New Pedals for your bike, what to look for?

Pedals are an important contact point between you and your bike. Without them you won't be able to turn the cranks, the wheels won't go round and you'll just flip-over sideways.

Good pedals will not only help to propel you forward more effectively, but in those tricky situations when you need to stick a foot out they won't hinder your movement and thus prevent you from doing so.

Given all this, should you opt for flatties, clipless, or a combination of both? Flatties, with spikes set into a platform or spike-edged cages are excellent for beginners who are still finding their balance and learning to control the mountain bike force. Clipless pedals are better suited to full mountain bike trail masters. A good compromise is to be found in the new variety of platform-SPD pedals which incorporate an SPD attachment within a platform pedal.

If the bike you're buying comes with toe straps, try getting an instant upgrade deal. Unfortunately, bike shops can't sell on spare toe clip pedals easily, it at all – there's simply no market for them, so you'll almost certainly have to pay the difference. Of course, you should try and haggle for a deal anyway – it might save you a few hundred Baht or so.

If you're opting for spike-encrusted flatties, check to see whether the spikes are replaceable as they can wear out after continuous hard use. Other flats are designed around a spike cage or two, like old style BMX pedals. Always make sure they have grip enough an feel solid underfoot.

Shimano SPD and Time clipless pedals are what the majority of trail riders opt for. They are called clipless because they bind the foot to the pedal without the need for straps and toe clips, by means of cleats attached to special shoes. Obvious things to watch out for are weight, and axle bearings – how much crud is going to get inside? Ask whether the bearings are fully sealed. Is the retention tension adjustable or will you be struggling to release at the appropriate moment? Also ask how well they perform in mud, as the thick gloopy Thai variety can cog cleat entries, making them a right sod to clip into at times. Luckily less and less manufacturers have such problem, due to simple parralel two-bar clear retention system.

Another pedals are platform-SPDs. Originally favored by downhillers, they are now being made light enough for trail and playbike use. Platform-SPD's offer the stability of a platform pedal combined with the benefits of an SPD attachment. Shimano and almost everybody has them, they are a good examples and also come in a weight-saving resin-caged version too. Some platform-SPD's are single-sided, allowing the use of cleated shoes on on face and flat-soled shoes on the other side.