Specifications for Wide Bicycle Pedals

Bicycle pedals are a matter of choice. There are many kinds of pedals, however, standard pedals do have limitations on pedal width, as extremely wide pedals offer no advantage. But even the smallest variety of pedal has a wider counterpart, due to riders wanting versatility and capabilities beyond the standard old-school variety.

  1. Platform

    • Bike pedals work by transferring the rider's energy through the pedal to the crank. The width is important to those types of pedals that are not specific to a certain special shoe that is worn by cyclists. These are the old-fashioned or "platform"-style pedals. These old-fashioned-type pedals are still in style and are often found on cruisers and less expensive bicycles. The specifications on width for old-school platform pedals range from 2 1/2 to 3 inches in width with a 4 1/2-inch axle length and 15mm axle nut.

    Steel Cage

    • The steel cage platform pedal is another pedal that relies on no special shoe attachments. It is basically a steel jaw surrounding an axle. These pedals are designed to allow mud to fall through and can be used with tennis shoes, or shoes of any type, except bicycle-specific shoes. These pedals range from 3 to about 4 inches in width for the widest steel cage pedal with a 4 1/2-inch axle length. They also have a 15mm axle nut to remove or install the pedal.

    Road Clipless

    • The width of "clipless" or "step-in" pedals can also vary because of a special cleat that is attached to the bottom of the rider's shoe that connects into a receiving clip attached to the pedal. Road-specific pedals are sometimes wider for more comfort due to longer time in the saddle. Some of the road shoes are designed with this in mind and the fact that wider pedaling surface can mean more power transfer to the crank. Road-specific pedals can range up to 4 1/2 inches in width but can have extremely short axles at only about 1 1/2 inch. Road-specific pedals have a 15mm axle nut.

    Mountain Bike Clipless

    • Mountain bike clipless pedals have been standardized more than other pedals. A normal mountain bike clipless pedal is almost square, coming in at approximately 2 1/2 inches in width with a 2 1/2-inch axle. Width is not an issue because power transfer goes through a small cleat on the rider's shoe just like a road clipless but smaller, measuring only about 3/4 inches square. The pedal itself is no more than a small spring with two small jaws that hook onto the rider's shoe.

    Combination

    • Combination pedals have been designed for both road and mountain bikes. These special pedals have a steel cage platform, with a cleat in the center and can be used with any type of shoe that is cleat compatible or any type of street shoe. These types of pedals are some of the widest pedals due to the fact that they house springs and jaws, surrounded by a steel cage. These pedals can range up to 4 1/2 inches in width with a 4 1/2-inch axle length. They also have a 15mm axle nut.

    One Important Fact

    • It should be noted that, with any width pedal, thread direction is different for left- and right-side pedals. When standing above the bike, the pedal on your right side will have normal threads that tighten in a clockwise direction. However, the pedal on your left side will have reverse threads that tighten in a counterclockwise direction. Bike mechanics have a simple rule when tightening pedals of any width. "Right is right. Left is wrong."