Your shoe-to-pedal interface is extremely important. It is one of only three contact points between you and your bicycle, but, unlike handlebars and saddles, your pedals convert your work to power. This is why it's worth spending some extra time to find the right system for you. Ideally, your choice should be comfortable, easy to use, and help you feel connected to your bike in any riding conditions. Read on to learn more about pedal types and clipless systems!
There are two types of mountain pedals: flats and clipless.
Basic flat pedals, sometimes called platform pedals, come standard on new bicycles (though higher-end bikes often require pedals to be purchased separately). Made of hard resin or aluminum, it's a simple design that does not require special footwear.
Some flat pedals are made of more durable materials like aluminum and feature small pins that grab your shoe's rubber tread to promote foot retention when the trail gets rough. This style helps keep your foot on the pedal and is good for emergency bailouts, but is not as efficient as a clipless interface. Many downhill-oriented riders use these and are most effective when combined with dedicated flat pedal shoes.
Clipless pedals (named because they don't have plastic clips) combine maximum foot retention, easy and safe pedal entry/exit, and superior power transfer. The epitome of performance and comfort, clipless pedal systems can reduce foot fatigue, but have a small learning curve and require special footwear. Many cross-country-oriented mountain bikers eventually graduate to one of the clipless interfaces featured, below.
Your shoes should keep you comfortable, injury-free, and ready to put down power no matter the trail ahead or the miles behind. They should be durable, lightweight, stiff to provide a stable platform for power transfer, and built from materials to regulate your foot temperature and adjust shoe fit. Flat shoes will be slightly less stiff, but easier to walk in and a bit more fashionable off your bike. Two-hole clipless mountain shoes have cleats screwed into the bottom of their soles, are more rigid, and benefit from the efficiency of clipless systems.
