It's completely a matter of preference. I'm saying that as one of the few people I know of that is perfectly comfortable switching back and forth between a quality platform, and clipless. Most people who really really feel the platform is better will tell you it's because they don't have to take time to unclip when stopping or going through something technical and taking a dab, or putting a foot down in a fast turn - other's will tell you that proper technique with good pedals and good shoes will get you roughly the same pedaling efficiency, and still others that you shouldn't be pulling up anyhow, all your power should be generated pushing from the hip.

Clipless advocates will tell you they are more efficient, and you can generate more power with them.

From a personal stand point, when I'm really out cutting up, I like the additional freedom of movement platforms give me. It's not that under normal riding conditions I NEED more float than my clipless setup offers - it's that sometimes it's fun to throw the bike around in ways you simply can't if you're clipped in. I will say that, yes, on my single speed, certain sections of the trail the require more power are easier to clean clipless, but there are very few places I can't clean on either type of pedal, be it technical, or just steep.

 

I like having that large platform when jumping and things get rough out there and those pins make me feel like I'm clipped in zero movement

 

I ride both.
Riding platforms really teaches you to be connected to the bike, how to load the pedals. Riding with them will make your pedal stroke better and more efficient when going back to clips. You have to put in the time, which some people are not willing to do.
I like riding flats because they really allow you to drive all your weight into the corners, and I love how supported you feel by the large/stable platform.
I like riding clipless because they allow you to get real light on the bike, and just float through things, and they allow you to always stay on the gas, no matter what you're going over.

 

What am I missing that makes platforms do popular?

Platforms let you walk like a normal person when you go in for your latte.

 

lol'z.

 

While it is a good idea to move your legs smoothly and attempt to draw circles with your feet, most of the pedalling power comes from pushing. Pulling up on the pedal when the crank is in the rear position is not an efficient way to put power through the drivetrain and to the ground, although when really mashing to sprint or climb, it can be the only way to prevent stalling. Clipless pedals offer a performance benefit only in isolated and short periods of cycling, so it's not a miracle some people go for flats if they feel like it: they are not giving up much.

For what it's worth, pretty much all my bikes have clipless pedals and I only occasionally ride flats for fun.

 

clipless=roadbike
platform/flats=everything else.

Used both on the trails and can say I did not lose any time or stall on a hill because I wasn't clipped in. One thing I can say though is I lost time trying to clip in from a stop or unclipping to go over an obstical because sometimes you need your foot out when something is unsafe. Overall flat pedals give you more freedom for obsticals and give me more confidence.

 

This is exactly the correct answer. The pros of flats heavily outnumber the pros of clips. Why anyone besides racers uses clips for mtb is beyond me. I have never met anyone who has test ridden both and then gone back to clips. Here come the "I did"s.

Just give me a worthy steed between my legs and I'll be happy.

 

Flats has saved me from horrendous crashes, and my knees say thank you.

If I was a racer I would use clipless but im just a guy wanting to have fun, I dont care how fast I go or if I can make a huge hill (besides going down hill is funner) and just a note everyone I ride with uses clipless and I still mash up hill faster than them, plus im running 1x10 and there using 2x10.

 

Because flat pedals are better in nearly every situation, and it is a myth that clipless give you more power. With 510 shoes and my Twenty6 pedals, I can practically pull up. But pulling up is silly -- you should be focusing on making circles.

Also, no matter how good you are at getting out of them, YOU WILL crash with them at some point and not be able to get out of them. It has happened to me and everyone I know. Also, you will come out of them in a sketchy situation and not be able to get back IN. They suck. 20+ years of riding both allows me to say this without reservation.

 

B
Horse hockey. People I ride with are nearly all clipped in. In Whistler. North Vancouver. Doesn't get any more technical than that. Flats are great for riders that want to step off really fast or do tricks. Flats are not good for steep climbs. Not for me anyway. I am able to get in and out super fast. Never get stuck in. I keep the pedal tension moderately tight. I have flats too. 5.10 shoes Straightline AMP pedals offer great grip, but up hills are not easy with those. The other thing I dislike about flats is the lack of float. Just my old knee but I need easy float or my knee aches.

