Flat or clipless?

[popcorn_skollie]

I ride both depending on bike. But... only because I tried and tried to be versatile in an attempt to to learn to use both. I'll be taking the flats off my DH bike in favour of cleats soon.

Personally I feel like if i'm not clipped in. I might aswell let go of the bars.

Most gravity riders might prefer flats. But I don't.

 

So here's my 2c OP.

Clipless may be intended for XC use.

Flats may be intended for gravity use.

Its a good starting point to consider.

But it isn't a rule of thumb.

 

There are pros and cons of each.

But its not a choice we can make for you.

You need to try them both and decide for yourself.

It's just personal preferance thats all.

Now you need to figure out which is yours.

[NukeproofPeanut]

I'm not quite sure why there is even a clipless vs flat debate.

If you plan on racing you should probably have both.

 

Clipless for racing, and flats for training/learning and having fun. (obviously you should train with clipless until it's second nature to unclip.)

You'll build up enough confidence riding that it doesn't matter what you're using.

 

As a beginner XC I'd say go both off the bat. You don't have to lay down 2.5k for flats alone. Thats just silly as you'll probably end up riding clipless more later on..

 

Get a set of these Wellgo V8 and just a flat shoe  like superga's or some such (running shoes don't normally provide decent grip). I used to ride in these le couq's before I got my 510's. 

This combo will set you back ~700 if you don't already have suitable shoes. 

 

While you at it you can pick up clipless pedals like the M530's and comfy shoe (look out for specials) for around 1.5k total.

 

So for under 2.5k you can get setup with both.

 

 

As you progress you can look at upgrading either set or using them on another bike.

[GoLefty!!]

I humbly disagree. From what it sounds like, you are quite experienced, but riding clipless and not flats? From what I read you also gave flats only one try (were they proper platforms with grippy shoes?)

 

To me, clipless is for experienced riders who have developed the skills, proper techniques and confidence over the years (that's why most of the pro DH guys are riding clipless? - correct me if I'm wrong).

 

From what I have read riding flats teaches you the proper techniques. Once mastered, go to clipless. I will be happy to report back in a couple of months after trying out flats.

 

I rode flats for many years on BMX. I hated the darn things. the pedals I had were Suntour and pretty high end. Cant remember the shoes but they were better than standard trainers. they always hurt my feet and riped up the shoes (thanks to the little studs at the bottom).

 

the techniques you learn that allows you to keep the bike under you only come with a lot of experience on the BMX things like bunny hopping take great skill with flats. Even keeping your feet on them requires a lot of experience and many many many tumbles that kids just bounce back from.

 

Once on Clipless pedals a lot of those techniques just become so much easier thanks to the positive connection between rider and bike. Bunny hopping, wheelies, etc ll so much easier.

 

Even for XC, clipless makes it feel so much easier to control the bike.

 

What teaches proper techniques is practice, falling, injuries, picking yourself back up and trying again. It really doesn't matter what type of pedal you use but I have just found it much easier to use clipless than flats.

Some of the worst accidents on the trails I've seen are inexperienced riders coming off their bikes due to not being properly connected to the bike.

 

but this is your journey and your choice. Just giving you my perspective of over 30 years of riding different types of bikes with different technologies

[North Shore]

http://m.pinkbike.com/news/The-World-Cup-Downhill-Signals-the-End-of-Flat-Pedals.html

[porqui]

For confidence - flats

For technique - flats.

 

For XC clipless

For techie stuff like all mountain and single track - flats

 

For bad habits - clipless

To bunnyhop perfectly - flats

 

The biggest negative (and it is a big one) for flats is that you can easily tap-out and as we ALL know THAT is a MAJOR no-no. It can ruin a ride !!

