5 Best Flat Pedals for Road Bikes (March, 2023)

Updated on June 3, 2022

Riding with sneakers and clipless pedals is far more difficult and uncomfortable than it is with flat or platform pedals. This makes flat pedals ideal for commuting and touring bikes, as well as city and commuter bikes.

The best flat pedals are a fantastic option if you have knee or ankle issues that make it difficult to perform the lateral twisting motion required to disengage from a set of clipless pedals. Flat pedals offer more lateral support than clipless pedals because of their larger base.

Best Flat Pedals for Road Bikes

1. Shimano M828 Flat Pedal

Specifications

Weight:: 553 grams
Platform size:: 105x109mm

Reasons to Buy

Fully serviceable
Robust construction

Reasons to Avoid

Pedaling your bike using flat or platform pedals is more convenient and more pleasurable than using clipless pedals with your running shoes. Flat pedals are a good choice for city bikes, commuters, and even touring bikes because of their versatility and ease of use.

The lateral twisting motion required to disengage from a set of clipless pedals is impossible for anyone with knee or ankle problems, therefore flat pedals are a good option. Clipless pedals may not offer as much lateral assistance as flat pedals with a wide base.

Specifications

Weight: 530g including light modules
Platform Size: 107 x 103mm
Platform shape: concave
Material: [spindle] chromoly, [body] composite, [platform] Vibram rubber

Reasons to Buy

Massive platform size
Built in reflector
Replaceable pad

Reasons to Avoid

A lot of money is spent on replacing pads.

For many years, Look has been developing and expanding its line of pedals, including the clipless pedal. At the end of 2020, the company wants to implement a flat pedal technology. Because Vibram has developed a system for attaching the pad directly to your shoes, all pedal sizes and shapes are identical. The trail option’s concave shape and big Vibram lugs are illustrated here.

Four firm plastic spikes are placed in the middle of the walkway to provide traction in rainy conditions. Trail Grip pedals are comparable to pin systems in terms of traction, but without the risk of grabbing your pants or drawing blood from your shins. Unbolt the top pad and replace it with a new one if you want to change the colour or style. You should keep in mind that the pad costs half as much as the entire system.

Specifications

Weight: 612g
Platform Size: 95×95 mm
Platform shape: flat
Material: Aluminium

Reasons to Buy

Colours available
Good look for a lot of bikes
Comfortable with casual shoes

Reasons to Avoid

Mirrors can be purchased separately and are not included in the kit.

Choosing Shimano SPD-SL as the most popular clipless pedal system is a smart move. Shimano is a less well-known but no less dominant player in the urban cycling market than it is in other sectors. Every area that Shimano enters has a significant presence because to its strong ties with manufacturers and the availability of high-quality components at low prices.

With its wide, aluminum-based platform, Shimano’s EF-205 pedals are both stable and comfortable to use. To prevent your feet from slipping off the pedal platform, it is equipped with a rough surface and resin pads. Many colours are available, and the design would look great on any city bike. When it comes to pedals, Shimano’s version is anything but ordinary.

Specifications

Weight:: 327 grams
Platform size:: 97x102mm

Reasons to Buy

Low cost
Lightweight
Wide range of colours available

Reasons to Avoid

Non-serviceable
Pin height cannot be altered.

DMR’s V6 pedals, which share the same body design as the V12, but are composed of nylon rather of aluminium, have a wide range of colour possibilities. All parts are made from nylon, which means they’re beyond repair yet are nonetheless half the price and 327g lighter than a V12 engine.

These pedals are more cost-effective if you prefer to replace worn pedals rather than disassemble them.

Specifications

Weight: 351g
Platform Size: 106x101mm
Platform shape: convex
Material: High impact nylon

Reasons to Buy

Good for winter commuting
Chamfered front of pedal to help with pedal strike
Easily serviced

Reasons to Avoid

A lack of a reflector is an inconvenience when riding a bike in a city.

Mountain bike-style pedals are ideal for winter commutes. Wearing heavier boots with less traction is necessary when it’s pouring or snowing. There is a demand for a more open design with more aggressive lugs. Fyxation designed the Mesa Subzero for this reason.

Mesa Subzero’s nylon body is designed to survive the elements and not whine, making it ideal for the outdoors. In order to reduce the chance of collision, the pedals feature chamfered edges on the edges. Nylon also has the advantage of not transferring cold to your feet’s soles. Cro-moly spindle and sealed bearing in the centre of the pedal. The plating not only protects against the elements, but it can also brighten up an otherwise boring surface. The same plating may be found on the stainless-steel pins used to replace the originals.

What Size Pedals?

You can get a wide range of flat pedals. What influences a rider’s choice of pedal size, and how do these factors interact? The scenery is the first item to consider. In rocky downhill terrain, when control is essential, a large pedal is useful.Pedal strikes are an unavoidable side effect of using your foot more frequently. Since pedal strikes are more common when the pedals are greater in size, we recommend a smaller pedal for road riding. Making your pedalling platform too small can lead to some guesswork when trying to determine the best position to put your feet when pedalling. Take a look around and see what seems right to you before making a decision.

What Kind of Pins?

There’s more to pedalling than just squeezing the pedal all the way down. Keeping the foot in place is a crucial part of keeping the rest of the body linked. Some pedals have replaceable metal pins, while others have plastic ridges and high-friction materials. Shoes and the weather are only two of many considerations to keep in mind when getting ready for an event.To get the best performance out of your high-friction pedal, try using summer shoes with sticky soles. Because your wet pedals will have less friction when they are wet, you need a pedal with more grip. You may be able to get away with smaller pins or moulded ridges if your shoes don’t have lugs.

For those who ride in winter boots with large lugs, choose a high pin. The pin will be able to contact the soles of your boots.

Refrain from using the largest possible pins, as well. A hotspot on your foot may form over time because of a pin that is overly large. In your search for a solution, don’t make the mistake of assuming that adding more is better.

Is it ok to use flat pedals on a road bike?

Absolutely. If you’ve read thus far, you’ve already heard about the advantages of flat pedals on a road bike. Many people prefer them because they eliminate the hassle of changing shoes and unclipping their belts at each station.
Adventure bikers are increasingly employing them as a relatively new trend. For commuters, it means never having to worry about unclipping in tough off-road regions, but it may also be useful for touring cyclists who face similar challenges.
Injury is a common reason for even experienced cyclists to switch from clipless pedals to traditional pedals. However, the most important explanation may just be a question of taste. Go with what makes you feel most at ease on the bike.

Are flat pedals slower?

It’s not as simple as just saying “yes” or “no.” Pedal-assist bikes work on the premise that if your feet are connected to the pedals, you can get more power from your pedal stroke. It is possible to do a pull-up and push-down action.
The improvement in efficiency is likely to be modest or non-existent for the vast majority of people. The most heated debates usually revolve on the sneakers for sale. A firmer bicycle shoe is better conducive to long-distance riding. If you’re comfortable with flat pedals, there’s no need to worry about switching.

How did we test?

Pedals are an easy-to-use tool. It’s important to us that our readers know that we’re all in this together. On our regular commuter bikes, we tried out a variety of pedals. Even though we didn’t test any of these options for off-road cycling, they do have designs that cater to this niche.
As an alternative, we took our bikes to the store and then rode them back along the path. When the weather was nice, we tested them out in the rain. It was fun to meet them in person, and we’ve picked out our favourites for you to see.