[Closed] Pedals:: clipped in or flats??

Good idea to try both really, how do you know what you like if you don't try? And both have lessons to teach I think.

I mean try properly, not just do one ride and decide it sucks like a lot of people do- there's a learning curve for both and it can feel terrible when you first swap, really undermining.

I do flats; I honestly reckon SPDs are better all round but I prefer flats.

As above, give 'em a try. After 10 years clipped in it'll probably take some adjusting but you might prefer it. I can't compare the two, I've never tried clipping in, and I'm not even slightly curious to try.

Yeah as Northwind has said, try it.

Ride flats on the trail bike and SPD on the xc race bike. Prefer flats for having fun on.

There is a learning curve either way if you've not ridden them in years. Going back to flats can feel very odd and you'll probably find your feet getting knocked off them all the time. Lowering the saddle can help a bit initially. Reckon flats encourages better technique.

I swapped back to flats about a year ago, and haven't had any problems with my feet staying where I want them, so I can't see myself changing back. Vaults and AM41 shoes.

this is what happens if you clip in... beware!

[img] [/img]

(credit to - [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/amazing-andean-crash-picture-enduro-magazine ]http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/amazing-andean-crash-picture-enduro-magazine[/url])

Both. You can learn a lot going back to flats, especially since the pedal and shoe technology have moved on a lot in recent years.

Try them and see what you think.

I'm firmly in the flats camp, but did spend a good few years on clips. Swapping to flats felt really wring at first, but it didn't take long to learn to bunny hop / jump etc.

Since I've been in flats, I've dabbled with clips occaisionally but never felt comfortable with them. More than happy with clips on the road bike though.

As someone who came from 2 decades of road then years of cleated mtb pedals I only really 'got' flats after moving my foot position on the pedal when riding flats(it needed to be shown to me because I'm an idiot) from axle over the ball of the foot to over the instep. I now like it, although switch back for bridleway style riding.

1 of each

left foot unclipped

right foot free n easy

especially since the pedal and shoe technology have moved on a lot in recent years.

😆

Good one.

Yeah a shoe is a shoe and a pedal is pedal. But I reckon things like the sticky soles on 5Ten's moved things on quite a bit. Shape of flat pedals evolves too, there's a huge amount of choice out there now in terms of the shape and dimensions of the platform.

Good one.

So thinner, wider pedals, better replaceable pins, shoes designed for the job. You don't think they go some way to improving things?

Happy riding with flats or clips but always seem to default back to flats.

I'd concur for both, dug an old set of shoes and flat pedals out and stuck them on as the mtb is primerily used as transport and flats are great fun. Still enjoy using clips and on the flip side went to Morzine last summer and used clips for the first time for DH and really enjoyed that too. If nothing else it adds a bit of variaty and for me sets the mood of the ride, Spd - full lycra and smash it round till you cough a lung up, or flats - chill and mess about a bit.

Iain

I do flats; I honestly reckon SPDs are better all round but I prefer flats.

Spot on. I rode SPD's for more thsn 10 years, but my knees really took a hammering at the puffer in 2014 - a mixture of old football injuries and never having pedalled for that many hours - So I decided to give flats a whole summer.

I thought my feet would be flying off the pedals on descents, which didn't happen. The main downside is that there is a definite drop in climbing ability (which could be attributed to my shite pedalling technique) but apart from that, I'm sticking with the flats.

Although, this thread is yet another example of me agreeing with Northy up there, which is a tad worrying.... 😯 😆

5 tens and large flat thin pedals have moved on the flat pedal game massively from skate shoes and DMR V8s that were prevalent 10 years ago.
I can happily swap between both and each has their benefits, but i do find (as mentioned above) flats are more fun, think flat out drifting into a corner, trailing a foot and then not having to try and clip back in.
Although, if i was going for a hardcore hardtail, i'd go with clips if you ride hard, just to help keep your feet in place.
And it will take a little while to adjust your climbing technique with flats
buy some 5 tens, some good cheap (Superstar, Saint etc) pedals and try them.

