You are here:About>Sports>Bicycling> Bike Maintenance> More Advanced Platform Pedals
About.comBicycling

What Kind of Bike Pedals Should You Use?

From David Fiedler,
Your Guide to Bicycling.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

More Advanced Platform Pedals

Nashbar Jaws Platform Pedal
Nashbar Jaws Platform Pedal
(c) Nashbar Corporation

More advanced platform pedals are used on many mountain bikes, BMX bikes or the so-called "urban" bikes people use to get around town without the specialized features of road or touring bikes. These pedals feature an edge that often has "teeth" for better gripping power into the soles of your shoes, helping you keep your foot on the pedal.

Advantages

  • Simple to use
  • No specialized footwear needed
  • Nothing holding you to the bicycle
  • Pedal design offers better contact for your feet on pedal surface

Disdvantages

  • No power transferred to the pedal on the upstroke - i.e., you can push down on platform pedals, but you can't pull up on them when pedaling.
  • Pedal teeth can bite you too, if your feet slip off and the pedals hit you in the shins.
  1. Basic Platform Pedals
  2. More Advanced Platform Pedals
  3. Pedals with Toe Clips
  4. Cleats/Clipless Pedals
  5. Cleated Shoes for Clipless Pedals
  6. How Cleated Shoes Click into Clipless Pedals

<< Previous | Next >>

 All Topics | Email Article | Print this Page | |
Advertising Info | News & Events | Work at About | SiteMap | Reprints | HelpOur Story | Be a Guide
User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy©2008 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.