What pedals should you buy for your bike in 2018?

by Mark Cohen

Whether you have a new bike, are venturing into a different discipline or are just looking for a fresh pair of pedals, the 2018 Canadian Cycling Magazine buyer’s guide has five excellent options to get your started on your search. Choose the right pedals for your road, cyclocross, mountain or touring bike with these options.

Shimano Ultegra R8000

$200

The new R8000 Ultegra pedals from Shimano weigh in at 248 g, a lightweight pro design with extra-wide platform for maximum wattage transfer. Each pedal has a durable stainless-steel body plate to cut flex and body wear. You can dial in entry- and release-tension settings. There’s also a version with 4-mm longer axles for wider fits. These are the perfect platforms to complement an R8000 group and ideal for enthusiasts who understand the advantage Ultegra offers.

Time Xpro 10

$300

Time released the new Xpro series of pedals this past October. The platforms boast wider surfaces for better power transfer and comfort, as well as aerodynamic advantages. The Xpro 10 sits beneath the top-of-the-line Xpro 15 and the second-tier Xpro 12. Sure, at 226 g, a pair of 10s are 51 g heavier than the 15s, as the former use stainless-steel axles instead of hollow titanium. But both models have 725 mm² of surface area. And, like bikes, a lower-end model of pedal is just as aero as a higher-end one as their wind-cutting shapes are the same. That’s a bargain.

Speedplay Syzr

$290

Speedplay argues that traditional mountain bike pedals can rob you of power, especially when it’s the soft rubber lugs of your shoes making contact with the pedals instead of the cleats. The design of the Syzr’s cleats ensures that they come in direct contact with the pedals for a stronger connection and better power transfer. But these platforms aren’t just for the dirt. They’ll move you well across pavement and gravel. The pedals come in five axle lengths for fit and eight “lift” options to address leg-length differences or for hip-alignment correction.

Crankbrothers Double Shot 3

$163

The Double Shot started as a commuter pedal, but the Double Shot 3 is more at home on the trails. The flat side has eight traction pins and a textured finish for added grip during more aggressive riding. When you want pedalling efficiency, clip into the cast steel wings that hail from the Candy 3 pedals, which are designed more for CX and XC. The pair weigh 403 g.

HT T1

$185

The HT T1 enduro race pedals come in at 368 g. They have solid aluminum bodies with chromoly spindles. You can get these platforms in a range of great colours. Should you bust a grip pin, you’ll be able to replace it. Each pair of pedals ships with two sets of cleats: one with four degrees of float and one with eight degrees. HT takes its name from Hsing Ta Industrial, a bicycle component company from Taiwan that is more than 60 years old. It started HT, its high-end pedal brand, in 2005.