Flat cycling shoes

Flat pedal shoes 

Flat pedal shoes or clip-ins – that’s the question. And we have the answer! The ideal pedal-shoe combination for you depends entirely on your intended terrain and ride style. Roughly speaking, if your main focus is on maximum efficiency, clipless pedals are the right choice for you. If, on the other hand, you want maximum freedom of movement, you’re better off with flat pedals. These especially make sense for your mountainbikes and when style and fun are your top priorities. For dirt bikes, flat pedal shoes are pretty much your only option. Many downhill and enduro riders also opt for shoes that aren’t directly connected to the pedals.

Which are better: flat or clipless pedals?

Neither system is better or worse than the other. Both flat pedals and clipless pedals, like Shimano’s SPD system, have their pros and cons. The main benefit of clipless systems is the high efficiency when pedalling. However, some people just don’t like being clipped into their pedals. In this case, flat pedal shoes are the perfect solution. They’re the right choice for you if you …

• are new to cycling and don’t feel safe or happy when clipped into your pedals;
• are happiest when shredding your bike round tight bends and along technical trails;
• love dirt jumping and want to show off tricks every time you take to the air
• often use your bike on an everyday basis and wear normal outdoor shoes.

Of course, ensuring that your new bike shoes are comfortable to wear should always be a top priority.

Can you wear flat pedal shoes with SPD pedals and vice versa?

You should generally opt for one or the other system. Many clipless pedals have a small contact area – so if you’re not wearing suitable clipless shoes, you won’t have enough grip. As such, you’re likely to slip off narrow SPD pedals when wearing Shimano flat pedal shoes. The reverse also applies: many clipless shoes have stiff carbon soles and almost zero tread. This means that they offer little grip on flat pedals. However, there are also shoes that can do both: many MTB shoes for flat pedals have a recess on the bottom of their sole so they can be retrofitted with a cleat for clipless pedals. Even with cleats attached, such cycling shoes still offer ideal grip on flat pedals. Conversely, there are also clipless pedals with a larger contact area that can even be gripped by cycling shoes designed for flat pedals. Hybrid pedals are special types of pedals with a clipless system on one side and a platform on the other.

When mud and snow cause problems: winter flat pedal MTB shoes

Modern clipless pedals are designed to stop mud and snow from sticking to them. If the mud is particularly thick though, they can sometimes be unable to cope. The best way to avoid this problem is to switch to platform pedals in winter. Suitable flat pedal cycling shoes are useful here as nothing will stick to a good winter MTB shoe for flat pedals. So you’ll retain good grip at all times – no matter how difficult the conditions.

Want to buy accessories and clothing from Canyon for your cycling adventures?

By choosing the right bike shoes with the perfect fit for your feet, you’ve laid the foundations for truly enjoyable rides. However, Canyon also offers you a huge range of accessories and cycling clothing for adding the perfect finishing touches to your outfit and your bike. In addition to Canyon fenders, bottle cages, a special Canyon road cycling bell and other attachment parts, you should particularly take a look at Canyon´s MTB clothing range. This not only includes an array of jerseys, but also rain jackets, softshell jackets, cycling trousers and much more – all available from the Canyon online shop.