 

I'm not as young as I once was even though I try to ride like it. Because of this when I make a mistake I want the ability to bail out fast and not be locked in. Its just plain self preservation.

FWIW I have an older friend (older than me) who's pretty good. He made a mistake climbing a rocky trail when he was pretty tired and clipped in. He was unable to unclip when he fell but landed almost perfectly... almost perfectly enough to nearly rupture a kidney. He missed it by about half an inch according to the docs.

Screw that 5% increase in theoretical efficiency, I'd rather keep my kidneys intact. Mountain biking is supposed to be about fun. Leave that clipped in crap to the road bikers. I'll keep my flats thank you very much! :thumbsup:

 

FWIW I have an older friend (older than me) who's pretty good. He made a mistake climbing a rocky trail when he was pretty tired and clipped in. He was unable to unclip when he fell but landed almost perfectly... almost perfectly enough to nearly rupture a kidney. He missed it by about half an inch according to the docs.

Screw that 5% increase in theoretical efficiency, I'd rather keep my kidneys intact. Mountain biking is supposed to be about fun. Leave that clipped in crap to the road bikers. I'll keep my flats thank you very much! :thumbsup:

That's EXACTLY what I was talking about. A lot of people say "oh, you get used to them." Nope, I got as good as possible at getting in and out of clipless pedals -- spent around 15 years riding with them in XC and DH racing. Crashing still happened every once in awhile --*usually while going UPhill on a technical climb. Luckily, I never injured myself badly. Many I know were not so lucky. After mixing in flat pedals on my DH rig for a few years I eventually switched over completely and threw my SPD shoes away. I have ridden nothing but flats for XC, DH, and freeride for the last 8 or so years now. Last summer, I borrowed my dad's XC bike and rode several of my usual rides clipped in again. My times were NO BETTER than they are with flat pedals.

There is no reason to ride clipped in.

 

Why are platforms better? you can move your feet off them to stop yourself from dying. I've personally never ridden clipped in, and I see no reason to. The trails I ride are much to rough.

 

The trails I ride are much to rough.

How rough the trails are or if you DH or not has nothing to do with it. It's simply personal preference.

 

Used to ride clipless but have since switched to flats. I do miss it when i'm going down rocks and roots because i tend to get kicked off my pedals sometimes but that's really down to proper technique. I don't find much of a difference when i'm climbing, with 5-10's and 12 screws per side, it's just as good as being clipped in but again, it really comes down to personal preference. I for one had crashed too many times while trying to clip out or crashed while still clipped in, i much rather throw the bike than be dragged down with it.

 

Why are platforms better = you can still ride yer bike with flip flops to the local market fer a Beer or a box of chicken. Try that with yer bowling shoes on
hehehehe
Happy Monday BLAH>>>>

 

x2 what Ipe said

 

I just switched to clipless and say I've enjoyed feeling more connected and getting the extra power from the bike. From what I felt was the same effort, according to my bike computer I became more efficient, picked up some speed and was able to "steer" the bike more with better weight distribution on drops and over obstacles. For ME, I feel it's better. My 510's don't get much time out anymore unless I'm riding AM, which I only get to do when I travel to some place that actually has AM riding. It's all XC here with some technical additions dropped in. It took me a while to go clipless, and I think if it's something anyone is interested in, they should check it out, but again, on more aggressive trails and DH trails, personally wouldn't even have looked in to it.

I haven't taken a fall on the trail yet while being clipped in, even as a newb with full tension off my SPD pedals, I'm able to pop out during the "oh sh!t" moments easily, but I'm also able to push/pull through sections where before I would have bailed. Maybe it's because I know I'm attached to the bike, I'm not sure. Gotta ride your own ride.

 

love my 510 freeriders and dmr vaults. wish they made pedals with similar grip to the dmr's but 1/2 lb lighter. 1 full pound for a pair of pedals is kinda heavy. either way, love riding flat pedals. u end up liking what you get used to, plain and simple.

 

I'm actually scared of going clipless... if I was clipped in, on Sunday - hurtling down a goat track... I would've probably ended up in hospital! thank goodness I can get off bike in a heart beat.

