Article in latest Ride Magazine pg 74

[Hairy]

I am going to be giving flats with a pair of takkies and reasonable "pinned" pedals a spin from next week on wards and am keen to see how things fair after a few weeks.

 

To be honest I am rather anxious about giving it a go, but if I don't try I won't know.

 

I will also be using a pair of shin guards on tech trails in the beginning as I have seen how flesh can be stripped off ones shins without any form of protection .... this I know will make me feel a little odd as I really don't want to look some poser

 

If all goes well then I might well move over.

[hayleyearth]

I have taken many beginners on rides, and not one of them has ever returned to flat pedals after trying cleats.

 

will you please take me out for a ride?

[schizo]

+1. I started riding clipped in, cos "that's the way things are done". I'm still riding clipped in. A pair of 5-10's + flats is high up on my "to purchase" list, and keen to do a bit of unclipped riding. I quote that article when introducing new people to riding now: "Riding flat pedals makes you better. Riding clipped in makes you faster" or something to that effect.

Exactly the other thing I took out of his article is that humans are designed to push, When we sprint the pull is only to get the foot back into position for the next push, it may help slightly but isn't as much as the push

[Kranswurm]

There's a difference between riding with the pedals that come with the bike and tekkies and proper flat pedals and/or specific shoes for MTB.

 

Between the former and cleats, cleats win. Between the latter and cleats it's a toss up. There's a reason why MANY(majority?) DH guys ride with flats, and it's not just because of wanting the option to bail out.

 

Went on a nice wet, muddy ride with my flats yesterday and had no problems with grip etc.

 

And what is that reason??

[Iwan Kemp]

I am going to be giving flats with a pair of takkies and reasonable "pinned" pedals a spin from next week on wards and am keen to see how things fair after a few weeks.

 

To be honest I am rather anxious about giving it a go, but if I don't try I won't know.

 

I will also be using a pair of shin guards on tech trails in the beginning as I have seen how flesh can be stripped off ones shins without any form of protection .... this I know will make me feel a little odd as I really don't want to look some poser

 

If all goes well then I might well move over.

Not going to get involved with the stupidity of Ride's comments and the toing and froing, but would like to say this: There is a MASSIVE difference between flats with tekkies and flats with MTB "flats" shoes. Even ones like Teva and O'Neal and the likes who are not yet where 5.10's are. They are getting closer.

 

Massive.

 

Once forgot my 5.10's at home and decided to ride in my Solomons. They have a fair amount of grip as they are trail shoes and I always take the ones with the softer, gripper soles. It was one behemoth of a disaster of a ride. Couple of slips and sketchy moments and I had zero confidence to push. Don't even want to think what they would be like in the wet.

 

Massive.

Edited July 24, 2013 by The Crow

[rock]

firstly don't believe everything you read (which includes this)

 

secondly I feel a lot safer clipped in and thirdly you cant compare a first time rider with running shoes and flat pedals to proper DH type flat pedals and overprices skateboard shoes with rock climbing rubber soles (read Five10's)

[Stretch]

ok - question for you downhillers..Greg rides clipped correct? In italy a month ago when he hit that rock and his foot got kicked off the pedals...did he waste time having to clip in again vs riding with flats...or was it all negligible?

 

small deviation...i apologise

[Iwan Kemp]

ok - question for you downhillers..Greg rides clipped correct? In italy a month ago when he hit that rock and his foot got kicked off the pedals...did he waste time having to clip in again vs riding with flats...or was it all negligible?

 

small deviation...i apologise

I'd say there's a lot more involved than just the time it takes to clip back in. When your foot gets kicked off the pedal it takes your mind and focus off what it is it needs to be focused on. In pro sport at the highest level a couple of tens of a second can make all the difference.

[Flowta]

And what is that reason??

 

For one, the ability to move you foot to a position more suited for the terrain (steeper it is the more midsole, more on the ball when pedalling) Cleats don't allow this you have one position and that is what you're stuck with.

 

Secondly your can drop your foot for turns etc. if needed (yes, is also possible with cleats too)

 

Thirdly it's easier to walk in, don't you know ALL downhillers are lazy and walk and push to the top.

[Kranswurm]

I'd say there's a lot more involved than just the time it takes to clip back in. When your foot gets kicked off the pedal it takes your mind and focus off what it is it needs to be focused on. In pro sport at the highest level a couple of tens of a second can make all the difference.

 

Well then I suppose there will be more unfocused moments on flats

 

There have been many interviews and comparisons on the UK MTBmags and in all of them it comes down to what the individual feels comfortable with.Some of the guys talk about the ability to change the position of your foot which they like

Others to the nature of the track ie PMB is a pedalling track so clipless is good etc

[Stretch]

I'd say there's a lot more involved than just the time it takes to clip back in. When your foot gets kicked off the pedal it takes your mind and focus off what it is it needs to be focused on. In pro sport at the highest level a couple of tens of a second can make all the difference.

 

sure but there is more concentration focus diverted to re-clipping vs just placing a foot on a pedal. I know clipped vs flats is quite a issue in dhi at the moment

[Flowta]

Well then I suppose there will be more unfocused moments on flats

 

There have been many interviews and comparisons on the UK MTBmags and in all of them it comes down to what the individual feels comfortable with.Some of the guys talk about the ability to change the position of your foot which they like

Others to the nature of the track ie PMB is a pedalling track so clipless is good etc

 

Exactly what I was trying to say

Edited July 24, 2013 by Flowta

[Guest Omega Man]

For one, the ability to move you foot to a position more suited for the terrain (steeper it is the more midsole, more on the ball when pedalling) Cleats don't allow this you have one position and that is what you're stuck with.

 

Secondly your can drop your foot for turns etc. if needed (yes, is also possible with cleats too)

 

Thirdly it's easier to walk in, don't you know ALL downhillers are lazy and walk and push to the top.

 

Most top downhillers ride clipped in.

[nolipoli]

It doesn't have to be one or the other, you know. I don't get why people assume that they must choose one, and stick with it for their whole cycling career.

 

I have a pair of flats (Shimano Saint) with 5-10s, and a pair of DX clip ins with Shimano Am45s. It takes two minutes to change from one to the other, and I do it frequently when I decide what kind of ride I am going to do.

 

Pedal more and less technical - Clips

Downhill more and more technical - Flats

[PaulTeague]

In my opinion.... I think the bottom line is that with mountain biking you are gonna fall....its just a matter of time....and with cleats you and the bike usually just end up in some sort of tangled mess together. And the safety....hmmm....speed (and riding style/recklessness) kinda determines that one.

Like the saying....no pain, no gain.

[Guest Omega Man]

It doesn't have to be one or the other, you know. I don't get why people assume that they must choose one, and stick with it for their whole cycling career.

 

I have a pair of flats (Shimano Saint) with 5-10s, and a pair of DX clip ins with Shimano Am45s. It takes two minutes to change from one to the other, and I do it frequently when I decide what kind of ride I am going to do.

 

Pedal more and less technical - Clips

Downhill more and more technical - Flats

Yerp.

 

Myself. I run DX's on my AM bike and swap between Straitlines and DX's on my DH bike. It take me a ride or 2 to get fully comfortable when swapping between flats & clips but that's about it.