Best platform pedals for road bike
04-18-20, 12:56 PM
#26
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The more I think about it, the less I am wanting a clipless setup. While I understand the benefits, I just hate having my feet locked in place (have used both cages and straps before and could never get used to them).
Whatever you're most comfortable with is what you should go with. For what it's worth...When I got my first hybrid I put cages on and hated them. I could never get my feet out comfortably. I tried plastic half cages and couldn't stand them. I ride 95% of the time clipped in (SPD's) and love it. Once you're used to clipless, you may like them. Yes, you're locked in but they're easy to get out of. Borrow shoes and ask the LBS for loaner pedals (my LBS loans shoes too) and give them a try. I found that there's a big difference between cages and SPD clipless, but that's just me.
Whatever you're most comfortable with is what you should go with. For what it's worth...When I got my first hybrid I put cages on and hated them. I could never get my feet out comfortably. I tried plastic half cages and couldn't stand them. I ride 95% of the time clipped in (SPD's) and love it. Once you're used to clipless, you may like them. Yes, you're locked in but they're easy to get out of. Borrow shoes and ask the LBS for loaner pedals (my LBS loans shoes too) and give them a try. I found that there's a big difference between cages and SPD clipless, but that's just me.
Last edited by MAK; 11-27-20 at 10:50 PM.
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04-18-20, 03:54 PM
#27
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CRANK BROS >STAMP> titanium : perfect transition from MTB to road riding ... large platform ... built forever ... never clip again
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04-18-20, 04:22 PM
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04-18-20, 06:15 PM
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Hey Everyone,
I will be picking up my new 2020 Specialized Allez tomorrow and have a quick question about pedals. I am currently transitioning from a 29'er mountain bike and with everything being closed due to the pandemic, I do not want to convert to a clipless setup quite yet. With that said, I am looking for a decent set of platform pedals in the $50 range to hold me over until I transition to clipless in the future.
Thanks for all suggestions; it's good to be back! (I was a member on these forums over a decade ago, but can't remember my user name).
I will be picking up my new 2020 Specialized Allez tomorrow and have a quick question about pedals. I am currently transitioning from a 29'er mountain bike and with everything being closed due to the pandemic, I do not want to convert to a clipless setup quite yet. With that said, I am looking for a decent set of platform pedals in the $50 range to hold me over until I transition to clipless in the future.
Thanks for all suggestions; it's good to be back! (I was a member on these forums over a decade ago, but can't remember my user name).
Flat pedals on a road bike would be like bench seats in a Ferrari, completely wrong application.
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04-18-20, 06:18 PM
#30
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04-18-20, 06:37 PM
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Putting power on down is far more difficult (and dangerous) to do without clip-less pedals. If you are a very casual riders this might by acceptable, but if you going group rides/tough solos and sprinting out-of-the-saddle they're a must.
I once tried sprinting on flats, I mean like seriously trying to put watts down, and, well, the result was a lot of blood and almost tearing through my archilles tendon. It was... Painful.
Not only that, but you're impervious to bumps in the road bucking you off your bike. I've hit some that would have thrown me right off the pedals if I wasn't clipped-in.
And finally, not only are you more efficient, allowing you to ride faster and stronger, but your pedal stroke will be much smoother too, especially at higher cadences.
I've tried both and just can't understand why one would ever choose flats for any sort of serious riding.
I once tried sprinting on flats, I mean like seriously trying to put watts down, and, well, the result was a lot of blood and almost tearing through my archilles tendon. It was... Painful.
Not only that, but you're impervious to bumps in the road bucking you off your bike. I've hit some that would have thrown me right off the pedals if I wasn't clipped-in.
And finally, not only are you more efficient, allowing you to ride faster and stronger, but your pedal stroke will be much smoother too, especially at higher cadences.
I've tried both and just can't understand why one would ever choose flats for any sort of serious riding.
04-18-20, 08:35 PM
#32
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I think flat pedals are more like bench seats in a GMC Suburban. You can still go 100mph. And, if anything gets in the way you can run right over it without losing control. (Totally relaxed with one finger on the steering wheel).
04-18-20, 08:38 PM
#33
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This is my carbon fiber Fuji that I ride up and down A1A full blast with flat pedals. (The horror, oh the horror........).
04-18-20, 08:50 PM
#34
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My super bad Ironman with flat pedals. This bike is approved for downhill rides & has exceeded 40mph on many occasions. 
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04-18-20, 09:00 PM
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There is contrarian in every circle. Proves nothing. Ask a pro team what they would think about the safety and efficiency of flats vs clipless and you know what the answer would be.
04-18-20, 09:28 PM
#36
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Sorry if I've offended anyone here. But, let's not forget the original purpose of this post. IMHO I've done a good job of demonstrating the best platform pedals for a road bike. Be good. Have fun.
04-19-20, 09:49 AM
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Putting power on down is far more difficult (and dangerous) to do without clip-less pedals. If you are a very casual riders this might by acceptable, but if you going group rides/tough solos and sprinting out-of-the-saddle they're a must.
I once tried sprinting on flats, I mean like seriously trying to put watts down, and, well, the result was a lot of blood and almost tearing through my archilles tendon. It was... Painful.
Not only that, but you're impervious to bumps in the road bucking you off your bike. I've hit some that would have thrown me right off the pedals if I wasn't clipped-in.
And finally, not only are you more efficient, allowing you to ride faster and stronger, but your pedal stroke will be much smoother too, especially at higher cadences.
I've tried both and just can't understand why one would ever choose flats for any sort of serious riding.
I once tried sprinting on flats, I mean like seriously trying to put watts down, and, well, the result was a lot of blood and almost tearing through my archilles tendon. It was... Painful.
Not only that, but you're impervious to bumps in the road bucking you off your bike. I've hit some that would have thrown me right off the pedals if I wasn't clipped-in.
And finally, not only are you more efficient, allowing you to ride faster and stronger, but your pedal stroke will be much smoother too, especially at higher cadences.
I've tried both and just can't understand why one would ever choose flats for any sort of serious riding.
Think about all the serious mountain bikers that use flats w/pins for very aggressive riding - would they do that if their feet kept coming off the pedals? That could be catastrophic. But, it has to be the right pedals, and the right shoes....
Last edited by pbass; 04-19-20 at 10:07 AM.
04-19-20, 10:36 AM
#38
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the poster asked about PLATFORMS for road RIDING not really road racing or macho manning 40mph+ and I think it's more than fair to say to all the maximum optimizers of bike pedaling biomechanics that within a few few minutes any platformer can arrive wherever a clipped in guy can arrive so the need to be clipped is more often than not a matter of vanity and remember a PLATFORMER can walk around in much more comfortable shoes 
and there are many $40-$75 pedals if you don't want to commit to a $$$ crank bro
and there are many $40-$75 pedals if you don't want to commit to a $$$ crank bro
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Last edited by jack pot; 04-19-20 at 10:50 AM.
04-19-20, 11:27 AM
#39
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Didn't mean to start a whole debate. I have nothing against clipless and will definitely consider them in the future. Right now I'm just trying to make this transition as seamless as possible. Getting my body used to the seating position is probably the biggest thing at this point. I just figured staying with pedals I know would help with the process.
Regardless, I ended up going with the VP Vice per the suggestions on this thread (and they came in grey which is the color I was looking for). Got them for right around $50 shipped on Amazon.
Regardless, I ended up going with the VP Vice per the suggestions on this thread (and they came in grey which is the color I was looking for). Got them for right around $50 shipped on Amazon.
Last edited by bran1986; 04-19-20 at 11:44 AM.
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