MTB shoes. Looking for advice please.

[MTBeer]

I'm with Piston ZA. You admit you are a newbie, so learn to ride with flats first. Much better for skill development.

[igg]

If you're budget conscious, your best combo is going to be the Adidas Terrex Trail Cross SL (mentioned aboved) paired with Shimano Saints or Giant Flats. The combo can be had for 2-2.5k by shopping around and having a little patience.

 

The shoes have stealth soles (same as 5-10, who Adidas own), which provide tons of grip when used with any proper flat pedal (read: sharp pins). https://shop.adidas.co.za/ Sign up for the newsletter and get a 15% discount voucher; the web-store also frequently runs sales/promos.

[Cruz Addict]

i think the biggest question here is what sort of riding do you do and what are your goals?

a free ride/ downhill/ Am sled and rider has very different needs to a Xc marathon rider.

if you are a weekend warrior with 100-120 or even 140mm travel get cleats and get used to them as they are suited to what the bike is aimed at more than flats, if you are planning on jumping and playing with your bike then get a decent set of flats and shoes to match. whichever way you go get the best you can afford and get used to them, you can always switch down the road and find whichever is more comfortable for you as a rider. personally i have a 165mm travel bike that is more suited to point downhill than up and i ride with DH cleats purely because i dont like the feeling of the bike getting away from me when i jump( i also hit everything that the boys riding flats do so dont let the fact your are joined to the bike put you off).

 

here is an interesting discussion on the exact same thing from another forum with their views:

http://forums.mtbr.com/beginners-corner/clip-pedals-703821.html

[Red Robin]

i think the biggest question here is what sort of riding do you do and what are your goals?

a free ride/ downhill/ Am sled and rider has very different needs to a Xc marathon rider.

if you are a weekend warrior with 100-120 or even 140mm travel get cleats and get used to them as they are suited to what the bike is aimed at more than flats, if you are planning on jumping and playing with your bike then get a decent set of flats and shoes to match. whichever way you go get the best you can afford and get used to them, you can always switch down the road and find whichever is more comfortable for you as a rider. personally i have a 165mm travel bike that is more suited to point downhill than up and i ride with DH cleats purely because i dont like the feeling of the bike getting away from me when i jump( i also hit everything that the boys riding flats do so dont let the fact your are joined to the bike put you off).

 

here is an interesting discussion on the exact same thing from another forum with their views:

http://forums.mtbr.com/beginners-corner/clip-pedals-703821.html

 

I have just started riding so I am a beginner with no riding or even fitness/gym background and if I read your post correctly then I am the weekend warrior category without a doubt.

Truth be told I can't ever see myself jumping  but then again I never thought I would ride a bike and so enjoy it.

Goals for now are to improve basic skills and speed up on trails  and then in the future hopefully be able to do more 'advanced' trails  as I gain confidence and skill.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Okay. Seeing as you're a beginner, and don't have any experience with MTB - DO NOT GET CLEATS. Whoever is telling you to get them as someone with zero experience, and getting into MTB, is talking out their ass and is giving you the stock standard BS LBS salesman response of "cleats are better"

 

BS.

 

Okay. Now that that's out the way, you may ask "but why is everyone trying to force me to go for cleats?"

 

Well - easy. Because they've been brainwashed to think that there is an intrinsic benefit to having them on their bikes, as a result of the carryover from Road cycling where a direct connection to the pedals (and zero technical skill requirement) is a boon, and they are used in flat out sprints when that is the only time that you will benefit from a "pull on the upstroke"

 

To EVERYONE starting at the bottom: FLATS WILL HELP YOU LEARN PROPER TECHNIQUE. They also give you more confidence as you CAN just pop a foot down in a section where you're unsure, and you don't have to panic and think about how you're going to get your foot out in time if the **** hits the fan, or rapidly put it BACK on the pedal without wondering HTF you're going to be able to "clip back in" when you're just about to come up to a tricky section and you're trying to locate the cleat without looking down and also negotiate the trail which you can't do unless you're clipped in and and and... you fall on your face.

