluminium alloy body, high-quality pedals in weight of 196g/pc, much lighter and more robust than those other Aluminum Alloy Injection Ones
- EXCELLENT DESIGN: ideal for big size feet, comfort& pedalling efficiency with a good skid resistance design for a long ride
- 3 SEALED BEARINGS: 3 pcs sealed bearings keep the elements out and contribute to long-lasting, smooth-rolling pedals
- GOOD PERFORMANCE: Durability standard, replaceable pins, enhanced stability surface has the traits of comfort and good anti-slip performance
[amazon box=”B07DPLRPQ9″ Title=”FOOKER FLAT PEDALS” description=”These are not for heavy off-road rides but are more designed for road bikes and easy mountain biking. These pedals give me much more stability because they are wider and easy to place my foot on. There’s no need for straps or clips as they have small grips on the pedal that grip your shoe.”]
3. SHIMANO PD-M540 SPD Pedals
- Fluorine-coated binding claws allow for easy entry and release
- Pedals are dual-sided for easy access and feature solid and durable spindles with 8mm Allen wrench mounts
- Low-maintenance sealed bearing cartridge axles
- Sealed cartridge bearing spindle keeps out water and mud for a smooth action and makes for a durable pedal
- Open design helps to shed mud
- Weight: 380 grams per pair
[amazon box=”B000WYCCDW” Title=”SHIMANO PD-M540 SPD” description=”The two-sided clipping makes it easy to clip your feet in and out, especially if you’re new to clipless pedals but clip out early to give yourself time. Not just made for mountain bikes but can be a great introduction to clipless pedals for any bike.”]
7 Benefits Of Using Flat Pedals On Your Road Bike
1. You Can Ride In Any Type Of Shoes
A great benefit to having flat pedals is that you can ride in pretty much any type of footwear you want. This is ideal for commuting to work or using your road bike for exercise and getting outdoors. The vast majority of people like to cycle to and from work.
There’s no need to carry an extra pair of shoes in your bag because you can simply cycle in your work shoes. If you’re into fitness, you can also cycle your bike to and from the gym, which gets you extra workout time, but you don’t need to take any different shoes because you can simply wear your gym shoes on your bike.
2. Reduces The Risk Of Following
The scariest part about clipping your feet into bike pedals is the likelihood that you will fall off your bike with your feet still attached. In fact, this is the biggest fear amongst beginner cyclists because it’s such an unnatural position for your feet to be in.
But to give yourself some confidence, especially if you are now new to riding on the road, flat pedals allow you to take your feet off the pedals at any time and onto the ground.
If you’re cycling in busy streets or cities, you’ll find a lot of traffic lights or stop-start during your journey, and with a set of flat pedals, you will have control of the bike, which will dramatically reduce the risk of falling off your bike.
3. Not Necessary If Your Not Racing
There are a lot of benefits to having clipless pedals, and one of them is the ability to generate more power over the pedals. However, this isn’t necessary if you’re not racing or constantly trying to beat personal bests.
If you’re a hobby cyclist, then flat pedals are a perfect choice because you can take your time cycling and still have the safety aspect of putting your feet down when you want.
There are times when we’re not always looking to get the fastest time or cover the most distance on our road bike, so trying to improve little margins doesn’t make a big difference.
Being confident and comfortable cycling your road bike is far more critical than improving on seconds on the saddle, and flat pedals will give you this confidence far better than clipless pedals.
4. Less Expensive
One of the reasons why many people prefer to use a flat pedal over a clipless pedal is simply the added cost of buying a dedicated road bike shoe.
When you use clipless pedals, you can cycle in virtually any type of footwear you want. Therefore you don’t have to go out and buy a dedicated pair of cycling shoes. The average cost of cycling shoes, clipless pedals and cleats are $250.
Furthermore, you will need a set of cleats to attach your cycling shoe to the pedal, which is just another expense on top of a very expensive pedal. However, with a flat pedal, there is no need to have any additional clipping devices on your shoe or pedals, making it far cheaper.
5. You Can Adjust Your Feet Better
The main issue with clipping onto your bike pedals is your foot is fixed in one position and cannot be moved. Some science suggests that this will increase overall power and be more efficient for cycling long distances and time.
However, moving your foot around on pedals can only be done with flat pedals. It’s good to use different muscles in your legs when cycling, especially if your legs get tired. Therefore you can position your foot anywhere on the pedal.
Furthermore, you can damage your knees and hips unless your bike shoes and cleats are fitted correctly. Recommending people with pain in these areas could use flat pedals with regular shoes and not clipless pedals and cycling shoes.
6. Better For Walking Around
One of the biggest benefits of cycling with flat shoes and pedals is getting off your bike and walking around very easily. One of the most notable issues with wearing cycling shoes is they have cleats fitted to the underneath of the shoe.
In most cases, these cleats are made from plastic and can be damaged very easily. Furthermore, bike shoes usually have a hard bottom which becomes really slippy when you’re walking on the ground or any other surface.
Therefore, if you’re using your bike and want to get off, you can walk around freely using the shoes you feel comfortable in and then hop back on your bike to continue your cycling ride.
7. Cheaper Than Clipless Pedals
Generally, flat pedals will cost you less than $50, and you can use any type of shoe you like to cycle on the pedal. However, a bike shoe will cost you anywhere up to $100, and clipless pedals and cleats can also cost $150.
Therefore it will cost you double the price, if not more, to cycle with clipless pedals and cycling shoes. Another issue with cycling shoes is they’re not very versatile, and you can’t use them for any other purpose apart from cycling. I am implying that you’re not going to get any additional benefits from cycling shoes.