Introduction to Bike Shoes and Pedals, Why They Matter

Introduction to Bike Shoes and Pedals, Why They Matter

Why would you want to go with clipless shoes, what’s the difference between road and mountain, why are pedals important at all? These are some of the questions I had going in to Peloton Cycles in Fort Collins, CO working with Erik. I had just purchased a new electric bike and hadn’t spent much time on shoes. He took me on a short tour of the shoe section and gave me an overview of bicycle shoes and pedals.

We started off with an overview of the term clipless, the confusing thing is that these pedals and shoes often use clips of a sort in order to connect and hold on to each other. The term evolved from baskets and cages which were popular before the click-in systems were developed. People used to refer to them as clips and thus, when the cage or basket was replaced with an automatic connector the term came to be. Baskets were designed to completely lock in your foot and required help at the start and finish of a ride in order to get out. I have fallen and nearly broke my wrist using them for fun as a younger guy.

In short, road shoes have a much larger connection point in order to transfer power. Mountain shoes are more flexible so you can maneuver the bike itself easier and introduce tread so you can walk around and get the bike setup on unstable surfaces.

50 Comments

  1. Mack RVentures on June 27, 2019 at 8:28 pm

    Very helpful video for a newbie!



  2. Jamaluddin Hj.Amir on June 27, 2019 at 8:29 pm

    It really helpful as for me a newbie.. I had a great information from this guy.. Thank you



  3. ibrahim s on June 27, 2019 at 8:30 pm

    great video



  4. Dennis Dowd on June 27, 2019 at 8:31 pm

    Super.



  5. Manuel Malagón on June 27, 2019 at 8:34 pm

    Thank you so much boss 👍🏻



  6. Qif Ry on June 27, 2019 at 8:39 pm

    this is how they make money people dont be sstupid



  7. Frank Montez on June 27, 2019 at 8:39 pm

    Only watching this because I just saw a video in which bike cop chased a suspect very slowly and clumsily and kept hearing a clacking sound . Then saw his shoes which looked raised very different from the other cop’s shoes . Mystery solved LOL



  8. Jackson Louie on June 27, 2019 at 8:43 pm

    Great info. I’ve been using my flat Adidas and it works perfect.



  9. Methodical2 on June 27, 2019 at 8:44 pm

    Very informative. Thanks



  10. Giancarlo D on June 27, 2019 at 8:46 pm

    This guy is a legend. Cheers!



  11. William Kiltz on June 27, 2019 at 8:49 pm

    9:00 just saved me 360$$



  12. Jason Hart on June 27, 2019 at 8:50 pm

    Like others have said, this guy is very good at explaining this confusing subject. Good job.



  13. Lowrider Smith on June 27, 2019 at 8:51 pm

    This is professional.! 💎



  14. LightSport Man on June 27, 2019 at 8:52 pm

    Can someone please tell me what shoe was the MTB shoe



  15. Johannes Nilsen on June 27, 2019 at 8:53 pm

    I can only use flat pedals, I got joint misalignment issues, so I have to pop my feet back in place, I have to do it with my toes too,
    and all pedals on the market are too small apart from Pedalling innovations Catalyst pedals, they offer more stability.
    my current setup is Fiveten Freerider & Catalyst pedals.
    https://pedalinginnovations.com/
    https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/fiveten-men-bike-shoes
    I have ridden with Mid foot position since I started riding, ball position does not make any sense.



  16. Johannes Nilsen on June 27, 2019 at 8:53 pm

    8:46 tecnically you can, but it’s nto desirable, you can if you tilt your feet/pedal, but it’s pontless to do so.



  17. Chris Rwechungura on June 27, 2019 at 8:54 pm

    this guys knows his stuff!!!



  18. Turki Baghlaf on June 27, 2019 at 8:55 pm

    if im the owner of the store i would give this guy a promotion.



  19. Sirios Star on June 27, 2019 at 8:58 pm

    More total BS sales crap . The only riders that need special shoes are professional racers and sport riders . Every advantage , no matter how minute is necessary .
    For the average rider any pair of sneakers will do. I wore my dress shoes last week on my first ride of early spring and didn’t notice any appreciable difference to my worn out sneakers that i have to replace immediately 😂



  20. ConteudoAnimal com br on June 27, 2019 at 8:59 pm

    flat and tennis for sure



  21. Aquarius Storm on June 27, 2019 at 9:01 pm

    This guy is a master at explaining



  22. rakistang pinoy on June 27, 2019 at 9:02 pm

    Anyone using their mtb shoes (SPD cleats) for road biking? It’s hard to walk on rb shoes (SPD-SL) and the cleats are damn so expensive.



  23. tomisthlm on June 27, 2019 at 9:02 pm

    Very informative!!!



