What If Everything You’ve Been Told About Pedals Is Wrong

I never set out to start a revolution… but here we are.

When I first got into mountain biking, I was told the same thing you probably were:

“You’ve got to get clipless pedals ASAP if you want to be taken seriously.”

Bike shops, magazine articles, trailhead know-it-alls — everyone repeated the same myth: that clipless pedals were the only way to ride with power and efficiency.

And I believed them… for a while.

I tried clipless. I trained. I practiced. I even tipped over at a stop sign one day because I couldn’t unclip in time — and I realized: “If that had been on a trail, I could’ve been seriously hurt.”

So I went back to flats. Not because I was lazy or scared — but because they felt better. More natural. More fun.

I told myself I’d switch back to clipless once flats were holding me back.

It’s been over 20 years.

Still waiting.

Since then, I’ve worked with thousands of riders, studied the science behind the pedal stroke, and discovered something the bike industry doesn’t want to talk about…

There is no magical pedal stroke that requires you to be clipped in.

There is no research that supports pulling up on the backstroke.

There is no reason to force new riders into a system that increases stress, risk, and injuries — just because “that’s how it’s always been done.”

And more importantly…

You can ride stronger, safer, and with more confidence using flat pedals — if you know how to use them right.

That’s why I created the Flat Pedal Revolution Manifesto — to give you the science, logic, and real-world experience that proves flat pedals aren’t a compromise… they’re a better choice for a lot of riders, especially those of us 40 and up who care about performance and protecting our bodies.

If you’ve ever felt like clipless pedals weren’t the right fit but didn’t know what to do — or needed “permission” to ride the way you want — this is your chance to finally break free.

(and find out what the bike industry doesn’t want you to know)

Ride Strong,

James Wilson
MTB Strength Training Systems / Pedaling Innovations

P.S. This isn’t about being “anti-clipless.” It’s about giving riders the full story so they can make the best choice for their goals. If you’ve got a friend who’s on the fence about pedals — send this to them. Let’s grow the Revolution together.