Updated on August 18, 2022
Wheel stops, or bike pegs, are a common feature of the sport. You can use them to keep your bike from straying too far away when you park it outside, as well as to keep it stable while you’re on the road.
Bike pegs are available in a wide variety of forms and sizes, some of which are adjustable and others of which are set. The cost, choice, and purpose of use all play a role in the type of material utilised in production.
On many BMX bikes you’ll find a peg known as a “platform peg,” which is just a flat, circular-shaped peg. There are two types of BMX pegs: the thick peg and the thin rod peg, which looks like a dowel rod that has been sliced in half.
Platform pegs are the most common type of peg, but thin rod pegs are more commonly employed by dirt jumpers. This is due to their short length, which allows the rider to better manage their speed and balance while executing trick manoeuvres.
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What Are Bike Pegs For?
Most bicycles don’t come with pegs. In fact, they’d be an unnecessary burden or stumbling block for a lot of motorcycles. The rear and front wheels of your bike are normally attached to these pegs. On motocross bikes, pegs are used mostly to accomplish stunts and stunts. From front wheelies to double peg grinds, BMX pegs allow for a wide range of stunts.
Function of Bike Pegs
As a bicycle rider, your feet and weight should be placed just in front of your wheel’s centre of gravity. As a result, the rider has more control over the bike’s movement. The BMX bike is easier to balance on one wheel because to the placement of the axles, which also serves as a pivot point for turning and moving the bike. For example, the pegs are utilised to “grind” along the ground while the rider balances on a moving bike.
Bike Peg Features
To minimise the possibility of falling when performing stunts, most BMX bikes use hard, fixed pegs rather than free-spinning ones. Depending on the rider’s preference for grip, they can be made of metal or rubber, and some even have flat tops to aid in grabbing the peg. For example, a rider’s foot placement and the demands of particular feats may necessitate a wider or narrower wheelbase. All-metal pegs are preferred by most grinding trick enthusiasts.
Function Instead of Style
Bike pegs on BMX bikes can be painted or left uncoated, depending on the preferences of the rider. Bike pegs can be affected by the sort of paint or decoration applied to them. This feature is limited by the fact that the structural components of pegs are too critical to performance to be picked purely on appearance.
Bike Pegs Are Optional Equipment
There are some BMX bikes that don’t come with pegs pre-installed. Since peg feel and performance can have a significant impact on trick performance, this is done in order to allow owners of the bike to select their own pegs. Furthermore, racing BMX bikes do not have pegs because they are ineffective in racing and add weight to the bike. Pegs, on the other hand, are a necessity for every stunt bike. Pegs are optional, but stunt riders should always wear a helmet and elbow protection in case they take a tumble.
Can You Put Bike Pegs On A Mountain Bike?
Yes, the axle required to install pegs is found on many mountain bikes. On the other hand, should mountain bike pegs be installed?
While pegs can give your off-road bicycle trick and stunt capabilities, there are a number of drawbacks you should be aware of before using them.
The design of the axle and skewer comes first. Skewers with quick-release or through-axle mechanisms are common on mountain bikes. Attaching a peg to one of them is usually out of the question. An difficulty with installation results in limits such as the inability to adequately tighten your pegs.
The axles of many mountain bikes aren’t built to support the weight of a rider standing on them, which is another problem. Pegs may have to be attached to a mountain bike’s fender or rack mounts as a result. The frame of your mountain bike is susceptible to damage as a result of pegs.
To make it easier for passengers to get on and off the bike, pegs are frequently fitted. Mountain bikes, on the other hand, are restricted in terms of weight because they are not designed to carry passengers. Adding pegs in this case results in an increase in tyre flats.
To summarise, adding bike pegs to a mountain bike is a bad idea. Installation, structural, and safety concerns are all likely to arise. If you’re set on adding pegs to your MTB, do your homework and look for bike pegs that are specifically made for MTBs and have the appropriate axle size and weight capacity.