I spent 25 years using toeclips and then spd's then thought I'd try flats and found I preferred them. I think it's just a psychological thing but with flats I never think about them but clipped in just when I needed to concentrate on contling the bike I'd be thinking about whether to unclip or not. They are excellent if like me your an unskilled coward.

Flats on hardcore hardtail here (among others)
see here for debunking of myths for flat pedals
[url] http://www.bikejames.com/strength/the-flat-pedal-revolution-manifesto-how-to-improve-your-riding-with-flat-pedals/ [/url]

I last used flats in 2003 on my spesh enduro, dmr v8's to be precise but I got sick of them bashing my shins and punching holes in them, so I went to clip in and have never looked back. I ride clips on the road bike. However I may give flats another chance and see how I get on.

Cheers all

I was on flats for 15 years and then got a set of cheap SPD because I wanted to try them. I'm converted. I love the SPDs. It just works for me. I used to dab a lot with flats on the steeper stuff (up and down) but SPDs have given me more control and now I'm smoother.

Clips always for me. Having a proper connection to the bike reduces dabs, gives you more control over the bike and more power. Which are all things you want. Flats are OK if you intend to crash a lot. And I believe all the world dh champs since 2000 have been won by clipped in riders with the exception of Sam Hill.

bashing my shins and punching holes in them

Thats a rite of passage with flats!

I've found that modern shoes and flats are much better than my old V8 / A frame with skate shoe combo.

Well I agree with both NW and Nobeer 🙂

I was exclusively SPD's for years until it was pointed out to me on a skills course all the bad habits I'd formed. Decided to try flats to see if it would force some changes.

At first it was dreadful, feet coming off the pedals but I was determined to stick with it (I'd just spent nearly £100 on pedals and shoes!)

A few rides in and I was enjoying the difference but still not 100% comfortable. I took me a good few months to get completely comfortable on flats but its nice to be able to ride both. I'm still faster on SPDs but I have more fun on flats

Having a proper connection to the bike reduces dabs, gives you more control over the bike and more power.

It doesn't really.

And I believe all the world dh champs since 2000 have been won by clipped in riders with the exception of Sam Hill.

Quicker, though often not the riders preference.

I rode clips for about 15 years and flats for the last 5. I prefer flats and ride them mostly although I do swap and change occasionally.
I don't notice any lost in power climbing and believe that to be a myth. The main thing I find it when descending with flats, you feel like your feet will fly off and you really have to work with your position on the bike.

Just moved to spds last summer after 5 years or so on flats.
Don't think I'd ever go back. SPDs have broken some bad habits for me, - like throwing the leg out on corners (as if I was Sam Hill!) unecessarily and now I really commit to steeper technical stuff without thinking, whereas before I was too easily inclined to drift the foot out, even if not quite a dam, hence ending up with wonky body positions. I reckon the best place for your feet 95% or more of the time is on your pedals.

Now, I work my hips and the bike more. I'm def faster, - pedal harder and can put the hammer down out of corners better.

Its hard to say which is actually "better", - things ight be different moving from clips to flats, if you are already in the habit of keeping your feet on your pedals.

In my four seasons of riding, 99% of that being on flats, I've honestly never bashed my shins*. Never understood this issue at all.

* When on flats. I did bash my shin on my SPD's recently when I slipped while trying to do a revolution or two unclipped.

svalgis - Member
In my four seasons of riding, 99% of that being on flats, I've honestly never bashed my shins. Never understood this issue at all.
POSTED 24 SECONDS AGO # REPORT-POST

Once you have you'll never forget it....

I use SPDs (Shimano 540) but have flats on a ‘cheapy’ GT I’m prepared to risk parking in town.

With the flats:
1 Still subconsciously tend to pull-up with the back foot.
2 Feet don’t feel in exactly the right place first time, as they do with SPDs

I love that manifesto: "After falling over at a stop sign because I couldn’t get unclipped I figured I would have died if that had happened on the trail".

Not hysterical in the slightest.

Also amusing that spending £100+ on proper sticky shoes & flats, it's actually at least as expensive as clipped (£50 shoes + £20 M520s).

Ride clipped myself 'cos I like the security of it. Did a "two rides only" trial recently but made the mistake of doing it the same time as changing my bar, & stem.

