FLAT PEDALS

There’s a huge range of flat pedals on the market. Partly this is because few new bikes come with a decent pair of pedals. Also, they are a favourite way of personalising your ride without spending a fortune, and finally because there are many theories about what makes the perfect flat pedal. Rival designs often look very similar, and share the basics of a studded platform spinning around an axle, but small details can cause grip levels and performance to differ wildly.

Although the original klunkers had evil-looking ‘bear-trap’ pedals, Shimano’s offset parallelogram DX design – introduced for BMX in the 1980s – was the original flat pedal. It’s inspired countless products since, but today’s much-improved pedals have all evolved a slimmer profile. This lowers your centre of gravity on the bike, eliminates pedalling flat spots at either end of the stroke and improves ground clearance. It also enables platforms to be stretched widthways for more surface area and support.

Traction-pin design and placement has evolved too, for better grip, extra durability and more logical maintenance. Different axle materials, superior bearings, seals and bushings mean modern pedals have moved on internally as much as externally, and should deliver more durability and ease of servicing.

A major sell for flats is the extra confidence and security of being able to dab or take a foot off when needed, but the best ones also deliver total stability and locked-on traction that enables you to better feel exactly what the bike is doing through your feet. Wider platform pedals also offer more capacity to exert leverage when cornering and pumping, and the ability to tweak foot placement for greater bike control.

Extra feedback and enhanced connection with the bike and terrain are the main reasons that most of us here at choose flat pedals for most of our riding. So we’re sold