 

It's all just technique, been riding clipless for years now and never had trouble getting my foot out of the pedal to dab (not for the passed few years). I feel uncomfortable on flats, find I strike with the wide profile more and I feel a lot less connected to the bike when the going gets rough; I worry i'll get bucked off or lose contact and catch a pinned platform to the shin (i'd rather fall off than have that happen).

Doesn't make one better than the other?? No, it's a largely subjective thing. Kind of why most bikes don't come with pedals, because you're never going to find a pedal that'll please all comers, you bring that part of it to the party in the format you like it in. All the better to shred you with my dear.

 

heheh ^^ BYOP bring yer own pedals LOL My kinda Party!!

RIDE!!!!!!!!!!

 

You can always get out they say... Until this happens.

Just give me a worthy steed between my legs and I'll be happy.

 

View attachment 925919

You can always get out they say... Until this happens.

Just give me a worthy steed between my legs and I'll be happy.

Of all the things wrong with this shot, the pedals are the last of it.

 

Road clips, or clipless as you gurus call it, for over ten years. Flats for the last five. Want the first ten years back. Good judgment call and trolling. Good for you. And your experience is what mr mighty troller? Or do you mean the thread creator? Either way, please allow us the curtesy to share our boundless wisdom with all who shall ask without having to deal with heathen, unsolicited ridicule. The End.


Just give me a worthy steed between my legs and I'll be happy.

 

Road clips, or clipless as you gurus call it, for over ten years. Flats for the last five. Want the first ten years back. Good judgment call and trolling. Good for you. And your experience is what mr mighty troller? Or do you mean the thread creator? Either way, please allow us the curtesy to share our boundless wisdom with all who shall ask without having to deal with heathen, unsolicited ridicule. The End.

My bad, i spotted the lopsided perspective and terrible/pointless/misleading example photo and had you pegged as another baseless opinion.

Road clips, or clipless as you gurus call it, for over ten years. Flats for the last five. Want the first ten years back.

This was a good reply! It adds to the discussion and gives some background on how you arrived at your opinion. You should have posted that instead of the misleading BS. Enjoy your ride!

 

You are right. In no way, shape or form would having his legs not secured to the bicycle be helpful. We should ask him. We should also ask this guy--http://youtu.be/lWCD5fhfdns


Just give me a worthy steed between my legs and I'll be happy.

 

You are right. In no way, shape or form would having his legs not secured to the bicycle be helpful. We should ask him. We should also ask this guy--http://youtu.be/lWCD5fhfdns

Just give me a worthy steed between my legs and I'll be happy.

He's on flat terrain (not very inclined, given the skyline behind him) . The rocks aren't that aggressive, he hasn't dropped his heels or positioned himself properly on the bike to attack it. This isn't a fault of pedal choice, but technique.

In the video he changed his gears late, didn't maintain momentum, and didn't unclip. Unclipping isn't a hard skill to learn, especially with spd's.

But horses for courses, if you're not comfortable with what you're riding, you're not going to enjoy it, so just choose your kit accordingly. Nobody is right or wrong, better or worse when it comes to choosing pedals because it's largely a personal choice.

 

This is why the internet is so great. The thread poster guy isn't even commenting while we waste our time discussing pointless topics. I'm going for a night ride.

 

Ive used spd, time, look, speedplay on road and mtb for years. When I recently got back into more serious, technical mtb riding I decided starting with flats would be useful to get my skills back up and then maybe transition back to clipless. Im not the least bit convinced now that I should go back after a season of riding.

Yes, clipless may be advantageous in a tiny # of situations (steep/rocky technical explosive sections, maybe) but the confidence to attempt the other 99% of stuff and know im not going to fail to geta foot out is really invaluable. This is coming from an experienced clipless rider with serious muscle memory. If I do buy another pair of clipless they'd be time atac. Best mud clearing, good float, never felt trapped OR insecure.

 

Clipless pedals made me lazy. That is the only reason I switched to flats.

If they don't make you lazy or you don't care then I don't see any downside to using clipless.

 

Ride clips on all my bikes. Never stalled on a hill because I can't clip out. Maybe you're stalling out because you're in too high a gear.