[Closed] Flats - why so popular?

They make you approximately 10x more rad.

Personally I don't really "get" spds even on my road bike. I don't feel they add anything (my average speeds are the same on spuds or flats) and I like to move my feet around a bit. I'm only using them on the roadie because I paid for the shoes so I'm going to get my moneys worth.

You really cant tell the difference on road?

Sorry, but that has to be a case of you're doing it wrong...

Started using SPDs on my MTB, great for big miles on cycle paths, but I did not enjoy them on anything technical.

Every trail round here is damp, muddy, rooty, slippy slidy, horrible awesomeness. The ability to get my foot down quickly when the front wheel slides out is more important to me over a very minimal increase in pedalling efficiency.

Definitely a marketing thing IMO.

Flats must lose power on road, and comfort over longer distances, whether the former is significant I don't know, proper road shoes and even spds feel night and day to flats.

the best thing I ever bought for my mtb was spd's!

flats on the rd must be terrible

I'm a xc guy though!

flats on a road bike is plain wrong 😆

Horses for courses.

Me - SPds almost all the time. But I have ridden attached to the bike since I started. the stiff shoes is the main advantage I guess.

Once used to them its easy enough to get your foot out to dab or when crashing

On flats however you need better technique for jumping and so on so its probably better to learn jumps on flats

Flats on my bike that I'm likely to use to get me into situations where being clipped in isn't the best idea.

Clips on my singlespeed XC bike.

For me its not a fashion thing, its a sensible thing. Took my SPDs off 3 years ago after the first day in Verbier. Not put them back on... On my full suss I'm not out there racing, its built for enjoyment so I plod up the hills and ride back down them via th silliest routes possible. SPDs just aren't practical (for me) for that stuff.

You really cant tell the difference on road?

Sorry, but that has to be a case of you're doing it wrong...

Maybe because I'm more of a pedal masher than a spinner. The only time I notice a difference is on uphill bits where I can pull up rather than just push down.

I find it makes a large difference to what climbs i can get up and how much energy i expend doing it.
esp noticable on the single speed as there are climbs i can do no problem with SPD that i cant get up on flats.

I do however like to swap back to flats every so often for a bit of skills brush up and a bit of 'foot out flatout' cornering 🙂

SPD's on HT & Roadie but flats on my 575 as they are a "get me out of jail free card" when things get a little dodgy!! 😉

Definitely a marketing thing IMO.

Cheapest flats are 10 quid and can be used with existing trainers
Cheapest SPDS are 20 quid and need special shoes (40-50 quid?)

if its marketing, they're not very good at it.

Because they are more fun. You rarely see riders who like to jump, manual, drift and generally muck about on their bikes riding spd's. The exception to this are riders who are masters at bike handling as they can ride just about anything clipped in.

A lot of people assume that flats are easier to bail out from if it gets a bit iffy. It's not really true but each to their own.

Oooh a flat pedal debate - lemme at em!

Everyone has their own view on this and that's really all that matters. But the modern prevalence of flat pedals, especially among the DH fraternity, was definitely started by Sam Hill in the mid noughties when he whupped ass at places like Schladming and then took the Worlds title in Rotorua.

That's not to say that people weren't riding flats before Sam; obviously they were. But he added a lot to the 'zeitgeist'.

So, fashion kick started the flat pedal revolution but a lot of people find there are very real benefits.

I personally think you have to be a really very good rider indeed to be able to ride pinned on SPDs; you've got very little margin of error with SPDs so you need to be very confident in bike handling to go full tilt into a corner and not have the immediacy of foot down correction should you need it.

In some ways, it could be argued that flat pedals are a skills compensator.

For me, the biggest difference is sensitivity and feel through the soles of my feet; I use my feet to judge what the bike is doing, how much grip there is, when the bike is starting to slide and how best to compensate.

I find SPDs don't give me the same feel - think of it like wearing a Durex Ultralite versus a Durex Extra Safe, but with the safety factor reversed

A lot of people assume that flats are easier to bail out from if it gets a bit iffy. It's not really true but each to their own.

que?

I have always ridden flats..
coming from a bmx background rather than a road background, from my perspective spd's were a fashion that you could choose to buy into..

