MTB cleats \ pedals advice

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

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.

 

Yeah. That's because there's a very small difference in profile between the Shimano cleats and the Ryder ones. It's tiny, but it makes a large difference.

Shimano:

 

Ryder:

You can see that the profile of the "toe" is different on the cleats. The Shimano one has a much more gradual "neck" on the cleat, and a much more chamfered "heel" as well as a small protrusion on the heel. This makes the cleat superior to the Ryder one. So even thought the 2 are compatible, you will have a far better experience with the Shimano branded ones, 'cos they're of a superior design.

[(Deon)]

I ride cleats but that's because I am a pro...

 

How weird, when I was smaller than I am now, I rode BMX with flats and I was about as good as today, which was brilliant! I do have reservations with cleats and tech stop/starts though, I cannot get going until both feet are clipped in and that is just a pain!

 

iRide, I'll let you lend me your pedals..

 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

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

 

Ja, there is that disadvantage.

 

However - the cost of MTB clipless shoes is horrific! I mean, R 4k for a SHOE!? 5-10's are anywhere between R 900 and R 1,400 depending on the source.

 

Oh - I said above that I ride with my skate shoes, but I've recently modified a set of Adidas Hydroterras, by cutting off the knobs on the forefoot area. FAR better grip than my skate shoes, even after just 2 rides. They're useless as trail running shoes (they let in sand and stones through the mesh and holes in the back - fantastic concept, horrible execution)

 

 

But - if you WANT to go to flats, that's a way of doing it cheaper than buying pedals and shoes in one hit.

 

Oh - another benefit of flats - you can just hop on the bike any time you like, ride down to the shops or wherever and wear the same shoes you rode there in without feeling like you're a carbon soled tap-dance shoe wearing fairy.

 

Yes, I do mean that. And yes, I know some shoes are very comfortable (spez BG trail shoes come to mind - VERY comfortable shoe) but they're nowhere near as comfy to walk in as proper shoes.

[Pieter1]

 

 

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

Cool. Ek sal maar ek of ek iewers ñ goeie deal op peddles kan kry em dan later five tens of iets.

[DR ◣◢]

Cool. Ek sal maar ek of ek iewers ñ goeie deal op peddles kan kry em dan later five tens of iets.

 

Try Dial'd bikes vir Nukeproof. Maak net seker die pedals het inskroef pins. Maak n groot verskil.

[Pieter1]

 

 

Try Dial'd bikes vir Nukeproof. Maak net seker die pedals het inskroef pins. Maak n groot verskil.

Wat kos die goed min of meer? Waar is Dial'd bikes?

[DR ◣◢]

Dial'd is online. Pedals is omtrent R600 vir n goeie set.

[Pieter1]

Dial'd is online. Pedals is omtrent R600 vir n goeie set.

Awesome dude! Dankie vir die advies! Ek wardeer dit.

[Lone_Ranger]

Just to add my 2c worth.

 

I ride Tokai regularly with SPD's, but had flats on my single speed for a while. On the climbs (mostly gravel roads) I definitely found I was less efficient with flats. But the downhills, especially technical sections, were significantly more comfortable with flats. I found I was faster cos I knew if I got in trouble I could just put a foot down.

 

Just my experience. My view, if you're going for podium places go SPD, for all us middle of the pack either of the two are good.

[in10sive]

Wanted to order dmr v12 from dial'd but shipping cost is too much, ended up ordering ordering Wellgo B54 from Chainreaction for 400 shipping incl vs R900+

[Pieter1]

Just to add my 2c worth.

 

I ride Tokai regularly with SPD's, but had flats on my single speed for a while. On the climbs (mostly gravel roads) I definitely found I was less efficient with flats. But the downhills, especially technical sections, were significantly more comfortable with flats. I found I was faster cos I knew if I got in trouble I could just put a foot down.

 

Just my experience. My view, if you're going for podium places go SPD, for all us middle of the pack either of the two are good.

I also ride ss and I just feel that I want my feet more "loose" around corners etc.

