Choosing the right pedal for your bike has more to do with how you ride it then the styling of the vehicle. There are three basic forms of pedals -- clipless, cage and platform. ABC of Mounting Biking adds a fourth to the list, advanced platform. Mountain bikes are for tougher terrains. They have suspension systems that allow for off-road cycling, but work for the street as well. Picking out the right style pedal for your bike can help make it maneuverable, faster and improve your cycling endurance.
Cage Pedal
Cage, or toe clip, pedals have an extension that secures the foot to the pedal. The advantage of this form is that your feet will not slip off while riding. You also gain pull on the crankshaft, the rod that holds pedals in place and connects to the front gears of the bike. The average pedal applies tension in one direction, down. So when you push on the top of the pedal with your feet, you move the crankshaft. With a toe clip, you get added pull in the upward direction. This can relieve fatigue in the legs and increase speed. Toe-clip pedals have attachments on the end of the grip over the top, or toe, of the shoe.
Clipless Pedals
Clipless pedals offer some of the same benefits as the cage, but without the over-the-toe grip. The primary difference between cage and clipless pedals is mechanical. The attachment for a clipless pedal is on the bottom of the shoe. ABC of Mountain Biking recommends clipless pedals for bikers who like to ride long and hard across country. One advantage a cage pedal has over the clipless format is quick and easy foot removal from the pedal. For instance, if you need to stop suddenly, you pull your foot out of the clip. With a clipless pedal, foot extraction is not as simple. You must twist your foot first to disengage the shoe attachment before lifting off the pedal. In a sudden stop, it can be easy to forget and fall.
Platform Pedal
Platform pedals are what most people think of for biking. This is a flat piece without any gripping mechanism. Flat pedals are more for beginners or casual bikers. If you use your bike for a trip to the store, clips can be work than necessary. Platform pedals require you to only place your foot on the pedal to move. They lack the added advantage of two-directional tension. Pushing down is the only way to move the bike.
Advanced Platform
Advanced platform are hybrids between the clipless and standard platform pedal. Advanced platforms use the texture on the surface of the pedal to enhance grip. While an advanced platform pedal will not be as effective as cage or clipless, it will provide more tension than the common platform pedal. Many advanced platform pedals have teeth on the edges to provide grip.
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