 

Yes, the clip in and clip out technique CAN be learnt pretty quickly, so that it's *almost* as if you're using flat pedals, but that's not what you should be concentrating on when getting started in MTB or just cycling in general. Far better concentrating on your technique, skills progression and confidence which - surprise surprise - happens so much faster and easier on flats.

 

Now that we have that out the way, where to from here?

 

 

Well, for the pedals, there are a couple of cheapish options which give you a good base from which to progress.

 

1 - Giant Comp flat pedal - normally around R 500 or so, and is a solid option

2 - Shimano Saint pedals - normally around R 1,000 and better than the giants (pins go all the way through the pedal body and can't be ripped out by stray rocks) but not worth double the price, IMO.

3 - DMR v8 - the old stalwart. Literally the only things that will be left, apart from cockroaches, after a nuclear fallout. Heavy, but oh so strong. Can be bought for around R 500 - 700 depending on the source.

 

The Giant pedals or the v8's would be my go-to recommendation. 

 

Now for shoes. 5-10's are the ultimate in flat pedal shoes, but you can get by on your normal flat soled shoes until you've got enough cash for them. Think old running shoes / tennis shoes / squash shoes / skate shoes. No, they won't be as good as a 5-10, but they will work until you can afford those, or one of the alternatives like the Adidas Terrex trail or whatever it's called. 

 

Only problem is that the normal shoes don't have the same toe protection of the 5-10's and other dedicated flat pedal shoes so your toes may complain when you hit a rock, and don't have the Stealth Rubber (same stuff they use on climbing shoes) so they're not as grippy. Also - normal shoes aren't as stiff as dedicated shoes for flat pedals, but shoes for flats aren't as stiff as the ones for cleats (smaller contact point necessitates a stiffer sole)

 

Now - don't listen to all those people who are trying to force you into cleats. THAT IS NOT THE ANSWER. They will not automatically imbue you with the handling skills of Aaron Gwin or Greg Minnaar, but what they will do is allow you to learn bad habits, that you wouldn't be able to get away with if you were on flats and had to learn the proper technique. Things like the proper technique for braking, you can learn on cleats but not as quickly on flats. Flats are crucial for learning how to bunny hop, jump and take drops, and also allow you to dab a foot when you need to... 

 

When you've learnt how to ride, and feel that you need to take it to the next level or are starting to race at the pointy end, THEN you can consider cleats as you'd have a solid platform on which to build your technique, and won't learn any bad habits (think bunny hopping by pulling up on the pedals - NOT the way to do it, and you just won't be able to do that with flats - you'll have to learn how to do it properly)

 

But for EVERY new entrant to the sport, and that includes former roadies and children alike - put flats on your bike. End of story. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

 

Goals for now are to improve basic skills and speed up on trails  and then in the future hopefully be able to do more 'advanced' trails  as I gain confidence and skill.

FLAT PEDALS. End of story. 

[Albatross]

I agree with most comments already made however seeing as you are just starting out why not try a really cheap option that worked for my son when he started mtb. You can pick up some pedals at sportsmans warehouse (see pic) for R150 and then get a pair of Vans sneakers. Once you're confidence is up then flash the cash on 5.10s Saints or cleats.

 

edit: or you could do as Myles says

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I agree with most comments already made however seeing as you are just starting out why not try a really cheap option that worked for my son when he started mtb. You can pick up some pedals at sportsmans warehouse (see pic) for R150 and then get a pair of Vans sneakers. Once you're confidence is up then flash the cash on 5.10s Saints or cleats.

 

edit: or you could do as Myles says

No. No, no no. 

 

Those things will be more slippery than an oil wrestler in a group orgy. They have NO claim to the flat pedal fraternity, other than being, well, flat. 

[Grebel]

Be careful not to head down the rabbit hole....

 

It all depends on your skill level and there are going to be punters from both sides of the fence trying to pedal (Pun intended ) their wears. My wife is perfectly happy tootling along on a set of plastic bear traps with her running shoes. Does she need 510's and Saints? No. Would they help? Probably not at the level that she rides. I am perfectly happy bombing along in my cleats on my trail bike. Do I need flats? No. Would flats benefit me? Probably not. When I swing my leg over my DH bike wearing my 510's and CB 50/50's, do I absolutely need to have flats? No. Would Cleats benefit me? Probably not.

