Changing Peloton pedals/clips?

August 21, 2023 3:22 PM

I am NOT a road cyclist or spinner. I just got a used Peloton because it was dirt cheap from a friend of a friend, and I need an alternate exercise during lengthy recovery from an injury that prevents me from doing my usual exercise, running. I had been casually contemplating getting a very simple non-Peloton stationary bike, but impulsively purchased this Peloton without doing any research because it really was dirt cheap. I have questions about the pedals. Please treat me like an innocent alien who has just landed on Earth and knows nothing about stationary cycling/spinning...

I was naively envisioning hopping on in socked feet or something, I guess. When I saw the clip-in pedals (not sure what the right terms are), I had a mini heart attack.

I don't have shoes that are appropriate for clip-in pedals, so I will clearly have to buy something to allow me to use the machine. I am hoping to avoid Amazon. I am in the USA.

My questions are --

1) If I get pedal converters to allow me to wear normal workout shoes while using the Peloton, what would be the best ones?

2) Am I deluded to think I could get away without shoes when using the Peloton? (With a platform pedal maybe?) Or will that significantly compromise the potential for workout intensity to the "why bother" point?

3) Should I just bite the bullet and get footwear that is designed to work with the Peloton? If so, what are good online places for that?

posted by tentacle to Health & Fitness (19 answers total)

Best answer: Also a runner, also have used Peloton when injured.

In your situation, I would go to ebay and find a second hand pair of official Peloton shoes in your size. That is the simplest option and probably pretty cheap (there must be loads of people who have given up on it and gotten rid of their bikes, who will give away the shoes cheap). You can also pick up any pair of cycling shoes that can take Delta-compatible cleats. But I would just find a pair of the bog standard Peloton ones.

Looking at your other questions: I do think a dedicated clip in cycling shoe is best. You could get a standard cheap set of flat pedals or ones with toe cages which would allow you to wear regular shoes. But I think some of the value of Peloton is that you can use all of the muscles in your legs more. Without shoes that allow you to clip in, you are losing much of the hamstring involvement.

As a runner, I already have a dedicated shoe for every possible type of run (half marathon or longer races, 10k or shorter races, track races, tempo runs, fast intervals, easy days, long run days, etc). May as well have a dedicated shoe for your bike, too!
posted by Probabilitics at 3:36 PM on August 21, 2023 [6 favorites]

Best answer: You could probably do some of the slower/hill/heavy resistance rides without clips, but if you want to do any high intensity work or stand up out of the saddle you really do need the clip shoes. There’s no freewheel, so you run a high risk of slipping and smashing a pedal into your shin.

I got some super cheap ones from Amazon but looking on eBay for second hand ones seems like a good shout.
posted by corvine at 3:42 PM on August 21, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: The stiff sole of cycling shoes (versus normal sneakers) really helps transfer power and not pick up an injury, either from overworking foot/ankle muscles, or just from slipping off.

I don’t know about “deluded” but you are very likely to hurt yourself not wearing *any* shoes, no matter that platform pedal you find.
posted by supercres at 5:08 PM on August 21, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Anecdata: my gym has peloton bikes, and more than half of them are equipped with little foot holder things that allow you to use regular gym shoes. If my gym allows it, I assume this is a semi-reasonable choice to make? But this is an anecdote, and not clear advice.
posted by samthemander at 6:05 PM on August 21, 2023

Best answer: You have a few options.

1. You can find "beach pedals" for barefoot riding. Amazon has them. I think you will find this gets very uncomfortable after a few minutes, but they're cheap enough to experiment with if you want to try.
2. "Platform pedals" for mountain bikes are probably your best option. These have a large open pedal body with studs to grip the sole of your shoe. You'll have pretty good retention with these. This is your best option, IMO.
3. If you want to kick it old school, you can get "quill pedals," toe clips, and toe straps. These will lock in your feet without requiring special shoes, but there's not much advantage to you over platform pedals.
4. Use the clipless pedals you've got. You'll need a pair of cycling shoes with a three-hole cleat pattern, and a pair of Look Delta cleats. Obviously Peloton sells these, but you're not limited to their brand. Although I ride clipless pedals exclusively, all the evidence is that they provide very little benefit and only in certain circumstances; they also require more setup to get your position just right.

You'll need a long-handled 9/16" wrench to remove your current pedals, and grease to lubricate the threads on your new pedals when you install them. Don't skip the grease. Some pedals use a hex recess in the end of the spindle instead of 9/16" wrench flats, but those Peloton pedals do have wrench flats.

Also bear in mind that the left pedal is reverse-threaded.
posted by adamrice at 6:07 PM on August 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I do not ride a Peloton but have ridden my single speed bike more than 5000KM this year. If you do end up getting "regular" pedals, I would recommend Foot Fenders. I use them and you can wear any damn shoe you please. (But I do not recommend not wearing a shoe, and I'm someone who wears Barefoot Shoes year round.) I race past people clipped into their pedals several times a day using these. They are MUCH easier to get into and out of than cages or any other system I know of.

