GROUPTEST
Flat pedals, £50 £130
Flats or clips? It’s an age-old debate, and fashions for each still come and go. In Sam Hill’s downhill heyday, every man and his dog was on flats, but in recent years, clipless pedals have had a resurgence. Clips make for more efficient pedalling and more security over rough terrain, but that doesn’t mean flats are old-school or just for beginners. The confidence that comes from being able to drop a foot at the last minute is great for improving your cornering and making you relax on the bike, and the freedom to reposition your feet on the pedals makes foot-up turns easier too. But none of this is any use if all you’re thinking is: “Are my feet going to come off?” To ride fast on rough tracks, it’s essential to have a good pedal and shoe combination.
Grip is the number one thing to look for in a flat pedal. This comes down to several factors – the surface area of the platform, its shape (flat or concave) and the size (length and diameter) and positioning of the traction pins. Strength and reliability are essential too though, because you will hit the pedals on the ground at some stage and dunk them repeatedly into puddles over the winter. Most pedals over £40 spin on bushings and sealed bearings, with rubber seals to keep out the worst of the grime. There’s always a compromise though, between using larger-diameter bearings for a longer lifespan and keeping the pedal body as thin as possible. Flat pedals need to be easily serviceable too, and do all of the above without weighing a ton or costing the earth.
The 15 sets we’ve selected here are mostly the brands’ flagship models but, in the interests of keeping prices sensible, we’ve shied away from titanium axle upgrades and magnesium bodies. These are only worth paying for if weight saving is a major priority. We tested all the pedals back to back, on the same selection of trails, keeping variables like bike set-up and shoe choice consistent. So, when we say that one set feels better than another, you can be confident in our verdicts.