XCer Posted January 19, 2010 Share Hi Guys, Nice to be on the site. I am doing a XC Mtb race this weekend for the first time and was wondering if I should use Click in pedals or normal pedals. What is the norm for these kind of races. Dont want to get caught with my feet in the pedals and my face planted in the ground........ Thanks in advance for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewie911 Posted January 19, 2010 Share Hi and welcome.Use "click in pedals", but be sure that you are comfortable clicking in and out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bos Posted January 19, 2010 Share get clip in (actually called clipless)pedals, but make sure you have your saddle hight re checked,and like stewie said, do at least 3 rides to make sure you get in and out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheelsuck Posted January 19, 2010 Share Would suggest u use ur current pedals in the race as ur used to it. Dont want to have to race with new pedals on unfamiliar terrain in race conditions. Later in your training rides on familair terrain etc start introducing clip ins to make you comfortable with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XCer Posted January 19, 2010 Share Thanks guys - I have clip ins at the moment and was thinking of going back to normal pedals for the race, but will rather stick to using the clip ins as that is what I am used to. Thanks for the advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff.rich Posted January 19, 2010 Share i was once told by brother Burry about clipless pedals and it makes sense. You have two main contact points on a bicycle-your hands and your feet..Riding with flats is like riding with no hands.. You will find...in time...that clipless pedals will give you more peace of mind in technical stuff than flats. And ul get up with far less gouges in your shins!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaccelari Posted January 19, 2010 Share I started off with "normal" (platform) pedals because I didn't like the idea of clipless ("click in") pedals. After my first race I went out and bought clipless pedals, cleats and MTB shoes. The ability to clip in to the bike is not just for allowing you to have a better pedal stroke (up and around as well as pushing down), but is a massive safety feature. The race I did had a long downhill section on grass tufts. Within 10 metres my feet were thrown off the pedals and I bulleted downhill in a state of absolute terror and totally out of control. If you do go clipless, do so before the race and make sure you have time to get comfortable with them, clipping in and out...jmaccelari2010-01-19 03:39:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XCer Posted January 19, 2010 Share Thanks geoff.rich - I guess the idea is not to take your feet off the pedals in the first place. I remember those gouges in my shins from the BMX days when clip ins were not around - still have plenty of scars and used to curse those damn pedals. So the idea is to rather have your feet stuck to the pedals with clip ins when you fall than have the flat pedals gouging out your shins, should your feet slip off in the technical stuff... Hate those shin gouges Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XCer Posted January 19, 2010 Share @ Jmaccelari - I have clippless pedals at the moment with cleats and MTB shoes. Have just seen to many guys come to a stop and not being able to put their feet down - and over they go. Guess the idea is to keep your momentum so you dont need to stop or put your feet down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawoke Posted January 19, 2010 Share yes had the same problem, Now I fall lekker with my clip less pedals. I does make pedaling uphill easier for me ! :S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bos Posted January 19, 2010 Share Thanks geoff.rich - I guess the idea is not to take your feet off the pedals in the first place. I remember those gouges in my shins from the BMX days when clip ins were not around - still have plenty of scars and used to curse those damn pedals. So the idea is to rather have your feet stuck to the pedals with clip ins when you fall than have the flat pedals gouging out your shins' date=' should your feet slip off in the technical stuff... Hate those shin gouges [/quote'] Easy Tiger.. Most dirt jumpers and many freeriders ride flats and their feet never comes off. Riding a Hardtail MTB downhill is difficult I admit but It gives you some skills once you get it which riding with clipless pedals will make you oblivious to. Stuff like Flowing, riding smooth comes a lot easyer with flat pedals because you have to absorb more bumps and transfer your weight with your legs and arms to keep from getting bumped off, you with me? It forces you to become "at one" with the bike, whilst with clips, you are phisically "at one" but might look like youre just holding on for dear life! so there are some uses for those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XCer Posted January 19, 2010 Share - was just checking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weight Weenie Posted January 19, 2010 Share all of the above, my big reason is for water and mud. When i started with normal pedals and tekkies, I used to always slip my feet off the pedals and lose control as well as hit my shins, so clipless is definitely better here as well. Try to adjust the release mechanism of your pedals(shimano has allen key screws) and make it looser so if you need to clip out suddenly you can do it without too much effort. Later you can fasten them more when you get used to them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XCer Posted January 19, 2010 Share Great! So it's 100% thumbs up for clipless pedals in technical races Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted January 19, 2010 Share Hi Guys' date=' Nice to be on the site. I am doing a XC Mtb race this weekend for the first time and was wondering if I should use Click in pedals or normal pedals. What is the norm for these kind of races. Dont want to get caught with my feet in the pedals and my face planted in the ground........ Thanks in advance for the info.[/quote'] What race are you doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaccelari Posted January 19, 2010 Share Guess the idea is to keep your momentum so you dont need to stop or put your feet down.Not at all. The secret is to get used to unclipping by twisting your ankle out. I can unclip as fast as I can put my foot down. Remember - twist ankle out as you unclip... It's a habit thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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