Whether you're curious about the Bythlon brand, our product, or simply seeking to level up your cycling game, you’ll find all the answers you need right here.
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General
Like a traditional clipless system, the cleat and pedal connect to hold your foot securely in the right position for efficient power transfer. Unlike a traditional clipless system, there is no locking mechanism and no twisting release. To disengage, you just lift your foot upward, the way you would naturally step off the bike.
That’s great! We’re not here to tell you to give up something that works. But if you’ve ever clipped out awkwardly, taken a fall, or hesitated in traffic, Bythlon offers a safer alternative without sacrificing the power transfer and secure feel you’re used to. You might be surprised how good “unclipping” can feel.
Flats are great for casual rides, but they’re not built for performance. You lose efficiency, your foot can slip during hard efforts, and you’re constantly repositioning. Bythlon gives you the stability and power transfer of clipless without the locking so you get the best of both worlds: freedom when you need it, control when it counts.
Bythlon is for all cyclists, from beginners to pros. If you're happy with your current pedal setup, there's no pressure to switch, cycling (and your pedal stroke) is best when you're safe and comfortable. Bythlon offers all the efficiency as traditional pedal systems but without the risks associated with being locked to your bike. For riders prioritizing safety and efficiency, Bythlon gives cyclists the confidence of a stable connection and the efficiency of clipless pedals, without the risks of being locked to the bike.
Traditional clipless pedals lock you in, and if you need to react quickly, pulling up instinctively can drive you forward into a crash. When you find yourself in a pickle, Bythlon lets you disengage naturally by lifting straight up, reducing the chance of falling and giving you the ability to eject from the bike when you need to.
The system also provides float to reduce joint strain, helping protect against both sudden impact injuries and long-term overuse pain.
No problem. If it’s not for you, just email us within 30 days of your pedals being delivered. We offer hassle-free returns and genuinely appreciate you giving Bythlon a try!
The Product
The Bythlon pedal is designed by our German development team and manufactured by SCADA, a world-class ODM/OEM partner in Taichung, Taiwan, where most high-end bike components are produced. SCADA's extensive experience and existing axle systems catalog allowed us to develop our safety pedal efficiently and offer it at competitive prices, delivering our first product on time and within budget despite being a small startup.
The Bythlon system is compatible with any road bike shoe that has the standard three-hole pattern in the sole, commonly used for road cycling from brands like Shimano SPD-L, Look, Keo, and similar systems. Bythlon doesn’t work with two-hole patterns commonly found on mountain bike shoes.
The Bythlon pedal weighs 5 ounces (144 grams) and the cleat plate weighs 1.5 ounces (43 grams). The pedal dimensions are 3.5 inches (89 mm) wide and 3.2 inches (84 mm) long. The axle has a total length of 3.5 inches (89 mm), with 3 inches (77 mm) protruding from the crank and a center distance of 2 inches (52 mm) to the crank.
The pedal body is composed of a lightweight polyamide (PA) glass fiber compound, while the axle is made from durable Chromium Molybdenum (Cr-Mo) steel. The cleat plate features a fiberglass body with anti-slip Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) tips for added grip.
Not at the moment. We found that most riders prefer a floating configuration that allows a few degrees of freedom for the feet to tilt when biking to relieve stress from the knee and hip joint. Therefore, we currently do not offer cleats for a fixed configuration.
Minimal maintenance is needed. Simply clean them periodically and check for wear on the cleats. If you have any issues with the pedals, just send us an email and we'll get you sorted.
The Science
Yes, but not for the reasons most cyclists think. The gain comes from the rigid shoe-to-pedal connection, which prevents energy loss from your foot flexing or slipping. This stable interface keeps your foot aligned and ensures more of your power goes directly into the crank, something flats can’t provide as consistently. When it comes to numbers, we don’t know exactly, and it likely varies with each cyclist, riding style, and conditions. In one study we looked at, riders using clipless shoes with stiff soles sprinted about 8% faster over 100 m compared to flat pedals with flexible shoes, alongside a 27% increase in peak power.
The short answer is it does not contribute to your power. It’s a little more nuanced and you can learn more about your pedal stroke from GCN, Dylan Johnson, or us.
Research consistently shows that active pulling up during the upstroke actually reduces cycling efficiency. The upstroke primarily serves to unweight the pedal rather than actively pull up. Professional cyclists demonstrate "smoother" pedaling with better upstroke unweighting (as you can with Bythlon), but their power advantage comes from the downstroke, not from pulling up.
Sources: Coleman & Hale (1998), Mornieux et al. (2008), Korff et al. (2007)
Yes. If you’ve ridden for years without trouble, it might be easy to dismiss the risks. To us, clipless pedals are dangerous enough that their risks should be explicitly considered against their benefits. The cycling industry has normalized these risks as an acceptable "rite of passage," but with cycling sending more people to the emergency room than any other sport, we think there are serious improvements to be made. Clipless pedals also pose particular risk to the hips and pelvis because of the rotation around the clipped foot if the pedal fails to release and the knees when no float is offered.
Sources: Sarmiento et al. (2021), Kukadia et al. (2015)
Installation
Thread them directly into the crank arms. Each pedal is marked L (left) or R (right). The right pedal tightens clockwise, the left pedal tightens counter-clockwise. Once seated, finish tightening with an Allen key and ensure they're fastened after your first ride.
You will need a 3 mm and 6 mm Allen key, also known as hexagonal tools, or hex. You will find them most likely with your bike multi-tool. If you do not own a multi-tool yet, get one! It is part of the essentials to take along every ride. If you want to replace existing pedals or cleats, you may need additional tools like a 15 mm wrench or different size allen key depending on what your existing system uses. While you can install the cleats and pedals yourself, we love bike stores and suggest taking your pedal system there if you need a helping hand!
The cleat installation is simple, you screw each of the bolts into the bottom of your shoe and using the triangle, you can position the cleat to what feels the most comfortable for you. You can watch a video on installation here.
Packaging & Shipping
Yes. However, you have to cover the cost of shipping. If you're in Europe, you might get cheaper shipping rates and faster delivery times by ordering from our UK distributor.
We ship everyday with two-day shipping. So you should receive your order within three days of placing it. During holidays and busy seasons these might be slightly delayed, but it should not take longer than a few days to get your products. If it's been more than three days, please reach out and we'll sort you out.
Depending on rates, availability, and destination address, we ship with USPS, UPS, and FedEx. For international shipments we use DHL. If you have a preference for which shipping provider to use, please add it to your order notes or reach out to us directly.
Everything Else
When available, our Pedal for the Planet program offers returned pedal systems that are cleaned, serviced, and approved for another life. They're slightly discounted and illegible for returns.
We offer free returns if you reach out within 30 days of receiving your order. Just email us (ideally with why it wasn't working for you) and we'll send you a return label, no questions asked. Once the return hits our warehouse, your refund will be processed.