Now with the year after year slog of new similar models stacking up and weight-saving opportunities that used to be measured in pounds down to grams, many modern bicycle riders are asking themselves if it’s all worth it.
They’re left wondering, in a carbon world, if character matters anymore. If feel matters. If a bit of cushion for the pushin was ever all that bad.
They’re left wondering what happened to the simple days and the old steel frame?
So, they get out the vintage steel and find that pedaling the old gravel bike up the hill of a logging road before sucking the heavy frame in and crushing down the other side is pure magic, just like they remembered.
They also find, though, that pure vintage magic does have its drawbacks. Like those pure vintage flat pedals.
And then they’re left wondering; can you put modern clipless pedals on vintage bikes?
Table of Contents
Can You Put Clipless Pedals on Vintage Bikes?
The simple answer here is yes; you can put clipless pedals on a vintage bike.
Pedals are split into two sizes and universal for all bikes. If you have a one-piece crankset, you’ll want to purchase ½ inch clipless pedals. If you have a two or three-piece crankset (the most common form), you’ll need 9/16 inch diameter clipless pedals.
Vintage Pedals on Vintage Bikes?
If you’re pulling that vintage bike out of the garage for its first spin in a while you might be considering running the vintage pedals already on board. Or maybe you’re thinking of restoring a vintage bike and considering vintage pedals for authenticity.
- Metal restoration kit
- Restores high gloss as well as matte metal finishes
- Removes small scratches, dulling, oxidation, and rust
- Also seals and protect metal surfaces
- Quick and easy to use
Well if you’re wondering how a vintage flat pedal rides, I’m here to tell you, unfortunately, you shouldn’t expect to be blown away. Vintage pedals will look the part and will certainly move the bicycle, but they can’t compare in usability to clipless pedal technology.
If you’re looking for the vintage look with a more modern feel check out these toe strap pedals. Toe strap pedals will give your bike that classic look but will also allow you to feel secure on the bike and achieve momentum on the upstroke.
- 【Heavy Duty Road Bike Pedals】The pedal surface is *3.2"*3.8"*1", with cage...
- 【Multi-Purpose Pedals】The bicycle replacement pedals are designed for all...
- 【Adjustable Bike Pedal Straps】Bicycle pedal with toe clips and straps...
- 【Excellent Replacement Pedals for Bike】Aluminum alloy body with...
- 【Package Include】1 pair of bike pedals with toe cage and straps. If you have...
Benefits of Modern Pedals
With a ton of options out there including clipless, toe strap, and even vintage pedals, you may be wondering what the benefits are of modern pedals.
Modern pedals benefit from modern technology. Modern pedals are lighter, stronger, offer more efficiency, and are more purpose-built than vintage pedals. Modern pedals paired with modern shoes offer the cyclist the advantages gained after decades of riding experience.
How Clipless Pedals Work
The irony of the name “clipless” pedals is that they actually work by clipping the rider in. The title refers to old quill-type pedals that relied on toe “clips” or straps to secure the rider. Modern clipless pedals work in conjunction with clipless shoes, called cleats. Instead of sliding an athletic shoe into a cage, the rider uses the cleated shoes to secure themselves to holes in the pedal’s surface.
How to Clip In
To clip themselves in, a rider simply slides the front of the cleat into the front of the pedal and presses down firmly with the heel. When the cleat engages with the pedal, the rider will feel and hear an audible click.
How to Clip out
Removing the cleat from the pedal requires twisting the heel away from the bike until the cleat feels isolated. This motion should already feel reasonably natural to most clipless riders, and once they become more and more comfortable with the pedals, releasing the clips should begin to feel almost automatic.
How to Install Clipless Pedals on Your Bike
Tools needed:
- Heat treated Chrome Vanadium Steel and polished surface ensure durability and...
- 12-Point box end doubles the access angle than a 6-point, and 15-degree offset...
- Box end opening is designed to grip flat sides of fastener heads, not corners,...
- 11 Pieces high quality wrenches that exceeds ANSI standard. We selected the...
