Why are clip-in pedals on a bike called clipless pedals

• Posted on 1 December 2020
• By Nanda
• Posted in bicycle, clipless pedals, clipless shoes, knowledge, Leatt, MTB
• 0

If you are new to cycling, you might wonder that why the hack is these clipped in pedals are called Clipless pedals. I was wondering as same as you are a decade ago. In order to know why are they called clipless pedals, you will need to check the history and development of the pedals. As I mentioned above in Platform pedals and Strap/Cage pedals,

This is the beginner's guide to MTB pedals. 

When you start riding a bicycle, you probably have a bike with big blocky pedals. Those are called platform pedals. There are 3 main types of pedals in the market in general. They are 

- Platform pedals
- Strap or cage pedals
- clipless pedals

These terms are based on the way the pedals look or the way the foot attach to the pedals. There might be other terms base on the construction of the bearing but we don't talk about it here hence those terms only apply to the mechanical application. As for general application, the above 3 terms are the only terms used. A cyclist will ride either platform pedals or strap/ cage pedals or clipless pedals. Those cage or strap in pedals are not popular nowadays but you might see some people still using those or some urban bike still comes with those as a cheaper alternative to clipless pedals.

PLATFORM PEDALS

Platform pedals are large blocky shape pedals, As technology moved on they become thinner and thinner to the point that they can be called Flat platform pedals. In shorts, people just called them flats or flat pedals. You will still see thick platform pedals on cheaper bikes but high-end bikes will come with flat pedals made of either nylon or aluminum.

Photo of a person riding a modern flat pedals

STRAP / CAGED PEDALS

Some group of people discovered that if the rider pedal with the foot that is tied to the pedal, it will generate more power as it is not only applying the downward pushing forces, it also apply forces by pulling up the pedals in the upward direction. It creates more pedaling efficiency. Therefore, the strap or cage pedal is born. Just like its name, you will see the whole cage or strap to tie down your toe box to the pedal. The part of the cage which keeps your toe down on the pedal is called the toe clip. See the photo for a better understanding of the toe clip and strap.

A photo of the pedal with toe-clip and strap.

CLIPLESS PEDALS.

If you are new to cycling, you might wonder that why the hack is these clipped in pedals are called Clipless pedals. I was wondering as same as you are a decade ago. In order to know why are they called clipless pedals, you will need to check the history and development of the pedals. As I mentioned above in Platform pedals and Strap/Cage pedals, they are part of the earlier development of pedals. Pedals started out as platform then transform into strap/cage pedals. When we are using those Strap/cage pedals, there is a lot of accident happened caused by not able to release or take out the foot from the pedals in time. A lot of people falls together with the bicycle and a lot of collar bones were broken. The straps from the cage were removed to be able to release the foot from the side. It is still not good enough. Therefore, the whole toe-clip is removed and developed a new attach system at the bottom of the shoe and on the pedal itself. Since the toe clip is removed, they are called CLIPLESS pedals which means " a pedal without toe clip".

Photo of the rider using the clipless pedal with clipless MTB shoe.

There are few other ways of attachment and I will not dive into that. Leatt MTB 4.0 shoes and 5.0 shoes are clipless pedal compatible shoes that come with a highly adjustable rail for the cleat. 4.0 shoes are rigid and flex enough to comfortably walk around on any ground. to check out our Leatt MTB 4.0 shoes, come to our 02-20 Funan sg Mall or check out here on our website.

Hope you learn something new from this article.

Cheers