MTB cleats \ pedals advice

[Vetseun]

 

 

He was not attacking you.

 

In your first post you said two things:

 

You said that leaving clipless will be the biggest mistake. How do you know that? The OP did not specify the type of riding he wants to do.

 

You carried on and said that riding flats will result in eating more gravel. Well that is just ridiculous, if you have ever ridden a good flat pedal/shoe combo you will understand what we are on about.

 

Just like cptmayhem didn't ask the guy if he wants to bunnyhop like a 12 year old, you didn't ask the guy if he wants to ride endless gravel roads like a middle aged businessman.

I am having an arguement with Armpies. So you have now decided that a middle aged business man who just rides endless gravel roads. You dont even know me! It is obvious from your numerous posts on this thread that you are very clued up on the subject. You help the guy out.

[ThePubSA]

If you go flats, I would recommend:

 

FiveTen Freerider shoes

 

and any rebranded HT pedals..ie nukeproof neutron.

Fixed

[Brian Fantana]

I am having an arguement with Armpies. So you have now decided that a middle aged business man who just rides endless gravel roads. You dont even know me! It is obvious from your numerous posts on this thread that you are very clued up on the subject. You help the guy out.

 

Where did I say that you are a middle aged business man? Please tell me where. Read my post again, I wanted to say what the opposite of a 12 year old bunnyhopper is. I said nothing about you.

 

Both of you posted without knowing what type of riding the OP does, which is where the problem started.

[ThePubSA]

Wow but arent we outspoken. The guy asked for an opinion. I gave mine. Why dont you give yours without slating mine. Have you asked the guy if he wants to bunny hop around like a 12 year old? Or are you so.arrogant that you will decide for him? Rather give your opinion

I am sure that after considering all the opinions, he will be able to make an educated decision.

 

Who doesnt wanna bunnyhop round like a 12 year old ... turtleboy

[in10sive]

What pedals do you currently use? I found that pedals state to be shimano compatible for excample but when I ride my shimano cleats on the Ryder pedals I can not get my feet out.

 

On the shimano pedals I don't have that problem.

 

You can also adjust the pedals, and when you get used to cleats you will later find that you can balance better using your feet as an anchor and pulling on the pedals to assist you controlling the bike in the rough stuff.

 

Seems like a sensitive topic - sorry I should have stated in my 1st post which type of riding I am doing.

 

I am using shimano pedals with shimano cleats - gonna wash the bike later and see if it helps if I adjust the pedal

 

The flat pedal together with the five ten shoes is expensive - will have to do my home work - ribs lekker bruised this morning.

[Vetseun]

Where did I say that you are a middle aged business man? Please tell me where. Read my post again, I wanted to say what the opposite of a 12 year old bunnyhopper is. I said nothing about you.

 

Both of you posted without knowing what type of riding the OP does, which is where the problem started.

whatever. Im finished with this thread. Enough clever people to contribute.

[shaper]

Seems everyone is missing the crux of the op post. He said he likes cleats and is wanting advice as a noob on clipping in and out, not which is better flats or cleats!

 

Comes down to making sure the tensioner is not too tight and practice and familiarization will make it easier, but as a noob you have to go through the learning curve and falls are inevitable.

[Vetseun]

I am using shimano pedals with shimano cleats - gonna wash the bike later and see if it helps if I adjust the pedal

 

The flat pedal together with the five ten shoes is expensive - will have to do my home work - ribs lekker bruised this morning.

Bud. You do what your heart tells you to do. Enkoy your bike! Good luck with the ribs

[in10sive]

Bud. You do what your heart tells you to do. Enkoy your bike! Good luck with the ribs

 

Thanks all for the advice - adjusted tensioners a bit, cleaned the pedals and lubed will test later today.

[Pieter1]

I want to swap out my cleats for flats. I have no issue with cleats I'm just begining to think that riding with flat pedals would be more fun. Will my skate shoes be fine or do you REALLY need five tens?

[Joe Low]

Hi

 

Had a great day MTB on some rought terrain but went down twice :-) because could not get my foot cleat out of the pedal in time.

 

Anyone got some tips/advice for a noob - I like riding with cleats but after today I am considering going with cleatless pedals,

I rode the 1st while in pedals flat on one side and spd on the other. Didnt like being committed to cleats when i was unsure of the terrain e.g. rocks. It made riding a lot more enjoyable.