- Comes with a compact store-and-go organizing rack for versatile storage...
Or
- Bike Pedal Wrench
- Hex Key Set
- 2 screws mounted either on the wood table or wall stud if necessary. Do not...
- Ball-type Hex Wrench and the T-handles are ergonomically perfect for comfortable...
- The hex wrench set includes 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm,4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm sizes
- Made in Taiwan
- Warranty: Life time.
And
- Rag
- Grease
- Torque Wrench (optional)
- Proprietarily blended to meet the demanding needs of today’s high performance...
- Perfect for high end applications including precision ground and ceramic...
- Extreme temperature range: -20°F to 540°F (-29°C to 282°C)
- Superior adherence, water resistance and lubrication life
- 4 oz. (113 g) tube
- CW and CCW operation
- Four user selectable units of measure (ft. lb., in. lb., N-m, kg-cm) 50 data...
- Digital torque value readout
How To Remove and Replace Pedals
Step 1- Gather Tools
The first step will be determining how you will remove your old pedals.
Bicycle pedals are universal, and their threads come in two basic sizes, 9/16 and 1/2 inch.
- To determine the size of your bike pedal inserts, and to change pedals, you’re going to need one of two tools or a combination of both. The first tool or set of tools is a standard open ended wrench set. Alternatively you can use another version of the same tool, the precision designed bike pedal wrench.
- The second tool option is a hex key set. A hex key will fit inside the back of the bike pedal. It can be used by itself or in combination with a wrench to remove the pedals.
- Once you determine the size of your pedal, you can remove and replace your old pedals with either the wrench option or the hex key and just a few easy steps.
Just remember
All bike pedals on the left side of the crank (facing forward over the bike) are reverse threaded (to avoid falling off with the pedaling motion) and require a clockwise motion to remove.
All bike pedals on the right side crank are standard threaded and require a counterclockwise turn to remove.
Step 2- Remove old Pedals
Once you determine the tools you’ll be using, the next step is to actually remove them.
- First you’ll want to secure the bike and rotate the pedals to an easy working position. Remember, you’ll need leverage when removing the pedals.
- Once you have the bike secured and the pedals positioned, you’ll want to place either your pedal wrench or open ended wrench on the spindle flat (visible section of pedal sticking out from Crank) or the appropriately sized hex key into the back of the crank arm.
- With the bike secured and tool in position, you’ll want to apply steady downward pressure to remove the pedal. Remember Clockwise for the left-side pedal, counter-clockwise for the right.
- Once both pedals are loose, you simply continue to spin the pedal until they come off. (At this point I’ll usually take an old rag and clean the pedals before storing. It’s always a good idea to clean and store old parts for future projects or emergencies.
Step 3- Installing new Pedals
- To install new pedals on your bike you’ll first want to examine your new pedals for a small “L” or “R”. This determines the side of the bike your pedal will thread onto.
- Once you find these marks you simply thread the pedal onto the bike hand tight on the appropriate side.
Note: At this point you’ll want to watch for cross threading. To ensure you don’t cross thread your pedals slowly hand thread the new pedals. If it feels a bit tough, reverse the pedals and start again.
- Now is a great time to grease your new pedals. Once hand tight, reverse the pedals just a bit (don’t remove completely) and add a dab of grease to the thread (a dab’ll do ya). As you rethread, notice that the pedal rotation pushes the grease through the threads.
- The next step in adding new pedals is to tighten them down. If you have a torque wrench, tighten them to the manufacturer specified setting. If you don’t, don’t sweat it too much, just get them tight (and make sure you check them before any serious riding).
- Finally, you’ll want to take your rag and clean up any spare grease pushed out of the threads. Grease is great for certain bike parts but if it gets on your brakes they’ll pretty quickly become loud and also ineffective.
Pro Tip: If you purchase the wrong size pedals for your bike, don’t worry. You can either return them for the correct size pedal or buy a pedal adapter like this.
- Pedals Extenders 27.5mm 1/2" to 9/16" Black.
