MTB cleats \ pedals advice

[bj horn]

On Sunday afternoon after 3 weeks off the bike with flu thought I would go for a easy ride on some single track .New to single track and recently got some SPD's and landed up on Spyker se Bult.Scared the living daylight out of me trying to get the 29er around the switchbacks,through the dongas and down the ramps all clipped in .Recon it will go better next time ,just a matter of practice/learning and or falling.At least I know the route now.

[pierre-]

easy :-) shipping to my area was 350 + purchase price of pedals as per the checkout quote

 

Well for next time, you get free shipping on orders over R700

[lloydkayak]

I had ridden with cleats for ages, got pretty good at unclipping etc... still hated those inevitable moments when you on a technical uphill and lose momentum over a rock and wipe out onto your knees because your feet were stuck!

 

I got a pair of good quality plastic flats (didn't want to destroy my shins with the metal pins) originally for commuting but then chucked them onto the trail bike...

 

Massive improvement, I cant get away riding like a muppet (example inside foot down on a corner - because the pedal hits the ground) and my movement and control is definitely on the upswing. I am not as worried about rock gardens etc because I know I can just put my foot down.

 

I think there are pros and cons of both, but from a skills development point of view, if you take your riding seriously or would like to get better, flats are an awesome way to develop that.

 

Oh and the constant grinning on the downhills is a big help too!

 

I think guys on the thread that are getting a bit aggressive on their opinions are just fed up with the believed truth (in SA) that cleats are the only way to go and the more worrying issue that as a new rider, you are judged by other cyclists if you take "too long" to ride with "proper pedals"

 

I have recently had this debate with a guy from work I helped get into mtbiking, his mates are giving him huge flak because he went with my advice to get some flats and learn to ride a bit before automatically switching across. He is nervous of the cleats in any case.

[schizo]

Just finished reading all 7 pages of this topic.. More confused now then ever..

I've started riding with flats, plan was to save up to get some nice shoes and cleats, After 2 months of riding I was given toe clips, which I wasn't keen on, but I ending up trying and actually loving them, I never strapped my feet in and could easily get my feet in and out, but also gave me the ability to ride toe down.

Over the last week I got my shoes and cleats fitted them and started testing them out and getting the hang of it.

So I've had around 4 months of riding with flats and now going on to cleats, I think I've improved my riding/handling ability since I started, but still nervous to ride with cleats, especially the technical stuff

Unless I just settle on riding toeclips/flats for technical and cleats for easier rides

[Dustbug]

Hi you will soon come to realise it is the being clip into your cleats that makes you one with your bike and gives you the ability to get more out of your bike on technical sections etc.. most of us riding cleats hate not being cleated in as we know we have a loss of control and can't move the bike around like we need to.

 

the issue of the technical bits is you are probably not using enough momentum to carry through and over the obstruction, try using a bit more power and momentum on those technical bits, most new riders tend to go into them in the wrong gears (too easy and spinning wildly out of control at too high a cadence) and have lost all their momentum when they hit them and come to a grinding halt in the middle of the area and fall off, change your gears down before the obstruction and power in at a reasonable speed that will carry you through the area, and look well ahead to where you are riding to and not at the obstruction. you will soon luv your cleats and wonder why you doubted yourself.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

If you have to rely on being clipped in to control your bike, you're doing it wrong.

[RockCoach]

Hi you will soon come to realise it is the being clip into your cleats that makes you one with your bike and gives you the ability to get more out of your bike on technical sections etc.. most of us riding cleats hate not being cleated in as we know we have a loss of control and can't move the bike around like we need to.

 

Hi you will soon come to realise that if you learn to do what you describe above on flats, that your skill will be hugely improved.

[porqui]

Here we go again - or how does the tune go.

 

BUT this time we have "Toe Clips" thrown in by jadeg.

 

Now THAT is a mindset change - not clipped in but still the pull on the upstroke - best of both worlds or worst of both as you can't unclip nor can you take your foot off the pedal now what would the result be.

 

Friday in 2hrs time !!!

 

Just a BTW - got bitten by beartraps on Monday after 3m jump - yah! you guessed it - down to the bone.

Irony - my son had just bought me decent flats 3hrs before for birthday but not given them to me yet.

[in10sive]

sharing my experience:

 

replaced my clip-less setup with Shimano's Saint flat pedals and 5.10 Freeriders about 3 weeks ago - have since done about 200km on them mostly XC, was tricky in the beginning especially doing bunny hops and jumps but that's because I was "cheating" with my cleats. Still early days but so-far I also cannot feel a big difference in pedal efficiency vs my clip-less setup.

