Road Cycling Pedals Explained: Things You Should Know About Clipless Pedals

Road Cycling Pedals Explained: Things You Should Know About Clipless Pedals

‘Clipless’ pedals is a counter-intuitive name for pedals that you clip in to. Anyway, Dan Lloyd explains all in this video.

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You’ve probably heard us say that clipless pedals are one of the best upgrades you can make to a bike. Want to know more about clipless pedals and the types that are out there on the market? We explain all in this video.

Look pedals: http://gcn.eu/25To3VL
Shimano pedals: http://gcn.eu/1tsozJg
Speedplay pedals: http://gcn.eu/1XjK62D

Watch more on GCN…
How to clip in ▶︎ http://gcn.eu/1XSncQK
How to unclip ▶︎ http://gcn.eu/1XSn5Vz

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Readers Comments (50)

  1. Manuelle Angelo Dela Cruz February 4, 2021 @ 8:20 pm

    Why does my cleat moves to a different position after im done with my ride? I also noticed screws get loose too. Any fix?

  2. I do BMX and think about switching to clipless pedals so i just wanted to ask what type would be best

  3. When I started riding clipless I had a set of Look Keo pedals. I eventually swapped to speedplay zero pedals. I really love them with the double sided entry. Obviously with the massive cleat even with covers it is difficult to walk with.

  4. good vid fella , but stop being a pussy lol get sum toe clips n straps

  5. What about Time expresso pedals?? @gcn

  6. As an aspiring newbie, here’s my question: do the MTB shoes have the same solid, stiff soles under the rubber as the road shoes have, for efficient power transfer?

  7. 한국어 자막좀 만들어주세요

  8. very helpful

  9. RespectAllFearNone HoopinIsLife February 4, 2021 @ 8:33 pm

    Can you make a vid on how to fix when the coil that controls the tension of the road bike power pedal snaps out?

  10. Have been riding on just the main rod when my plastic bmx pedels broke as a kid. Having fun stops infront of nothing

  11. Is there much difference between the weight of a pair of SPS pedals, shoes and cleats, compared to road pedals, shoes and cleats? And does it depend significantly upon how much you spend? I would guess that weight saving on this would be worth more than saving the same amount elsewhere on the bike.

  12. "clipless" is such a terrible name – you’d think they could have come up with something better when the replacement to the older design involves………clips

  13. Those mountain bike pedals on my road bike are appealing to me.

  14. I personally find these easier to use on my road bike

  15. I didnt even know what a cleat was before this video. This has just saved me a £200 mistake

  16. Strength Training February 4, 2021 @ 8:39 pm

    Simply straight to the point with good, quality content.

  17. Anton Heidebrink February 4, 2021 @ 8:39 pm

    i think you forgot the 2 in one cobination of inner site clips en the outer side a normal shoe pedal

  18. hello guys! could you please tell me what type is that red nose saddle hanging on the wall?!

  19. Brilliant! Thanks, very helpful

  20. I’ve been using MTB clipless as I have a MTB background and love them on a road bike for fun, also can wear the shoes as normal trainers rather than hobbling about reminds me of ski boots v snowboard boots

  21. Subscribed!

  22. Why are the pedals called *clipless* when they should have been called *clipfull* ?

  23. This has got to be the most helpful and easy to understand video I’ve seen in a very very long time!

  24. What about Time pedals?

  25. So then use a different name, like click pedals.

  26. RespectAllFearNone HoopinIsLife February 4, 2021 @ 8:47 pm

    I have been looking for video like this from you guys. I have a road bike but I can’t decide what type of shoes or pedal to buy. This vid helped me a lot. Thanks

  27. It’s not an ‘ironic’ name, it is fundamentally wrong. They have clips, you clip into them, they are clips. They are not ‘clipless’ it is a misnomer and confusing as heck to loads of people. You, as GCN and a beacon for the cycling world, should take a stand and call them what they actually are: ‘clipless pedals which you clip into but are not called clip pedals as that is what the old stupid leather basket pedals were called.’

  28. I’m considering using mtb clipless pedals for my road bike. As a beginner to clipless pedals is this a good idea??

  29. Thank you! As a first time buyer, this answered all my questions.

  30. Please blog the videos. Easy to lookup components.

  31. The correct name/term base on the pedal history should be strapless pedals/ cleat pedals not clipless pedal…..

  32. i want to buy one for my road bike. thank you. I wait for your answer, please help me to find this type of saddle! have a great day!

  33. Excellent explanation!

  34. Amazon links?

  35. That seat on the left tho ! Lemme get it !

  36. Clipless, I always struggled with the term. Thanks for the explanation, I guess I will use mountainbike pedals if I’m changing to clipless.

  37. 0:45 cut to Matt falling to his back after being unable to clip in roadside

  38. Thanks mate!

  39. Did they hand up dan’s saddle? Cuz I swear I’ve seen those on his red trek before

  40. 1:31 you’re holding the left pedals lmao

  41. Very very helpful stuff, thank you

  42. If you’re riding on the road only, get Look, Shimano, or Garmin/Powertap road pedals. If you’re riding on gravel/mixed surface, or commuting/riding to the shops etc, or doing real mountain biking, get mountain bike shoes/pedals. If you want to be silly, get speedplay. If you don’t care, get flats.

  43. Matt can’t clip right away. He might need some MTB double sided. 🙂

  44. Correction on the Speedplay Cleat. If you don’t tighten up the four holding screws to tight then you have more of a subtle tension for clipping in and out

  45. DISCO MIKE CYCLOMANIACS February 4, 2021 @ 9:07 pm

    I just started to use toe clips about to years ago. A friend gave me some clipless pedals but didn’t know how to use them. So now I see I have a choice on different types of pedals. I’m gonna purchase my first in a few weeks with shoes to see how it feels. Now I’m gonna have to find one of your videos on shoes. Thanks

  46. I always hear that there is a difference in power transfer but I never see any data it evidence to support the clame

  47. would you benefit from clipless pedals should we use it with a pedal extension?

  48. Hellas Ducatisti February 4, 2021 @ 9:12 pm

    I’v been tried all the 3 coloured Shimano cleats and i see that…"if you correctly adjust your cleats at the shoes and the right position for no problems at your anatomy" then the red cleats with 0° float is better for longer use in time and for your Shimano pedals to because there is not much friction. After 2 years of use with red cleats my pedals looks like new.

  49. Hi, I use Shimano spd 520 pedals on two bikes and one pair of shoes. The shoes are Specialized sport/touring. They have smooth soles unlike mtb shoes but still have the recess for the cleat so I can walk in them fine. They also feel quite stiff so there is no problem climbing hills etc. These mtb pedals are small and light and very durable and clip in either side. Highly recommended.

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