Bicycle Pedals Buying Guide
Once you jump into the world of cycling, you can get pretty overwhelmed by the number of available choices and brands. This guide is meant as a leaping-off point to help keep your head above water and your wheels spinning. You'll find some technical explanations of the major variety of pedals, as well as common terms and even a breakdown of the basic pedal parts you'll want to know.
Basic Pedals
If you're just starting to get into cycling, there are some basic terms and mechanical concepts you'll want to know before you shop. Pedals are perhaps one of the most understated components of the bicycle. I mean, ostensibly you put your feet on them and push them around to get where you want to go so it's no surprise they'd have a lowly status among neophyte riders. But experienced riders know the benefits of different types of pedals to fit the right kinds of riding.
Pedals are made up of three components: spindle, body and cage.
* The '''spindle''' is a thin metal rod that threads onto the crank arm and holds the bearings. The inside end of the spindle (the part that threads onto the crank arms) typically has larger, more durable bearings than the outside end. The threading usually has a diameter of 9/16" with 20 threads to the inch; known as an English thread.
* The '''body''' is usually a cast-aluminum housing for the spindle and the bearings.
* The '''cage''', usually made of steel or aluminum, is a thin metal band that toe clips and reflectors bolt onto. The cage is attached to the body via pedal braces.
* Additional standard features on pedals are toe flips, small metal protrusions bent outward that helps rotate the pedal backward when using toe clips.
Specialized Pedals
Pedals begin to diverge at this point as they become more specialized and geared toward specific types of riding. For example, BMX riders will use a variation of the classic platform pedal, but with much wider surface area and spiky grips protruding from the pedal itself. Clipless pedals also vary by discipline:
bikes. So there's a lot of variation out there, and there are even more choices once you narrow down your style of riding. Check the chart below for more detailed information on the different types of pedals.
Quick Picks
To help you get started, here are some top road and mountain pedal picks by Kevin Weiss,
About.com's bicycling guide:
Major Manufacturers
*
Azonic
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Compagnolo
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Crankbrothers
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MKS
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Shimano
*
Time
*
Wellgo
*
Xpedo
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