Guides
Choosing guide
Updated · Independent guide
Short answer
The best clipless pedals for beginners are double-sided Shimano SPD pedals such as the PD-M520, fitted with SM-SH56 multi-release cleats and the spring tension turned right down. SPD's small 2-bolt cleat sits in a recessed shoe you can walk in, and multi-release cleats let you get out by twisting either way or lifting. If you still want to ride in normal shoes some days, start with a hybrid such as the Shimano PD-M324; road riders should start with a Look Keo Classic 3 or Shimano 105 PD-R7000 and a high-float cleat.
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Best for: Commuting, gravel, fitness and first mountain bike rides
Double-sided SPD entry, adjustable spring tension and a recessed 2-bolt cleat you can walk on. It ships with single-release SM-SH51 cleats; for a first setup, add a pair of multi-release SM-SH56 cleats, which have the same 4° float.
Best for: Commuters who ride in normal shoes some days
An SPD binding on one face and a wide flat platform on the other, so you can ride to the shops in sneakers or clip in for longer rides. Shimano supplies multi-release SM-SH56 cleats in the box, and the clip-in tension is adjustable. If you can still find the slimmer PD-EH500, it is the same idea with a pinned flat side.
Best for: Gravel and XC riders who keep missing the pedal
Four-sided Eggbeater entry inside a small composite platform. Current boxes include Easy Release cleats: a 10° release with 6° float, the easiest exit in the Crankbrothers range. There is no tension screw to set.
Best for: Road riders buying their first road shoes
Look's entry-level Keo pedal has adjustable spring tension, and retailers list grey Keo Grip cleats (4.5° float) in the box. The same Keo cleats fit Look's pricier Keo pedals if you upgrade later.
Best for: Road riders who want Shimano's road cleat system
A wide carbon-composite road platform with adjustable tension. Yellow SM-SH11 cleats (6° float), the most forgiving SPD-SL cleat, come in the box. It is an SPD-SL pedal, not the newer SPD-SLR system.
Best for: Road riders who struggle to flip a single-sided pedal
Speedplay's lollipop pedal is double-sided, so there is no pedal to flip, and the Comp ships with lighter-spring Easy Tension cleats. Float adjusts from 0° to 15°, and the 4-hole cleat comes with a 3-hole adapter for standard road shoes.
A beginner-friendly clipless pedal is easy to get out of, easy to find with your foot and works with shoes you can walk in. Look for:
For the full range, see our clipless pedals buying guide.
Start with SPD unless you ride a road bike and rarely walk in your cycling shoes. The two families use different shoes and cleats, and that decides most of the beginner experience.
| SPD-style (2-bolt) | Road: SPD-SL or Look Keo (3-bolt) | Speedplay (4-hole) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoe | MTB, gravel, touring or casual SPD shoe | Stiff road shoe | Road shoe (3-hole adapter included) |
| Walking | Easy: cleat sits in a recess | Awkward: large cleat sticks out | Awkward, and cleats dislike grit |
| Entry | Usually double-sided | Single-sided: flip and step in | Double-sided |
| Easy-release option | SM-SH56 multi-release | Choose a high-float cleat | Easy Tension cleat |
| Platform under foot | Small (unless a platform model) | Wide | Small, but the shoe is stiff |
| Best for | Commuting, gravel, MTB, spin classes, touring | Road riding and group rides | Fit-sensitive road riders |
Road pedals spread load over a bigger platform, which matters on long, hard rides. For a first setup, walking and double-sided entry count for more. Our SPD vs SPD-SL vs Look Keo comparison covers the systems in detail.
If you are still deciding whether to go clipless at all, read flat vs clipless pedals first.
Swapping to an easier-release cleat is the cheapest change that makes clipless less intimidating.
Both Shimano SPD cleats have 4° of float, fit every Shimano SPD pedal and use the same 2-bolt holes.
The trade-off is that SM-SH56 cleats can let go when you yank up hard, so mountain bikers who start jumping and bunny-hopping often move to SM-SH51 later. For commuting, fitness riding and gravel, many riders never switch.
Crankbrothers pedals have no tension screw, so the cleat sets the release. The standard cleat releases at 15° or 20° depending on which foot it goes on. The Easy Release cleat releases at 10° with the same 6° float. Current Candy 1, Eggbeater 1 and Double Shot 1 pedals ship with it.
SPD-SL and Look Keo have no multi-release cleat. Instead, pick a cleat with more float: yellow SM-SH11 (6°) for Shimano, grey (4.5°) or red (9°) for Look Keo. Then turn the pedal tension down. On Speedplay, the Easy Tension cleat uses a lighter spring.
Spring tension sets how hard you must twist to release. Most adjustable pedals arrive somewhere in the middle of the range, which is too firm for a first ride.
Crankbrothers pedals skip this step: change the cleat instead. Speedplay pedals have no tension screw either.
You need cycling shoes drilled for your cleat system. Cleats bolt to the sole, so ordinary sneakers will not work.
Fit the cleats with the ball of the foot roughly over the pedal spindle, then fine-tune. Our guide to installing clipless pedals and cleats walks through it, and the cleats guide lists spares.
Beginners do not need premium pedals. The clip-in mechanism and cleats are shared across most of each brand’s range, so entry-level pedals hold you just as securely.
Spend the difference on shoes that fit well. For more on Shimano’s range, see the Shimano brand page.
A few choices make learning harder than it needs to be:
If being locked in still feels like too much, look at hybrids in our best pedals for hybrid and commuter bikes guide, the Crankbrothers Double Shot 2, or magnetic pedals.
Practice clipping in and out against a wall or on a trainer, then on grass, before you ride in traffic. Unclip your preferred foot first, every time, and do it well before you stop.
The full routine is in our guide on how to clip in and out.
Shimano SPD pedals with SM-SH56 multi-release cleats and the tension at minimum are the easiest common setup: you can twist either way or lift and twist to get out. On Crankbrothers pedals, the Easy Release cleat cuts the release angle to 10°.
Most beginners should start with SPD. The 2-bolt cleat is recessed into a shoe you can walk in, most SPD pedals are double-sided, and multi-release cleats exist. Choose a 3-bolt road system only if you ride a road bike and rarely walk in your shoes. Our SPD vs SPD-SL vs Look Keo guide goes deeper.
Most do. The PD-M520 comes with SM-SH51 cleats, the PD-M324 with SM-SH56, the Candy 1 with Easy Release cleats, the PD-R7000 with yellow SM-SH11 and the Speedplay Comp with Easy Tension cleats. Shoes almost never include cleats.
A slow topple at a standstill is the classic beginner mistake, usually from forgetting to unclip before stopping. Low tension, multi-release cleats and practice on grass or a trainer make it much less likely. Unclip early, well before you need to put a foot down.
Some float is better than none. SPD cleats have 4°, Crankbrothers 6°, yellow SPD-SL cleats 6° and grey Keo cleats 4.5°. Avoid 0° cleats until a bike fitter says you need them. See cleat float explained.
Only briefly on double-sided SPD or road pedals: the small binding digs into a soft sole and your foot slides off in the wet. If you want both, buy a hybrid pedal with a flat side, such as the Shimano PD-M324.