Mountain Bike Pedals

There are actually different types of bike pedals, and each one is suited for a particular purpose. It is important to get the right bike pedals because they can determine your biking performance.

Basic Platform
The most common type of bike pedals is the basic platform bike petals. This is perfect for beginners because the pedals are usually just flat. Kids� bikes usually have platform pedals. This type of biking equipment doesn�t require any special kind of footwear because they�re not made to hold your feet in any way. They allow amateur bikers to put a foot down on the ground if necessary.

Advanced Platform
More advanced platform pedals are flat as well, but they offer extra features like �teeth� that allow for better foot grip. This is common among ordinary bikes. It is also popular among free riders and down hillers. Free riding and riding downhill are mountain biking techniques that often require the biker to maneuver around the bike. That means the feet shouldn�t always hold on to the pedals, but the pedals should also have a relatively good grip on the shoes.

Toe Clips or Cage Style
In the 1860s toe clips or cage style bike pedals was developed. Cage style bike pedals have �cages� that have straps that go around the top of one�s feet. They allow for full rotation of the pedals, which means you can push them up and down. This type of bike pedals, however, isn�t energy efficient because the feet don�t completely stick to the pedals, and it is often difficult to get your feet in and out of the �cages�. For these reasons, cage style bike pedals can usually be found in not-so-advanced bicycles.

Clipless
The most highly-recommended type of bike pedals among professional and recreational bikers today are clipless bike pedals. Specialized shoes can be attached to the pedals, and this gives the biker full control over the pedals� movement. This type of pedals is perfect for mountain bikers who do cross-country or trail riding. It ensures efficient pedaling as no energy is lost from trying to hold on to the pedals. The biker can also adjust the pedals� grip on his or her shoes.

The main disadvantage with using clipless pedals is that it�s not very easy to learn how to quickly remove one�s feet from the pedals. This may cause some minor accidents, like falling during stops because bikers aren�t used to their feet being held on by the pedals. To take out one�s feet from the pedals, the biker twists his or her feet sideways.

If you pick something that�s not suited to your biking technique, you may end up not enjoying your ride�or worse, you might end up with an injury. Sports or biking stores offer a wide range of bike pedals. Choose the right one for your biking needs.

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