Ask any cyclist for their recommendation on the best pedals for a road bike and you’ll receive a mixed bag of answers.
That’s because there are so many brilliant clipless pedals out there from top-name brands like Shimano, Look, Speedplay and Time, to name but a few. But each manufacturer brings its own spin on these pedalling systems. Some focus on style and speed, others are known for their durability and weight while there are those that put power ahead of anything else.
So, in simple terms, the best pedals for a road bike will be personal to each rider and their style of riding. That’s why we’ve listed so many. But if there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s that in today’s booming cycling industry, you’re spoilt for choice.
But first, what are clipless pedals?
Contrary to what their name suggests, clipless pedals attach to your cycling shoes by clipping in a cleat, which is fitted to the sole of your shoe.
Clipless pedals aren’t for everyone. But most road cyclists prefer clipless styles because they provide a secure connection between your pedal and shoe. This means these pedals will level up your efficiency and control as clipless pedals assist you in transferring power as you push your pedal up and down over and over again.
Due to the fact your feet are ‘clipped in’, it can also aid with foot placement consistency no matter if you’re sprinting, riding in the rain or navigating hairpin turns. Clipless pedals can also help you achieve a circular pedalling motion that will conserve energy and maximise power output.
What features should you consider?
The best clipless pedals for road cycling vary between £40 to £200 and the price will, of course, be a determining factor in your buying decision. But other features to watch out for include:
- Weight: Heavier models offer more durability and stability. While lightweight options are better suited for racing.
- Binding: Some pedals have a double-sided design, while others have a single-sided design. The former may be more expensive, however, they will last longer. Single-sided pedals offer up more stiffness.
- Float: This relates to the amount of moveability your foot has when it's clipped onto the pedal.
- Tension: Newbies may also want to look into the tension release of each pedal. The more tension a pedal has, the harder it is to disengage from the pedal. The less tension a pedal has, the easier it is to clip in and out. Either way, cyclists should always practise clipping and unclipping. And if you’re in the UK, remember to unclip your left foot first so if you do take a tumble, you won’t fall into traffic.
Keep on reading to discover the best pedals for road bikes in 2024. Or if you’re in need of a new frame, check out our guide to the best road bikes under £2000 to help you get pedal fit on a budget this year (and beyond). See also the best foldable bikes for commuting.
Best pedals for a road bike at a glance:
- Best for cross-country riding: Shimano PD-M540 SPD - £69.97, Amazon
- Best for large contact area: Look Keo 2 Max Carbon - £79.99, Decathlon
- Best for stability: Look Keo 3 Classic Plus - £51.99, Merlin Cycles
- Best for easy entry and release: Time Xpresso 7 - £54.99, Merlin Cycles
- Best for beginners: Shimano PD-RS500 SPD-SL - £39.99, Amazon
- Best for float: Wahoo Speedplay Comp - £134.99, Sigma Sports
- Best for professionals: Time XPRO 12 pedals - £185, Merlin Cycles
- Best for road competition: Shimano Ultegra R8000 - £89.99, Sigma Sports
- Best for premium: Shimano DURA-ACE 9100 Carbon SPD-SL Road Pedals - £144.99, Sigma Sports
- Best for speed: Look Keo Blade Carbon Ceramic - £179, Sigma Sports
Shimano PD-M540 SPD
.Best for: cross-country riding
- Weight: 352g (per pair)
- Binding: Double-sided
- Cleats provided: Yes
It wouldn’t be a guide to the best pedals for a road bike without mentioning the Shimano PD-M540 SPD. If you plan on cycling cross country, are new to clipless pedals and want to hop on and off the saddle with ease, these are the best options for you. We say this because this is a mountain bike pedal system designed to be used with cycling shoes that have recessed cleats.
This means you’ll easily be able to make coffee stops without worrying about sliding on your cleats. Plus, these pedals are two-sided, so clipping in and out at traffic lights is easy. Better yet, their open design means no matter whether you’re pedalling through mud, gravel or dirt, they won’t get clogged up with debris.
So, for just under £70 you’ll get a weighty, durable and high-quality pedal system. However, if you’re tempted to save yourself £30, you could always opt for the brand’s entry-level pedal, the Shimano PD-M520 SPD.
Buy now £69.97, Amazon
Look Keo 2 Max Carbon
Best for: large contact area
- Weight: 250g
- Binding: Single-sided
- Cleats provided: Yes
Look is one of the key brands in the clipless pedal market. The manufacturer splits its road pedals into three categories. Comfort (which is its entry-level collection), Gran Fondo (for keen cycling enthusiasts) and Race. The Look Keo 2 Max Carbon pedals sit in its Gran Fondo range so, as you can imagine, it comes with a higher spec of cycling credentials.
The pedal system has an adjustable cleat release tension (ranging from 8-12Nm) and an enlarged 500mm² contact area, meaning you’ll have a wide platform to connect and have more power transfer as you push down on the pedals.
Buy now £79.99, Decathlon
Look Keo 3 Classic Plus
Best for: stability
- Weight: 278g
- Binding: Single-sided
- Cleats provided: Yes
The Look Keo 3 Classic Plus is compact in its design, offers 4.5 degrees of float and spin on a chromoly axle. The pedals are just under 30g heavier than Look’s Keo 2 Max Carbons, yet £30 cheaper.
Compared to the brand’s predecessors, the Look Keo 3 Classic, these pedals come with stainless steel contact plates, rather than composite, which helps to optimise pedal stiffness. What does this mean? Well, you’ll have a transfer of power from your legs to your bike.
