Flats v Clip on pedals, (apologies for no doubt asking again!!) Options

[Madyear]

Hi All

Climbing ain't easy!!! 17.5st is a lot to get up hills and Mountain Mayhem is fast approaching...

Do they really make such a difference? Do they work with XC riding, esp with lots of mud?!!!

Heard a few horror stories of not being able to unclip and then having a slo-mo fall, or mud getting to thick, not being able to get cleats back on and then not being able to pedal... hmmm

If it's a goer what do people recommend...?

Cheers!

Team Asparagus, MM 2010!

[torihada]

I'd do a search through the forums for spd's versus flats etc because this topic has been covered extensively, with various battles and skirmishes breaking out between the clipless and flatty clans....

eg.

Clipless good idea?

Clipless

OMG clipless rocks

[payneib]

as above, but the pack is split almost straight down the middle with this one.

the only thing i can recommend is try and see if you like it, i did, and love it!


got these, nice and cheap if you don't like it after all:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7808

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/dhb_T1_C...oes/5360033189/

I'd definatley recommend trying them, once you're used to them they o make things alot easyer. and yes, untill you're used to them expect some comedy slow-mo falling over sideways!

[SinfulHedgehog]

Yeah, just get some cheap Shimano clipless peds and give 'em a crack. Personally I love them and have been using them since I took up cycling again two years ago. Yes, I flopped off a fair few times as a result but you get used to them eventually and you can loosen them off to increase your chances of unclipping when required. Get them cheap, you can always dump them if you think they're cack.

[DrBike]

The M647 is better than the M424

[marcliam]

I was a firm advocate of the flat pedal and had always ridden them since taking up mtb'ing 3 years ago however about 6 months ago I started riding clipless and absolutely love them. I had thought that I would be swapping between flats and clippies depending on how muddie it was, etc but have never actually bothered. There is a greater feeling of being able to apply power and control the bike with the clippless

Don't get me wrong I still think flats are good but providing you have the right shoe pedal combo (which for me was DMR + Five-Ten shoes)

Heard a few horror stories of not being able to unclip and then having a slo-mo fall, or mud getting to thick, not being able to get cleats back on and then not being able to pedal... hmmm

Not as bad as you might think, after the first few rides. I would recommend staying off the road for at the begining until you have got used to them. Keeping the tension low it is not actually that difficult to unclip once you remember you have to move your heal to the side rather than just lift off.

[Kerr]

Hardened clipless here.
I even use them in the alps.

When we had the snow after xmas, I switched to pedals for a ride and bitterly regretted it. Foot jumping all over the place... couldn't climb... horrible.

I would not go for the M424 as the cleat area is flat and hangs on to mud whcih can cause problems clipping in quickly.
I would go for M520 or M540 if your foot isnt too wide, but if you do a lot of longer rides with lots of downhill the M647 is the biz.
Dont waste your time with single sided pedals, they are a right faff.

I also ONLY use the SM-SH56 cleats for MTB as they shed mud better and release in any direction. I think these are much safer.
I really don't see a need to go to single release as my foot never releases unless i need or want it to.
They even release if you roll your foot forward and away from the bike. The same movement when you have to do an emergency dab!

I think it will be down to personal experience as to which you will prefer clipless or flats. Once you are used to them you will be unlikely to go back to flats.

You rarely hear of people who have ridden clipless for years going back to flats.

Kerr

[Madyear]

Hardened clipless here.
I even use them in the alps.

When we had the snow after xmas, I switched to pedals for a ride and bitterly regretted it. Foot jumping all over the place... couldn't climb... horrible.

I would not go for the M424 as the cleat area is flat and hangs on to mud whcih can cause problems clipping in quickly.
I would go for M520 or M540 if your foot isnt too wide, but if you do a lot of longer rides with lots of downhill the M647 is the biz.
Dont waste your time with single sided pedals, they are a right faff.

