MTB pedals: Pins, shapes, sizes - everything about platform pedals

Bikers with racing ambitions in particular still largely rely on clipless pedals. This allows them to transfer the power from their legs to the pedals in the best possible way, always stand ergonomically correct and have full control over their bike in technical sections.

But clickies also have disadvantages and more and more bikers are doing without the fixed connection. For good reasons: Platform pedals require no learning process for unclicking, and in tricky situations it's easier to put a foot down before you run the risk of rolling into the vegetables. Riding with flat pedals also trains your riding technique and the shoes are often more comfortable - especially if you have to push or carry your bike for longer distances. And with the motorised assistance of the e-bike, there is usually no need to put maximum leg power on the pedals.

So there are plenty of reasons to switch to platform pedals. However, the numerous models differ in three important variables: Size, shape and pins. Only if you choose the right combination of these three factors will you end up with the optimum flat pedal. We explain the most important differences.

1. the size of the platform pedals

The size is basically the simplest variable and is - as you can imagine - related to the size of your feet. With all flat pedals, it is important that the size of the platform matches the shoe size, because only then does the pedal offer a sufficient contact surface and the pins drill into the shoes in the right place.

Manufacturers such as OneUp Components and Crankbrothers offer their platform pedals in different sizes. The composite pedal from One Up is available in normal or small, while the Crankbrothers Stamp models are also available in small or large. Airtime also has a model in two sizes in its range with the Decade pedals. Other manufacturers offer various models that differ in the size of the platform.

One pedal, two sizes: Crankbrothers offers its Stamp pedals in large (>> available here) and small (>> available here) to.

2. the geometry of the pedal body

Another factor in choosing the right flat pedal is the geometry of the pedal body. There are roughly two different types.

• Flat pedals with a completely flat platform. Especially in combination with a deep-tread shoe sole, slightly longer pins are usually required to build up good grip.

• Concave or raised platform pedals usually allow slightly shorter pins to create a similarly good grip, because the sole of the shoes is better pressed against the pedal body.

• The height of the pedal plays less of a role in terms of grip. However, the flatter the pedal, the greater the ground clearance. Especially with low-lying bottom brackets, "thick" pedals can quickly lead to bumps in the terrain.

3. choosing the right pins

This brings us to the last factor, the pins, which play a decisive role in choosing the right platform pedals. Grip, riding feel and safety - depending on the shape of the pins, these points can be greatly influenced. There are various pin designs that differ depending on the intended use and preferences:

The length of the platform pedal pins

The length of the pins significantly influences how deep they can penetrate into the sole of the shoe and therefore how much grip they offer.

The choice of the correct pin length depends heavily on the pedal body geometry and the sole depth. - Armin Hofreiter, Managing Director TATZE bike-components GmbH

In this context, you should always pay attention to the tread depth of the sole, as this is directly related to the pin length. If the pins are too short, for example 3 mm on a 5 mm deep and fissured sole, they will be ineffective and offer little grip. It also helps to increase the number of pins on the pedal as much as possible if the sole has a coarse profile, as some pins will not find a grip in the coarse sole.

Longer pins generally provide better grip, but also increase the risk of injury if you slip off the pedal and scrape your shins over the pins.

The length of the pins can vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, even the individual platform pedals from one manufacturer can have different pin lengths. At Tatze, for example, the pin lengths range from 2.5 mm for the Kids pedals to 4.5 mm for the Two-Face pedals and 6.3 mm for the Link pedals.

There are many good flat pedals with plenty of grip. The wheat is only separated from the chaff after long use and a lot of abuse. Then the teeth fall out, then the bearings crack, then the clattering gets on your nerves. It's all a question of price, of course. The ultimate flats are the Syntace NumberNine2. - Dimitri Lehner, BIKE Editor

The shape of the pins

There are also significant differences in the shape of the pins, which have an immense influence on the grip of the platform pedals. Here is an overview:

Straight / cylindrical pins

This is the standard form with a straight shank, which is the most common form. Manufacturers also often use standard screws such as grub screws. The pins are usually made of steel and offer a reasonable grip, but are less aggressive than pointed pins. As a rule, this type is gentler on the soles of the shoes and offers a little more freedom of movement on the pedals.

A-shaped / pointed pins

They taper towards the top in order to achieve a stable base for the pin thread on the one hand and to be slightly thinner and more aggressive at the tip on the other. A-shaped pins provide better grip because they can "claw" into the sole better and are well suited for more aggressive applications such as enduro or downhill. However, the shoes can wear out more quickly with this type of pin and there is also a greater risk of injury in the event of a fall.

V-shaped pins

This design is rather rare and is used, for example, in the Specialised Boomslang can be found. The pins taper downwards and offer very good grip, as the edge at the tip has an angle of over 90°. The disadvantage is that they are thinnest at the base and therefore often less stable.

Different pin tips

The tip of the pins also makes a difference. Flat tips generally cause less wear on the sole, but also reduce the grip of the platform pedals. Notched tips, on the other hand, provide better grip because they can dig deeper into the material. However, this also increases wear on the sole. Pins with threads that reach all the way up to the end also have a grip advantage because the threaded ends can also claw into the material

Wide vs. narrow pins There are usually two standard dimensions here

3 millimetre thin pins provide aggressive grip because they can penetrate deeper into the sole. However, they also increase wear, especially with soft rubber compounds. Thin pins are also more prone to bending and need to be replaced more frequently. Thin pins are often found on plastic pedals because they require nuts for fastening.

4 millimetre thick pins are somewhat less aggressive, but also more durable and stable. They are therefore also more resistant to bending. These pins are usually used on aluminium pedals, particularly in high-quality material grades such as 10.9 screw steel. They have a better grip on shoes with soft soles than on harder soles.

Flat pedals don't have it easy: they have to be easy to grip, not too heavy, look good and, above all, last a long time. The latter usually only becomes apparent after one or two years. Nothing is more annoying than a cracking pedal! - Laurin Lehner, BIKE editor

Platform pedals: the right shoe

Finally, it is of course no secret that different rubber compounds and sole profiles offer very different levels of grip. It is therefore possible that a shoe with one pin provides a grippy combination, but works less well with another pin. In many cases, the only thing that helps here is experimentation and perhaps swapping pedals with the bike clique. The coarser and deeper the profile, the more and longer pins the platform pedals should have.

The perfect platform pedals: our conclusion

There is no one perfect combination of platform and pin. The choice depends on several factors. Flat pedal bodies usually require longer pins, concave pedals tend to require shorter ones. The flatter and less profiled the shoes, the better the grip. Coarse shoe profiles require a greater number of longer pins. Thicker pins are more stable, thinner pins are more aggressive.

In the end, the choice of platform pedals always depends on the individual setup and riding style - and on how much grip and durability you prefer. In some cases, the grip can be too much. Especially if you have an agile riding style with a lot of shoe movement on the pedals.

More about pedals

Flat pedals made of plastic are currently very fashionable. The platform pedals made of nylon or fibre composite material look stylish, are light and inexpensive. But can they keep up with classic aluminium MTB pedals? We explain the advantages and disadvantages of flat pedals made from different materials.

Test MTB pedals 2022: Ten plastic flat pedals in comparison