Why do I never see Pro's riding clipless?

MyName1sMud · Mar 4, 2011

Okay... So I bought some Eggbeaters for my bike and am loving them....

Just been watching a bunch of different MTB movies and noticed I didn't see a single one of the pro riders wearing clipless pedals....

I understand for the guys that do all the tailwhips and what not as to why they wouldn't be riding clipless.... but there were a number of guys who didn't do tricks and just rode the trails with speed...but yet they were still riding platform pedals and not clipless. I had always thought if you want to go fast on a bike the single best investment is clipless pedals (also had a number of people here tell me the exact same thing)

I know it's a to each his own sort of thing when it comes to clipless/platform but I just thought it was really weird they don't ride clipless.... anyone know a reason behind the platform pedals?

Marko G · Mar 4, 2011

i read clipless pedals give you cancer... thats why i avoid them

Fix the Spade · Mar 4, 2011

MyName1sMud said:
Just been watching a bunch of different MTB movies and noticed I didn't see a single one of the pro riders wearing clipless pedals....

What movies and which riders?

@dam · Mar 4, 2011

Probably because to be in a movie you have to do some crazy stuff, even if it gets edited out and you just see a few seconds of some guy riding along. Tell me how many XC pros don't use clipless.

006_007 · Mar 4, 2011

Depends which pros - The pros wearing baggy shorts dont use clipless - the lycra pros do run clipless. Some kind of law......

MyName1sMud · Mar 4, 2011

006_007 said:
Depends which pros - The pros wearing baggy shorts dont use clipless - the lycra pros do run clipless. Some kind of law......

Yeah... If I ever did become and amazing rider.... I will never be caught dead in all that tight stuff I see people wearing.... NO WAY

I was born in the early 80's.... I don't need to dress like it. :skep:

BigBill · Mar 4, 2011

Because most MTB movies are freeride/DH/Dirtjump oriented so they ride flat pedals for easier bails.

Virtually all XC pros ride clipless. But I've seen a good number of DH racers use clipless too.

I personally use flats with five ten impact shoes for all riding and would never consider going back to clipless. It's totally personal preference.

MyName1sMud · Mar 4, 2011

Fix the Spade said:
What movies and which riders?

Well the only movie names I can think of right now that i've watched lately are

Life Cycles (my all time favorite now) , The Collective, ROAM, Seasons, and Follow me.....

All of those feature stunt guys so they aren't good examples I know.

I guess I just haven't been exposed to the XC stuff so I never see guys riding clipless.

BigBill said:
Because most MTB movies are freeride/DH/Dirtjump oriented so they ride flat pedals for easier bails.

Virtually all XC pros ride clipless. But I've seen a good number of DH racers use clipless too.

I personally use flats with five ten impact shoes for all riding and would never consider going back to clipless. It's totally personal preference.

Yeah I've always been a huge fan of "platforms" but being I just dropped $160 on shoes/pedals i'm gonna give the clipless a go for a while as so far i'm in love with the whole being able to pull up and push down pedal style i'm getting to do with them.

rkj__ · Mar 4, 2011

006_007 said:
Depends which pros - The pros wearing baggy shorts dont use clipless - the lycra pros do run clipless. Some kind of law......

Go to a world cup DH race, and you will see lots of pros riding with clipless pedals and baggy shorts. They've gained a fair bit of popularity.

006_007 · Mar 4, 2011

rkj__ said:
Go to a world cup DH race, and you will see lots of pros riding with clipless pedals and baggy shorts. They've gained a fair bit of popularity.

My [email protected] tongue in cheek formatting failed to work :madman:

John Kuhl · Mar 4, 2011

I wear baggies and use clipless pedals, but
I'm not a pro. I have used clipless pedals for a
long time, and haven't got cancer.

Best, John

Pisgah · Mar 4, 2011

You're not watching all the pros.

rkj__ · Mar 5, 2011

006_007 said:
My [email protected] tongue in cheek formatting failed to work :madman:

Damn. :madman:

zgjp82 · Mar 5, 2011

www.bikejames.com

He has some great reasons on why you should ride flats or clipless, he doesn't talk about one being better than the other just reasons why you should be open to the idea. I and my wife are
making the switch and I will only run clipless for races.

NoahColorado · Mar 5, 2011

I don't even ride with pedals anymore. I'm starting a new trend.

Ricko · Mar 5, 2011

You don't see that they're wearing clipless because they're going so fast that all you see is a blurrrrrrrr

.

dirt farmer · Mar 5, 2011

Are these Breaking Away type mountain bike movies??

Dougie · Mar 5, 2011

Both have advantages/disadvantages. As someone who rides both flats and clipless, it depends on what kind of riding I'm doing. If I'm going to be out riding techy XC that involves a good deal of climbing, I usually ride clipless. If I'm out riding resort-style DH or riding urban on my hardtail, then I'm on flats.

The types of movies you're referring to are freeride-type movies and are definetely going to feature riders favoring flats for that kind of riding. Go to any XC race and you'll see just about everyone riding clipless.

Two different applications for two different types of riding.

kiwi_matt · Mar 5, 2011

NoahColorado said:
I don't even ride with pedals anymore. I'm starting a new trend.

I heard it's going to be the next big thing, perhaps even bigger than 29'ers

MyName1sMud · Mar 5, 2011

kiwi_matt said:
I heard it's going to be the next big thing, perhaps even bigger than 29'ers

:lol: :lol:

/thread on that

Why do I never see Pro's riding clipless?

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