What kind of pedal do I have and what shoes do I need to buy?

Asked by: Edward Henderson

How do I know which pedals to buy?

flat bicycle pedals: Choose clipless pedals if you want more efficiency and control; with your shoes connected to your pedals, you transfer power when you pull up and push down. Choose flat pedals if you need to quickly take your feet off the pedals or want comfort while walking in the shoes that don’t have cleats.

Do all bike shoes fit all pedals?

Most pedal manufacturers have their own cleats that work with their pedals, but as long as it’s the same style as your shoes (either 2 bolt or 3 bolt), the cleats should work on whatever shoe you buy. But pay attention! A road-specific 3-bolt or SPD-SL cleat will only attach to a 3-bolt shoe.

How do I know what pedals fit my bike?

If you want to know your bike pedal size you can check the width of the thread with a set of digital callipers. Alternatively you can ask the manufacturer of the crank or you can take your bike to a local bicycle service repairs / local bike shop and ask them to clarify the pedal thread size needed.

Do you need special shoes for clip in pedals?

You can use clip-in pedals without cycling shoes, but they don’t work very well. We highly recommend using double-sided pedals or clip-in adapters as they are just more comfortable and safer for riding clip-in pedals with trainers.

What are the different types of bike pedals?

Bicycle pedals will typically come in three distinct styles; clip, clipless, or platform.

What is the difference between SPD and SPD-SL pedals?

SPD cleats use two bolts to fix to the shoe, so they’re often called ‘two-bolt cleats’. SPD-SL cleats have three points of attachment to the shoe, so they are also called ‘three-bolt cleats’. They are made of plastic, to keep their weight down.

Can I wear running shoes for cycling?

Running shoes are not suitable for cycling. Their soft sole compresses and flexes when pedaling, causing energy loss. On longer rides, constant foot flexing and compression of the nerves also causes pain, known as ‘hot-foot’.

What is the difference between clipless and clip pedals?

The name clipless is a bit of a misnomer. After all, clipless pedals clip to your shoes while flat pedals don’t have a clip at all. They’re called clipless is because they don’t have toe straps or cages. These were replaced by the locking mechanism that the pedals use to attach to the cleats.

Are vans good for biking?

Yes, Vans shoes can be used for mountain biking. These shoes are comfortable enough for you to actually have a good ride when you are out mountain biking as Vans shoes are quite sturdy and flexible. Vans shoes are made with soles that are supposed to be effective at gripping the surface of skateboards.

How do I know my pedal size?

Check the Cranks on the Bike



If your cranks are made up of three separate sections, two separate crank arms and the spindle that goes through the frame then your pedals will be size 9/16” x 20 tpi.

How do you fit a pedal?

Quote from video: By hand then tighten with the pedal wrench by placing the wrench at the three o'clock position and push down and clockwise until the pedal is tight repeat.

Are bike pedal clips universal?

Clipless/clip-in pedal cleats are specific to the manufacturer; so, for example, Shimano cleats are not compatible with Look pedals. The exception to this rule is there are now some two-bolt systems created with cross-brand compatibility, namely from brands like Ritchey and Wellgo.

What are regular bike pedals called?

The two most common types of pedals are clipless (or clip-in) and flat. Clipless pedals require cleats, which are attached to the shoe and snap into the pedal. There are various clip-in pedal systems, including Shimano’s SPD, SPD-SL, Speedway, and Crank Brothers.

Why are flat pedals better?

Flat pedals provide several benefits when descending; better power transfer through your cranks, greater range of foot position and rotation, ease of adjusting heels down, quick and easy removal of your feet from the pedals. Good body position, range of motion and angulation are maximized with flat pedals.

What’s the difference between road and mountain bike pedals?

Mountain bike pedals are most easily recognized by requiring a cleat with two bolts, while a road pedals will have a much larger three-bolt cleat shaped like a triangle. Mountain cleats are much smaller, making them easier to walk or run in if you find yourself pushing up a hill.

What pedal should every guitarist have?

Used in almost every genre, the wah-pedal is a must-have for every guitarist. They’re incredibly versatile and can be used to create many different types of tones and effects. They work by allowing the guitarist to control the frequency spectrum of the audio signal.

What guitar pedals should I have?

If you’re looking to start a standard rock-style pedalboard, you can’t go wrong with an overdrive unit, your choice of distortion (for metal) or fuzz (grunge or classic rock), and your choice of reverb (more natural) or delay (more spacey and ambient). Tuners and volume pedals should be the last units you purchase.

What kind of guitar pedals do I need?

For most guitarists, a tuner, drive pedal, and delay pedal are essential pedals. Buying these pedals first will give you a solid rig that you won’t outgrow. Some guitarists never move past these three pedals, while other guitarists go on to build large pedalboards with a range of different effects.

Which comes first distortion or overdrive?

Generally, your distortion, overdrive and fuzz effects pedals should go towards the start of your pedal chain as they have the greatest effect on the tone. Fuzz pedals should usually go first, followed by overdrive and finally distortion.

Do I need both overdrive and distortion?

It largely depends on how close you already are to the tone you want. If you’re pretty close but you want a little more oomph, go with overdrive. Same goes for when you want more of a trashy, garage rock sound. If you want to radically change the tone into something heavier, pick distortion.

What is the difference between a distortion pedal and an overdrive pedal?

What’s the difference between overdrive and distortion? In short, a distortion pedal is a lot more aggressive than an overdrive pedal in the way that it affects your tone. An overdrive amp will boost your amplifier or will mimic a sound, whereas a distortion pedal will entirely alter your sound.