Sam1 Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 Hi, I'm new to MTB (been riding 4 month's), and I love the MTB scenery. I'm quite frustrated as I am struggling with my clipless pedals (already adjusted the tension to the easiest), and can't get my foot out in time. I have fallen once and got injured badly, since then I'm afraid of riding and when I do ride I'm overly cautious. Don't get me wrong I am not afraid of falling, but rather of getting injured again. I have been riding on-road for about six years and decided to change to MTB, but are rethinking that idea. Is there any ladies that have been riding for a long time, that could maybe give me advice please?????. I am considering flat pedals, but everyone seems to think that would be a mistake as they say I would either slip off them on very rough obstacles and will struggle with climbing as I am quite use to the push and pull action.........ultimately leading to bad riding technique.
Pappa Bear Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 My advice would be to fit a pare of proper flat pedals and give it a try for at least 10 rides,and then decide if you want to go flat or clipless. I rode clipless for 7 years and swapped to flats no problem..... Give it a try and see what you prefer
Vetseun Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 Welcome Sam. Ill let others answer your questions. Enjoy Mate!
hayleyearth Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 I rode with clips for just shorter than 2years and then went to flats about 8 months ago. Loving it. Yes it takes a bit more regarding fitness, but it has improved my confidence in the bike a lot and thus my skills have improved quite a bit. I of course ride on the road bike with clips still and I put clips on my MTB if I know I'm just going to ride long stretches of gravel road (like Trans Baviaans, etc). Otherwise I'm jamming my flats and loving every moment. If you get the right shoes and flat pedals your feet won't just 'slip off' even over technical terrain. Yes you will have to adapt your riding style (can't pull) but it is deffo wroth it I would say.
DubbelBuys Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 I also had the hassle with clipless pedals. I have Shimano XT trail pedals & used the normal SH-51 cleats. I read somewhere in a similar thread about the shimano SH-56 cleat & ordered myself some from chainreactioncycles I immediately felt the difference when trying to clip out. You can literally take your foot off the pedal by pulling it upward. It's a multi release cleat. You just roll your foot in almost anydirection to clip out. The advantage of it is you still have the sure-footedness of cleats with the guarantee that you won't be connected to your bike when falling & some degree of pedalling efficiency. If you pull hard on the upstroke you can alwaysadjust it so that it releases with more effort, but you still have the multi release nature of the cleat. I love mine. On the other hand I have always wanted to try out a good set of flats & shoes, but then again... it'll be a 'nice to have / do experiment' costing around R2000 My 2 pennies: Try the cleats if you do run shimano style pedals. Some manufacturers run the same cleats on their systems. If you don't like them you'll always be able to sell them to somebody & they cost like just above R200 from crc
marko35s Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 My advice would be to fit a pare of proper flat pedals and give it a try for at least 10 rides,and then decide if you want to go flat or clipless. I rode clipless for 7 years and swapped to flats no problem..... Give it a try and see what you preferThis.I was on a borrowed bike recently that had decent flats and they offer a lot of grip.The bits of mangled metal supplied as pedals on most bikes bear no resemblence to proper flat pedals.
Cuppa Bru Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 This.I was on a borrowed bike recently that had decent flats and they offer a lot of grip.The bits of mangled metal supplied as pedals on most bikes bear no resemblence to proper flat pedals. What passes as decent flat pedals?
Mr Legs Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 What about the combination pedals, one side of the pedal has a cleat and the other side is flat. On a stretch where you feel comfortable you can clip in and if the terrain is too tricky, you can use the flat side, or even on foot in the cleat and the other on the flat side for a bit of insurance against a sudden emergency.
Pappa Bear Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 Any pedal that looks similar to that, pass as a proper flat pedal. Any thing plastic or lloks like the old schoolbike pedals is crap. You are looking for pins sticking out of the pedal and surface area....
Pappa Bear Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 What about the combination pedals, one side of the pedal has a cleat and the other side is flat. On a stretch where you feel comfortable you can clip in and if the terrain is too tricky, you can use the flat side, or even on foot in the cleat and the other on the flat side for a bit of insurance against a sudden emergency. I don't like those pedals as the surface area and "pins" dont have much grip. I think that pedal has been designed for " emergency" pedaling when you come unclipped in a tight spot.....
Hairy Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 Hi Sam Check your cleat position as of you turn it fractionally in or out it makes a huge difference to how easily or difficultly your cleats will engage and release again. I am going to be giving flats a try in the near future may because I want to give them a proper trial. Had a set of pinned pedals on my bike recently to just get a feel for them.... Unfortunately the two outside pins on the rhs pedal are missing so my foot felt like it was sliding off on the outside and when pushing into the pedals....riding with basic takkies or sneakers so this also does not give me good traction on the pedals. If it were not for the high price tag I would have given a decent set of shoes and pedals a try a long time ago. Not certain what sort of riding you do but the flats allow for a nice wide platform to easily find with your feet and also gives you the freedom to dab your foot and return to the pedal easily again. Head to a decent lbs during a time when the shops are not busy and ask for assistance with the cleats placement.
Hairy Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 What about the combination pedals, one side of the pedal has a cleat and the other side is flat. On a stretch where you feel comfortable you can clip in and if the terrain is too tricky, you can use the flat side, or even on foot in the cleat and the other on the flat side for a bit of insurance against a sudden emergency.Mr legs. ....those pedals are best left on commuter bikes or critical mass rides
Sam1 Posted January 5, 2014 Author Posted January 5, 2014 Thanks for all the great advice. I'm definitely going to give flats a go and then make up my mind.
Guest Omega Man Posted January 5, 2014 Posted January 5, 2014 Thanks for all the great advice. I'm definitely going to give flats a go and then make up my mind.If you are coming from the road you might not like the way your foot moves around on the pedal with flats. Even with sticky rubber shoes and good flats there still is some movement. Maybe try taking your bike and shoes to a good bike mech to help you set them up first?
mikethebike234 Posted January 5, 2014 Posted January 5, 2014 I found a set of these http://bbbcycling.com/bike-parts/pedals/BPD-32 at my lbs they were about R300.00 I'm no freerider but they work well enough for what I do and they work and they grip like dogs**t to a shoe.I found that as my old NB takkies get more worn they grip the pedals better you don't actually have to spend thousands unless you are really serious or if you have the money to play well why not..... https://www.bikejames.com/strength/the-flat-pedal-revolution-manifesto-how-to-improve-your-riding-with-flat-pedals/
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