Flat pedals are not a compromise
Clipless gets treated as the default upgrade, but flats have real advantages. You can put a foot down instantly, wear whatever shoes you arrived in, and learn to handle a bike without the mechanism ever being the reason you fell over.
They suit anyone new to riding off-road, anyone doing short trips around Hout Bay, and plenty of experienced riders on technical ground who want to dab without thinking.
An alloy body with pins gives far more grip than the plastic pedals that come on most complete bikes — that is the upgrade that actually matters here.
The clipless options are in the pedals range if you would rather go that way.
