Everyone started off their cycling career learning to ride a bike with flat pedals. Some continue using flats, and they’re the preferred pedal of many off-road riders, but lots of riders, and particularly those on the road, switch to using clipless pedals.

Why? We delve into the pros and cons of flat pedals vs clipless pedals, and also look at why you might use each system for mountain biking, road cycling, gravel riding and cycle commuting.
Are you swapping from flat pedals to clipless for the first time? Check out our guide on how to remove and change bike pedals.
To start, let’s clear up what the difference is between clipless pedals and flats.

Despite the ‘clipless’ name, you do actually clip your shoes into clipless pedals, locking them to your feet.

The term clipless comes from the historic abandonment of toe clips and straps over the top of the shoe, which road riders used to use to hold their feet in place. If you want to know more, check out our guide on how to use clipless pedals.

French brand, Look, launched its clipless pedals in 1984, replacing the toe clips with a system that used a cleat screwed to the bottom of the rider’s shoe that engaged with a locking mechanism built into the pedal, for a more secure, comfortable connection.