July 29, 2021

Gravel Bike Pedals

Introduction

Pedals usually play a fundamental role in shaping our gravel grinding experience. Sadly, these critical bike parts aren’t usually included in most gravel bike packages. This means that they will be among the first main things you’ll be looking to buy once your gravel bike arrives.

Like any other pedal, gravel bike pedals primarily form the main contact point between you and the bike. Consequently, this connection influences the way we ride, our biking confidence in general, and saddle comfort while riding over corrugated gravel terrain. 

Therefore, before you jump to buy the first pair of gravel bike pedals you’ll see, you must first consider the general type of riding you do. Knowing this beforehand will help you to determine whether you would like to go for one that features a clip-in design or not. 

Before we jump in our gravel bike pedal review, there are several things that you’ll need to keep in mind the next time that you’ll be looking for a new pair of pedals for your gravel bike. Some of the primary considerations include compatibility with the type of your biking shoes and the overall engagement mechanism.

As you can already tell, picking one that checks out well will mean that it has a solid construction to provide sufficient grip and avoid clogging when initiating crank turns over gravel trails. That said, let’s now get to the much-awaited review for gravel bike pedals.

Gravel Bike Pedals – Best Options

#1 – MZYRH Mountain Bike Pedals, Ultra Strong

The MZYRH Mountain Bike Pedals is a feature-rich pair of gravel bike pedals. This model comes with up to 3 smooth, lubricated, and sealed bearing platforms for a more active cleat engagement to start us off. Its anti-slip cleat design predominantly features a set of anti-skid pins that give the pair a firm grasp for quality riding and racing. 

This pair roughly measures 4.1in by 3.58in by 1.0 inches in dimension and weighs about 0.45 pounds, meaning that they are highly lightweight and won’t drag you down when gravel racing. This pick generally has quality construction, and it further features aluminum-made grips for quick installations and efficient pedaling. The two pedals are labeled well to make things much more accessible, and you only need to be keen enough when installing them. Remember that the L pedal goes to the left and the R one goes to the right. 

The MZYRH Mountain Bike Pedals are made of aluminum alloy for durability, and they are one of the best flat gravel bike pedals that you can get for your bike. They are particularly excellent for cruising through technical trails with lots of obstacles such as rocks. They can easily fit on almost any type of bike, including mountain bikes and exercise bikes.

Gravel bike pedals - MZYRH Mountain Bike Pedals, Ultra Strong Colorful CNC Machined 9/16

#2 – FOOKER MTB Pedals

The FOOKER MTB Pedals is another popular gravel bike pedal choice among gravel bike enthusiasts. Featuring a rugged nylon fiber surface coupled with a high-strength Cr-Mo spindle, its construction is highly durable and effectively resistant to shock, abrasion, and corrosion. Unlike the flat MZYRH Mountain Bike Pedals, the FOOKER MTB Pedals’ design includes big treads, weighs about 0.79 pounds each, measures  4.30(L)*3.94(W)*0.98(H)inches in size, and has a more fitted design for gripping to your soles.

By now, you can already start to feel how comfortable this pick seems, right? 

Moving on, the FOOKER MTB Pedals are easy to install – so long as you follow the indicated labels correctly. The model is additionally fitted with sealed bike bearings to help protect and secure the spindles from water and specks of dust. These two main things usually clog and impede the engagement mechanism on most pedals. Therefore you can expect no noises or any other clog-related issue with this model. Instead, the manufacturer is confident enough that you will have some of your best moments riding in the rain or climbing hilly terrain if you decide to buy and use them.

Similar to the first option, the FOOKER MTB Pedals also features an anti-skid nail construction on both sides to securely hold the pair in place while riding. This design prevents your feet from slipping off the pedals even under wet and muddy conditions. Other additional features that you may like include a set of 16 hex head threaded traction pins that can be replaced and adjusted appropriately to provide you with more grip. 

The model also comes with two fixed gear configurations, three-needle roller bearings, and a standard 9/16” spindle fit that easily fits nearly all bicycles and most unicycles.

Gravel bike pedals - FOOKER MTB Pedals Mountain Bike Pedals 3 Bearing Non-Slip Lightweight Nylon Fiber Bicycle Platform Pedals for BMX MTB 9/16

#3 – VP Components VP-Vice Pedals

Touted as an all-around trail flat option, the VP-Vice Pedals are one of the best gravel bike pedals in the market today. They strongly feature both durable but lightweight models, and they generally weigh close to 406g per pair. In its construction, the VP-Vice Pedals includes a combination of CNC machined aluminum body and up to 14 replaceable back-out steel pins on each side for a superior grip low profile. 

With a surface dimension of 105 x 105 x 17mm in size, the VP-Vice Pedals mainly promises to be your best pick if you’re after both serviceability and durability. Despite generally being thin, the VP-Vice Pedals are full-length forged, include a heat-treated Cr-Mo axle, and features LSL bearings with sealed cartridges. The additional 12 pins on each VP-Vice Pedal promises to deliver sufficient bite to any bike shoe and glue your sole to the pedal at all times when riding. 

One of its main unique features is that you can readily rebuild this model with its Rebuild Kit, and if you set it right, the VP-Vice Pedals promises to help you drop off up to 70g. But only with their Forged Titanium Axle that can be bought separately as an upgrade kit.