I use both on my XC bike dependant on conditions. Things are different on my DH bike though as I always wear flats nowadays. clips on the DH bike were plain dangerous. Couldnt stay clipped in over rough or during harsh landings which caused me to lose the pedal at extremely bad times. Back to flats and its no worries. I've given up experimenting now and I'm happy to use them on the XC bike as the advantages of better uphills and easy jumping make them a joy. They get binned in favour of flats when its super tech/muddy/snow/steep though.

Supertacky - interesting perspective. Do you ever struggle with adjusting your riding style between the two?

I tried both and decided that for general riding I prefered flats. Still have spds on the road and for racing. Any benefit in performance was outweighed by the fact I felt more confident in flats and so had more fun on the downs.

The Q could equally be "spds, why so popular?"

The answer to both is don't worry about what is popular but try them and see what you like. They both have pros and cons.

My thoughts........

SPDs:
- tech climbing (pull & push the pedals at the same time)
- spinning
- rocky descents - stability
- cornering - great control

FLATS:
- jumping
- drifting
- bailing
- north shore
- hike a bike

I have SPD's on XC hardtail as that is my ride all day bike, but flats on big full sus for Alps etc, i found that it wasn't a case of feeling safer not being clipped in, but because I found it more comfortable, if 85% of what you are riding is downhill, then you are standing up on the bike for long periods of time.

In SPD disco slippers my feet were uncomfortable stood up for that long, with flats you can adjust postion on pedal more, there is a broader platform for your foot and my calves ached less.

My Five Tens are 10x more comfy than SPD's for the occasional time when you have to push or carry the bike and when hooning down Swiss fireroad at 35mph you could pivot round the foot when my brakes faded badly in the corners!

But the modern prevalence of flat pedals, especially among the DH fraternity, was definitely started by Sam Hill in the mid noughties when he whupped ass at places like Schladming and then took the Worlds title in Rotorua.

I pay no interest in racing and have been using flats since 1995/6 with most of my mates.

If anything, I'd say that spd's are the fashion thing, as a lot of people think that they 'need' to be clipped in in order to be a proper mountain biklist. Just with a lot of other aspects of the uniform - Fox helmets, 3/4 length shorts, sunglasses. If it makes them happy, who cares?

I'm sure spd's are more efficient in terms of 'cadence', whatever on Earth that may be, but for me, riding a bike is just about having fun. I can jump on the thing with my normal trainers with flats, go to work, the shops, without having to get dressed up.

Like others have said, each to their own, what difference does it make to anyone else what pedals someone uses?

HoratioHufnagel - Member
Cheapest flats are 10 quid and can be used with existing trainers
Cheapest SPDS are 20 quid and need special shoes (40-50 quid?)

if its marketing, they're not very good at it.

The OP is about "pics of new bikes etc" so it's not the pedals that are being marketed, I meant that bikes look cooler with flats than spd (apart from xc jey boy racer bikes, which can't look cool, ever 😉 )

In any event marketing is not about getting exposure for more expensive products.

I've just gone back to SPDS (5/10 minaars on xtr trails) on my five and its pretty good. For trail centres its much easier, and I think I'm a bit faster on the downs, mainly because I'm not dabbing as much because its such a faff. I had 5/10's on a set of flats with some big pins in and I found that they were so sticky I'd have my foot on the pedal in the wrong position and couldn't move it easily. At least spds force you to have your foot in the right position.

Dirt jumping and uplift days I'd always use flats, but for all day riding I think SPD's have got the edge, especially with the new skate style SPD shoes, just makes walking about a bit more comfortable.

Nothing to do with fashion for me, I started riding with spd's until I went to Chicksands for the first time and my pedals were getting full of sand and I struggled to clip in. Also a few muddy uplift days left me wanting to be able to bail when the need arose. Flats since 2004 and no plans to go back.

I use flats on my road bike! I ride flats because I just always have, I have some nice pedals and nice shoes and I like the set-up. I do want to try SPDs but it means buying pedals and shoes which is something I just never get round to doing! (The road bike has flats because I already had them kicking around)

Everyone has their own view on this and that's really all that matters.

In some ways, it could be argued that flat pedals are a skills compensator.

I prefer SPDs myself, mostly because I don't have great technique (there's a 50% chance my feet come off the pedals if I get air with flats :p ) and I like the lazier riding style whereby I don't have to worry what my feet are doing. I'd say they do help with pedalling but it's marginal. Only time I use flats is in the snow really.

