Friend circumventing editor's clutch? (5)
I believe the answer is:
pedal
'clutch?' is the definition.
(clutch is a kind of pedal)
'friend circumventing editor's' is the wordplay.
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'circumventing' is an insertion indicator (I've seen this in other clues).
'editor' becomes 'ed' (abbreviation).
'pal' placed around 'ed' is 'PEDAL'.
(Other definitions for pedal that I've seen before include "part of organ" , "Travel by bike" , "cause a revolution in cycling?" , "Plead for bicycle propeller" , "Foot control" .)