HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR BIKE PEDALS WELL?

Technical

A pedal is mounted on a crank which transmits the effort to a chainring with a leverage effect. The whole forms a pedalboard. The large toothed wheel attached to the chainring drives a chain, which itself drives a pinion fixed to the rear wheel.

The bicycle pedals are in free rotation around an axis and allow the force the cyclist to exercise alternately on one or the other of the two pedals. When the foot descends, the force muscle is transmitted to the corresponding pedal. When the foot goes up, in the absence of a fixing system on the pedal (toe-clip with tight strap, or mechanical wedge), the force muscle is no longer transmitted to mechanics. On cycles fitted with toe clips, this leg raising phase is also used to transmit a force muscular (by pulling on the pedal).

Main point of support on the bike, the pedals are the first element of the gear that allows you to transmit your energy and move the bike forward. Their use has a major impact on your performance. This is why specialist pedal manufacturers have designed many models that adapt to each practice and level of cyclist. There are three types of bicycle pedals on the market: traditional platform or "flat pedals", automatic pedals and mixed pedals. Toe clips can also be added to a pair of pedals.

The important criteria in your choice of bicycle pedals

The weight

A light pedal reduces the weight of the bicycle and allows the cyclist to save energy. Lightweight pedals are also more maneuverable and make pedaling easier. Manufacturers use materials known for their lightness. Aluminum, par example, offers a very good compromise between lightness and solidity. In certain practices such as the city bike or the exercise bike, the pedals are heavier car lightness is not a priority criterion.

The grip of bicycle pedals

Grip is essential on all bicycle pedals, whatever your practice. It allows the foot not to slip and to be held in the precise place where pedaling is most efficient. Obviously, a platform pedal with good grip cannot equal the system of the shoe clipped to the automatic pedal. But some techniques still allow you to keep your foot firmly in place on a platform pedal. Reliefs in the form of small teeth, grooves in the rubber or small studs provide good grip. An effective foothold is important for safety as well as for the comfort of the cyclist.

Several rubber models ensure good foot grip in all conditions. Their non-slip properties make them resistant to rain and suitable for most shoes.

The toe clip for bicycle pedals

There are toe clips to place on the flat pedals. Models that fit at the end of the foot can be very useful in the city in particular. They help with pedaling and improve performance. In urban areas, they allow you to leave more quickly after a stop. They can be made of different materials: nylon, chrome steel or techno-polymer resin on Zefal models. On certain models of toe clips, straps can be added to increase their effectiveness.

You will also find pedals for the road with integrated toe clips. The efficiency of the bicycle pedal with toe clip is based on the same system as the automatic pedal, but in the manual version.

The different types of bicycle pedals for all practices

According to the objectives and constraints of each practice, the manufacturers have designed pairs of pedals that are suitable for each of them. You will thus find flat pedals, automatic pedals with corresponding cleats as well as mixed pedals. Each pair of pedals has been designed with the aim of optimizing performance while guaranteeing the comfort and safety of the cyclist.

What are the criteria for choosing a pedal for the city ?

In town, we stop very often because of traffic or our shopping stops, par example. So we often tend to take our foot off and then put it back on the pedal. In addition, in urban areas, the bicycle is often used as a means of transport rather than for leisure. We are then dressed in street clothes and shoes. Classic platform pedals are therefore the obvious choice. We also prefer sticky pedals that can be used with any shoe. Small reliefs prevent the foot from slipping, even in the event of heavy rain. Another important element is visibility on the road. To be seen by other road users, city bike pedals are fitted with reflectors on the sides.

What are the criteria for road and racing pedals ?

For the racing bike, we seek more performance. All racing bikes are equipped with clipless pedals to improve performance. Lightness is also an important criterion to take into account. To optimize power transmission, the clipless pedals are wide and single-sided. They are used with wedges with three screws. For leisure road cycling or cycle touring, comfort is more preferred. Flat pedals lend themselves well to these practices. Lightness and grip are also important on this type of pedal.

What are the criteria for a MTB pedal ?

In the practice of mountain biking, there are many sub-disciplines which each have their requirements. Generally speaking, comfort, grip and performance are preferred. All three types of pedals can be used. Flat pedals will be used more for beginner cyclists for its reassuring appearance. They are also ideal for hikingar the paths are rather flat and our feet do not particularly need to be supported. For downhill biking and freeride, the choice of pedals is based on the level of grip, freedom of movement and lightness. In DH, light platform pedals with studs are used.

In All Mountain practices, Cross country et Enduro, we are faced with very steep and uneven terrain. It is advisable to opt for automatic pedals that will keep the foot firmly in place and par the same opportunity to improve performance. Cages around the automatic system also protect the heart of the pedal and serve as a support.

The choice of bicycle pedals will depend on your practice:

If you are a beginner or an occasional user, you will choose flat pedals or hyb models.rides with a flat face and an automatic face.

For mountain biking we will also use automatic pedals but which will be less studied than road bike pedals, they must make it possible to evacuate the mud easily and get back on quickly after a passage Walk. Some pedals have a cage around them for a larger support surface, others have a double side, sometimes even four sides, to clip in as quickly as possible. They are compact (light, efficient) or wide (for beginners or technical courses).

For the city, we will use flat pedals.

The choice will also depend on your level:

If you are a beginner or occasional practitioner you will choose flat pedals or hyb modelsrides with a flat face and an automatic face.

If you are confirmed you will opt for clipless pedals, we will then study the weight, the resistance to shocks, the width of the support surface and the angular freedom according to your practice (a little angular freedom allows you to maintain the force pedaling but can generate tension on the knees).

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