FLAT PEDALS

For some riders, flat pedals are simply the only option. The freedom they offer and the confidence they can instil really helps to elevate the whole riding experience. Being able to quickly hang a foot off mid-turn or eject from the bike when things go wrong simply isn’t possible when you’re attached to the bike via clipless pedals. Then there are the diehards who insist that riding on flats will help you learn the correct techniques for manoeuvres like the bunnyhop – a fundamental of mountain biking.

But even if you do spend most of your time clipped in, flat pedals can add fun and confidence come winter, when the trails are as slippery as a greased-up eel. Knowing that you can slide down the hillside without the fear of remaining stuck to the bike can help with tackling steeper terrain and staying loose and comfortable on the bike.

What is it you should actually be looking for? First and foremost, grip should be at the top of your list. Pedal traction is generated through a few different things, including platform shape and size, plus, as you’d expect, the size and shape of the pins. Adding more pins won’t always increase grip levels though. We’d take fewer better-quality, taller and thinner pins over a load of stubby, fat ones any day. And, when you do inevitably bend some of those pins, how easy are they to replace?

Then, there’s platform size. With flat-pedal shoes being rather clumpy, you’ll need pedals big enough to securely plant your feet upon. If the platform is too small, they won’t support your feet properly. Go for something that’s too broad, though, and