Clipless pedals or flats? It’s a question that resonates with both novice and experienced mountain bikers. Unfortunately, I can’t make the best choice for you.
What I can do, however, is to compare once again all the pros and cons of both clipless pedals and flat pedals.
This way, you can decide which pedals are the best choice. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you can decide.
Table of Contents
The Pros and Cons of Clipless Pedals
While many find it natural to mountain bike with clipless pedals or even start mountain biking with them, it’s a slightly different story for others.
This is understandable because while there are indeed numerous advantages to cycling with clipless pedals, there are also inherent disadvantages.
Whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks depends on the individual and often correlates with the type of mountain biker you are.
The Pros
Cons
As you can see, the pros and cons of clipless pedals are evenly matched. Of course, not all the pros or cons of clipless pedals will apply to everyone.
For example, one person may have more confidence in technical terrain by securely attaching to the pedals. On the other hand, another person may have less confidence or fear falling or being unable to unclip in time.
Ultimately, everything becomes familiar, and mountain biking with clipless pedals becomes second nature. Especially clipping in and out will eventually happen without a second thought.
However, you do have to go through the learning process, often quite literally learning from mistakes and getting back up after falling.
Are They Suitable for Beginners?
The advantage of most clipless pedals is that you can adjust the tension of the spring. As a beginner, this allows you to loosen the pedals a bit, making clipping in and especially out much easier. As clipping out becomes habitual, you can gradually tighten the clipless pedals again.
However, be aware that with clipless pedals set looser, there’s a higher chance of accidentally unclipping.
In addition to adjusting the clipless pedals, you can make it easier for yourself by using multi-release cleats on your MTB shoes. With multi-release cleats, you can unclip in three ways: turning your heel inward or outward or lifting your foot. With single-release cleats, you can only unclip by turning your heel outward.
There aren’t clipless pedals specifically designed for beginners, but you can make clipping in and out easier for the first few rides by adjusting the pedals’ tension and using cleats offering multiple release options.
Which Clipless Pedals Should you Buy?
If the benefits of clipless pedals appeal to you completely and you can overlook the drawbacks, then you’ve already decided.
However, after that, it’s still a matter of deciding which clipless pedals to mount on your bike or mountain bike. Unsurprisingly, there’s quite a variety to choose from, extending beyond the most well-known clipless pedals, namely Shimano’s SPD pedals.
But many other brands offer clipless pedals as well. Think of brands like Crankbrothers, Time Atac, Ritchey, HT, and so on…
What Do You Need for Cycling with Clipless Pedals?
If you’ve found your favorite clipless pedals by now, you’re almost ready to hit the road with them. However, there are still a few other things to consider and have on hand:
- Compatible cleats: always be mindful of which cleats your pedals can use. Not all pedals are compatible with Shimano cleats!
- Assembly paste: for the threads of the cleat bolts (to make them easier to loosen later on).
- MTB shoes compatible with clipless pedals.
The Pros and Cons of Flat Pedals
A new mountain bike is typically delivered without pedals. Choosing pedals right off the bat can be tough, and beginners often opt for flats or platform pedals.
However, flat pedals aren’t necessarily just for beginners, and there are even disciplines within mountain biking where flat pedals are the norm rather than the exception. Think of disciplines like enduro, all-mountain, and downhill. So, it’s not uncommon at all to opt for regular or flat pedals.
On the other hand, the majority of mountain bikers in Belgium and the Netherlands might not necessarily engage in the disciplines mentioned above, where flat pedals are the norm.
The use of flat pedals within the cross-country branch of mountain biking, like clipless pedals, has both its pros and cons.
The Pros
Cons
Like clipless pedals, flat pedals also have both advantages and disadvantages. For some disciplines within mountain biking, using flat pedals is almost a no-brainer. However, this isn’t necessarily the case for cross-country riding, leisurely rides through the woods, and the tours that most mountain bikers in Belgium undertake.
For example, clipless pedals might be the way to go if you want to jump more easily. With flat pedals, it takes more practice and better technique. So, it’s mainly a matter of personal preference.