 

I am no pro but the flats combined with good flat grippy shoes like the 5.10 works for me.

 

See you guys on the trails, I will be the one with the flats

[nickelass]

I use both,cleats for xc,(but trail pedals,and clip out on technical) and flats on my AM .When I did my first jump on flats I was unsure, and it is a learning curve,but very quickly you learn to have a natural flow with the bike and your confidence and riding skills vastly improve.I would not have my present abilities and confidence if I have stayed on clippless pedals.

[schizo]

BUT this time we have "Toe Clips" thrown in by jadeg.

 

Now THAT is a mindset change - not clipped in but still the pull on the upstroke - best of both worlds or worst of both as you can't unclip nor can you take your foot off the pedal now what would the result be.

HAHA, If you don't tighten the strap, your foot can easily come out without even thinking, Its not a bad option, for a newcomer

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Just my 10c worth:

I have moved form cleats to my standard Wellgo flat pedals that came on my Momsen and New Balance trail shoes, not the greatest setup but it cost me nothing.

The actual reason for my move was not the difficulties of clipping in or out but the pressure the twisting motion puts on my knees. I ride alot with my wife and tend to do alot of waiting and so am constantly clipping or uncipping. I found that I was starting to get alot of knee pain that was starting to make me hate cycling. This has helped me with the pain and luckily I havent skinned a shin yet although I know its probably inevitable with the shoes I'm using as they get a bit slippery but those 5/10's are just so damn expensive!!

[hayleyearth]

I use both,cleats for xc,(but trail pedals,and clip out on technical) and flats on my AM .When I did my first jump on flats I was unsure, and it is a learning curve,but very quickly you learn to have a natural flow with the bike and your confidence and riding skills vastly improve.I would not have my present abilities and confidence if I have stayed on clippless pedals.

 

I agree with that.

[johannrissik]

If I'd known pedals were the new frontier of religion, I'd have waded in here looong ago

 

Like many I was advised to go clipless about 15 years ago. At my level of riding I wouldn't know if it made much difference to my efficiency, but the sound of "clicking in" sure made people take notice (I live in a very small town...)..makes you look kind of "serious"

 

Where was I? Oh yes, 15 years ago....nowadays I do some walking with my pushbike and to be honest, I haven't yet found SDP shoes that fit my wide feet. The walking bit is not nice.....which led me to try flats again. And I'm very pleasantly surprised with the results.

 

Given that I'm planning a few (quite a few actually) big rides over the next 12 months, is there anybody who can give me some serious advice on:

1. SPD shoes that are wiiiide, reasonably waterproof and comfortable to walk in, or;

2. What shoes (you know, "sensible" walking/hiking shoes) will work with my flats, not 510's etc.

 

I would appreciate any advice.

[Da Vinci]

If I'd known pedals were the new frontier of religion, I'd have waded in here looong ago

 

Like many I was advised to go clipless about 15 years ago. At my level of riding I wouldn't know if it made much difference to my efficiency, but the sound of "clicking in" sure made people take notice (I live in a very small town...)..makes you look kind of "serious"

 

Where was I? Oh yes, 15 years ago....nowadays I do some walking with my pushbike and to be honest, I haven't yet found SDP shoes that fit my wide feet. The walking bit is not nice.....which led me to try flats again. And I'm very pleasantly surprised with the results.

 

 

Given that I'm planning a few (quite a few actually) big rides over the next 12 months, is there anybody who can give me some serious advice on:

1. SPD shoes that are wiiiide, reasonably waterproof and comfortable to walk in, or;

2. What shoes (you know, "sensible" walking/hiking shoes) will work with my flats, not 510's etc.

I would appreciate any advice.

Wide shoes - I like the Shimano range - the soles are also more rubbery so I find it easier to hike a bike in them. I see the mentioned Vans shoes earlier, I suppose one must visit a skate boarder/ surf type shop and see what they have.

I started on the Giant flat pedals that came with my bike - metal not plastic and hi tec takkies. I was a horse rider so never seemed to bounce off my pedals but was pressured into going with cleats - I cant say I regret it now - tho I had some nasty falls in the beginning, my pedals are set at the loosest they can be and I can ride clipped in or clipped out and I think that is where a lot of issues lie. I see with some of the groups I ride with, they are so focused on cleating in that they don't concentrate on what is happening ahead and that's when things go wrong.

[DR ◣◢]

So much bull**** being spewed in this thread its not even funny.

 

Advice given by people that can't even apply their own advice, people who think they know it all and people who shouldn't even be on a bike.

 

"Insert puke smiley"