I've been riding with spuds for 17 odd years (yikes! time flies) Except when I was a beginner I've only ridden flats when I've rented DH bikes (which took some adjustment and were ok)

I still don't understand why people use flats (except to adjust foot position on big drops). My spuds (I use trail types with a cage) are comfortable, allow me to move the bike through my feet, keep them planted on descents and give me extra power on climbs.

Do people wear flats because they are worried about being able to clip out?

Everyone has their own view on this and that's really all that matters.

Hallelujah

In some ways, it could be argued that flat pedals are a skills compensator.

It's the other way around I reckon. Lifting a bike by being connected through the feet does not require skill.

What he said ^^^

I remember first having a go on my brother's 1993 Cindercone with spd's and ended up riding down the street like Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. It did help that it weighed about 22 pounds as well as the spd's though. 😆

Do people wear flats because they are worried about being able to clip out?

No.

I personally think you have to be a really very good rider indeed to be able to ride pinned on SPDs; you've got very little margin of error with SPDs so you need to be very confident in bike handling to go full tilt into a corner and not have the immediacy of foot down correction should you need it.

I've tried several types of flats and shoes on my DH bike, and have never been comfortable with them. They're either not grippy enough, or so grippy that there's no float whatsoever. And losing your footing on landing has to be the most confidence-sapping thing you can experience.

So I put some M545 back on the bike, and my feet stay in just the right position. That said, I'm not a dabber or a foot slider (in the main), but I've never had a problem getting my foot out or clipping back in. I'm perfectly happy with my choice.

TandemJeremy - Member
Horses for courses.
********
Once used to them its easy enough to get your foot out to dab or when crashing
********
On flats however you need better technique for jumping and so on so its probably better to learn jumps on flats

I agree on point 1, I run CB candy's on my Swift and Look copies on my road bike, but flats on the Pitch. I know plenty of people who just don't like flats even on DH bikes, they're not bad riders (a long way from it, they're far faster than me) they just learn't a different set of skills and are stickign with them, I actualy quite like jumping in SPD's when I'm out on an XC ride.

Point 2 I disagree on, it's easy enough if you have time, but if a crash is big enough to do an injusry it probably hapens fast enough that you don't get time to bail out. Dabs from SPD yes (if marginaly slower or more planning required), but uncliping in a crash is down to luck.

Point 3, there's nothig fundementaly wrong with jumping with SPD's as long as you dont pull up the rear wheel too high, it's the inability to unclip and ditch the bike mid air that worries me if you're about to nose dive horribly and want out!

I personally think you have to be a really very good rider indeed to be able to ride pinned on SPDs; you've got very little margin of error with SPDs so you need to be very confident in bike handling to go full tilt into a corner and not have the immediacy of foot down correction should you need it.

I ride at the same speed in either, just instead of physicaly lifting my foot off the pedal on flats I automaticaly twist my foot so the cleat is released (but still in the pedal) so I can lift it off just as quick. The downside isn't the speed of unclipping, it's the gettign clipped back in that can be a problem, miss the cleat/pedal and you've got no controll going into the next section.

i originally bought my first spds and shoes when i set off across europe.

a big, fat chunky set of Time pedals that i kinda wish i could find.

ended up gettin a pair of Shimano MT90 (the leather/suede Goretex boot)

for local riding (essex) they were fine. moved to bavaria and again they were fine, but found that in winter they'd get jammed full of ice so bought a set of Wellgo Mags. that was about four years ago.

only used spds once after that and that was on my first transalp with a mate (three years ago). i found that after a day or two my feet were really sore due to the constant pressure on one point.

since then i've not used them since.

my riding has improved. i'm quicker now on the bike without them. my "trick" repertoire increased.

in summer i guide across the alps and never find myself wanting spds. i can walk up the steep bits without worrying about the cleat slipping on a rock. the sole of my shoe has never fallen off and left itself attached to the pedal (seen this three times now... one pair of Lake and two NorthWave). my cleats don't fall off or the screws don't come loose.

i can jump on my bike and ride to the shops without faffing with another pair of shoes.

and i'm not sure that i lose that much power. with a good pedal (i.e. grippy), decent shoes and a good technique you can still pull ~ 1/3 of the way.

plus TINAS's second post. see so many guests fluffing a section because they are not prepared for what it coming up due to the last tricky section.

oh, and my feet don't ache after a week of riding both up and down....

