what do you guys run flats or clips? I run clipless
clipless for DH?
- Thread starter TheMontashu
- Start date
i use flats, because i too like moving my feet around
bwahahachicodude01 said:
clips all the way... 2 year old DX 636's.... they suck, but I'm far too cheap to replace them. you wouldnt believe the condition they're in. horrible...
I've been runnning flats, but I think i'm gonna go to clips this season, at least to try them
i run flats and swear by them. but i think when i start to race im going to get a set of clips to help me with sprints and all that stuff but for regular trail applications deffinatly flats safier and you can move with the bike. and they help boost riding abbility and i like them for jumping better than clips
Clips. Shimano 646
hey I ride my bike, thats more than I can say for you :nuts:chicodude01 said:
man you two are funny...... i swear ur gonna get married some day
I prefer being clipped in for DH. I think I have more control over the bike and it's I wouldn't want to pedal a DH rig back up the hill on flats. In the snow/winter I use flats. You just can't clip back in with an ice chunk on your cleat.
I use both? I get a little weary when doing the harder trails with clipless. Somethin about me always having a habit of getting stuck and falling right over..
i use these new burgtec penthouse flat pedals and they rule,flkats all the way
I run clipless, but am fairly specfic about my setup. I will only ride with flexier smooth-soled BMX style shoes. I like to run the release tension all the way out and rely mostly on the friction between the shoe and pedal body to keep my feet on the pedals. I've run flats for DH but ride much smoother with clipless. Clipless also forces me to keep both feet on the pedals, which is just about always the fastest way to ride any section, especially muddy stuff.
I have a couple of pairs of Shimano pedals, but do not claim that they are the best. They work well enough and were cheap.
I have a couple of pairs of Shimano pedals, but do not claim that they are the best. They work well enough and were cheap.
switching from flats to clipless made the biggest difference in my run times (even more than fork, wheels, etc, maybe even more than frame choice). I could move the bike around more (with flats it was preload then bunnyhop, with clips it was give a little tug on the pedals to float over a rough spot) plus the extra stiff XC clipless shoes allow more of each pedal stroke to go into the cranks. Plus my main reason for flats (getting in over my head on an unknown section and having to bail) is usually eliminated by practicing on the course over and over again. Will definitely never go back to flats for racing. FR and normal DH, sure, but not when there's a clock.
edit: oh yeah, run CB Mallets w/ XC shoes...
edit: oh yeah, run CB Mallets w/ XC shoes...
I ride flats from day one, but it starts to pissed me off 
especially on pretty rough stuffs. As last resort, I have ordered a pair of 5.10 shoes but I dont hope too much about these shoes.
especially on pretty rough stuffs. As last resort, I have ordered a pair of 5.10 shoes but I dont hope too much about these shoes.
i have a pair of flats right now, im thinking about getting some clipless, but i tend to go all over the mountains where i live, and not all of the trails i have ridden, so i come up along these trails only about a foot wide, and sometimes i have to stop suddenly to check the trail, and with clipless, im afraid of stopping and just tipping right over the edge of the cliff with my bike attached to me...lol
are clipless that easy to unclip, i remember i tried them on my friends bike, and just fell over.
CLIPS...
but haven't we done this a few times before?
but haven't we done this a few times before?
Ahh yes, the "SPD Shuffle". You'll stop falling over as you get used to them. Funniest thing I ever saw on a bike was a friend of mine on his very first time trying clipless... falling over in slow motion. he kinda looked like a turtle on it's back.yeehaarider said:
yeah like 20 other times to be exact 
For racing DH, I use Time pedals. If I'm just messing around - like at Whistler or something I'll use flats.
FPrgpt tp say, that like many others, I like that clips prevent me from being bounced up and off of the pedals. With the float set up properly, I can stil 'squirm" on the pedal without much risk of falling off. I run them loose enough and have ridden them long enough that even 'panic dabs' are not a problem.
I have found that keeping them well lubed is incrediblt important. I give them a good spray of lube before every day of DHing, more often if its raining. I keeps the mud from caking and makes it much easier to get in and out. Or if your Jenna Jameson, "Don't use lube, use spit!"
I have found that keeping them well lubed is incrediblt important. I give them a good spray of lube before every day of DHing, more often if its raining. I keeps the mud from caking and makes it much easier to get in and out. Or if your Jenna Jameson, "Don't use lube, use spit!"
I use Shimano DX, never eaten dirt because of the pedals so far, but since i did an endo going too far on a double on december, and landed on my belly (a huge one) with my feet stuck on the pedals kinda freaks me out now.... havent ridden since....
but definetly clipless give you more "control points" than flats.
but definetly clipless give you more "control points" than flats.
I used flats in 2003 but last year I forced myself to learn how to ride clipped in. I went through a set of shimanos, times, and stuck with the Crank Brothers Mallet C's because I liked the feel of the clip-in and release. I'm running a set of Mallet M's for next year.