I also ONLY use the SM-SH56 cleats for MTB as they shed mud better and release in any direction. I think these are much safer.
I really don't see a need to go to single release as my foot never releases unless i need or want it to.
They even release if you roll your foot forward and away from the bike. The same movement when you have to do an emergency dab!

I think it will be down to personal experience as to which you will prefer clipless or flats. Once you are used to them you will be unlikely to go back to flats.

You rarely hear of people who have ridden clipless for years going back to flats.

Kerr

Thanks for this. The 647's do look good.
Noob question but do the cleats come with the pedal, the shoe or as an additional purchase?

[Jarl]

You rarely hear of people who have ridden clipless for years going back to flats.

Hi.

Clips are great if you're riding within you skill limit. If you're looking to push the boundaries a bit then it's best to use flats. IMO.

May I recommend crank brothers pedals to you? IMO a far nicer system, albeit a bit less reliable (but backed up by an amazing warranty service). Deals with mud quite a lot better than shimano, but a bit more expensive. Biggest advantage is there's more float, great for if you have slightly dodgy knees.

Cleats usually come with the pedals when new, but in some rare situations won't.

[Mad Pierre]

Get some cheap Shimano and give em a try. You'll soon get used to them...

I ride both SPD and flat depending on what I feel like.

I wouldn't bother with crank bros to start with unless you like spending more and then walking home when the bearings fail mid ride?

[Tuffty]

If you subscribe to WMB they will give you a pair of Shimano SPDs

[littlegirlbunny]

To improve skills, and for 'bigger' stuff, flats are great. I wouldn't ride anything else now as I know they have a massive effect on my skill and body positioning.

However,

If I was doing MM or any kind of XC race I'd definitely go SPD's again. I really notice the lack of decent power for techy climbs and, even after 18 months of riding flats, can't techy-climb half as well as I did with SPD's. Plus, when you get really tired SPD's can help in two ways - firstly you can work on 'pulling' rather than 'pushing' to give one set of muscles a bit of a rest. Also, SPD's let you pedal over pretty much anything at a constant cadence - when you are really tired and spinning circles is most important, flats can be a real pain in the arse because you have to think about when you put your pedal strokes in.

BTW I have some SPD pedals and cleats you are welcome to borrow to try out

[huw]

Bit of both for me. If I’m getting my RAD on or I know that the ride is going to have a more downhill/fun bias I’ll always go for flats, but if there’s any speedy XC pedalling, sustained hills or whippety racing it’s clips all the way. Generally it depends on what I’m riding, who’s riding, where we’re riding, what the weathers like.

The basic facts are flats are good at some stuff and Spd’s are good at other things. Try them both and decide what’s best for your style of riding. If you can happily use both it’ll make you a better all round rider.

And remember pedals are not a religion, you’re allowed to try all the different options and freely switch between them without fear of eternal damnation.

[Kerr]

Thanks for this. The 647's do look good.
Noob question but do the cleats come with the pedal, the shoe or as an additional purchase?

You normally get the single release cleats with shimano pedals.
But, I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY cant recommend the multi release cleats enough, especially for first time clipless.
They are massivly safer in the event of getting your foot on the ground quickly.

I also agree with others in that flat pedals are the right choice if your more downhill/freestyle biased where dabbing feet is not seen as cheating

Kerr

[Speedy Al]

I love clipless pedals because i dont do air!

Theres a time and a place, and for xc its a good time for clipless !

[SammyC]

And remember pedals are not a religion, you're allowed to try all the different options and freely switch between them without fear of eternal damnation.

Just fear of eternal damnation from googatron, and seeing as he thinks he's god ......

[Kerr]

Clipless Vs Flats ...

[littlegirlbunny]

Just fear of eternal damnation from googatron, and seeing as he thinks he's god ......

ah, you're quite safe - he doesn't come here anymore

[Doug]

Flats on the DH bike. SPD-SL on the road and clipless flats on the upcoming all day HT.

[SammyC]

ah, you're quite safe - he doesn't come here anymore ph34r.gif

Hmmmm....