I use flats because I have exceedingly gammy knees, with particular issues with twisting movements. I think SPDs would kill me. 🙁

Plus walking in SPD shoes makes you look like a penguin.

Thank god for Spds as before them I always used toeclips and straps and that was a pfaff

road / XC / trail bike = SPDs

DH / BMX (when used on a track) = flats

I don't feel confident enough on SPDs when 'the going gets tough' to release quickly.

Plus walking in SPD shoes makes you look like a penguin.
but you walk perfectly normally using spds it`s look road cleats that make you walk like a penguin

I've always used SPDs (since I started MTBing 'properly'), but I've recently tried to move back to flats on my 'big bike'.

The primary reason is not out of fear that I won't be able to unclip, it is (as @tinas said) that if you do unclip, you then can't guarantee that you'll be able to reclip in time for the next section; which leaves you floundering about with reduced balance and control.

Dave

Once you are used to them its no issue at all to get your foot out when needed.

This is true but do you think it takes fractionally longer to get your foot down to dab? Maybe it doesn't. I haven't ridden clipped in for quite a while now.

I grew up using cleated pedals, then Look pedals on the road then SPDs on the MTB. My move to flats was about six years ago and was done because the SPDs had indeed become a skills compensator for me; I couldn't pick the bike up without being clipped in.

I did try to run both; SPD on trail bike and flats on the DH bike.

I found that I became careless and clumsy on the trail bike with SPDs; it encouraged me to bulldoze/power my way through things rather than picking a line that allowed me to carry speed more effectively.

Maybe the first way is quicker though? I don't know but a lot of top DH racers would say it is.

[i]the new skate style SPD shoes[/i]

I've got some Vans SPD shoes somewhere that I got in about 1998 😉

Coming from a BMX background, I've used flats since they were deemed weird on a mountain bike.
I dabbled with SPDs for a few years and think they're a good thing, but drifted back to flats.
The only time I use SPDs now is on high speed technical stuff, i.e. the Alps. Nowt worse than getting bounced out of the pedals at 30 plus mph!

I used spd's for years, and I could unclip with ease UNTIL they filled with mud. Then I found the only real time I was crashing on my bike was from when I couldn't get my foot out in time.

Since tried Time ATAC's after reading the hype, and I find these worse in mud as they aren't adjustable.

When I first went onto flats my feet would bounce around on descents and jumps, but after a few rides I didn't even give my feet another thought.

Now every time I have a slip and dab my foot down, I smile knowing that it would have likely been a slam on the floor in SPD's!

And I agree with all the people saying that there's no issue getting out of SPDs but getting back in in a timely manner can be tricky.

I'm so SPD-conditioned I twist out of flats 😉

I use both and change them about between my stumpjumper and enduro.

Start of the year I usually run flats to get my technique neutral on the bike. Bunnyhop properly and get into good habits of loosening up my riding to stay on the bike on rough stuff.

As the weather gets better and I ride for longer in the day and dabble in the odd enduro race I go back to the SPDs. I feel they add a lot more for efficiency and traction for climbing and coupling for fast rough chattery descents. Sometime I use more body language than I should with the SPDs (may be taken as bad technique) so freshen up on the flats.

I enjoy riding both.

Flats (track pedals) on everything including fixie offroad.

If your feet are coming off the pedals with flat pedals it's because your riding with your weight on your arse. Or to rephrase that, if you're riding with your weight on the saddle then spds make sense.

I also believe that spds guarantee you a head first landing in an otb crash.

Flats for me off road, SPD's on road.

I also believe that spds guarantee you a head first landing in an otb crash.

This i have witnessed first hand, it wasn't pretty.

I wish I could find some shoes to fit me UK 14.5. If I could I might try some SPDs. As it is I use my flat pedals since about 1991 on my MTBs. For road biking is there any other option but being clipped in though? I have used toe clips and straps before on a few road bikes I have had. But that was not serious racing or training. More summer road rides at a leisurely pace.

I also believe that spds guarantee you a head first landing in an otb crash.

Not for me. I have never had an incident since I got used to riding them where I have not got my feet out when wanted or when crashing.

its just instinctive to do so

I've managed otb to my head on flats as well. 🙂

I also believe that spds guarantee you a head first landing in an otb crash.