[porqui]

Btw - I have a pair of BBB flats (R350)

and a pair of Hi-tec figaro's (R400-R500)(Tekkie Town)

and they work great

The Figaro's have super lekker Vibram soles

[GoLefty!!]

http://m.pinkbike.com/news/The-World-Cup-Downhill-Signals-the-End-of-Flat-Pedals.html

 

 

 

very good post. Finally someone wrote something from a proper technical point of view

[needleshy]

Ride them both for about 6 months and then decide which to use.

 

I started off with clipless which i rode for about 8 months, then i moved to flats which i rode for another 8-9 month and moved back to clipless because i found that if I lost my footing bombing down on the rough stuff with my flats it was hard to get my feet back in the right position.

 

I am also able to pedal through rough terrain easier with clipless because i am secured onto the bike better.

 

Thats just my personal experience, flats are awesome as its easier to "moto foot", but they do take some practice to get the hang of. HEELS DOWN with some good shoes and you are stuck on like glue. I had to drill that into my brain on every descent.

[Brian Fantana]

I use both types of pedals regularly. I have done many long rides with lots of climbing on flats.

 

Flat pedals have made me a much smoother rider.

 

I use flat pedals extensively in training and race with clipless pedals.

 

Whether one platform is faster than the other I don't know, all I can say is that in my experience it is a great training tool to use both types of pedals.

 

Note: In order to give an opinion on flats you need to have ridden proper flat pedals with proper flat pedal shoes. With my 510 and Saint combo it sometimes feel like I am clipped in.

[Brian Fantana]

These testers did not even use proper flat pedal shoes:

 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

For what it's worth, I'm contemplating getting a set of dx's and cleats in the next few months and chopping between flats and cleats every so often. Helps that the 5-10's a1 actually look pretty good as a casual shoe as well.

 

I've been on flats for about a year now. It was horrible to begin with but now it's getting better. I haven't riden that much over that time, but it's been a learning curve of note.

[-MaximuS-]

I use both types of pedals regularly. I have done many long rides with lots of climbing on flats.

 

Flat pedals have made me a much smoother rider.

 

I use flat pedals extensively in training and race with clipless pedals.

 

Whether one platform is faster than the other I don't know, all I can say is that in my experience it is a great training tool to use both types of pedals.

 

Note: In order to give an opinion on flats you need to have ridden proper flat pedals with proper flat pedal shoes. With my 510 and Saint combo it sometimes feel like I am clipped in.

Sorry for my ignorance but what are 510s? What do they look like?

[Brian Fantana]

Sorry for my ignorance but what are 510s? What do they look like?

It is a shoe brand. They are the leaders in rubber compounds for soles of flat pedal shoes.

 

I have the Freerider VXi which looks like this:

 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

It is a shoe brand. They are the leaders in rubber compounds for soles of flat pedal shoes.

 

I have the Freerider VXi which looks like this:

 

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1423501889.741005.jpg

And they grip pedals about as well as that puppy is gripping them shoelaces. Death grip

[rudi-h]

Cleats, the faster you start the better you will be off in the long run.

Yes flats can build confidence, but can also teach you bad technique like taking your foot off, or uncleat when you are uncertain which is not a good idea.

To ride with flats has its advantages and except for the obvious it also a skill in my opinion to ride well with flats.

I disagree. It takes 5 rides to get the hang of cleats. It takes years to learn to ride a bike properly. Flats are the best for learning to ride a bike. Use them for a year or two and get cleats when you've learnt to ride.

[-MaximuS-]

I use both types of pedals regularly. I have done many long rides with lots of climbing on flats.

 

Flat pedals have made me a much smoother rider.

 

I use flat pedals extensively in training and race with clipless pedals.

 

Whether one platform is faster than the other I don't know, all I can say is that in my experience it is a great training tool to use both types of pedals.

 

Note: In order to give an opinion on flats you need to have ridden proper flat pedals with proper flat pedal shoes. With my 510 and Saint combo it sometimes feel like I am clipped in.

Those Saints are wicked cool pedals!

I already ordered me a pair of Wellgo V8 before I started this thread but I'll definitely consider Saints next.

Thanks.