Guides
Pedal buying guide
Updated · Independent guide · 6 picks compared
Quick answer
Cage pedals are the classic bike pedal with a cage: front and rear plates fixed to a slim body around the spindle, drilled to take toe clips and slotted for straps. For most riders the double-sided MKS Sylvan Touring is the one to buy; pick the single-sided MKS Sylvan Road for a classic road bike or the MKS Sylvan Track for track and fixed gear. The MKS and Velo Orange pedals here use the standard 9/16" thread.
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Chosen from current models on manufacturer specs, compatibility and design — not sponsored placements. Amazon buttons open a search for the exact model.
Best for: Touring, commuting and city bikes
Double-sided, so you can ride either face, and drilled for toe clips and straps. Listings agree on a 94 x 63 mm platform and 391 g per pair; a sealed-bearing Next version is also sold.
Best for: Vintage and classic road bikes
A single-sided road quill built to be ridden with toe clips. The classic version uses hand-adjusted cup-and-cone bearings; the Next version uses sealed bearings.
Best for: Track bikes and fixed-gear builds
A single-sided track pedal meant to be used with toe clips and straps. Listings agree on 343 g per pair with an aluminum body and steel spindle.
Best for: Riders who want clips as an option
A double-sided Sylvan that works well without clips but can take them if you want them later. A good pick if you are not sure you will keep using clips.
Best for: Touring and city riding in soft-soled shoes
Not a true two-plate cage: a one-piece alloy body with a cro-mo spindle and serviceable, adjustable bearings. It is single-sided and designed for toe clips and straps; listings agree on a 70 x 78 mm body.
by Velo Orange
Best for: Touring and randonneuring builds
Velo Orange's aluminum touring pedal is toe-clip compatible and has a 9/16" thread. A sealed-bearing version is listed alongside the original.
Swipe sideways on mobile. "—" means not applicable or not confirmed by the manufacturer.
| Model | Sides | Bearings | Thread | Toe clips | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKS Sylvan Touring | Double-sided | Cup-and-cone (Next: cartridge) | 9/16" | Yes | Touring, commuting | Check price |
| MKS Sylvan Road | Single-sided | Cup-and-cone (Next: sealed) | 9/16" | Yes (designed for them) | Classic road | Check price |
| MKS Sylvan Track | Single-sided | — | 9/16" | Yes (designed for them) | Track, fixed gear | Check price |
| MKS Sylvan Stream | Double-sided | — | — | Optional | Commuting, mixed use | Check price |
| MKS GR-9 | Single-sided | Adjustable, serviceable | 9/16" | Yes (designed for them) | Touring, city | Check price |
| Velo Orange Touring Pedals | — | — | 9/16" | Yes | Touring | Check price |
Choose by how you will ride: double-sided for city and touring, single-sided quills if you will always use toe clips, track pedals for fixed gear. Then check bearings and thread.
The MKS GR-9 sits between cage and platform: a one-piece body, but single-sided and drilled for clips.
Double-sided cages, like the MKS Sylvan Touring and Sylvan Stream, work with or without clips and suit riders who stop often. Single-sided road and track pedals are designed for clips: the weight of the clip hangs the pedal so you can flip it up with your toe.
Every cage pedal in this guide is drilled for toe clips. The clip bolts to two holes in the front plate, and the strap runs through slots at the inner and outer ends of the pedal. For clip sizing and strap choices, see toe clips and straps; MKS steel toe clips and MKS stainless cage clips are the natural match for MKS pedals. Power Grips also mount on metal cage pedals if you would rather skip clips.
Classic MKS cage pedals use hand-adjusted cup-and-cone bearings: loose balls running on a cone threaded onto the spindle. They can be opened, cleaned, regreased and adjusted indefinitely with basic tools. Sealed cartridge bearings, used on the MKS “Next” versions, need no adjustment and keep water out better, but are replaced rather than serviced.
If you enjoy maintenance or ride a vintage bike, choose cup-and-cone. If you ride in all weather and never want to adjust a pedal, choose a Next version.
The Sylvan Touring, Road and Track, the GR-9 and the Velo Orange Touring are all listed with the adult-standard 9/16” x 20 TPI thread; check the listing for the Sylvan Stream. If your bike has one-piece cranks (some kids’, BMX and cruiser bikes), you need 1/2” pedals instead. The left pedal is reverse threaded; see which pedal is reverse threaded.
Cage pedals are lighter and slimmer than modern pinned flats and take toe clips; flats give more grip without clips. A modern flat like the MKS Allways has a larger, concave platform with replaceable pins and suits riders who want strap-style retention rather than clips.
Choose a cage pedal if you want toe clips, ride a classic or track bike, or want a pedal you can service at home for decades. Choose a flat if you ride technical terrain or wear soft shoes without clips.
Install cage pedals with a pedal wrench on the spindle flats, grease on the threads, right pedal clockwise and left pedal counterclockwise. Check that the clip side faces forward before tightening.
For cup-and-cone versions, a yearly service keeps them smooth: remove the dust cap, back off the locknut and cone, clean and regrease the balls, then adjust the cone so the pedal spins freely with no side-to-side play. Count the balls as you remove them so you put back the same number.
A cage pedal has front and rear metal plates fixed to a slim body around the spindle instead of a solid platform. The front plate is drilled for toe clips and the body is slotted for straps, which is why cage pedals are the traditional choice for clips.
A quill pedal is a single-sided cage pedal with a raised, curved tab, the quill, at the outer edge of the cage that supports the toe strap. Every quill pedal is a cage pedal; not every cage pedal has a quill.
Yes, with a reasonably stiff sole. The narrow plates can press into very soft soles on long rides, so double-sided touring cages such as the MKS Sylvan Touring, or a flat with a bigger platform, are kinder to sneakers.
Double-sided cage pedals work without clips. Single-sided road and track quills are designed to hang clip-down, so riding them without clips is awkward; see toe clips and straps.
The MKS and Velo Orange cage pedals in this guide are listed with 9/16" x 20 TPI, the adult standard. Bikes with one-piece cranks need 1/2" pedals, and the left pedal is always reverse threaded.