Gravel bike pedals - VP Components VP-Vice Pedals (Pack of 2) Black - Image 1

#4 – Zacro Mountain Bike Pedal (Nylon BMX Pedals)

The Zacro Mountain Bike Pedal is another strong pick for gravel bike pedals that promises to offer a unique combination of stability and durability. With its rugged nylon fiber surface and high strength Cr-Mo spindle design, you can be sure not to be searching for its replacements any time soon. This design also makes the model highly resistant to corrosion.

Measuring about 4.40(L)*3.80(W)*1.00(H) inches in size, the Zacro Mountain Bike Pedal features the usual 9/16” axle bearing that makes it more suitable to fit most types of bikes. Talking of fitting, this option is easy to install, and its package includes an extra Allen wrench and an installation manual to guide and make the installation process effortless. 

With a weight of 0.77 pounds, the Zacro Mountain Bike Pedal additionally comes with two bearings and a set of anti-skid iron nails on both sides to prevent your feet from sliding off the pedals when cycling. The anti-slip spikes are also suitable for strengthening the pedals and making them more durable.

If you have any concerns or questions about the model, the manufacturer promises to offer quality customer services with an average resolution time of 24 hours. As a precaution, the Zacro Mountain Bike Pedal package includes a pair of pedals that are usually covered with a tight cover to help protect its threads, and you’re free to loosen it upon arrival.

 As for usage, the 9/16” axle on this model makes it widely applicable and suitable for all kinds of bicycles, including gravel bikes, MTBs, road bikes, BMXs, city bikes, and many more.

Gravel bike pedals - Zacro Mountain Bike Pedal Nylon BMX Pedals 9/16

#5 – ROCKBROS MTB Mountain Bike Pedals

We’ll review the final gravel bike pedal in this article is the ROCKBROS MTB Mountain Bike Pedals. I’m sure that you already know about its dual functionality for those familiar with it. Interesting as that sounds, this model has one of the best pedaling platforms for riding with clipless bike shoes, and they usually come with up to 2 gaskets that make them more compatible with most SPD MTB bike pedal systems. 

For starters, the ROCKBROS MTB Mountain Bike Pedals might appear as regular aluminum cleat pedals, but you might not notice the quality CNC machined design at first glance. This construction mainly includes deep integration with aluminum alloy throughout the body for extra durability. The inclusion of sealed bearings on this pick further helps in protecting the spindle from sand, dust, and water, enabling riders to enjoy using the pair anywhere they want without worrying about corrosion or clogging problems.

Besides being one of the best gravel bike pedaling choices for different kinds of bikes, the ROCKBROS MTB Mountain Bike Pedals widely provide users with a comprehensive, grippy platform that measures 101*92mm for additional stability. Consequently, its construction also features a set of stainless steel anti-slipping spikes on one side of the pedals for extra grip while riding.

Like most of the already reviewed alternatives for gravel bike pedals, the ROCKBROS MTB Mountain Bike Pedals are also marked with clear signs to help you install them correctly. Other likable features and highlights that come with this model include its clog-resistant gasket design, a set of smooth sealed bearings, and a universal standard 9/16” screw thread that fits nearly all bikes. 

Overall, the ROCKBROS MTB Mountain Bike Pedals are perfect for those using trekking bikes, tour bikes, MTBs, road bikes, and many others. Luckily for you, the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty to ensure that your purchase is entirely risk-free. By this, I mean that you can receive a full refund only if the model fails to satisfy your expectations fully. Such a money-back guarantee shows how confident the manufacturer (ROCKBROS) is in their product (ROCKBROS MTB Mountain Bike Pedals).

Gravel bike pedals - ROCKBROS MTB Mountain Bike Pedals Bicycle Flat Platform Compatible with SPD Mountain Bike Dual Function Sealed Clipless Aluminum 9/16

The Final Wrap

Buying the best-performing and top-rated gravel bike pedals usually is the first step in improving your overall cycling gusto. This is to mean that this is one of the main ways for you to finally get that fine gravel bike outing experience that you’ve been yearning for, not to forget that this is also tied to how you’ll care for and maintain the purchase.

Before we talk about maintenance, let’s wrap up the buying bit first.

We understand how frustrating it can be to find your best gravel bike pedal from a market that’s crowded with thousands of pedal brands and millions of buying options. That’s the main reason why we set out to compile this gravel bike pedal review. 

Apart from simply handpicking and highlighting some of the best picks in the current market for you, we hope that you’ll mainly consider evaluating your needs and wants first before settling for any of the reviewed choices. 

For those who might fail to find a pick that suits their gravel biking needs, you should keenly keep an eye on factors such as durability, longevity, and usability to help you identify the most appropriate choice. Some of the main desirable features to look for when searching for your best gravel bike pedals includes CNC machined or durable construction, anti-skidding nail feature, a universal fitting axle/screw, and sealed bearings. 

 Back to maintenance, always remember to generally clean your bike and inspect your pedals’ engagement mechanisms – especially during winter. Doing this regularly will help you make a good decision when it comes to looking for replacements.

As for the elephant in the room, the amount of money you can expect to use in pedal replacements will depend on your preferences for both durability and performance. This doesn’t mean that you shy away from the entry-level options. These new entrants notably offer a good platform for you to work your way up without costing a fortune. Overall, we hope that this guide will be a big help in helping you get your best gravel bike pedals. Until next time, Happy Gravel Biking!

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