A significant advantage of flat pedals is that you can use any shoe. If you also use your mountain bike for commuting or family rides on Sundays, you can just as easily ride with your dress shoes or Sunday best.
The biggest disadvantage of flat pedals is the increased risk of slipping off the pedal. While being able to put your foot down quickly is an advantage, if you accidentally and involuntarily slip off your pedal, it can be less enjoyable or advantageous.
Which Flats Should you Buy?
If you’ve ultimately decided on flat pedals, the real work begins because which flat pedals are you going to mount on your mountain bike?
You can choose many brands: RaceFace, Crankbrothers, DMR Bikes, Nukeproof, Shimano, Spank Industries, Burgtec, OneUp Components, Deity Components, and HT Components.
What Do You Need for Cycling with Flat Pedals?
If your flats are mounted on your mountain bike, nothing stops you from heading straight into the woods. However, you can choose to use specific flat pedal MTB shoes.
The advantage of flat pedal shoes is that their sole often has a certain profile, initially giving you more grip on the pedals.
That profile can also come in handy when you need to get off the bike on technical or rugged terrain. A flat pedal shoe will always offer more grip than a casual sports shoe not specifically designed for MTB.
The fit, the (additional) closure system, and adequate ventilation are benefits you can enjoy when using flat pedal shoes.
Clipless or Flats?
Although the pros and cons of both types of pedals speak for themselves, the choice often remains difficult. For example, I immediately started with clipless pedals, which involved a learning curve.
However, it has since become automatic, and clumsy falls are a thing of the past. I don’t see myself switching to flat pedals anytime soon.
Of course, your experience may differ because the choice also depends on the discipline within mountain biking that you will be pursuing.
Therefore, there is no one choice that is better than the other. It is personal and entirely up to you which pedals you use.
If you’re still unsure, I have a few tips that can help you decide.
Here’s why you might choose flat pedals
If you’re more into downhill or enduro mountain biking, then flat pedals are by far the best choice.
If you’re still feeling a bit unsure on the mountain bike and need to work on your confidence on the bike and technical terrain, it’s often better to opt for flat pedals. Later on, you can always switch to clipless pedals if you want.
Here’s why you might choose clipless pedals
If you prioritize speed and maximum power transfer, then clipless pedals are the clear choice. Also, if you want maximum control over your (cross-country) mountain bike, clipless pedals are often the better option.
Are there any other options?
Combination pedals
In your search for the most suitable pedals, you’ve probably come across them at some point: combination pedals.
With combination pedals, you don’t actually have to make the difficult choice between clipless and flat pedals.
Combination pedals feature both a flat section and a clip-in section. For example, you can opt for the flat pedals for a technical ride and use the clipless pedals for XC rides. However, you’ll always need a suitable pair of MTB shoes.
Engaging and disengaging with this type of pedal may require some extra practice. Unlike full clipless pedals where you can clip in from different sides, with combination pedals, you have to clip in on the side with the cleat mechanism.
Initially, this may be a bit more challenging because that part of the pedal needs to be positioned at the top. The reverse is true when you opt for the flat side.
Pocket pedals
With Pocket Pedals, you can temporarily transform your clipless pedals into flats. This can be very useful when using your mountain bike in everyday life with regular shoes.
Final Thoughts
Clipless pedals or flat pedals? I firmly say yes to clipless pedals, but then again, I’m a dedicated cross-country (marathon) mountain biker. On the other hand, each recreational cyclist/mountain biker often opts for flat pedals. And your opinion may be entirely different depending on the type of mountain biker you are.
When faced with the choice between clipless and flat pedals, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons for yourself. You’ll be hitting the trails with the chosen pedals, so consider your opinion and don’t let anyone push you into a decision.
Ultimately, there’s no need to stress about it. If one pedal doesn’t suit you, you can easily switch to the other type in no time.
Of course, always give yourself plenty of time to get used to the pedals, regardless of which pedals you choose.
Which pedals do you prefer? Let me know in a comment below.