- 1/2" Crank to 9/16" Pedals 27.5mm Long.
- Sold as a pair
Clipless Pedal Designs
There are two clipless pedals designs; three-hole and two-hole.
Three Hole
Three-hole clipless pedals, also known as SPD-SLs, are designed almost exclusively for road biking. They are the easier model to learn to use, and the shoes are lighter, but because of their robust three clip lower, they are often harder to walk in.
Two-Hole
Two-hole pedals or SPDs are usually reserved for mountain biking, off-road bing, and touring. Two-hole clipless pedals use smaller cleats and often come with flat pedal options. This style offers shoes with better walkability but are generally heavier, bulkier, and stiffer.
Other Pedal Designs for Vintage Bicycles
If you’re unsure if clipless pedals are suitable for your bike or style of riding, you can also choose toe strap pedals or platform pedals.
Toe Strap
Toe strap pedals wrap the rider’s foot in a snuggly fitting cage. These pedals can be combined with other forms, like spds’ but toe strap pedals are usually platform pedals with straps attached to keep the rider’s foot secure.
- DURABLE AND RELIABLE - The long lasting and high quality materials used...
- FLEXIBLE USE - Whether, spin class, indoor cycling, exercise rides, or peloton...
- CLEAT COMPATIBILITY - These bike pedals are compatible with the SHIMANO SPD or...
- SECURE AND COMFORTABLE RIDE - These toe cages pedals have a large, anti-slip...
- BV PROMISE - We invest a lot in the high quality and reliability of our...
- 【Heavy Duty Road Bike Pedals】The pedal surface is *3.2"*3.8"*1", with cage...
- 【Multi-Purpose Pedals】The bicycle replacement pedals are designed for all...
- 【Adjustable Bike Pedal Straps】Bicycle pedal with toe clips and straps...
- 【Excellent Replacement Pedals for Bike】Aluminum alloy body with...
- 【Package Include】1 pair of bike pedals with toe cage and straps. If you have...
Toe strap pedals offer the advantages of clipless pedals without requiring the need for special shoes and a perfected application technique. In addition, with toe strap pedals, a rider can gain power on the upstroke and remove their foot quickly in case of an emergency. This makes toe strap pedals an excellent choice for entry-level riders looking for a little more power and handling but not ready to commit to the clips.
Platform Pedals for Vintage Bikes
Platform pedals are, as the name implies, platforms.
- DURABLE:Rugged nylon fiber surface+high strength Cr-Mo spindle bike pedals,...
- SIZE:4.30(L)*3.94(W)*0.98(H)inches,0.79bls each pair,moer fitted to the...
- Easy To Install:CR-L for left; CR-R for right. Sealed bearing bicycle pedals...
- Anti-Skid Nail:Anti-skid nails on each side provide more secure on the pedals...
- Standard: 9/16" spindle fits for BMX, MTB, Mountain Bike, Hybrid bike, Old...
They are flat pedals a rider’s foot sits directly on with no attachments. Platform pedals come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and materials and are great for recreational riders, commuters, gravity-oriented riders, or riders performing tricks.
- Durable and Strong: The mountain bike pedals are made of durable nylon composite...
- Excellent Grip: The flat mountain bike pedals designed with 9 replaceable steel...
- Ultra Thin and Large Platform: The bike peals only 0.7inch thickness, ultra thin...
- Light Weight and Easy to install: The MTB pedals only weight 351g / 12.3 ounce...
- Universal: Standard 9/16" spindle of the bicycle pedals fits for All Mountain,...
- Smooth: Advanced 4 lubricated sealed bearings improve the overall feeling. The...
- Stable: Anti-skid nails design for grip gives better traction. Large platform...
- Easy to Install: L for left pedal, R for right pedal, high quality bike pedals...
- Lightweight: 0.82 pounds weight improves your riding experience, stylish with...
- Universal: Stardard 9/16’’ spindle, bike pedals for mountain biking...