Obviously, if you go the FF route, you have to have pedals that have holes on the front to mount them. It's most pedals but not all pedals.
posted by dobbs at 6:13 PM on August 21, 2023

Best answer: I don't think you are going to find "converters" for the pedals. Instead, you can just buy replacement pedals. Pedals are pretty easy to replace, but can take a bit of muscle if the old pedals are screwed on particularly tight. As far as I understand, Peloton bikes just use regular bike pedals, so you should be able to replace them with regular pedals of your choice.

Here is some information about Peloton pedals.

Cheap cycling shoes will likely cost around the same as cheap pedals. So I think it's really up to you whether you're more comfortable with getting different pedals, or if you want to get cycling shoes.

The way cycling shoes work is there's a small plastic or metal piece that screws into the shoe. This is called a "cleat". The cleat then clips into the pedal. There are different pedal systems that require different cleats, and require different shoes. It looks like Pelotons come with Look Delta pedals, which need Look Delta cleats. You will want what's called a "3 hole shoe" for those. The other major type of shoe is "2 hole". They're not compatible with each other. If you're not sure, you can take a picture of the pedal and bring it to a bike store or somewhere like REI. They should be able to help you find appropriate shoes and cleats.

If possible, it's a good idea to shop for shoes in-person, even if you end up buying them online to save money. It's really hard to know if shoes are going to be comfortable. A larger bike store or an outdoor store like REI or Sports Basement would be good places to look. Smaller neighborhood bike stores may not carry bike shoes, or might have a very limited selection. For buying online, REI seems like a reasonable place to shop.
posted by cruelfood at 6:14 PM on August 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I understand you want to avoid Amazon, but here is a $70 pair of clip shoes I bought when I first got a Peloton about 3 years ago - I am still using the shoes. Maybe you can search for the same brand elsewhere.

If it was me, I would just buy the shoes - it is easier and probably no more money than trying to change the pedals, and you tend to pedal very fast on the Peloton so the clips are helpful.

I think you want to be wearing some kind of shoe when riding the bike - you are pedaling fast and it's possible your feet can slip off/etc if you are in socks or barefoot or something. Not great.
posted by Mid at 6:21 PM on August 21, 2023

Best answer: You can get adapters that snap onto the existing pedals and let you use regular shoes with the them - many examples here.

I've got a set for my road bike that has this type of pedal installed, and they work . . . OK. They tend to be small, a bit flimsy, and maybe a bit slippery - when what you want in a platform pedal is large, very stable, and never slippery.

So you could try the snap-in adapters, as the adaptors can be quite inexpensive. But I'm guess you'll be happier with either platform pedals OR dedicated cycling shoes that will be capable of clipping into the pedals.

One consideration with the cycling shoes is, since you're not really walking on them and there is little to no wear on them once they are clipped in (the main point of wear to the cleats and the pedals is clipping in and clipping out - which you're going to be doing very seldom on a Peloton in comparison to, say, a road bike, where you need to clip in & out every time you stop), they will last practically forever. So there is some cost of front but it won't be like running, where you need a whole new pair of expensive shoes every couple of months. Pay once for the shoes and cleats and they'll last for many years.
posted by flug at 6:52 PM on August 21, 2023

Best answer: It's hard to imagine following most of the non-beginner classes without being clipped in, both in terms of generating force on the upstroke ("full round pedal strokes" is a common phrase by the some of the instructors) and in terms of stability while pedaling quickly while standing. I think you'll find it more enjoyable when clipped in, as well, since you'll get the experience the bike was designed for and the instructors have in mind. Once you get the hang of it, it's really freeing to never worry about foot placement and trust that the pedal will always be there for you.
posted by Schismatic at 8:43 PM on August 21, 2023

Best answer: If you decide to swap the pedals, and you don't have a bike-specific pedal wrench, it might be worth buying (or borrowing from a tool library, bike co-op, bike-riding friend, etc.) one--it has a narrower head and a longer handle than most wrenches, and is just a much better tool for the job. You can find a good used one (Park or Pedro's, preferably) for twenty bucks or less.
posted by box at 5:00 AM on August 22, 2023

Best answer: I cycled a normal bike for years with toe clips – normal pedals with little cages that go over the toes, plus straps that go (fairly loosely) around the sides of the foot.

I bought a used bike recently to use on a stationary bike trainer and it came with pedals something like your Peloton. I had to decide whether to replace the pedals with "normal" ones plus toe clips, or buy special shoes to go with these silly little pedals.

I chose the latter, and in retrospect I'm glad I did. I went to a local bike shop and tried silly shoes on and bought them there. They were more expensive than cheap replacement pedals but it all Just Works nicely. I don't need to think about my feet or their position on the pedals at all.

If you get new pedals or converters, don't ride with no shoes at all. Cycling shoes are stiff and hard to walk in for a reason – because they're better for transferring the energy from your legs to the pedals, without all the muscles in your feet having to strain to keep stiff all the time. (Is what I'm guessing.)