Bike Pegs Tricks
Using pegs for grinding is the most famous and well-known stunt. When a cyclist slides down a falling outdoor staircase using only their pegs, this is referred to as a “slide-slide” move. Because the wheels aren’t in contact with the ground, neither the rider nor the bike’s weight is supported throughout this trick.
To become proficient in grinding, one must put in a lot of time and effort. Steps both in the mind and body are required:
- The process of locating a workpiece to be ground
- Preparing for the arduous task ahead
- figuring out when to start dismounting
- By hopping your peg off the surface, you can get off the surface.
- Maintaining equilibrium and forward momentum while landing on the bike.
Keeping both feet on the same peg when riding a bike is another common technique. This entails balancing one foot first, then swinging the other foot across the saddle to land on the exact same peg. Combine this move with a wheelie to do a “manual,” which increases the stunt’s difficulty while also adding visual appeal.
On sites like YouTube and Instagram, new tricks, stunts, and variants are regularly discovered and filmed. This means that everyone who is curious about the art of bicycle trickery has access to not only an extensive library of instructional and entertaining content, but also an entire community of bike-trick lovers.
Can You Stand On Bike Pegs?
Pegs are the small metal bars that attach to the front or back of a bicycle. If you’re not too heavy, you can stand on bike pegs. Bike pegs are dangerous since they can cause your feet to slip off and you could fall. Stand carefully on the bike pegs if you want to give it a whirl
Because they don’t have to peddle as hard while riding their bikes, kids like standing on the pegs. The practise of standing up while riding a bicycle is frowned upon by some, but I disagree.
What Are Bike Pegs Made of?
A BMX, mountain, or other type of bike’s footrests are known as bike pegs. While there are many different types of bike pegs to choose from, they are all constructed from different materials. Metal bike pegs, for example, are long-lasting and won’t disintegrate easily. In addition to metal pegs, you’ll also discover plastic pegs, which are inexpensive and easy to replace or update.
Bike pegs made of aluminium and steel are common. Aluminum is lighter, but steel is more sturdy and will not flex under stress. Different styles of metal bike pegs, as previously noted, can be found. Some are soldered to the bike’s ends, for example, to increase the bike’s durability. The use of bolts is an option for the rest. Removable bike pegs allow you to swap out for different models of bike pegs with ease.
Plastic bike pegs are often composed of nylon or other high-impact polymers. No matter how many times you use them, these pegs will not fall apart. You don’t have to worry about them rusting or corroding over time, unlike metal bike pegs, which are easy to clean. Plastic bike pegs are also lighter than metal ones, which makes them more convenient to use. If you don’t want to risk damaging your bike by using metal pegs, they are a better option.
While these materials are commonly used in bike pegs, additional materials, such as wooden bike pegs, are available. However, aluminium, steel, and plastic are the three most common materials used. The type of bike pegs you need will be determined by the type of riding you perform. A good example is downhill speed riding on a bike with aluminium or steel pegs. In contrast, plastic bike pegs are ideal for those just learning to ride and who enjoy doing stunts in the dirt on their bicycle.
Conclusion
When it comes to stunts and tricks on properly equipped bikes, bike pegs are primarily used. Pegs can be used on a variety of bikes, thus this does not rule out the possibility of them being installed on a bike that is not specifically designed to accept them.
Keep an eye out for people who are relying on pegs to help them stand. Before attempting to stand on the pegs, be sure they are stable and secure. And the bike shouldn’t break down or suffer any damage as a result of the additional weight.
Passengers should not stand on the bike with the help of the pegs, which are designed for tricks and stunts and not for everyday use. Standing on the pegs should only be done under extreme caution if absolutely necessary.

Hey, all I am Joe Marino I love to ride bikes and teach others how to ride them. Most of my articles are about which bike is best for others. I am passionate about cycling and it shows, whether I am writing about a $25 bicycle from any random website or a $5000 Santa Cruz.
I have always been the guy who gets calls from friends while at work asking which bike they should buy. I have written about the best city bike for commuting, the best folding bike for use on public transit, and even what to keep in mind when shopping for kids’ bikes.
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