Buy the Shimano PD-M520. It is the pedal most clipped-in cyclists start on and a large number never replace, it is double-sided so you do not have to hunt for the right face, and crucially it comes with the cleats in the box— which removes the step beginners most often get wrong.
But answer this first: do you want to clip in at all? There is no rule that says you have to, plenty of people ride flat pedals forever, and if it is your first season with everything else about the bike still new, flat pedals are a completely respectable answer.
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Quick picks
Ranked on published specs, what the listing does and does not tell you, and who each one actually suits. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We have not ridden these — here is exactly what we do instead.
#
Bike or gear
Best for
Price
1
Shimano PD-M520
The pedal almost every clipped-in cyclist starts on, and a huge number never replace. Cleats are included, which removes the one step beginners most often get wrong.
Clip-in on one side, flat platform on the other. This is the answer for a beginner who wants to try clipping in without committing to it for every single ride.
Flat pedals, done properly. There is no rule that says you have to clip in, and a grippy aluminum flat pedal with sealed bearings is a genuine upgrade over the plastic ones your bike came with.
Shimano's own dual-sided pedal with a wider body than the M520, which means more support under your foot on rough ground and easier clipping in when you are tired.
The cheapest dual-sided pedal here, and the listing does the useful thing of stating the 9/16-inch thread size — which is what you actually need to know will fit your bike.
The pedal almost every clipped-in cyclist starts on, and a huge number never replace. Cleats are included, which removes the one step beginners most often get wrong.
Who it is for: Your first clip-in pedals, for road or gravel.
What is good
+Cleats included in the box — you are not left guessing which ones to order
+Double-sided, so you can clip in without looking down to find the right face
+The de facto standard: cleats, shoes and spares are available everywhere
+Serviceable rather than disposable, which is unusual at this price
What you give up
−You will fall over at least once learning to unclip. Everyone does. Practice on grass
−Requires shoes drilled for the two-bolt pattern — a separate purchase
−No published weight in the listing
Skip this if. Skip this if you make frequent stops in traffic. Being clipped in at a busy junction is genuinely stressful when you are new — the dual-sided ROCKBROS lets you use normal shoes on those rides and clip in on the quiet ones.
Published specifications for the Shimano PD-M520
Type
Clipless (you clip in)
Cleat pattern
Two-bolt SPD
Cleats included
Yes
Sides
Double-sided
Weight
Not published
Specifications read from the retailer listing on July 23, 2026. “Not published” means the listing does not state that figure — we do not estimate it.
#2Best for trying it out
Rockbros Dual-Function SPD Pedals
Clip-in on one side, flat platform on the other. This is the answer for a beginner who wants to try clipping in without committing to it for every single ride.
Who it is for: Learning to clip in without being trapped into it.
What is good
+Flat side means you can ride in normal shoes any time you want
+Removes the biggest psychological barrier to trying clip-in pedals
+Sealed bearings at a price below the Shimano M520
What you give up
−You have to flip the pedal to the right side, which is fiddly at a stop
−Heavier than a dedicated clipless pedal
−The listing does not say whether cleats are included
Skip this if. Skip this if you already know you want to be clipped in. Dual-sided pedals are a transition tool, and once you have made the transition the flipping becomes an annoyance you paid extra for.
Published specifications for the Rockbros Dual-Function SPD Pedals
Type
Dual-sided: clipless one side, flat the other
Cleat pattern
Two-bolt SPD-compatible
Cleats included
Not published
Bearings
Sealed
Weight
Not published
Specifications read from the retailer listing on July 23, 2026. “Not published” means the listing does not state that figure — we do not estimate it.
#3Best flat pedal
Rockbros Aluminum Flat Pedals
Flat pedals, done properly. There is no rule that says you have to clip in, and a grippy aluminum flat pedal with sealed bearings is a genuine upgrade over the plastic ones your bike came with.
Who it is for: Riding in normal shoes, and upgrading from the plastic pedals in the box.
What is good
+Sealed bearings, unlike the unsealed plastic pedals most bikes ship with
+Aluminum body with pins for grip — your foot stays where you put it
+9/16-inch thread fits any standard adult bike
+No shoes, cleats or learning curve required
What you give up
−Metal pins will take a chunk out of your shin if the pedal spins back at you
−No published weight
−You lose the ability to pull up on the pedal, which matters on steep climbs
Skip this if. Skip this if you already ride enough to want more efficiency. Once you are riding regularly, clipping in is a real gain on climbs, and the Shimano M520 comes with the cleats to get you started.