Might try again but...

TooTall - Member

So thinner, wider pedals, better replaceable pins, shoes designed for the job. You don't think they go some way to improving things?

They're pedals dude, it's an axle with a spikey platform. They're much of a muchness. 🙂
(DMR V8s with any skate shoe if you're interested)

FWIW it's taken me about 6 months of on & off riding, strops & general indecision to finally 'click' with riding with SPD's as a die hard flats rider.

I'll still ride both I think, but at least I now feel like I can ride properly, clipped in.

Once I stopped trying to ride in clips as I would in flats, and didn't subscribe to the theory of slamming the cleats all the way back on the shoe, I found it was much better.

Remains to be seen if i'm quicker or not yet. Still don't believe one is better than the other, it's more down to hat suits you best 🙂

Dunno. Just use whatever pings your doofer I suppose. I've always used flats (DX style not these new fangled thin ones) with skate shoes and had no desire to try clips.

edit- I ride for fun rather than speed and flats make it easier to just yank the bike out of the shed and go for a pootle in jeans and trainers.

Flats on the MTB, SPDs (Eggbeaters) on the CX.

I commuted for 12 years clipped in so I thought I was confident on clips. Riding a CX bike on clips with no decernable grip has put me in the brambles still attached to the bike at least once per ride. It [u]might[/u] be user error though.

I prefer flats on the MTB and most rides provide at least one 'glad I wasn't clipped in moment'! I've yet to have a 'wish I was clipped in' moment.

svalgis - Member

In my four seasons of riding, 99% of that being on flats, I've honestly never bashed my shins*. Never understood this issue at all.

Never mind my shins, I've got pedal scars on my head! Doesn't really happen much on the bike, but pushing the bike, crashing the bike, walking around the garage near the bike- that's where I get stabbed

Normally ride flats, gave spds a proper go back end of last year.

The whole getting in and getting out of them business is fine, didn't find that a worry.

Didn't really help with pedalling IMO, maybe those stood up, lacking traction moments to really regulate the power, about it really.

2 major disadvantages for me personally -

1 - felt so disconnected from the bike. They're so vague. I'm a thin flexy sole, short pins i want feel person, i lost the sensation of how well my wheels were loaded. I rely a lot on feedback through my feet, move my feet around a fair bit too to get things loaded just so.

2 - even when i drilled the cleat slots, i could not get the cleats back far enough. Having your ankles levered via your toes really did not sit well with me. Pedal in middle of foot, your ankle only has to do a little support, it's all through your legs, pedal further forward on the foot, i now had to prop myself up and deal with hit through my ankles and legs, not good. Messed up balance too.

Thought of a third too -

3 - Clipless pedal + cleats + thick soled shoe is a good inch or so thicker than a nice thin pedal and thin soled shoes, meant i was up higher, gave me a more teetering on top of the bike sensation rather than in the bike, most probably exaggerated by reason 2 too.

These issue most probably dont matter to anyone else though.

I use to run flats on the single speed when i first built it but went back to SPD's after a few months.

SPD Pros:

More efficient pedalling
More power when sprinting

SPD Cons:

Can't bail out as easy
Requires more confidence

Flats Pros:

More fun?
Less to worry about

Flats Cons:

Less efficient than SPD's
Not as good for longer rides IMO

Doesn't really happen much on the bike, but pushing the bike, crashing the bike, walking around the garage near the bike- that's where I get stabbed

I started on SPDs, switched to flats for a while (mainly after riding at Chicksands for the first time clipped in on that woodwork... arrrghhhh can't clip out) then SPDs for many more years. Went to see Tony Doyle, realised I was pulling up with my clipped in feet, switched to flats to sort it out intending to switch back. That was October last year...

Taken me AGES to re-learn it tho especially over jumps (because I'm having to unlearn pulling the bike up and occasionally I forget, which is always exciting), don't think I climb as well but it's getting better, generally prefer it now but still not 100% sure I'll stick with it.

Keep thinking 'shall I try a ride on SPDs' but not bothered so far. Strange tho on the CX bike or at spin class, being clipped in feels absolutely right. MTB tho? Flats. For now anyway...

