In today’s video we will talk about five reasons to try flat pedals for your next bike touring or bikepacking trip. Clipless pedals are often thought to be the necessary route for bicycle touring and bikepacking, but we’ve found that flat pedals have many advantages to us for our touring adventures.
RaceFace Chester Mountain Bike Pedals: https://amzn.to/3dhKGsB
#biketouring #bikepacking
My favorite Music Sources:
Sound Stripe: https://soundstripe.com?fpr=brad78 – User code: BradBeaird for 10% off
Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referra…
Phone Holder – https://geni.us/kNIOK
Brooks Proofide – https://geni.us/nhzW
Brooks Saddle – https://geni.us/5YRP
Pedals – https://geni.us/aRVBCR
Bike Pump – https://geni.us/GiOOCE5
Portable Stove – https://geni.us/9kOcwgj
Tent – https://geni.us/xnUQeAF
Bar Ends – https://geni.us/F0fT
Cook Kit – https://geni.us/fnAG7XC
Cycling Socks – https://geni.us/rKZDsK
Gorilla Clip – https://geni.us/nOUmu2
Cycling Shorts – https://geni.us/4KhwVbs
Battery Pack – https://geni.us/xfNbHM
Bigger Battery Pack – https://geni.us/sFVB
Cycle Touring Tires – https://geni.us/l3rOSS
Frame Pack – https://geni.us/K0ZfD
Hammock – https://geni.us/ejwP
Cycling Camera – https://geni.us/PNMxczt
Camera – https://geni.us/odTf8p
Lens – https://geni.us/ROh7hK
Microphone – https://geni.us/2MRA9
Drone – https://geni.us/CmOHxF6
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
10 Comments
All very valid points, I must try some flat pedals again. Personally I have used shimano shoes and pedals for so long walking about in them everyday day feels normal. I like the extra power when locked in but maybe not much benefit if cycling all day.
My name is Jerry and I… I… sometimes cycle in flip-flops/slides… (60 miles on a rented bike on Maui last summer: swim trunks, flimsy tank top, and slides… one of my favorite cycling days ever!)
Hey Bob. I watched this when you first uploaded and I have to admit it got me to thinking. I've always been aware that I could roll with flat pedals but you made me revisit that notion. Always had SPD pedals on my Fargo but since watching your video I thought about those overnight rail trail trips I've done and how really necessary that I be clipped in on a rail trail. I've packed extra shoes on trips many times for when off the bike.
So I purchased a set of the SHIMANO PD-EH500 pedals last week. A hybrid pedal of sorts. My bike shop had them less for what Amazon sells them for so I tried them.
I thought about the larger flat specific pedal but I wasn't sure if I wanted to be swapping off and on for the times I desired flats over SPD. Thought these might be worth the try. Gives me an option for the days I want to just go with flats or clip-in.
The part about the shoes I'm still considering and I know options are limitless there but I do like the idea of a stiffer shoe that has a sole made for sticking to the pedal. Needs to be comfortable enough for all day rides but still have some flex for moving around off the bike. Looks like the market is mostly geared towards shoes for mountain bike trails as they market that style riding with flat pedals and shoes that appear to be heavy and are wide looking and all about single track.
Thanks for posting as this was good and I like the way you're thinking!
I have met very few riders that think clip-ons are the way to go with a touring bike. If they do they are focusing on speed, not practicality.
Love my flat pedals. Just FYI, Vans brand shoes and flat pedals are a great combo. They have an entire line of shoes with soles made of grippy rubber designed for skateboarding. Those shoes aren’t slipping anywhere on my pinned flats. I wear their pro line – super comfortable on and off the bike and lots of styles to choose from.
I have to use flat pedals. I have yet to find clipless shoes that are wide enough for me EE+ wide feet and dont make them go numb. So me and flats are good friends.
Coming from clipless and riding gravel bikes a few years ago, I can relate to this video. I just picked up a Trek 1120 and the first thing I thought was; "time to get some clipless" then this past weekend, I went with the flat platform Deity Deftrap and I ♥ them. I pair them with my hiking/trail running shoe Adidas Terrex Swift R2 GTX.
All very valid reasons. I grew up as a kid in the 90s riding cheapc bmx, mountain bikes, skate boarding, I do 90% a lot with riding out of the saddle As an adult I love my race face chesters on both my mountain and road bikes. I use cheap barefoot running shoes. I'm very agile and flat pedals have helped me bail out and and land like a cat.
Me I use DH Flat Pedals since 11-2008 on my old Surly LHT Touring Bike same with my New Soma Saga Disc Touring Bike and with me using the DH/BMX type flat platform Pedal dates to when I had a FBM Pro BMX Bike since 2005
Stretch out a leg and get balance while turning…