Learn how to choose shoes and pedals when you first start riding a mountain bike.
We explain why we recommend mountain bike flat pedals for beginners.
한국어 : (Link) / english : (Link)
Table of Contents
Why is the pedal not included
Pedals are usually included when you buy a regular life bike called a pseudo-mountain bike.
but
All mountain bikes do not include pedals.
Mountain bikes, road bikes, gravel bikes, fat bikes, etc.
All professional bikes do not include pedals.
There are three parts of the bike that are in close contact with the body.
These are handles, pedals, and saddles.
Among them, pedals are directly related to safety and are an important part that allows you to know the use of a bicycle.
Pedals are not included as there is a high probability that the original parts will be discarded without needing, depending on the user’s choice.
This is why buyers are asked to choose the pedals they want.
How to select the pedal
Types of pedals
Pedals are largely divided into flat pedals and cleat pedals.
Cleat pedals are again divided into mtb use and road bike use.
If you’re not good at riding a bike, you should start with a flat pedal.
Some people tell new bike buyers and learners to start with cleat pedals.
Some say it’s a way to prevent overlapping investment and improve your skills faster.
However, cleat pedals are not a good choice if you are not used to riding a bicycle.
Cleat pedals increase your bike’s speed and increase stability on uneven surfaces.
However, if you are not accustomed to riding a bicycle and are not accustomed to removing the cleats, be careful because you can get seriously injured if you fall without removing the cleats.
Therefore, if you are a beginner, it is recommended to start with flat pedals.
The cleat pedal and the clip pedal are different things.
Do not confuse cleat pedals with clip pedals.
The clip is equipped with an additional device that can hold the foot on the flat pedal.
A cleat pedal is a form in which the bottom of the shoe and the cleat of the pedal are combined without a cumbersome device such as a strap that can hold the foot.
What kinds of flat pedals are there?
If you are a beginner, you should choose a flat pedal.
So is there only one kind of flat pedal?That’s not true.
There are many types of flat pedals as follows.
- Steel pin pedals on aluminium body
- a metal pin pedal on a nylon body
- Light Caged Pedals
- rubber gripped pedals
- Nylon pin pedal on nylon body
Which flat pedal should I choose?
Make sure your feet are not slippery.
Shoes are important to keep your feet from slipping, but pedals must not be slippery.
You can also use pedals with very sharp pins to avoid slipping.The iron pin pedal on the aluminum body and the iron pin pedal on the nylon body.
However, these pedals can be seriously hurt if a sharp pin touches your leg if you slip.
If so, should I use a non-pin pedal, such as a rubber grip pedal?
These pedals are quite slippery if the bottom of the shoe is wet or contaminated.
The pedals I recommend have bumps that don’t make it slippery, but they’re not made of iron.
Nylon body and nylon pin pedal.
Such pedals do not allow shoes to slip (although they are slightly more slippery than iron pin pedals).
If you slip and the pedal hits your shin, it won’t hurt you too much.
How to choose shoes
For beginners, as I wrote above, cleat shoes can be dangerous.
Besides the simple idea that removing the cleats is dangerous because you are not used to it, riding a bicycle requires getting used to the culture.
Beginners cannot prepare in advance because they have no knowledge of the dangers. Flat pedal shoes are recommended rather than cleat shoes.
In general, when riding a bicycle, you would just wear regular sneakers and ride a bicycle.
Those who have been riding bicycles since childhood will do so even more.
But if you’re trying to ride your bike properly and want to have a pair of shoes for your bike, there are a few things to consider.
The most important thing is the friction with the pedal.
Especially on a rainy day, when riding inevitably, the pedals and shoes experience a slippery phenomenon, which is very dangerous.
These days, there are many flat pedal shoes for cycling that keep the pedals from slipping.
Among the shoes I have experienced, the shoes that are not slippery are the Five Ten.https://www.adidas.com/us/five_ten
Originally, it was a brand for hiking boots, but because the bottom of the shoe had good grip, mountain bike riders started wearing it, and a lineup was created for mtb use.
It is important that it fits well with the shape of your foot, and it is good to have shoes that can secure the laces.
And, if you are riding in these shoes and there is a chance that you will cross several valleys, it is better not to buy shoes with boa system.
If foreign substances enter, it may not work well.
conclusion
It is recommended to ride a mountain bike with cleat pedals.
Even if you don’t prefer the cleat pedal setup, you should try it once and then decide.
However, if you are a beginner, it is recommended that you get used to riding with flat pedals rather than riding with cleat pedals from the beginning.
You can ride more safely if you use pedals that do not have metal pins.
When you get used to riding a bicycle and try to use the cleat pedal, read the article below.
How to buy mountain bike cleats shoes – usefulinformer