My view on getting ur feet out in time is that people snatch at it, lifting their foot and it jams. Practice a flat swivel and allow that xtra moment to do it right.

 

[DR ◣◢]

 

 

And in my opinion that is lots wrong in your reply.

You have more control with clip less

Riding with a power meter will SHOW you the higher power using clip less

I have had some clip pleas shoes that felt better than my slippers!

 

Why are Hubbard also so condescending ?

 

You don't have more control with clipless. If you think you do you clearly have the wrong riding technique.

 

The only reason people think you have more power with clipless is because of the stiff sole of the shoe. Ride on flat with the right shoe and you put out the same power. The only reason for the stuff sole on clipless shoes is the 1"x1" contact patch with the pedal. In my opinion not the healthiest thing on earth.

 

. I'm not arguing the merits of pedal efficiency on long rides. Anything over 30km I prefer clipless.

 

Comfort is a personal thing. Cant talk for everybody.

[DR ◣◢]

I want to swap out my cleats for flats. I have no issue with cleats I'm just begining to think that riding with flat pedals would be more fun. Will my skate shoes be fine or do you REALLY need five tens?

 

Ek ry met n paar DC Ricky Carmichael reps op FireEye Hive pedals. Werk sweet.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

So rather than start with an argument why not the OP what Type if riding he does?

You tell him to go flat but then admit that flat and cleats both have a use?

 

What if the OP rides xc or marathon only?

 

 

Because the assertions in TMan's post were, quite simply, WRONG.

 

It wasn't a personal attack. In fact, I didn't insult him at any point during the post at all.

 

The assertion that the move to flats robs you of power, controllability and speed is one that has been disproven time and again, unless you are in a discipline that REQUIRES you to ensure that your pedal stroke is as efficient as possible (XCO / Marathon) and needs you to pull up on the entire up-stroke of the cranks. Which, incedentally, is still possible with flats if you have the right pedal / shoe combination.

 

If you start off in cleats, it teaches you some very bad habits and "shortcuts" which fool you into believing that you are controlling the bike when in fact that that couldn't be further from the truth. That's why okes who have ridden BMX's and trials bikes are able to bunny hop so much higher than okes who have always ridden clips. They learn how to control the bike properly, rather than relying on a small interface that welds you to the bike, robbing you of control.

 

Yes, once you have perfected (or at least learnt) your technique on flats, you can take it across to clips and further enhance it, but that would be no different to continuing to hone it on flats.

 

Bottom line is that flats do NOT make you crash. Your faulty technique makes you crash, and flats are the quickest and most effective way of learning proper technique.

 

His earlier assertions were not put across as opinion. They were put across as fact, when they most certainly are not.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I want to swap out my cleats for flats. I have no issue with cleats I'm just begining to think that riding with flat pedals would be more fun. Will my skate shoes be fine or do you REALLY need five tens?

 

Skate shoes will be fine (I use my Adio Bam Margeras) but they lack the proper grip that a 5-10 / Teva / Converse / Van etc will give. It's basically down to the compound of the sole. Skate shoes have quite hard compound soles (comparatively) cos they grip on to sand-paper like textured boards. Flats have less "platform" to grip on to, and the compound is softer.

 

In terms of wear, you'll find that skate shoes wear faster due to the compound, contrary to logic. But they will still offer good enough grip. Just not as much as dedicated flat shoes.

 

BTW - they use the same sort of rubber as climbing shoes use. Really supple yet hellluva strong.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Seems like a sensitive topic - sorry I should have stated in my 1st post which type of riding I am doing.

 

I am using shimano pedals with shimano cleats - gonna wash the bike later and see if it helps if I adjust the pedal

 

The flat pedal together with the five ten shoes is expensive - will have to do my home work - ribs lekker bruised this morning.

 

Adjusting the pedal will definitely help, bud. As will greasing / lubing the springs and pedals themselves. Sometimes they get a bit toight and need a bit of help to get working sweetly again.

 

As for the clipping in and out - the looser you turn them the easier it is to clip in and out, and the more "float" you'll have (ability to rotate your foot) before they clip out. But still nowhere near as much choice of placement as you'll have with flats.

 

Just be aware that there is a point where the pedals can be TOO loose. Best thing to do is to take the allen key (minitool) with you on a ride and fiddle as you go along, to get the right setting for you.