Similarly, if you do get new pedals or converters, you'll be better off with shoes/sneakers that aren't too bouncy – you definitely can cycle wearing thick-soled running shoes, but I imagine you'll lose a lot of energy in the springiness that's designed to cushion the impact of running. You want thinner, stiffer, footwear.

Finally, if you decide to replace the pedals, I would recommend some kind of toe clips to help keep your feet in place, and allow you to pull up on the pedals sometimes. The disadvantage of fancy clip-in bike pedals and shoes, and of toe clips, is that they make it slightly harder to get your feet on/off the pedals, which can be nerve wracking, especially for a beginner, when you're out on the road. But you won't be on the road! Your feet can stay where they are for as long as you're pedalling, so (aside from expense, and having to buy more things) there's little downside.
posted by fabius at 5:23 AM on August 22, 2023

Best answer: I have the official Peloton shoes and they are fine but nothing special. My spouse uses the Peloton a few times a year as a lark and he has these from Bezos-land which are also fine. This is probably cheaper than getting new decent pedals. I think you will want cycling shoes to get the full benefits of the bike.
posted by notjustthefish at 6:08 AM on August 22, 2023

Best answer: I think it is important to distinguish comments from people talking about riding a bike generally versus people talking about riding a bike in a spin class, which is what Peloton basically is. In a spin class, you are pedaling much faster than as compared to riding a normal bike, with lower resistance/less friction/less uphill feeling, for sustained periods -- i.e., your feet are flying -- and without "coasting" breaks. You definitely want shoes on in a spin class - lest your feet go flying off the pedals and you get hurt in some way. And it would be best if your feet are "locked" into the pedals in some manner, via clip-shoes or straps. If you are thinking that you will ride slower and use platform pedals in socks or something like that - that's OK, you can do what you want! - but it isn't really what the classes are geared for.
posted by Mid at 6:28 AM on August 22, 2023

Best answer: I don't have a Peloton but do have a different brand of spin bike, and have been a cyclist for 2 decades including riding a fixed gear for several years, riding long distances/bikepacking, and racing cyclocross for a season; though now I am just a commuter for the most part.

Get the cycling shoes and cleats (the part that connects the bottom of the shoe to the pedal). Any shoe with the holes for the right cleat type will work, they don't have to be Peloton branded.

Yes, you could replace the pedals with the right wrench (and if you do, the left pedal will be reverse threaded!) But to me, there are too many downsides to going with a platform pedal:

1. It will be harder to match the cadence of spin classes without the ability to pull up/around as well as push down.
2. It will be easier for your foot to slip off the pedal which can really suck when riding a bike that doesn't have a freewheel (i.e. can't coast).
3. Tiny changes in where your foot is placed on the pedal can make a difference in comfort and even lead to injuries. With a clipless pedal, once the right position is dialed in you are always there.
4. Cycling shoes have really stiff soles because otherwise the sole of your foot flexes a lot, especially when you have high resistance or are standing up. I have absolutely ended up with a sore/injured foot from riding too far with mushy sneakers on. I don't ride even casually in Converse anymore. Do not ride barefoot.

If you're the only one using the bike you could leave the shoes attached to the pedals and slip the shoes on and off, so it's not that different from hopping on barefoot! A lot of cycling shoes have pretty simple tightening systems, like velcro or little dial thingies.

Given that you're a runner you want to be really careful not to accidentally injure yourself while you recover and make getting back to running harder! Congrats on getting the dirt cheap Peloton, though, that's awesome. If you don't care to sign up for the Peloton classes, there are lots of others out there (I use the Apple Fitness ones and watch them on an iPad).
posted by misskaz at 7:16 AM on August 22, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: What I have found when googling for things like cycling shoes is people get really, really serious about them. I, like you, am not that serious.

I use Nike Superreps that I got from Dick's for cheap because I didn't care about the color. Here are some there now (these ones are in women's sizing, not sure what you use). You'll also need cleats, here are some for $5 from REI. If these styles work for you, you should be able to get shoes + cleats for <$50.
posted by mosst at 11:01 AM on August 22, 2023

Best answer: Just another voice to say "get the shoes". I tried out Peloton with a cheap spin bike and toe cages because I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it, and one of my top joys when I got the real thing was being able to make full use of my legs by clipping in. 100% worth it. (Also there are videos online about getting in and out, cause that did take a sec to get use to.)
posted by dame at 2:26 AM on August 23, 2023

Response by poster: Thank you all! Clearly the bike shoes/cleats are the way to go. I appreciate all the tips and pointers. I love the idea of leaving the shoes clipped in! But also good to have the suggestions for pedal swaps if I can't sustain the bike shoes. Marking as resolved.
posted by tentacle at 6:26 AM on August 23, 2023

Definitely watch some youtubes on clipping in and out, and take your time practicing it a little bit. It's easy once you know how to do it, but the first ~10 times or so you are at risk of getting tangled up and falling over.
posted by Mid at 6:44 AM on August 23, 2023