 

I personally don't think there is a definitive right answer to this question. IMO it boils down to the individual. Can you learn skill with cleats? Absolutely and you can also learn bad habits with cleats as well. Can you learn skill with Flats? Absolutely. You can also end up with rather ugly lower legs if you have no idea what you are supposed to be learning...

 

Both have benefits and both have pitfalls. Is one better than the other? In my opinion no. It's down to the individual. There are too many variables for one to be better than the other.

 

My advice would be to FIRST invest in some skills. Then go buy your pedals and shoes.

[Rocket-Boy]

Okay. Seeing as you're a beginner, and don't have any experience with MTB - DO NOT GET CLEATS. Whoever is telling you to get them as someone with zero experience, and getting into MTB, is talking out their ass and is giving you the stock standard BS LBS salesman response of "cleats are better"

 

BS.

 

Okay. Now that that's out the way, you may ask "but why is everyone trying to force me to go for cleats?"

 

Well - easy. Because they've been brainwashed to think that there is an intrinsic benefit to having them on their bikes, as a result of the carryover from Road cycling where a direct connection to the pedals (and zero technical skill requirement) is a boon, and they are used in flat out sprints when that is the only time that you will benefit from a "pull on the upstroke"

 

*snip*

And that is why I waited for Myles, I would get some of that response wrong and then bear his wrath! 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I personally don't think there is a definitive right answer to this question. IMO it boils down to the individual. Can you learn skill with cleats? Absolutely and you can also learn bad habits with cleats as well. Can you learn skill with Flats? Absolutely. You can also end up with rather ugly lower legs if you have no idea what you are supposed to be learning...

 

Both have benefits and both have pitfalls. Is one better than the other? In my opinion no. It's down to the individual. There are too many variables for one to be better than the other.

 

My advice would be to FIRST invest in some skills. Then go buy your pedals and shoes.

Bazinga.

 

Look, I'm not saying that cleats are *bad*. I'm saying that for a beginner, they're not the best solution. I'd far rather recommend someone start off on flats, then once they've learned the basics like how to ensure they stay connected to the bike in the air, and how to do drops properly and position themselves on the bike, THEN "progress" to cleats if they feel like changing it up a bit - where they can build on what they've learnt with the confidence that they can do things the right way... 

[Albatross]

And that is why I waited for Myles, I would get some of that response wrong and then bear his wrath! 

Jumped the gun......feeling the wrath

[Grebel]

I have just started riding so I am a beginner with no riding or even fitness/gym background and if I read your post correctly then I am the weekend warrior category without a doubt.

Truth be told I can't ever see myself jumping  but then again I never thought I would ride a bike and so enjoy it.

Goals for now are to improve basic skills and speed up on trails  and then in the future hopefully be able to do more 'advanced' trails  as I gain confidence and skill.

 

Get hold of Peach. He runs a skills clinic in your 'hood (And other 'hoods). From the feedback, it sounds like a worthwhile investment 

[Grebel]

Bazinga.

 

*Snip*... ensure they stay connected to the bike in the air ...*Snip*

 

But that's exactly what cleats do..................... 

[Piston ZA]

As Myles says, no one is saying one pedal is better than the other, and it is definitely down to personal choice. But, when it comes to beginners, and confidence and skill building, flat pedals all the way.

 

Even though I have flats and cleats, I still prefer my flats, even on my 100mm xc bike.

 

Some reading on flats and the advantages they have.

https://www.bikejames.com/strength/newly-updated-flat-pedal-revolution-manifesto-the-science-and-logic-of-using-flats-to-improve-your-riding/

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

But that's exactly what cleats do..................... 

LOL. But then you rely on it. Dead sailor vibes, ya know... 

 

But yes, I know. Last time I went back to cleats I didn't put enough time into it, and I went back to flats chop chop.

 

Having said that, my learning curve is veeeeeery shallow atm. Not enough riding...