Which trekking / city pedals do I need?

Platform pedals, also called flat pedals, have large non-slip contact surfaces that will help you keep a stable position on the pedals. Thanks to a roughened or rubberised surface, the pedal is non-slip and offers you the necessary grip. Platform pedals often have permanently installed, Germany StVZO-compliant reflectors that can increase your visibility.

This bike pedal can be used with casual shoes - so you don't need any special equipment and can simply get on your bike for a normal ride.

For even more grip, there are platform pedals that are equipped with pins. These press into your shoe sole, which minimises the risk of slipping off the trekking pedal, even in wet conditions.

It is best to use those kinds of flat pedals with special flat pedal shoes. These cycling shoes have a sole with a special rubber compound and tread. This ensures that you literally "stick" to the pedal - perfect for cyclists who need maximum grip on their tours.

If you want to be flexible on your trekking bike, the platform pedal is just the thing for everyday cycling.

The duo pedal, also called a combination pedal, unites the advantages of the clipless pedal with the advantages of the platform pedal. One side of the pedal has a flat surface, where your shoe only rests on it and is not firmly attached to the pedal. The other side is designed to click into place so you can connect firmly to the pedals.

For the platform pedal side of the duo pedal you do not need any special cycling shoes or other equipment. You can ride them worry-free with street shoes. This is particularly practical if you are not yet very confident on the bike and want to lift your feet off the pedals quickly or if you only ride short distances sometimes. 

The click side of the pedals has a very large contact surface and can be ridden with cleats that are compatible with the two-hole standard. These metal plates serve as a connecting piece between the shoe and the pedal. They are firmly screwed into the two parallel holes in the sole of your cycling shoe. When you put your cleated shoe on the pedals with a little pressure, it clicks into place and forms a firm connection. This connection is loosened when you turn your heel outwards. Then you can take your foot off the pedal again. How much force is required to click out can usually be adjusted individually on the pedals. For beginners, a low "release tension" is recommended so they can click out of the pedals quickly. 

The advantage of the click side is that your feet always remain in the same foot position. You can individually adjust the foot position before clicking in, which allows you to maintain an ergonomic foot position. Depending on your needs, you can adjust the positioning of the cleats yourself in just a few steps until you have found your optimal foot position on the bike.

However, the biggest advantage of clipless pedals is the power transmission. The fixed connection ensures that you can not only pedal downwards but also pull the pedals upwards. This allows for a much more efficient power transmission and the desired "round kick".

You should definitely bear in mind that you will need special cycling shoes and cleats that are compatible with the pedals for the click side of the duo pedal. You should also make sure that both the shoes and the cleats have the two-hole standard.

Duo pedals are particularly suitable for beginners to familiarise themselves with clipless pedals. We also recommend that beginners first practise using click systems while standing (e.g. leaning against a wall or door frame) before the first ride with these type of pedals.

With this system you are very flexible in everyday life. Once the bike pedals are mounted on your bike, you can decide spontaneously which shoes you want to ride with and whether you want to ride clicked in or out. 

The clipless pedal is mostly used for more advanced cycling. With these pedals you have a fixed connection between your cycling shoe and the pedals.

The connection is made by so-called cleats (metal plates) that are firmly mounted on the soles of your cycling shoes. When you press your foot on the pedal with the cleats in a defined motion, you click into place. When you turn your heel outwards, the connection is released and you can take your foot off the pedal again.

In order to use clipless pedals, you need both cleats and special cycling shoes that are compatible with your pedals. In the trekking/hybrid bike sector, the so-called two-hole standard is used. You can recognise cycling shoes by the fact that they have two parallel holes in the sole to accommodate the cleats.

So if you want to get off your bike for a quick trip to the café, the cleats on your shoes will make it difficult for you to walk. When running with cleats, we recommend cleat covers. These make running easier and protect the cleats from being damaged while walking.

With adapter plates, you can quickly transform your clipless pedal into a platform pedal. This means you can ride your bike with street shoes and use it for more activities, such as commuting or quick errands.

The advantage of clipless pedals is that they give you better power transfer than platform pedals. You can exert force with the pedals over the entire crank revolution. 

The firm connection prevents you from slipping off the pedal even in wet weather. Once you have optimally adjusted the positioning of the cleats, your feet will always stay in that position. This can be better for your joints. 

We recommend that you practise clicking in and out before your first tour while standing, e.g. by leaning against a wall or holding on to a door frame.

• Float angle:            
  This angle describes how far you can rotate your foot inwards or outwards while you are clicked into the pedal. In other words, the freedom of movement when clicked in.




• Release tension:           
  Indicates how much force is needed to release the shoe from the pedal. On many models, this can be adjusted individually. For beginners, a low release tension is recommended so you can quickly take the foot off the pedal in tricky situations. 




• Release angle:           
  This is the angle you need to turn your foot outwards to come off the pedal. For beginners, a lower release angle is recommended to practise clicking out. The adjustment of the release depends on the click system and cleat used and is not always adjustable. 




• Contact surface:           
  Indicates how much space you have on the pedal to place your foot. The larger the contact area, the better the power transmission