Always clipped in ,used toeclips before from the 70s cant imagine riding with flats .I dont do fun jumpy stuff so cant see when I would need flats either

Started off on flats, DMR V8s and a pair of Vans and rode like that for 5/6 years then went to SPDs and loved them. Was riding with Time ATACs for about the last 7 years but last year when I built up my new bike decided to give flats a go again and I bloody love them all over again. Now on Vaults and 5-10s and they are a fantastic combo, tons of grip can get the foot down quicker if I need too and I think they've made me a better rider as I move my weight about more to suit the terrain I'm riding. For me looking back at SPDs they just don't give you the same feeling that flats do when your riding tech/rough/steep stuff as you can't feel anything through the shoes in the same way you do with flats.

Can't see myself going back to SPDs to be honest.

Oh and it took me about 3 months after switching back to flats to feel really comfortable on them, was a couple of points where I thought I'd just go back to the SPDs but just kept persevering so don't give up on them.

I agree SPD's can cause bad habits over time (pulling up to jump over things) but can also help. Pulling up when peddling makes your stroke much more efficient. I learned to hop and jump on flats so still have the same technique whenever i ride on flats now.

I'll probably put flats back on the SS in the spring though to use it as more of a short ride bike.

spds; I can do everything you can with flats, but with all the extra power and control. Win win 😉

If it's just riding for fun (not racing) I couldn't care less about power or efficiency and if flats are slower or faster. Makes it a bit more of a technical challenge and helps focus on technique. Baggies and flats just feels right as a contrast to the bibs and SPDs.

10 years clipped, some brief piss around with flats but back in the trainer & v8 days 🙂
The main reason for not pushing on with flats is that I didn't feel there was anything missing. A mate suggested it before our first alps trip, but in reality I don't feel stuck on the bike, can get in out out easily and I'm happy.

Moved to more flat style shoes (5.10 Minaar/Teva Pivot) in the last 5 years and CB mallets for more technical riding. I'm happy unclipping and dabbing as required and getting back in (or riding flat for 30s if there is a problem).
Being clipped does require an increase in commitment which is a mental thing, staying clipped through a section can be better.

As for the knee thing the float in the CB is enough to keep my dodgy knees happy.

And ironic story the ex fell off uphill in the lakes and broke her ankle at low speed. Some people said that was why they wouldn't wear clips, that day she was wearing flats, clipped in she probably wouldn't have panic chucked her foot out and rolled it for nasty fracture.

Baggies and flats just feels right as a contrast to the bibs and SPDs.

yep the lovely screws that make the flats nice an grippy always managing to get them in the most interesting places when having to carry bike over stiles an the weird gates....

tbh love my troy lee pads more every time they take a pedal hit for me.

I've recently bought flats & 5 ten's for my full sus after riding SPD's for as along as I can remember. Fancied a bit of a change and also not the best at doing jumps when clipped in.

One thing I'm curious about. People say it takes a bit of time to get used to but I presume that depends on the individual? I don't pull up on the SPD's whilst pedalling, nor do I need to to get off the ground.

On the subject of pedals hitting shins, not so worried about that as used to happen when I rode BMX's a lot as a kid. My shins are covered in scars. I also hit myself in the shin with an axe once and the bone was poking out, that wasn't so bad and I doubt a pedal strike could be any worse!

nor do I need to to get off the ground

I was convinced I didn't do that either....

I was convinced I didn't do that either...

Well if necessary I can lift the rear wheel a fair distance off the ground without being clipped in, whilst keeping the front wheel on the ground. Like to think I'm at least doing something right 🙂

One thing I'm curious about. People say it takes a bit of time to get used to but I presume that depends on the individual?

Can be more about keeping your feet on the pedals through the bumpy stuff. Just basic stuff like keeping your weight over your pedals and dropping your heels, you can get quite sloppy about good habits if use to SPDs. It doesn't take long to adapt.

I don't pull up on the SPD's whilst pedalling

You might not knowingly pull up but you are still working to get your leg out the way of the pedal coming up.