Why are flat pedals so frowned upon?

[SoloRider]

Ok, I know really - fashion and peer pressure.

I am aware of the benefits of SPDs and the likes. Over the years I've used SPD, SPD-SL, Look Deltas and some others I've forgotten the name of. Yep, fast roadie rides where you can pedal circles and pull up when standing. Gotcha.

I am growing weary of them though. Too rigid (both the soles and the rhetoric), too fussy ("I've just had my cleats adjusted by my mechanic because my knees are hurting...").

Anyway - you may like them, you may not. Point is, a lot of people refuse to accept that flat pedals should ever be seen on a road bike. But if they are so bad then why are they acceptable on a mountain bike? Yes I realise that technical rides mean that clipless pedals are impractical - but still that means that flat pedals are therefore ok when circumstance dictates it. And the flats on offer for the MTB brigade are not some sort of "go on then, if you must" affair, there are some really beautifully engineered offerings. Clearly flats work well and are worthy of being engineered well - but only if you wear baggy shorts and get covered in mud.

Sounds daft to me. Why not use that engineering when riding on a smoother surface as that is the only difference when you think about it.

Anyway, I could go on. Bottom line is that I like flats and they have come on a lot in recent years, shame that some have such a dismissive attitude to using them on the road.

[foxyrider]

You like them, fair enough so what's the point of this thread?

[JohnW]

They're not frowned upon by cyclists who like them. If you like them, ride them - no-one else's business.

You possibly wouldn't like my pedals, but so long as they're what I want, that's ok.................innit? I ride with traditional clips and straps - my choice - not everyone's - but enjoy what you like.

Just as a kind of an aside, the highest mileage cyclist that I know rides more miles in a year than I've even approached (and my best year was 11,111 miles), and he rides flat pedals.

[rualexander]

I have flat pedals on my road bike, and touring bike, never use toeclips or anything, no problem, couldn't care less about what others think about it.

[MikeF]

On the bikes I have, I prefer flats with toe clips, but that's me. I'm not restricted to certain types of shoes with those either. Maybe I'm not a proper cyclist.

[JohnW]

..............Maybe I'm not a proper cyclist.

..............of course you are

[al_yrpal]

I have given up toeclips and spds. At age 72 with slower reactions they are dangerous for me. I am dead happy with flats. I do have spds on the mtb though. If i fall off that its generally onto softer surfaces.

Al

[maxcherry]

I always use MTB flats on my bikes from Hybrid to road they all get the same make of MTB pedals. Never had a problem with my feet slipping off.
Can't see the point in SPDs and then run in the cost of the shoes, not worth it in my case.
I have seen some cases where people get fanatical about having certain types of pedals for certain bikes to the point they throw a tantrum

People are odd. Use what ever makes you happy

[hamish]

Nothing wrong with flats

Loads of people use them for all kinds of riding. I go through phases of using them and then going back to spds.

I prefer to be attached to the bike with spds but flats are kinder to my knees and less faff. I do use 510 shoes tho...

Anyway... Some people have opinions about it all. https://www.rivbike.com/kb_results.asp?ID=45

[Freddie]

One reason I don't like flats, well MTB flats with the metal studs in, when they hit your shin you really know about it. It is a very sharp pain that I have no real wish to relive in a hurry.

[pwa]

You should always use whatever works well for you. I think small pedals look nicer on a slim road bike, but that's just looks and has nothing to do with function. Use what you like.

[Paulatic]

I use DMR. flats on my tourer as it simplifies footwear and swap between them and ATAC on my road bike depending on what shoes I want to wear.

The one bike I dislike using flats on is the MTB. Much prefer being clipped into my ATACs. I'm still Mr Rigid riding a P7 and find feet leaving the pedals in rough bits using flats.

[mercalia]

Its the LYCRA crowd again - at the lights as they turn green you hear then crunching as they engage the traps.

[MartinC]

Straw man.

[JohnW]

Its the LYCRA crowd again - at the lights as they turn green you hear them crunching as they engage the traps.

............are you sure it's not their knees crunching?...............