Use of MTB cleats vs Flat Pedals (Advice needed)

[SilverMountain]

I have been riding a hardtail for just over 18 months with very few or no problems. This bike has flat pedals and I was always comfortable riding with running shoes.

Bought a full suspension bike during the last month and I thought that I would have Shimano pedals fitted and would get MTB shoes and cleats at the same time.

During the time I used my hardtail I can't ever remember falling off however since I have been using cleats I have fallen between 4/5 times a ride on distances between 20 and 34km.

My last ride yesterday I landed up on rocks when riding uphill and have ended up with a swollen hand, sore leg and a broken Nokia Navigator.

 

When I got my bike the LBS said that I should be able to release the cleats based on their fittings on the pedals however it often happens that you have to release at the last second when you don't know that you are going to have a problem.

During my previous ride it happened when riding single-track when someone stopped immediately in front and also when negotiating thick sand.

 

Is there any hope for me as if my fall rate does not improve I may need to consider changing back to flat pedals.

[no calves]

unclipping just before jou fall will become second nature in no time. we all went trough this stage

[leet22]

Yip  it takes time, sometimes you dont unclip and fall but thats MTB. I started with cheap peadl from Sportsmans warehouse , flat on one side and cleats other. use to ride on flat side to get confidnece up but found i fell the same  doesnt matter what side it was.

It will take time thats all

[cat-i]

i ride with a combo, i can clip in on one side, and have flat for the other side. the flatties are my 'training wheels' and i use them for stuff that's slightly above my ability.

 

someone stopping just ahead of you - give them some space, so that they can have some time to get out of your way if you're attempting to clear the climb

 

 

 

 

[Christopher Brunsdon]

This weekend coming I'm going from flats to cleats. Gong to be fun. The only reason why I'm doing this is I commute uphill to work a lot. And it is really uphill.

 

You can always go back to flats and get toe clips. Laugh all you want but it works very well, have done that since May and never an issue.

 

[IdeJongh]

Cleats really help in the long run with pedalling efficiency, anybody riding for a while cant do without them.  Had the same problem when I started though, just loosened the cleats a bit to allow my foot the clip out easier and falling stopped.  Now that Im used to it i like my cleats a bit tigher, less play and can pull quite hard on them!!

[SilverMountain]

What has complicated the issue is that during the last two rides, thick sand has also been responsible for the problem and I have the Kenda small block 8 tyres with not as much tread as my other bike. As suggested, it may be matter of giving it time to get it right.

[Cheryl J]

Well worth sticking with it until you're comfortable. ?More control

 

(btw - its normal to fall over sometimes.... just changed pedal types and managed to do the fall over sideways thing yesterday!?

[IdeJongh]

Sand at Cullinan almost took me down yesterday.  Got a tip from local guru to keep weight back and pressure off the handlbars, allowing your front wheel to 'bob' on the sand rather than dig in.  It helps, but takes practice to be effective.

[SilverMountain]

Thanks for the tip re- the soft sand, will have to try it out.

[GTfan]

Thanks for the tip re- the soft sand' date=' will have to try it out.[/quote']

 

I also hate that soft sand, with a passion, dunno why it's there at some races. 

[IdeJongh]

What ticked me off a couple of times - with those long gentle uphills, you get into a leke rythm and can really pace it up there, and *bam* you hit a patch and completely breaks your momentum.  But thats what makes MTBing so different.

[_bob_]

 

I have been riding a hardtail for just over 18 months with very few or no problems. This bike has flat pedals and I was always comfortable riding with running shoes.

Bought a full suspension bike during the last month and I thought that I would have Shimano pedals fitted and would get MTB shoes and cleats at the same time.

During the time I used my hardtail I can't ever remember falling off however since I have been using cleats I have fallen between 4/5 times a ride on distances between 20 and 34km.

My last ride yesterday I landed up on rocks when riding uphill and have ended up with a swollen hand' date=' sore leg and a broken Nokia Navigator.

 

When I got my bike the LBS said that I should be able to release the cleats based on their fittings on the pedals however it often happens that you have to release at the last second when you don't know that you are going to have a problem.

During my previous ride it happened when riding single-track when someone stopped immediately in front and also when negotiating thick sand.

 

Is there any hope for me as if my fall rate does not improve I may need to consider changing back to flat pedals.

[/quote']

 

Had the same problem with falling when I changed to cleats. Could never unclip fast enough when I needed to. It just seemed like I couldn't twist my foot our far enough to get them to unclip - also Shimano pedals.

I've now changed to Look Quartz pedals and don't have this problem anymore. The Quartz just seem to slip out so easily when needed. No hassles with unclipping and I haven't fallen because of the pedals since.

 

Point is, try different pedals

 

[Hog_]

If you're bailing when you're clipped in, it just means that normally when you'd put your foot down, you're now putting your whole body down. 

 

My advice is to learn stationary balance and work on your technical skills. If you can pull a trackstand whenever you stop, there's no need to upclip - or at least you can do it in your own time. If you know how to get over the technical bits you'll also not need to stop or unclip, so you'll also take that out of the equation.

 

 

 

[Candz]

Best advice so far Hog!!! I always wondered why my friend..very experienced lady MTB rider kept pushing this into my head...and I thank her for this tiny bit of info...it works...! Work on balance.

[IdeJongh]

Agree with Hog&Candz on balance, definetly solves the unclipping problem in the long run, and betters the whole ride.  You'll end up riding up many hills where other dismount, not due to be being more fit, walking actually nails you, but due to having the balance at slower speeds.

 

In the meatime, try loosening the  the pedal a bit but make sure your cleats on your shoes are tight.  Should unclip easy.  With time and as balance increases you can tighten them.