I've been OTB many, many times in the last 20 years of SPD use and have mostly landed on my feet 🙂

I have also seen a reverse OTB by someone who was clipped in. Now that was funny

You can get your feet off spds quickly, back on, not so.

You can get your feet off flats more quickly...and on.

Do people wear flats because they are worried about being able to clip out?

No

crashes clipped in definately hurt more.

sketchy lines are also often avoided when i use my clips.

its odd - sometimes i dont mind being clipped in. other times i ride like a complete novice.

also clipping back in is a lottery in technical terrain when the bike is bouncing about. and riding clips out of the clips is sketchy!

I'm not going to get another ban explaining why people ride flats, or what they think about other people who ride SPD's, just accept SPD's are wrong and be done with it.

its just instinctive to do so

Yes, if there's time, say I slipped on a corner, and was prepared to put my inside foot down, that would be quick and insticntive, even in SPD's, if there was enough time to get my foot down for flats thered be enough from SPD's.

But, what happens if whilst your instincitvely putting your inside foot down the tyre finds grip and high-sides you the other way? Unclipping while stood on one leg at 6 o'clock is nigh on imposible, and you wont have prepared for it, so you end up going over.

Whether it's instinctive or not it's not quite as quick as simply putting a foot down off a flat pedal.

Line up sets of various pedals i.e. a set of flats and a few different sets of spd's and ask the average non 'cyclist' in the street which are pedals and they will pick out the flats.

Flats are normal pedals that kids/people have on their bikes when they start riding one.

Therefore shouldn't the question be "why are spd's so popular".

SPDS are completely alien to me, When I started to ride a bike aged 5 back in 1978, there was no such thing as a spd.

When I got into mountain biking in 1996 ish, the whole concept of spds just felt wrong to me.

Then in 2008'ish after reading many many articles in magazines and online about how you were missing out in mountain biking if you didnt use spds, I gave in to the hype and bought a set. I perservered with them for 6 months, but eventually just binned them, they felt more efficient climbing (but that could just be placebo), but on anything technical they were a nightmare, I had more crashes in that 6 months than the whole of my previous mountain biking years. I bought a set of shin/knee pads because of the spds (never felt the need for armour before or since the spds). I became lazy and lost the ability to lift the bike with my feet.

So after 6 months I went back to flats, the first couple of rides my feet kept bouncing off the pedals and I couldnt lift the bike, but within a couple of rides I'd regained the proper technique, I binned the shin/knee pads had far less crashes and all was right with the world once more.

spds on a mountain bike are just wrong.

I use spd pedals with flat shoes, I like a challenge....

Nah, I use flats with 5.10s as ive always used flats, but im not averse to trying spds it's just cost that puts me off a bit, incase I hate them. That and the last time I tried, I stopped and keeled over into nettles...

I really enjoy the art of the SPD dismount, especially when we rode the Mabie darkside with XC seatposts (couldn't lower mine because it was bent...). As soon as you knew you were going off it was a synchronised two foot twist out and vault over the side of the bike.

There was another corner I got wrong in the Pentlands a few times, but the inevitable crash took so long you could unclip your outside foot, swing it over the bike and then just hop off the side of the bike before you hit the deck, leaving the bike to cartwheel down the hill 😀

being a novice offroader it hasn't crossed my mind to consider clipless pedals. I tried them on my road bike and my commuter bike and hated them, so went back to 5/10 shoes and pinned pedals. At the level I ride it's never been an issue, I can keep up fine because I ride socially. I can also get up any hills I've come across just fine as well. Faster than some and slower than others I've ridden with.

My biggest headache for road use is trying to decide on a new pair of 5/10s that are lighter, faster drying, cooler and less water absorbant than my Impact Lows. As they are so expensive I want to try and get it right, the Warhawk is my current potential choice.

I'm also not sure where the idea comes from that flats give sore feet on longer distances. I may not be ultra but I've done up to 170 miles in a day without any issues at all. I like the ability to be able to move my foot position for a change or for the terrain.

I'm sure I'm doing it all wrong and I'm wasting all that immense 'power'. But I can also hop on any of my bikes in pretty much any footwear. Though I won't be repeating my flip-flop experience from last Summer...Crocs are ok though.

So probably for most people (except those pushing their cornering/jumping to the limit) they don't use spds because they haven't got to the point where they are comfortable with clipping out of them.

One day I'll have to try flats on my mtb...