Other noteworthy inclusions include its easy tension adjustment, so you can pedal powerfully and explosively cycle with that secure ‘locked-in’ feel. These pedals have also got a generous 400 mm² contact surface area.
Buy now £51.99, Merlin Cycles
Time Xpresso 7
Best for: easy entry and release
- Weight: 198g
- Binding: Single-sided
- Cleats provided: Yes
Sitting in the top-spec of Time’s lower-priced Xpresso range, the Time Xpresso 7s are a brilliant value pedal system that makes clipping in at start lines and out at traffic lights as easy as possible. That’s because the pedals are powered by the brand’s patented ICLIC tech, which means they have a pre-opened pedal engagement system.
When you clip in, the retainer clicks shut. When you unclip, the retainers ‘pre open’ ready for your next ride. This means there’s no fumbling around. Instead, clipping in and out is like second nature. In most of Time’s pedals, a plastic composite body is used. But this is the only Xpresso pedal with a carbon fire one. This makes the pedals low in weight and low in stack height.
Buy now £54.99, Merlin Cycles
Shimano PD-RS500 SPD-SL
Best for: beginners
- Weight: 320g
- Binding: Single-sided
- Cleats provided: Yes
Introducing the Shimano RS500s — otherwise known as the entry-level cycling pedals that deliver value for money and offer up a stable fit. Unlike many of Shimano's more expensive offerings, the RS500s are made with a plastic body, instead of carbon fibre composite.
New to clipless pedals or cycling? Beginners can enjoy a lighter spring tension, which makes them a doddle to clip in and out of (a must if you’ve come from flats and aren’t feeling 100 per cent confident clipping in and riding on busy roads) and the pedal has a wide platform, so more space for your feet to connect to.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
Wahoo Speedplay Comp Road Bike Clip Pedals
Best for: float
- Weight: 232g
- Binding: Double-sided
- Cleats provided: Yes
We should probably start by saying that Wahoo’s Speedplay Comp won’t be for every rider, but they are a great pick and for more reasons than one. Despite their higher-than-average price tag, these options are entry-level pedals and the cheapest options in the Speedplay range.
They come with a handy dual-sided entry, so you won’t have to kick your pedal over once you’ve stopped to clip in. You simply step onto your pedal and you’ll hear a satisfying click, letting you know you’re locked in. But one of the best things about Speedplay is the fact you can float up to 15 degrees which allows your heel to manoeuvre around the centre of the pedal. The float helps to give you the flexibility to move in a pattern that won’t provoke injury.
Buy now £134.99, Sigma Sports
Time XPRO 12 Pedals
Best for: professionals
- Weight: 188g
- Binding: Single-sided
- Cleats provided: Yes
One of the newest pedals to launch for the French brand, there is a lot to love about the Time XPRO 12 road pedals. For starters, the chunky 725mm² surface area means you can take your power transfer to new heights. Secondly, as is the case with all Time’s pedals, this option is crafted with the clever ICLIC system, which has a retainer that stays open when there's no shoe attached, making it easier to clip in and out.
The XPRO 12 also has a carbon blade which allows for increased aerodynamics and there’s a 15-degree release angle. Essentially, this pedal has design details that work hard so you don’t have to. But all these iconic inclusions do come at a price. At just under £200, these are the most expensive options in our guide.
Buy now £185.00, Merlin Cycles
Shimano Ultegra R8000 pedals
Best for: road competition
- Weight: 248g
- Binding: Single-sided
- Cleats provided: Yes
Efficient, secure and lightweight thanks to the carbon-composite body, the Shimano Ultegra R8000 is made for high-performance road racing thanks to its low-profile design and easy-to-engage open-design pedal system (which is adjustable).
The pedals come with Shimano’s yellow cleats, which mean you get a 6-degree float. However, you could always switch these for blue, which comes with a 2-degree float or red which will offer zero float at all. Either way, thanks to its chunky carbon body, it delivers a large show contact area, meaning the power transfer is second to none. So, no matter whether you’re slicing through corners or navigating hair pin turns, the Shimano Ultegra R8000 pedals will help put some power through your pedals.
Buy now £89.99, Sigma Sports
Shimano Dura-Ace PD-R9100 Pedals
Best for: premium
- Weight: 228g
- Binding: Single-sided
- Cleats provided: Yes
At first glance, the Dura-Ace PD-R9100 pedals might not look too dissimilar to many of the other more affordable Shimano models listed in this guide. But the Dura-Ace is the brand’s top-tier line and the pedals live up to this. Shimano is perhaps best known for its super durable yet heavy pedals. And while the Dura-Ace R9100 ticks the box for durability, at 228g per pair, these options have a lightweight feel thanks to the wide carbon fibre platform and stripped-down appearance.
But the low-profile pedals aren’t void of power. They have a large shoe contact area which helps you maximise power transfer as you race on the road, clock up some miles or take corners.
Buy now £144.99, Sigma Sports
Look Keo Blade Carbon Ceramic
Best for: speed
- Weight: 228g
- Binding: Single-sided
- Cleats provided: Yes
Easy to clip in, complete with a secure hold and better durability than their predecessors, every aspect of the 2024 edition of Look Keo Blade Carbon Ceramic pedals has been upgraded to help put speed at the forefront and, according to the brand, decrease resistance by 18 per cent.
At 230g, the pedals are lightweight as they’re made with a carbon body and blade along with an axle made from the super tough material, Chromoly. Other points to highlight include the large stainless steel surface, which is 705mm2 in size, the 64mm of platform width and the generous four levels of tension the pedals come with so you can adjust as you see fit. If you’re chasing a PB, it’s worth giving these additions a look in.
Buy now £179.00, Sigma Sports