  24. Scott Rawdin on June 27, 2019 at 9:04 pm

    Thank you for this video. I have been wondering about changing from sneakers to bike shoes – but I too have had unfortunate experiences with the "clips" that imprison the foot. Perhaps the multi-release cleat could be a start for me?



  25. Zap Zap on June 27, 2019 at 9:04 pm

    This guy needs a raise



  26. Scott on June 27, 2019 at 9:05 pm

    Why does anything with the words "S-Works" cost so much damn money? 17K for the Turbo Levo S-Works, 500 for some S-Works shoes, that is a joke, I can buy Alpine Star Tech 10 motocross boots for 400 bucks, bicycles people, bicycles.



  27. Luis Superlano on June 27, 2019 at 9:07 pm

    Great explanation. I am about to make the jump to clip in pedals on my road bike. I got the pedals that are flat on top and clip on the bottom.



  28. The inquisitive on June 27, 2019 at 9:07 pm

    This guy knows his onions, all right. What did we the cyclists do before the invent of Youtube and ebikereview,com?



  29. Shred Dead Redemption II on June 27, 2019 at 9:08 pm

    catch me in my Crocs tho – you wont



  30. caba on June 27, 2019 at 9:09 pm

    Best explaining video out there. Thank you.



  31. Owen Zeroy on June 27, 2019 at 9:10 pm

    How did the guy almost break his wrist on something made for his foot



  32. PermaKulHurTur on June 27, 2019 at 9:12 pm

    I’d rather ride with bare feet than listen to this shop background noise



  33. The inquisitive on June 27, 2019 at 9:12 pm

    Hi, I have very wide feet. I do mainly off road/mountain biking on my E-Bike. Any suggestion as to any brand and model I should research? I like the look of the Specailized S-Works but I fear that it may not be wide enough for me. My current shoes are Lake (wide fitting) but they’re hurting my bunions resulting in painful blisters. Anyone out there with good advice, pls.?



  34. Gabriel Denis on June 27, 2019 at 9:12 pm

    This was the video I’ve been needing to see thank you both for a truly educational eye opening video. I understand more about clip-less cycling shoes and pedals.



  35. gooni goo goo on June 27, 2019 at 9:12 pm

    guy behind camera. , you don’t have to talk so fem like a woman….it is strange.



  36. Maurice Appelhof on June 27, 2019 at 9:13 pm

    Should have used lesser fov/bigger aperture. his nose looks too big



  37. Ethan Haugen on June 27, 2019 at 9:14 pm

    ‘"If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough." Excellent job! Best video I’ve found explaining the differences.



  38. REALLYCLEANFLOORS on June 27, 2019 at 9:15 pm

    Really great explanation. Thanks!



  39. Joe Rains on June 27, 2019 at 9:15 pm

    Just what I needed: a brief orientation on the pedal systems. Well done! Plus, you answered the "why are they called clipless" question- I thought I must be confused. Thanks much!



  40. Jeffrey Gray on June 27, 2019 at 9:15 pm

    One point not mentioned. I have ridden diamond frame bikes with clipless pedals. Pulling up as well as pushing may not be much of a difference on a diamond frame bike. It does however make a huge difference when ridding a recumbent bike/trike. Being able to pull makes starting faster and adds to the abiltiy to climb. On a recumbent being able to pull as well as push can mean pedaling a hill or walking up the hill. I prefer my recumbent to an upright bike, but on a recumbent you have top power it yourself as you dont have gravity and weight helping climb.



  41. bob tim tom tumb on June 27, 2019 at 9:15 pm

    Wow the guy is good!!! Thanks!!!



  42. Jimie Chou on June 27, 2019 at 9:16 pm

    Very very good story telling! nice job guys!



  43. Russ Schuett on June 27, 2019 at 9:17 pm

    Too bad Peloton was bought out by Specialized.



  44. KCFlyer2 on June 27, 2019 at 9:18 pm

    I use stiff soled shoes with strapless toe clips. I don’t get the full "power" out of them, but I’m riding an E bike so it’s not that important. The strapless toe clips are easy to get into AND out of, but they keep my foot steady on the pedal. At my age, I can’t afford to fall while "learning" how to clip in and out.



  45. LightSport Man on June 27, 2019 at 9:18 pm

    What is the BLUE shoe



  46. Bill Bisbing on June 27, 2019 at 9:19 pm

    Really informative and great information! Thanks from a newbie to spinning.



  47. flyshacker on June 27, 2019 at 9:19 pm

    Great introduction, but as a beginner, I still think there is a TON more to learn here.



  48. Fringe Wizard on June 27, 2019 at 9:22 pm

    I bike around in rubber boots that are for the winter.



  49. Gil Eagan on June 27, 2019 at 9:22 pm

    Great job best information I ever seen



  50. Catalin Radulea on June 27, 2019 at 9:26 pm

    Why in hell would you dislike the video ? Idiots…