Way more fun. But thats cos I ride dirt jumps and bmx tracks a lot and just mucking about doing manuals in the street, and it would be silly on SPDs. Then when i ride XC (on the same bike) the performance advantage isn't enough to justify having a separate set of pedals and shoes. i like finding something fun on the trail, drops or jumps etc, dropping the saddle for a bit then continuing the ride. If i was racing XC it'd be a different story.

People who permanently use SPDs think it is massive difference because when they try flats they're not used to the technique. The pro downhillers generally train on flats and use SPDs as a performance enhancer come race day

13thfloormonk - Member
I really enjoy the art of the SPD dismount, especially when we rode the Mabie darkside with XC seatposts (couldn't lower mine because it was bent...)

That takes me back - Mabie was my first biking trip away, and my first trail centre. I had been on SPDs for a couple of weeks, and an MTB not much longer. Suffice to say I was a bit uneasy on the dark side.

So probably for most people (except those pushing their cornering/jumping to the limit) they don't use spds because they haven't got to the point where they are comfortable with clipping out of them.

One day I'll have to try flats on my mtb...

Or they're just having so much fun they haven't stopped to think about others or judge what others are doing......

 

Do people wear flats because they are worried about being able to clip out?

I accept some people are able to unclip as quickly as they do with flats but I'm not one of them, despite doing all my on road riding with clipless pedals. At moments of crisis I still have problems in getting out quickly enough. (see my username)

I changed to V8's on the full suss at the weekend for the first time (3hour XC ride). I've been riding clipped in for 3 years. I used a pair of skateboard style nike trainers and found it a nice change. However, I couldn't ride with my saddle at the same height and had to drop it by almost an inch to find a comfortable position. I found climbing in them okay, but the saddle was lower thus less stretch in the leg, so felt it in the quads more. Then yesterday, my knees were a tad sore at the front, although today fine.

I now have a dilemma, I want a good shoe and I'm looking at two kinds - Shimano AM45 SPD & AM41 - same shoe but flat version. The AM45 is stiffer & will allow me to put cleats on any time I want to ride SPD, but they have a large section missing from where the cleat goes & that might cause grip issues. So should I bite the bullet & have a more flexible flat specific shoe like the AM41?

I guess it takes a while to get used to either type, for me I've used SPDs for so long they feel completely natural and it's rare I struggle to clip in. Flats feel totally alien and therefore unsafe but seems a lot of flatties feel the opposite. I do kinda want to get used to flats but 2 or 3 rides with feet slipping off (or mincing jumps to avoid the slippage) and I revert to SPDs.

I use flats for anything other than local xc rides as I know there is zero technical stuff and commuting. I'm scared that I wouldn't unclip quick enough if I lost it on a corner or crash. I do find spd's help when pedalling doing xc or road riding though.

As I said before each to their own I used to use flats but have been on SPD's for 15 years at least and I simply can't be arsed to try flats again. I also reckon that alot of clipping in and out issues arise from having the SPD's not set up right which takes a little time and effort. If I feel the front going I can get my foot down quick enough so they work for me. If you're having issues clipping out I'd suggest making sure that your natural foot position is reflected in the way your cleats are set up.

people who ride for fun use flats.

boring people/roadies use spds.

^^^^^ cobblers ^^^^

TandemJeremy - Member
I also believe that spds guarantee you a head first landing in an otb crash.
Not for me. I have never had an incident since I got used to riding them where I have not got my feet out when wanted or when crashing.

its just instinctive to do so

I'm with TJ

Been riding with SPD's since 94, never had a fall that my feet didn't automatically 'pop out' of the pedals but agree with the slipping issues with cleats on rock. But being able to 'pull through' on climbs is good.

I can use either happily, am I boring or fun?

Or they're just having so much fun they haven't stopped to think about others or judge what others are doing......

people who ride for fun use flats.

boring people/roadies use spds.

haha!!!

So much sensitivity about what type of pedals

To answer the question "Am I scared I won't unclip in time?" Yes.

From years of riding BMX, trials, dirt, DH, AM, XC, whatever.... my brain has been wired to be able to disconnect from the bike instantly.

I'm fine with SPD's, don't get me wrong. I can clip out fine when I know I need to. It's when you lose the front end on a tree root going round a corner - with a flat it would be a dab, with SPD it's a crash. It's all personal though innit.