Advice on flat pedals please?

[CatGirl]

Look there is gonna be conflicting ops here..

But nothing F&^%$# a shoe up like griptape on a skateboard & the soles are made to grip to something as the minute grip of sandpaper.

Been sk8ing & using sk8 shoes for 25+years,they were used long before MTB "takkies" existed...

Pair of vans,etnies will do the job ,they always did ,dont need to be a total MTB fashion victim

 

guy at LBS rides flat pedals and bought skate shoes from billabong, en hy se die goed GRIP!

so my sentiment exactly...they made to grip...

[Delilah]

Off topic (apologies Catgirl):

 

@Patches: Your avvie is messing with my brain. When I look at it carefully, it is a cool pic of you wearing a full-face helmet BUT when I just catch a glimpse of it, this is what my brain registers:

 

 

I sure hope it is not a sign of serious pathology!

[ThePubSA]

I purposely went for the neutrons because they don't have the 2 middle pins. I find the middle pins tend to trash my shoes faster. Still plenty of grip without trhem... I personally can't notice the difference.

They def thrash shoes

Maybe its those thick 510 soles that you cant tell the diff in grip ,is more then enough on nano/neut though

http://medias.doctissimo.fr/medias-factory/m/mediabox/media/4/8/4/217484/217484.jpg

Sole gets to thick might aswell ride these

Those karver 510's actually look similiar

Edited October 25, 2012 by 2Nutz

[Anine]

mini hijack perhaps, but how grippy are these pinned pedals and the fivetens really?

if I really push down on my heel on descents, will my foot stay on the pedal?

 

what about bunny hopping or other 'aerial manoeuvres' which require pulling up on the pedals? how does this influence things?

 

I'm considering flats too. being cleated and not able to put down a foot quick enough over technical terrain scares the cr*p out of me

[ThePubSA]

guy at LBS rides flat pedals and bought skate shoes from billabong, en hy se die goed GRIP!

so my sentiment exactly...they made to grip...

Look in like 97 guys who crossed over from sk8ing to mtb all wore sk8 shoes just ask jeff grosso. Altough sk8boarders are used to their shoes only lasting 2/3 months depending how hard you sk8.

Used to love vans gumrubber soles & not much rolling ankles in MTB,so soft upper doesnt really matter

[patches]

"Don't waste your money on skate shoes - the soles are nowhere near stiff enough for cycling."

 

 

You see thats the key right there..

I dont like shoes that are too hard,especially for skating you cant feel your board or create the right pressure for flips etc..

Same as on my bike like to feel the pedals,not feel like there's a plank of wood between me and the pedals.

Personnel pref

 

Have you tried 5.10's? Try some with the Freerider base (Freerider, Barron, MacCaskill). They're not as rigid as the Impact base (Impact, Karver, Sam Hill).

 

I have both types, and also prefer a little more flex.

 

But remember, the real reason people use 5.10s is for the Stealth rubber. it's second to none! Seriously! try it and you'll convert!

 

guy at LBS rides flat pedals and bought skate shoes from billabong, en hy se die goed GRIP!

so my sentiment exactly...they made to grip...

 

As mentioned above, FiveTens really do grip better than skate shoes. Skate shoes are made for gripping on sandpaper, not to have steel pins impedden in them. Besides, I think their primary design function is to "look cool". FiveTens are sport specific shoes. Just like a figureskating blade is different to an ice hockey one, so are the soles between skate shoes and FiveTens.

[CatGirl]

They def thrash shoes

Maybe its those thick 510 soles that you cant tell the diff in grip ,is more then enough on nano/neut though

http://medias.doctissimo.fr/medias-factory/m/mediabox/media/4/8/4/217484/217484.jpg

Sole gets to thick might aswell ride these

Those karver 510's actually look similiar

 

good fkn lord...gods NO!

[ThePubSA]

mini hijack perhaps, but how grippy are these pinned pedals and the fivetens really?

if I really push down on my heel on descents, will my foot stay on the pedal?

 

what about bunny hopping or other 'aerial manoeuvres' which require pulling up on the pedals? how does this influence things?

 

I'm considering flats too. being cleated and not able to put down a foot quick enough over technical terrain scares the cr*p out of me

I think flats teach you to be more in tune with your bike & learn to distribute your weight properly & compress your suspension right for jumps.

I just remember an old set of look cleats my friend cycled his knee skew with,dont like that feeling of the lump under my feet.

100+km's diff story though

[patches]

mini hijack perhaps, but how grippy are these pinned pedals and the fivetens really?

if I really push down on my heel on descents, will my foot stay on the pedal?

