Modern flat shoes and pedals and good technique keep me secure enough I don't feel the need to use clipless any more. Only time I use clipless is when I'm on terrain that tends to bounce me out of the pedals a lot and that's all but eliminated with my full sus. I'm considering moving back to clipless on my singe speed rides but I need more time in the saddle with the single speed to make that decision.
To clip in or not to clip in, that is a crash waiting to happen!
About 10 years ago, when i was into my mountain bikes, i was always clipped in.
Since my return, earlier this year, i've stayed on flats. This might just be because my ride style has changed, and my focus is now more just going out for a bit of an explore and adventure rather than bombing along single track.
Maybe it's time to dust off them SPD's and get back in the groove, let me know what you do and why.
Since my return, earlier this year, i've stayed on flats. This might just be because my ride style has changed, and my focus is now more just going out for a bit of an explore and adventure rather than bombing along single track.
Maybe it's time to dust off them SPD's and get back in the groove, let me know what you do and why.
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It's all about what you are comfortable about. Flats riders think you can't jump or drop with clipless and clipless riders think you'll slip off the flats. Both are not correct. Both can work.
I've been riding clipped in so long, I'm just more comfortable that way. I've been able to unclip and bail out of bigger crashes many times. I can't really remember a crash that was directly attributed to not being able to unclip... with the exception of - I still fall over at the unexpected dead-stop moment sometimes, awkwardly unable to unclip and just fall over to the side, but that's about the only time... did it this past weekend, in fact.
I use both but I've been on clipless since the first generation SPDs came out so I'm more comfortable using them most of the time. However, on snow and mud where the cleats get packed to where you're smacking your shoe against the pedal or crank to try to clear the mechanism, and the ground is slippery such that you might want to put a foot down as quickly as possible, then flats are nice.
Finally, some new material on MTBR.
Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
IME, it's pretty narrow temperature range in snow where that's an issue, my thought is that it's warmer than freezing or the snow is wet and when it comes in contact with your cleat, the cleat is a heat-sink and it "sticks" to the cleat, jamming the pedal because the cleat can't get into the mech. You can pound them clean, but they tend to jam up pretty easily if you are stepping a lot in that temp range. Once we get a little further into the season, it never comes up again, snow doesn't jam because it's too dry and colder than freezing.I use both but I've been on clipless since the first generation SPDs came out so I'm more comfortable using them most of the time. However, on snow and mud where the cleats get packed to where you're smacking your shoe against the pedal or crank to try to clear the mechanism, and the ground is slippery such that you might want to put a foot down as quickly as possible, then flats are nice.
Yeah, when there's wet "snowman-snow" it's the worst. Dry, light powder is not so bad.IME, it's pretty narrow temperature range in snow where that's an issue, my thought is that it's warmer than freezing or the snow is wet and when it comes in contact with your cleat, the cleat is a heat-sink and it "sticks" to the cleat, jamming the pedal because the cleat can't get into the mech. You can pound them clean, but they tend to jam up pretty easily if you are stepping a lot in that temp range. Once we get a little further into the season, it never comes up again, snow doesn't jam because it's too dry and colder than freezing.
I use clips but pretty much because you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
If I was just getting into mountain biking today, I’d choose an aggressive platform pedal / MTB-specific shoe combo.
=sParty
If I was just getting into mountain biking today, I’d choose an aggressive platform pedal / MTB-specific shoe combo.
=sParty
Switched from SPDs to platforms on all of my bikes save the single-speed about a year ago, then recently had a run in with about 3-4 nasty shin gashes and just switched back to SPDs on everything.
Not a recommendation one way or the other, there is a tiny efficiency difference but not enough to justify if it causes you to crash.
Not a recommendation one way or the other, there is a tiny efficiency difference but not enough to justify if it causes you to crash.
You need to add an option for both to the survey.
I'm all flats now after 20+years of running both options.
Why? Tge steep as goat tracks I ride required potential quick dabbling that spd's arnt as good as.
I'm all flats now after 20+years of running both options.
Why? Tge steep as goat tracks I ride required potential quick dabbling that spd's arnt as good as.
I too was clipped in for years. Running flats now and as mentioned above, todays flats with a shoe like the 5-10's and your pretty much stuck to the pedal.
Mostly clips but every once in a while I’ll run flats for a few weeks so I don’t develop bad habits. My favorite thing about clips is being able to unweight my feet on rocky terrain and not worry about feet coming unglued
LOL, one of the reasons I like SPDs is getting the last bit of leverage on those stupid steep climbs.Why? Tge steep as goat tracks I ride required potential quick dabbling that spd's arnt as good as.
x2.You need to add an option for both to the survey.
I'm all flats now after 20+years of running both options.
Why? Tge steep as goat tracks I ride required potential quick dabbling that spd's arnt as good as.
Both, but flats primarily the last few years.
I agree for stupid steep climbs. Those i dont care about. I'll ride or walk. I'm all about the stupid steep downs. If i have to shoulder my bike to carry up. I know it will be a worthy down.LOL, one of the reasons I like SPDs is getting the last bit of leverage on those stupid steep climbs.
Most of the trails like that around here are way too long to carry the bike up. You shuttle or pedal the 7 mile forest road to the top.I agree for stupid steep climbs. Those i dont care about. I'll ride or walk. I'm all about the stupid steep downs. If i have to shoulder my bike to carry up. I know it will be a worthy down.
Shuttle + flats!Most of the trails like that around here are way too long to carry the bike up. You shuttle or pedal the 7 mile forest road to the top.
Whichever you go with, learn how to use them. End of story!
There's no shuttle or forrest loop to the top for a lot of my goat tracks. Its pedal, then push, then shoulder the bike and climb. Its not unusual for me to do a 800-1000m vert session like this. In this instance a grippy shoe is also preferable to a cleated spd.Most of the trails like that around here are way too long to carry the bike up. You shuttle or pedal the 7 mile forest road to the top.
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