Published specifications for the Rockbros Aluminum Flat Pedals
Type
Flat (no clipping in)
Body
Aluminum
Bearings
Sealed
Thread size
9/16 inch
Weight
Not published
Specifications read from the retailer listing on July 23, 2026. “Not published” means the listing does not state that figure — we do not estimate it.
#4Best for gravel
Shimano PD-ME700
Shimano's own dual-sided pedal with a wider body than the M520, which means more support under your foot on rough ground and easier clipping in when you are tired.
Who it is for: Gravel riding where you clip in and out often on rough ground.
What is good
+Wider platform supports the foot better than the minimal M520 body
+Shimano build quality and serviceability
+Double-sided, so no hunting for the right face
What you give up
−Costs about the same as the M520 for a benefit only gravel riders really feel
−Heavier than the M520
−No published weight in the listing
Skip this if. Skip this if you ride paved roads. The wider body exists to support your foot over rough terrain, and on tarmac it is weight you carry for nothing — the M520 is the better road pedal.
Published specifications for the Shimano PD-ME700
Type
Clipless, dual-sided
Cleat pattern
Two-bolt SPD
Body
Trail / all-mountain (wider platform)
Cleats included
Not published
Weight
Not published
Specifications read from the retailer listing on July 23, 2026. “Not published” means the listing does not state that figure — we do not estimate it.
#5Cheapest way in
CXWXC Dual-Sided SPD Pedals
The cheapest dual-sided pedal here, and the listing does the useful thing of stating the 9/16-inch thread size — which is what you actually need to know will fit your bike.
Who it is for: The lowest-cost way to try clipping in.
What is good
+Publishes the 9/16-inch thread size, so you know it fits a standard adult bike
+Explicitly listed as compatible with Shimano SPD cleats
+The cheapest way into clip-in pedals of any option here
What you give up
−Cheap pedal bearings are the part that goes first, and they are not usually serviceable
−No published weight
−Cleat inclusion not stated
Skip this if. Skip this if you ride in bad weather or a lot of miles. Budget pedal bearings do not survive winter grit well, and replacing pedals twice costs more than buying the Shimano M520 once.
Published specifications for the CXWXC Dual-Sided SPD Pedals
Type
Dual-sided: clipless one side, flat the other
Cleat pattern
Shimano SPD compatible
Thread size
9/16 inch
Cleats included
Not published
Weight
Not published
Specifications read from the retailer listing on July 23, 2026. “Not published” means the listing does not state that figure — we do not estimate it.
The three kinds of pedal
Flat pedals
A platform you put your foot on. Any shoes, no learning curve, nothing to buy alongside them.
The ones your bike came with are almost certainly cheap plastic with unsealed bearings. A proper aluminum flat pedal with pins and sealed bearings, like the ROCKBROS here, is a genuine upgrade — your foot stays where you put it and the bearings survive a wet winter.
Clipless pedals
Your shoe has a cleat bolted to the sole that clicks into a mechanism on the pedal. You twist your heel outward to release.
The benefit is a consistent connection to the pedal and the ability to pull up as well as push down, which genuinely helps on steep climbs. It also stops your foot sliding off on rough ground, which matters more on gravel than people expect.
Dual-sided pedals
Clip mechanism on one face, flat platform on the other. Three of the five picks here are this type, and for a beginner it is the smartest answer: try clipping in on quiet rides and use normal shoes in traffic, on the same bike, without changing anything.
The trade-off is that you have to flip the pedal to the side you want, which is fiddly when pulling away at a junction.
Should you clip in?
Arguments for: more efficient on climbs, foot cannot slip off on rough ground, and a more consistent pedaling position which is easier on your knees over long distances.
Arguments against: you have to buy cycling shoes too (another $50 to $120), there is a learning period, and being attached to the bike at a busy junction is genuinely stressful when it is new.
Our honest answer:not in your first month. Learn to ride the bike, get comfortable with drop-bar brake levers, get your saddle height right. Adding “my feet are attached to it” on top of all that is a lot at once. Buy dual-sided pedals if you want the option available, and use whichever side suits the ride.
The cleat-pattern trap
The single most common expensive mistake here: the pedals and shoes must use the same system.