 

what about bunny hopping or other 'aerial manoeuvres' which require pulling up on the pedals? how does this influence things?

 

I'm considering flats too. being cleated and not able to put down a foot quick enough over technical terrain scares the cr*p out of me

 

First the downhills.... if they're good enough for Sam Hill to win multiple downhill world titles, then they're good enough for a mere mortal like me.

 

With decent pedals and good pedals one can angle their pedal to 45deg (easily, possibly even further) and put all your weight in it.

 

Second, the bunnyhopping... if you're using your cleats to bunny hop, then you're doing it all wrong. Sorry to say, but it's as simple as that. With correct bunnyhop technique you don't lift your bike with the pedals. look at trials riders or park BMXers. They bunnyhop higher than nearly anyone, and don't clip in.

 

But yeah... come to the dark side of flats! you'll develop your tech skills and confidence. Also you won't look spaz when you're walking around in the parking lot

[Delilah]

LOL!!!!!!! The Karvers' soles are not as thick as they look on pictures. They sides kind of curve around the shoe (does that make sense?) which protects the upper and keeps feet dry if you have to hoof it through water or mud. The soles are not hard at all. They are really comfy to walk in. By stiffness I mean that there is just not a lot of flex - something which would have detracted from pedalling efficiency.

[Anine]

But yeah... come to the dark side of flats! you'll develop your tech skills and confidence. Also you won't look spaz when you're walking around in the parking lot

 

Thank you patches! exactly the info I was looking for

[ThePubSA]

Have you tried 5.10's? Try some with the Freerider base (Freerider, Barron, MacCaskill). They're not as rigid as the Impact base (Impact, Karver, Sam Hill).

 

I have both types, and also prefer a little more flex.

 

But remember, the real reason people use 5.10s is for the Stealth rubber. it's second to none! Seriously! try it and you'll convert!

 

 

 

As mentioned above, FiveTens really do grip better than skate shoes. Skate shoes are made for gripping on sandpaper, not to have steel pins impedden in them. Besides, I think their primary design function is to "look cool". FiveTens are sport specific shoes. Just like a figureskating blade is different to an ice hockey one, so are the soles between skate shoes and FiveTens.

I hear you Boss,had the freerides until smashed & grabbed a bag out of my car,they only took 1 shoe though,still have the other somewhere.

Couldnt say they were miraculously better then a sk8 shoe,but then again i get cheap shoe prices from Revolution.

& 510's are **** on a board,sk8 shoe more multi function seen as i do both.

I will be getting another pair 510's soon

[patches]

LOL!!!!!!! The Karvers' soles are not as thick as they look on pictures. They sides kind of curve around the shoe (does that make sense?) which protects the upper and keeps feet dry if you have to hoof it through water or mud. The soles are not hard at all. They are really comfy to walk in. By stiffness I mean that there is just not a lot of flex - something which would have detracted from pedalling efficiency.

 

What this lady says is true. I have Sam Hill's (the same sole as Karvers). They are not buffalos (not that I ever wore those... promise, haha). they merely wrap around the base of the shoe. And yes, they are comfy. One could easily walk around in them all day. But they do offer more support to your foot than the Freerider types

 

Thank you patches! exactly the info I was looking for

 

It's a pleasure

Edited October 25, 2012 by patches

[Edge_Design]

If by some slim chance you decide on Crank Bros, I have a set of brand new 5050X's that are still in their box (never been on a bike)... Happy to let them go at a good price.

[patches]

Off topic (apologies Catgirl):

 

@Patches: Your avvie is messing with my brain. When I look at it carefully, it is a cool pic of you wearing a full-face helmet BUT when I just catch a glimpse of it, this is what my brain registers:

 

 

I sure hope it is not a sign of serious pathology!

 

No tickling please! I'll wet my undies

[DR ◣◢]

mini hijack perhaps, but how grippy are these pinned pedals and the fivetens really?

if I really push down on my heel on descents, will my foot stay on the pedal?

 

what about bunny hopping or other 'aerial manoeuvres' which require pulling up on the pedals? how does this influence things?

 

I'm considering flats too. being cleated and not able to put down a foot quick enough over technical terrain scares the cr*p out of me

 

I havn't ridden with the 5.10s yet but I can add some insights.

 

Pulling up on the pedals when you bunnyhop is a very very bad technique that develops from riding with SPDs or clipless pedals. You should be able to hop and jump by using upward and forward momentum to un-weight the bike.