Pedals for Vintage Bikes
Here are a few extra pedal recommendations, clipless and otherwise.
MZYRH Mountain Bike Pedals Aluminum Flat Platform with SPD
(SPD)
- DUAL FUNCTION: These Bike Pedals not only can ride with clipless shoes(come with...
- WIDE PLATFORM & SUPER GRIPPY: The aluminum body is 113*98mm(4.45*3.86in)...
- CNC HIGH QUALITY BIKE PEDALS: Our Mountian bike pedals made with CNC integration...
- SMOOTH BEARINGS: Sealed 3 bearing is smooth, durable.Gasket design prevent the...
- LIFETIME WARRANTY: MZYRH ensures you a risk-free purchase! We offer you a full...
These things are robust, lightweight and designed to do it all! Featuring a lightweight aluminium flat pedal with a built in flat tread designed SPD Locking plate, these pedals give you stability and feel.
You’ll get the sturdy, wide, grippy surface provided by the flat pedal with the ability to lock yourself in for secure feeling and power on the upstroke.
SHIMANO Ultegra Pedals
(SPD SL)
- Material: [body] carbon composite, [spindle] chromoly steel
- Float: 6-degree
- Cleats: Shimano SPD-SL
- Entry / Release: adjustable cleat retention
- Spindle Diameter: 9/16-inch
The Shimano Ultegra are professional level SPD SL pedals for all levels of road rider looking to kick it into the next gear.
Featuring a carbon composite body, a stainless steel body plate, and a wide bearing placement for superior power transfer, these pedals have all the bells and whistles of Shimano’s Dura-Ace Pedals, for half the price.
Crankbrothers Stamp Flat Pedal
(Flat Pedals)
- Material: [spindle] forged scm 435 chromoly steel, [body] forged 6061-T6 alloy
- Claimed Weight: [pair, size small] 375 g, [pair, size large] 405 g
- Recommended Use: mountain bike
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 years
The Stamp Flats are your optimal surface area, minimal profile design flat pedal winners.
These flat pedals are great for riders who want their cycles to look good, thanks to multiple color options, and also feel good, thanks to adjustable length pins.
And because of their composite material, they’ll also be lighter than many other flat pedal options.
If you pick these up, keep in mind that they come in two different size options. Stamp larges are recommended for riders with US mens shoe sizes between 10 and 15. Stamp smalls are recommended for riders with US mens sizes between 5 and 10.
oopsmark Leather Pedal Belt Toe Straps
(Toe Strap)
- SLIPPERS FOR YOUR BIKE! A popular pick for bike messengers, these leather pedal...
- HARDWARE: The 316 stainless steel bolts have self-locking nuts so they won’t...
- SIZE: Adjustable for a custom molded fit
- HANDMADE: in our Montreal workshop, with ethically sourced genuine vegetable...
- HOW: Easy installation video, available on our website. Stainless steel bolts...
The Oopsmark Leather toe straps are stylish toe straps for urban riders looking for style and comfort on their rides.
The weather resistant leather strap on these not only looks stylish, it also molds to your foot. So, besides compliments on your commute, you can expect premium power transfer.
Keep in mind that this product only comes with the aftermarket strap (in black, tan or brown) so you’ll need to purchase pedals separately or add these to your old flat pedals.
Conclusion
Whether your vintage steel is the real deal or a new deal when you’re out there cruising the byways and highways, you want your ride to feel perfect.
If perfect for you means clipless pedals, you’re in luck.
Can you put clipless pedals on a vintage bike? Yes!
And when you’re ready to do it, it’s actually a simple and easy process. With the right tools and the right know-how, you’ll have them on and be cruising the streets in style in no time.
Jarrett Ziemer is a writer and author on biking topics based out of Snoqualmie, WA. He’s been riding bikes since he could walk and never looked back.
Today, when he’s not writing about bikes or the outdoors, you can find him sessioning laps at his backyard playground, Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park. Most days, you’ll see him on a slopestyle bike, but he loves riding downhill, to road, and everything in between.