FlatBike Pop-Off Pedals
Bicycles present practical storage and transportation challenges that are frequently underestimated. Pedals protrude laterally, catching on surfaces and increasing the overall footprint of the bike during storage or transit. Flatbike's Pop-Off Pedals were developed to address these issues directly, with the stated aim of producing a pedal that is both performance-grade and straightforwardly removable. Pillar Design collaborated with Flatbike founder Bob Forgrave to bring the product from an early-stage concept to a manufacturable design. Prior to this collaboration, Flatbike had assembled a working mechanism from components sourced across several manufacturers. When COVID-19 disrupted global supply chains, the viability of that approach collapsed, creating the conditions for a ground-up redesign. Flatbike engaged Pillar to improve usability, consolidate the supply chain, and develop a more reliable core mechanism. Engineering and design teams worked concurrently, on the basis that aesthetic and functional considerations are difficult to disentangle at the component level.
Multiple mechanism types were prototyped and evaluated before a final direction was established. Detail-level decisions were treated as central to the process rather than secondary, with swappable traction pins and a slim profile compatible with both mountain bike footwear and casual shoes among the features prioritized. An initial sliding collar design was set aside after testing identified risks of accidental release and performance inconsistency under load. The final design uses a lever-based dual-actuated release mechanism, which offered greater safety assurance while keeping operation straightforward. The spindle assembly was structured to allow future material upgrades without requiring a full redesign, and all development was carried out in accordance with ISO-4210 pedal testing standards. Following launch, the Kickstarter campaign reached its funding target within 24 hours and closed at approximately 500% of its original goal; the accompanying launch video accumulated two million views. The pedals subsequently received an innovation and design award at the Taiwan Bike Show.
Reliable Mechanism
Conventional removable pedal systems require a lateral offset to accommodate the release mechanism, pushing the rider's foot further outboard and altering stance width. Pillar addressed this by integrating the pinch latch directly into the pedal body, keeping it as close to the crank arm as a standard pedal and preserving natural biomechanics. Furthermore, it was important to both Pillar and Flatbike to reduce barrier to entry, so as a result, The pedals thread onto any standard crank with a conventional wrench or allen key, and once fitted, all subsequent attachment and removal is tool-free, meaning no proprietary hardware, no adapters, no learning curve.
Pedal Durability
Durability was established as a core requirement early in development, given the mechanical demands placed on pedals during riding. Pillar addressed this factor through material selection, specifying an impact-modified glass-reinforced nylon for the pedal body. The material provides the toughness and rigidity required to absorb high-impact conditions without compromising the release mechanism or overall structural integrity. The selection criteria extended beyond resistance to isolated impact events; the intent was to maintain tight tolerances and consistent release function across the full service life of the product. The final design passed the ISO-4210 destruction test suite for mountain bikes, confirming that the material specification performed as intended under standardised testing conditions.
Anti-Theft Improvement
A secondary benefit of the Pop-Off Pedal system, noted positively by users, is its function as a passive theft deterrent. A bicycle without pedals is substantially more difficult to ride, raising the practical barrier for opportunistic theft when the bike is left unattended in public. Removing the pedals and carrying them eliminates the need for a dedicated lock or secondary security device. The approach requires no additional equipment and imposes no meaningful time cost, given that pedal removal is already part of the user's transport or storage routine.
Even when stationary in a house or apartment, sharp pedals can be a constant danger to anybody walking by. Flatbike Pop-Off Pedals eliminate these issues by simultaneously providing the bike industry’s most rugged, and yet most easily used, removable bike pedal. — IF Design Awards, 2025
