Do you have a road bike built for speed but don’t want to use cumbersome pedals that lock your feet in place?
Standard road bike and speed bike pedals are a bit intimidating, and if you don’t know what you are doing, they can be dangerous.
For this reason, you may want to equip your road bike with some standard flat pedals, although high-quality ones, of course. Finding good pedals is not that hard, but there are so many to choose from that it can make your head spin.
This article will review five of the best flat pedals for road bike options that we have found that stand out above the others.
Comparison Chart
Alston Road Bicycle MTB Aluminum Strong Pedal, Super Powerful CR-MO 9/16″ Spindle, Three Pcs Ultra Sealed Bearings FACE Off Pedals (Black)
boruizhen Road Bike Platform Pedals Lightweight Nylon Bicycle Pedals 9/16 for Road Mountain Bike (Black)
BONMIXC Mountain Bike Pedals Flat Bicycle Pedals Sealed Bearing Aluminum Alloy Road Bike Pedals Black 9/16″ Thread
Best Road Pedals for Road Bikes: Reviews
Alston Road Bicycle MTB Aluminum Pedal
If you’re looking for super-strong flat pedals with excellent traction, and you don’t want to pay a small fortune, these pedals from Alston are an excellent choice to consider.
Review
What stands out about these pedals is that they feature a three-bearing design that maximizes smoothness and mobility. These pedals glide on their bearings like a hovercraft floating over the ground, or at least close to that. Moreover, these bearings are very quiet, and they are sealed to prevent dirt from getting into them.
In case you are wondering about the size, these pedals measure 3.7 x 3.93 x 0.84 inches, making them more than large enough; plus, they are made out of high-quality CNC machined aluminum, so they are quite solid and durable.
These pedals also feature 10 anti-skid nails, otherwise known as metal studs, that your shoes can hold onto, thus allowing you to stay stable and secure on your bike, plus it also helps provide you with acceleration power.
Pros
- Wide platform
- Anti-skid nails
- High-quality aluminum
- Solid build – yet not that heavy
- Easy installation
- Sealed triple bearings
Cons
May come undone/loosen with heavy use
boruizhen Road Bike Platform Pedals
Here we have some slightly less expensive pedals than the previous set, with these coming in three different colors, among other cool features.
Review
What stands out about these pedals is how they are built strong. They’re made with a nylon fiber surface and Chromoly steel spindle, making them durable enough to last for quite some time.
These pedals feature a single high-quality bearing that is relatively smooth and spins with ease. The bearing is sealed to prevent dirt and dust from getting in.
What’s also nice about the boruizhen Road Bike Platform Pedals is that they weigh less than a pound, the pair of them, making them very lightweight, so while they’re strong, they won’t add too much weight to your ride.
These pedals are 4.83 x 4.13 x 0.98 inches, making them more than large enough, even for the biggest feet. Each side features eight anti-slip studs, so your feet will stay in place. They’re also very easy to install.
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Easy installation
- Anti-slip studs
- Great for large feet
- Fairly durable
- Reflectors included for safety
Cons
Studs are plastic and wear down relatively quickly
BV Bike Pedal Set
These are the least expensive pedals on our list, about half the price of the ones reviewed above. For such budget-friendly pedals, they’re not bad at all.
Review
These pedals are made out of a single piece of resin – plastic, in other words. Now, this kind of plastic technically may not be the most durable, especially when compared to metal, but that said, for plastic pedals, the BV Bike Pedals are actually pretty strong.
Although they may not be the most durable pedals, they are very lightweight, just a couple hundred grams apiece, so they won’t add much weight to your bike.
These pedals come with anti-slip studs to keep your feet securely planted in place, although they aren’t too prominent, so they may not be ideal for extremely wet and slippery conditions.
You also get a ball bearing system with a single bearing and a boron steel spindle, perhaps the most durable part of these pedals. The platform size is 4.33 x 3.11 inches, so more than large enough for most feet.
Pros
- Easy installation
- Super lightweight
- Anti-slip studs
- High-quality spindle
- Quite large
- Reflectors included
- Great price
Cons
Not the most durable
BONMIXC Mountain Bike Pedals
If you want bike pedals that look like they belong on a spaceship, shiny, durable and allow for secure footing, these BONMIXC Mountain Bike Pedals deserve a closer look.
Review
We really can’t do the look of these pedals justice with words alone. You need to take a look because they look like a mix between spaceship tech and something that Batman might use to fight bad buys.
Their solid aluminum alloy construction combined with their futuristic design is good looking and durable. These might just be the most durable and stylish pedals on our list.
The 100% Cro-Mo spindle is also extremely durable, it glides smoothly, and the bearing is also sealed to make sure that dirt and grime don’t get in. The pedals come in at 4.00 x 4.60 x 1.01 inches, making them large enough for all feet.
Now, they weigh almost half a pound apiece, so they aren’t the lightest pedals, but at least you know that they have a solid build. Each side of the pedals features 12 metal anti-slip studs to keep your feet in place.
Pros
- Extremely durable
- Look super cool
- High quality sealed bearing system
- Great for large feet
- 12 studs per side for excellent traction
- Easy installation with standard 9/16” thread
Cons
- A bit heavy
- Studs may fall out with heavy use
ROCKBROS Bike Pedals
These are the most expensive pedals on the list, although not by much. They’re still affordable in the grand scheme of things, and they are built to last. These are high-quality flat pedals.
Review
When it comes to smoothness, these pedals are top-of-the-line, as they feature a triple ball bearing system, with the bearings being made of chrome-molybdenum; they are also sealed to prevent them from seizing up.
Moreover, the pedals are made of aluminum alloy, which is very strong yet lightweight. These pedals are surprisingly light, considering that they are also very resistant to shock, impact, vibration, and corrosion.
These are also by far the largest pedals on the list today, coming in at 5.35 x 4.09 x 0.39 inches, which should be large enough for even the largest of feet. Each side of these pedals features eight metal anti-slip studs, all of which are replaceable.
Pros
- Superior durability
- Great bearing system for smoothness
- Sealed bearings
- Rust, shock, vibration, and impact resistant
- Very large size
- Surprisingly lightweight
- Replaceable anti-skid studs
Cons
Pedal center is higher than the ends – may feel awkward
Buyers Guide
Let’s take a look at the three most important things to look for when buying flat pedals for your road bike.
Durability
The most important thing to look for is durability. If you plan on riding a lot, they need to be made out of solid materials. If you want more affordable plastic pedals, read up on the specific model to ensure a high-quality level.
That said, you are better off going for metal pedals, preferably aluminum alloy or something similar, as materials like this are both strong and lightweight.
Weight
Pay attention to the weight of the pedals as well. Pedals generally are not going to be too heavy, so even the heavier ones aren’t going to make a huge difference.
Generally speaking, heavier pedals are probably built with more durable materials, but they will add more weight, which can reduce your overall top speed. We’d recommend going for something a bit heavier because it indicates a certain level of quality.
Pedal Size
The other aspect to look for is the size of the pedals. Most people would agree that the larger the pedals, the better because your feet get more room.
Larger pedals tend to provide more traction, and they’re more comfortable for the feet too. For instance, the largest pedals reviewed today come in at 5.35 x 4.09 x 0.39 inches, providing you with plenty of space.
Final Verdict
The bottom line is that using flat pedals for road bikes is perfectly acceptable, but you want to look for high-quality options, such as those reviewed here today. Remember, you don’t have to spend a fortune.