Two-bolt (SPD)— every clipless pedal on this page. Recessed into the shoe sole, so you can walk normally. This is the sensible beginner standard.
Three-bolt (road)— a larger cleat that protrudes from the sole. More efficient over long hard efforts, awkward to walk in.
Note also that only the Shimano PD-M520 states outright that cleats are included. Where a listing does not say, budget $20 to $30 for cleats separately.
How to learn without falling over
You will probably fall over once, at a standstill, slowly, in front of someone. It happens to essentially everyone. Three things make it much less likely:
Set the release tension to its loosest. Every clipless pedal has a small adjustment screw, usually needing a 3mm hex key. Turn it all the way down while you learn. Tighten it later if your foot ever pulls out unintentionally.
Practice on grass, next to a fence. Ten minutes clipping in and out on both feet, somewhere soft with something to grab.
Unclip early, every time. This is the actual habit. As you approach a junction, unclip one foot well before you need to. Every fall happens when someone arrives at a stop still attached and then has to think about it.
Fitting pedals: the thread that catches everyone
The left pedal has a reverse thread. It tightens counter-clockwise, the opposite of the right one and the opposite of every other bolt on the bike.
This exists so that pedaling tightens both pedals rather than gradually undoing one. It also means a lot of people cross-thread a crank arm trying to fit a left pedal the normal way, which is an expensive mistake because the damage is to the crank rather than the pedal.
Pedals are marked L and R on the axle. Grease the threads, start them by hand, and if it does not turn easily, stop and check which way you are going. Every pedal on this page uses the standard 9/16-inch thread that fits any adult bike.
What we would buy
First season, not sure: the ROCKBROS aluminum flats. Sealed bearings, proper grip, no shoes to buy, no learning curve.
Want to try clipping in: the ROCKBROS dual-sided. Flat side for traffic, clip side for quiet roads, and you can change your mind mid-ride.
Committed to clipping in: the Shimano PD-M520. Cleats included, serviceable rather than disposable, and the standard everyone else is on.
Riding gravel and clipping in often: the Shimano PD-ME700. The wider body supports your foot better on rough ground.
We have not ridden these bikes. Every site in this category says it tested twenty of them. We have not tested any, and we say so. What we did instead: read the manufacturer listings and manuals, compiled the published specs, worked out the real out-the-door cost, and checked live availability and price. Here is exactly how that works.
Questions people actually ask
Do beginners need clipless pedals?+
No. Flat pedals and ordinary trainers work perfectly well and plenty of people ride that way permanently. Clipping in is more efficient on climbs and stops your foot slipping on rough ground, but it is an optimization — not something to add in your first month while everything about the bike is still new.
Why are they called clipless pedals if you clip into them?+
Because they replaced toe clips — the cages and straps riders used before the modern system existed. 'Clipless' meant 'without toe clips'. The name outlived the thing it was distinguishing itself from, which is a fairly common fate for technical vocabulary.
What are the best pedals for a beginner?+
The Shimano PD-M520 if you have decided to clip in — it is double-sided, serviceable, includes the cleats in the box, and is the standard nearly everyone else uses. If you are unsure, a dual-sided pedal with a flat platform on one face lets you decide ride by ride rather than at purchase.
Do clipless pedals come with cleats?+
Sometimes. The Shimano PD-M520 states that cleats are included; most of the others on this page do not say either way. Budget $20 to $30 for cleats separately unless the listing confirms them, and make sure the pattern matches your shoes.
Will I fall over with clipless pedals?+
Probably once, at a standstill, and it is more embarrassing than painful. Set the release tension to its loosest setting while learning, practice clipping in and out on grass next to something you can hold, and build the habit of unclipping early rather than at the last moment.
How do I fit bike pedals?+
Grease the threads, then screw each pedal in by hand before using a wrench. The critical detail: the left pedal has a reverse thread and tightens counter-clockwise, opposite to every other bolt on the bike. Pedals are marked L and R on the axle — if one does not turn easily, stop and check which way you are going before you damage the crank.
Sources
Specifications come from the manufacturer or the retailer listing, dated. Where a figure is not published, we say so rather than estimating it.
Shimano — Component product list — Shimano's own component lineup, from which the road groupset hierarchy is read (accessed July 23, 2026)
Shimano — GRX gravel components — Shimano's gravel-specific groupset series and what it is designed for (accessed July 23, 2026)
