To Cleat or not to Cleat

[reteid]

i ride with vp trail pedals which gives you best of both worlds.clips and flats on both sides.you choose when to use what.but best for you is always what works for you.

[Clinton1]

Great to see this question come up. As soon as I got my new bike most of my "mountain biking" friends asked what pedals I was putting on and started saying my next purchase would need to be cleats. I kept responding that I am in no rush and am quite happy riding with platforms, much to their disgust. Knowing I am not alone in this thinking is reassuring

 

I am in this for fitness, not to optimise pedal stroke etc etc. I am probably having to exert more energy for the same outcome with platforms surely? If so, then I fail to see the benefit of cleats, for now. Maybe when I start racing they could add value.

[patches]

THIS... is the best of both worlds

 

http://www.ae7.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/d392a3f559502acf7b1062bfdf957283.jpg

 

http://static.26bikes.com/GetFile/14002/4002_07.jpg

 

or

 

http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/fiveten-minaar-11-zoom.jpg

 

With

 

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/components/pedals/WMB88.gt_1.mallet_prev-399-75.jpg

 

I think such a combo will be my next purchase and integration into the world of cleats

[koukie]

When I ride without cleats it feels like i'm going to fall any moment. You have much more control with cleats.

[CAAD4]

Also check out the Shimano M535 pedals. They have a small platform.

[cat-i]

  On 11/16/2011 at 9:38 PM, cwisking said:

yo yo, whats ur guys take on cleats for mtb races... i had cleats, gone back to normal takkies.

 

i cant make up my mind what i prefer.

 

i prefer the cleats for the flats, hills. But when it comes to the technical stuff i like being able to pop a foot out when i feel the urge.

 

what do u guys race in??

 

i have double-sided pedals. One side i can clip in; when it's too technical for my liking, i use the flat side. Works a charm for me.

[Eddy Gordo]

I fully agree cleats are great for straights and climbimg, the benefits are immense, but coming down on technical stuff if a bit if a worry, especially over jumps

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

  On 11/17/2011 at 6:33 AM, patches said:

THIS... is the best of both worlds

 

http://www.ae7.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/d392a3f559502acf7b1062bfdf957283.jpg

 

http://static.26bikes.com/GetFile/14002/4002_07.jpg

 

or

 

http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/fiveten-minaar-11-zoom.jpg

 

With

 

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/bikes-and-gear/components/pedals/WMB88.gt_1.mallet_prev-399-75.jpg

 

I think such a combo will be my next purchase and integration into the world of cleats

5/10's and malletts. Awesome

[patches]

  On 11/17/2011 at 7:09 AM, cptmayhem said:

5/10's and malletts. Awesome

 

Yup! Senor Capricorn should post here and give us feedback on how his Minnaar-Mallet combo is performing

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

  On 11/17/2011 at 7:15 AM, patches said:

Yup! Senor Capricorn should post here and give us feedback on how his Minnaar-Mallet combo is performing

He's having trouble with his left foot. Keeps landing in his mouth.

 

No, seriously, I think he likes them, but is having to shim up his left cleat to allow easier entry. But it looks like the best combo out there. And damn, are those soles stiff!

[patches]

  On 11/17/2011 at 7:31 AM, cptmayhem said:

He's having trouble with his left foot. Keeps landing in his mouth.

 

No, seriously, I think he likes them, but is having to shim up his left cleat to allow easier entry. But it looks like the best combo out there. And damn, are those soles stiff!

 

hells yeah! I just have the Sam Hill edition Impacts, and those have pretty stiff soles. I'm so used to them that when I wear "skate shoes" (Macbeths) to ride in, I sometimes get cramps in my feet arches due to lack of support.

 

So yeah, I can imagine that the Minnaars (being SPDs) have even stiffer soles than the regular 5.10 range

Edited November 17, 2011 by patches

[MTB_Roadie]

  On 11/16/2011 at 9:38 PM, cwisking said:

yo yo, whats ur guys take on cleats for mtb races... i had cleats, gone back to normal takkies.

 

i cant make up my mind what i prefer.

i prefer the cleats for the flats, hills. But when it comes to the technical stuff i like being able to pop a foot out when i feel the urge.

 

what do u guys race in??

 

Why? I started cycling with cleats from day one, i never fell with my mtb before due to my cleat being stuck....i fell becase mistakes I made where I was unclipped before hitting the floor already. Don't be a pansy now

[nigelhicks]

if you are clipped in in the rough stuff you have 2 extra contol points on the bike ..... Cleats ALL THE WAY.

 

I even use them for DH racing as its much more stable in teh fast rough stuff ... and you can get out of them in a second - If you go over the bars your bike doesnt stay clipped in ... I demonstrated that on tues at tokai to a couple of guys as I went OTB ...

 

Shimano 424s (DX) pedals are the way ... dont get cane creek ... they suck! They wear out in 2 seconds

[The Drongo]

  On 11/16/2011 at 9:38 PM, cwisking said:

yo yo, whats ur guys take on cleats for mtb races... i had cleats, gone back to normal takkies.

 

i cant make up my mind what i prefer.

 

i prefer the cleats for the flats, hills. But when it comes to the technical stuff i like being able to pop a foot out when i feel the urge.

 

what do u guys race in??

 

Consider this piece of kit too.

 

Special price 'por yoo !'

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

  On 11/17/2011 at 10:57 AM, nigelhicks said:

if you are clipped in in the rough stuff you have 2 extra contol points on the bike ..... Cleats ALL THE WAY.

 

I even use them for DH racing as its much more stable in teh fast rough stuff ... and you can get out of them in a second - If you go over the bars your bike doesnt stay clipped in ... I demonstrated that on tues at tokai to a couple of guys as I went OTB ...

 

Shimano 424s (DX) pedals are the way ... dont get cane creek ... they suck! They wear out in 2 seconds

 

Damn! Knew I should've come along for the ride!

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

  On 11/17/2011 at 7:40 AM, patches said:

hells yeah! I just have the Sam Hill edition Impacts, and those have pretty stiff soles. I'm so used to them that when I wear "skate shoes" (Macbeths) to ride in, I sometimes get cramps in my feet arches due to lack of support.

 

So yeah, I can imagine that the Minnaars (being SPDs) have even stiffer soles than the regular 5.10 range

 

Absolutely! I'm riding in my Adio skate shoes atm, and they're HELLUVA flexy! Also not the softest soles in the world, so they jump around a bit. I get left with overworked calves whenever I use them. But hell, flats are the way ahead for me.