Although it may seem trivial, choosing the right pedals for your bicycle and cycling modality is more important than it seems. The pedals are ultimately the component through which we transmit the power of the legs to the bicycle.
What differentiates each other? Which ones should I choose? What type of pedal is correct for me? In this articles we will explain some concepts that you should know so as not to make mistakes when it comes to riding the most appropriate pedals for your bicycle.
The pedal is an important element for the practice of cycling, since it is the main union we have with our bicycle and on which we will apply all the power to advance.
Depending on the modality that we practice we will find different types of pedals and hooks with the shoe cove. Formerly pedals with calapiés, rake or straps were used to tie the pedal shoe. Yes, as is. For decades the foot was tied to the pedal, with the consequent risk that it entailed in case of loss of balance or fall.
This has been changed to an automatic adjustment system with coves in the shoes that are anchored to the pedal.
>> Are automatic pedals essential?
Pedals for road cycling
The pedal for road cycling are larger and more rigidity than those of mountain cycling. The purpose is to get greater contact and support surface to lose as possible.
Today what is sought is a greater grip and with it less freedom in the movement of the foot to get a pedaling as perfect and uniform as possible.
This is achieved with a system formed by a cove in our shoe and a pedal in which it is anchored. The coves on roads are large and plastic, it is usually fixed to the shoe with three screws.
In the pedals the thickness of the pedal is important (at less thickness more comfort) and the length or distance to the connecting rod (SpeedPlay allows you multiple distances). For road pedals there is no standard, but here I will talk about the three most used types.
Look pedals
The French brand was a pioneer together with Cinelli in introducing the concept of automatic pedals in the world of cycling. The standard they currently use is called Keo, with a triangle -shaped cove.
Depending on the movement of freedom or float that allow it to the foot, there are three types and colors:
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Black: With a side angle of 0º they do not give rise to any lateral movement. They are coves for professionals.
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Gray: They are the most common leaving us a flotability of 4.5º.
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Red: For people who start or who due to injuries need more margin of movement to favor rest. The angle of movement is 9º.
Shimano pedals
Although at first glance it seems that the system is similar to that of look, Shimano's coves are not compatible with the French brand pedals.
Depending on the materials, bearings and weight we will find several ranges on these pedals. From initiation models such as PD-RS500 with a somewhat softer spring tension to favor a simpler descend and a price that is around 50 euros; up to the top range of Dura-Ace PD-R9100 car with a weight of 228 gr and a price below 200 euros.
In Shimano depending on the lateral angle of movement that has the cove also works with 3 types of coves:
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Red coves (SH-SM10): They are those that are called fixed, for professionals with 0º of movement. In case of choosing these, the placement position must be very clear, since due to the zero game they have, in the worst case, they can cause injuries.
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Blue coves (SH-SM12): They allow 2º of foot flotation.
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Yellow coves (SH-SM11): With 6th game are the most common, and those that usually come when you buy some pedals. The head of the cove is narrower in this model to favor the descele when removing the pedal shoe.
SpeedPlay pedals
It is a system completely contrary to that of look and shimano, since instead of being the cove of the shoe that fits on the pedal, in these pedals it is the other way around: the pedal fits into the cove.
With this system, much greater support surface and more options are achieved at the time of adjustment. However, its greatest handicap is its high price. Apart from these three typologies of coves, there are more brands with different systems, such as Time, which manufactures very light carbon pedals.
>> How to choose your cycling shoes
Types of pedals for Mountain Bike
Based on the same idea as road pedals, mountain are smaller and with metal coves anchored with two screws to our shoes, which are also smaller to prevent the mud from accumulating.
The pedals for
Mountain Bike They have lower support surface, however, there are automatic mountain pedals that come with a platform to give greater security in disciplines such as trail.
>> Cross country, trail, enduro and descent: know the four basic mountain cycling modalities
Two of the most common pedals for Mountain Cycling and Serla Cycling are the Shimano and the Crankbrothers.
SHIMANO SPD
Shortly to meet the 30th anniversary of the Shimano SPD system, today is the most used system for the
Mountain Bike. Since it is a simple, reliable, robust system and that thanks to the docks and the tension screw we can adjust them to our liking. This SPD system can be found in other pedal brands.
There are two types of shimano spd coves:
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SPD SH51, black and to decal them you have to turn the ankle out. They are the most common for MTB.
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SPD SH56, designed for urban initiation or cycling, where to break them is much simpler and can be done practically in any direction.
Crankbrothers
It is a simpler system that allows greater freedom of movement, probably the ideal option if you have a knee problem and do not just do to the SPDs.
They have four anchor points, and depending on what face we choose as the teacher, we will have some angles or other rotation.
As handicap we have the short duration of the coves and that require a newspaper maintenance.
Platform pedals
They have no automatic adjustment mechanism. They are the classic pedals of a lifetime in which the shoe simply perches on the pedal without any union between them. There are many types, both for initiation to cycling and for the practice of BMX, enduro, urban cycling, etc.
Pedal maintenance
Sound
"CLACK CLACK" From a pedal is the classic noise that makes us crazy head. And it is that all bicycle components, to a greater or lesser extent, require maintenance. So pedals and coves will be no less.
The coves must be changed when they begin to deteriorate. Depending on whether it is a road or MTB, or one mark or another this will be before or later. It is important to avoid walking with the cycling shoes, especially if we wear road shoes, to prevent the coves from getting wearing and deteriorating.
From time to time it is convenient to loosen, grease and tighten the screws (especially in MTB), so as not to have any scare the day to renew the coves. In the pedals it is also convenient to remove them from the connecting rods and grease.
And if you are very fine with mechanics you can disassemble the pedals and make them correct cleaning, bear lubrication, etc.
Conclusions
With any pedal we can practice any modality, but if we want to achieve our maximum efficiency and comfort, you have to look for the right pedal for each discipline.
And if you are one of those who are afraid of automatic pedals, dare! The first day you will go nervous and you may even fall trying, but the second you will not be able to live without them.
