Clipless Pedals Vs Flat Pedals | To Clip In Or Not To Clip In

Clipless pedals are often regarded as essential for road cyclists. They make you feel more connected to the bike, and improve your pedalling efficiency. However, shoes with cleats on the bottom are tricky to walk in, and it can be reassuring knowing you can quickly put a foot down if you need to! There are pros and cons to each pedal system so, in this video, we compare clipless and flat pedals to see which is best!

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[gcn]

What pedals do you use? Let us know in the comments below!

[LainOTN]

I will repeat what other guy said on a similar video by GCN:
"Thank you for this video, I will be able to use it with my students as an excellent example of confirmation bias!"

[Twodaae]

Should get one of the GMBN presenters (maybe Blake) to try burst out some watts on the flat pedals and compare it with the roadies with clipless pedals... The video mentioned how mountain bikers have really good control with flats, so maybe its a good way to measure and compare "apple with apple". -my 2 cents :)

[bobpanarese]

Being 74 years old and cycling for only a year after a 30 year lay off I prefer flat pedals. Leaning to use clipless at my age could result in serious injury from falls. I would rather not take the chance.

[benkemp]

If the test was done with decent flat pedals with pins and actually decent stiffer soled and grippier flat pedal shoes, the result would likely be a lot closer!
Frustrating they compared expensive clipless shoes and pedals to the most basic plastic flat pedal with cheap trainers!

[jonathanbenn]

Come on GCN. Do a valid comparison. Modern high end platform pedals with cycling specific platform pedal shoes and what ever road shoes and pedals you want. Presenter needs 500 Km on platforms before the test to ensure they have developed proper technique.

[sventice]

It depends on what you're doing on your bicycle. In my experience, clipless pedals provide a noticeable but not earth-shattering performance advantage over flats, particularly when climbing or sprinting. If you're totally focused on racing/sport, then clipless are probably the best choice. If you're commuting in heavy urban traffic, or touring, or riding on steep dirt, or going to meet friends, or doing anything else BUT racing or "serious" club rides, it's probably more comfortable, convenient, and almost as fast just to use a decent pair of flat pedals. It's often nice to be wearing "normal" clothes and shoes when you get to your destination.

[Vince]

Modern lightweight large flats. Use my own shoes, sneakers, sandals, or whatever I want. On long rides more comfortable because you can adjust the position of your feet if you want. Plus, I can walk with comfort instead of looking like a crippled duck. Don't care about looking less 'pro', none of us are!

[nathanberry]

3rd time you've done this test and you still haven't used appropriate pedals and appropriate shoes. What about mtb pedals with metal pins and mtb shoes. Even just some skate shoes make a huge difference over trainers... more stable and more grip.

[King_K_Rool_]

I use super grippy flats, find it gives me the best of both

[la.intempestiva]

Guys this is the 4th Clipless vs. Flat video you do, after the actual laboratory test of Simon and Lloyd when flats showed to be more efficient. Get some proper grippy high-end flats and some stiff shoes. You always do high-end clipless vs. cheap shitty flats+snickers. Do also an FTP test and then we will take it seriously. It's a pity you keep on pushing this confirmation bias of clipless. Sure, better for sprinting and steep short climb. That's 1% of the riding most of us do.

[lolsaLlama]

I use clipless on my road bike and flats on gravel bike (used to mountain bike a lot and like the freedom offroad)
I think the excuse of slipping however is a weak arguement. Theres loads of different flat pedals some with removable pins and some not. Plus the test should have used trainers designed for flats. Pitting highend clipless shoes and pedals against cheap plaggy flats and some ultra flexible running trainers is just a video for crapping on flats.

[simondavanzo]

After years of riding clipless I finally got fed up of needing specialist shoes just for taking the kids on a ride to the park so stuck a pair of proper metal flats on one of my bikes. And I found .... nothing really, Didn't slip off, didn't feel a lack of power, wasn't insecure. Now admittedly I wasn't pushing it (because kids) but it really wasn't bad at all. Modern flat pedals and decent trainers have come on a LONG way from when clipless first started.

[c_davie]

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the paint job on that Canyon?

[marekkozub]

I have been riding road bike for 22 years using flat pedals only. They didn't mentioned though, that you should use special flat pedal shoes. They are stiffer, than regular sneakers and they have soles, that provide good grip. You are able to walk normally wearing them, in case of emergency or just to buy a snack or drink.

[wallace]

Spd all the way, you can walk with them too.

[iberiksoderblom]

Not much of a test, when the testers are clearly biased from the start.
But there is nothing new or surprising in the results.

[MulksBikes]

WAIT, wasn't the argument for clipless and "full pedal rotation power" myth debunked years ago???

[awhite]

Compare with good quality flats and leather toe straps next time, rather than the cheapest flat pedals (and soft trainers) you can find.

[MNN]

Ive been on a GCN binge since I found this channel. Entertaining and informative content guys! Especially Hank, Manon, Ollie and Simon. Youre great guys