[DJR]

I ride cleats but that's because I am a pro...

 

How weird, when I was smaller than I am now, I rode BMX with flats and I was about as good as today, which was brilliant! I do have reservations with cleats and tech stop/starts though, I cannot get going until both feet are clipped in and that is just a pain!

 

iRide, I'll let you lend me your pedals..

 

 

[SD]

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.

 

I agree, the "Bullcrap" part is a little bit uncalled for. Very immature and arrogant to come flying in using words like that - In my humble opinion ... Having seen this guys comments before I'm going to fetch my popcorn now

[DJR]

Hi, my name is DJR and I ride with clipless pedals, everywhere, all the time, road and mtb. I've done a downhill race, a dual slalom, an enduro, a lot of XC, marathons, stage races, all with clipless pedals. I'm a middle aged dude but I can bunny-hop, jump and do stupid stuff like my 12 year old. My skills suck (well, it's a little behind my sense of adventure) and I've broken more than 1 bit of skeleton. NOW, you come and tell me flats are the answer! Where have you all been when I needed your advice? I suppose it's never too late for old dogs to learn new tricks. Anybody got a BMX bike and some skate shoes I can try out, I already have a skate lid . Is this the tongue in cheek emoticon?

[SD]

My advice ( If you are doing XC and a bit os single track ) is to put a set of crank brothers egg beaters onto your bike and get a proper set up done by a professional.

 

This is my opinion and it works for me. Everyone is entitles to their own opinion. Good luck bud!

[Corvus]

Hi in10sive,

 

I'd like to add my own personal experiences just to give you some more food for thought. I'm not a pro and I'm not claiming this as the be-all-end-all. So with that disclaimer out of the way:

 

I've tried cleats for a while once. Simply because "everybody" uses them and because I thought it would make me faster and better on the mountain bike.

Being clipped in is daunting, and I've read that it takes a while to get used to. So I rode them for about two months, riding almost everyday.

Sure, I got used to them in a sense. I got used to taking corners a little slower incase I lose traction on the wheels, I got used to preparing to unclip if the bike stalls (say on a really steep climb), and I got used to sussing technical bits of track out.

 

But, being used to them, I realised that I didn't actually have as much riding as I used to. So I figured, to heck with it, and I got myself a fair set of platforms from cyclelab. Ones with the little grub screws in them.

Put on my Salomon takkies and went riding, and almost instantly I had a huge smile on my face. I didn't have to worry about overcooking a corner, because I could always dab my foot down if I needed to. I could ride over technical stuff without the worry in the back of head whether I would be able to unclip quick enough. I rode like a maniac, and I guess if it weren't for cleats I wouldn't have appreciated the freedom of platforms.

 

Now the kind of riding I do, is not the general dirt road XC marathon sort of stuff. I like trail riding. I like clambering up things and leaning hard into corners and letting go of the brakes on downhills and just bolting down stuff. Having fun!

 

So, I gues if you're new to this, ask yourself what you want to do.

Do you want to do long distance non-technical riding like many mountainbikers in SA seem to prefer. Or do you want to ride technical trails, maybe try out some jumps and get into AM riding?

If the former, then perhaps cleats would be better for you.

If the latter, then go platforms. You needn't get the best, just get aluminium platforms with screws and some good takkies, and worry about the Five-tens later.

 

By the way, in terms of pedal power. I understand cleats actually only give you a rather small percentage of additional power. The idea that you need to pull up on the back foot just isn't true, infact do that for long distances will mess up your hip-flexors.

By contrast the confidence that platforms will give you, may more than make up for the extra power. For one thing, you'll be quicker round the corners, and technical stuff.

 

Another thing I've found is that on a long gradual climb, I can shift my feet forward on the pedal, pedalling almost with the arch of my foot, while moving far back on the seat (I use a dropper seatpost). This way I'm using my butt-muscles more, giving my calves and quads a rest. This is something you can't do with cleats, and I think it adds quite a bit of power using these big muscles.

 

Just some food for thought....