Clipless for FR
- Thread starter Kntr
- Start date
i always use clipless, and i dont know anybody who doesnt
I use clipless on that stuff...but only because I have to pedal up the hill to get to it. I think you learn to get unclipped quickly when you have to.
The only time I use clipless is when I'm riding XC. Gotta have flats for everything else. The thought of jumping or doing drops while clipped to the pedals just scares me.
One of the best riders I know uses clipless for everything though.
One of the best riders I know uses clipless for everything though.
I use clipless for EVERYTHING. DH, XC, DS, FR, DJ. When it comes to skinnies, if it's really scary I'll unclip and put my pedal on the arch of my foot. Yes it feels weird, but this guarantees that I won't have any accidental clip-ins.
I've been using clipless for over ten years now, though. So I can say I'm pretty good at clipping in and out, even in "panic" scenarios.
I've been using clipless for over ten years now, though. So I can say I'm pretty good at clipping in and out, even in "panic" scenarios.
Clipless for EVERYTHING - FR, DH, XC and even on my fixed gear roadie.
I will slacken the engagement a little when I do N.Shore stuff (well... when I used to do it) - it gave me the security that my feet were not going to come off the pedals on big stuff, but I could still unclip quickly and use my legs to balance or jump off quickly.
I will slacken the engagement a little when I do N.Shore stuff (well... when I used to do it) - it gave me the security that my feet were not going to come off the pedals on big stuff, but I could still unclip quickly and use my legs to balance or jump off quickly.
Ive used clipless for 7 years and I have never had a problem clipping out when on skinnies or drops. All my friends use flats and cant believe I clip in. I just like being attached to the bike. I dont do no footers or anything like that.
The clipless scared me the most last year when we road the NS and the skinnies are pretty high off the ground. I clipped out every time I needed to but, I always wonder about that one time that they dont clip out.....
Plus I see guys wrecking because they lose a foot in sections I can rail in and have no problems.
So for guys that have switched to flats from clipless, how hard is it to get use to flats and are you glad you made the change?????
The clipless scared me the most last year when we road the NS and the skinnies are pretty high off the ground. I clipped out every time I needed to but, I always wonder about that one time that they dont clip out.....
Plus I see guys wrecking because they lose a foot in sections I can rail in and have no problems.
So for guys that have switched to flats from clipless, how hard is it to get use to flats and are you glad you made the change?????
me + clipless for FR = suicide.
I'll use both. Switching between the two has never given me any trouble. I always feel more secure on flats. There are a couple of things about clips that bother me. One is the float. On good flat pedals w/ good shoes no float at all. Very secure. I can only think of one time in recent memory where I got bucked off the flat pedal and crashed. I have long legs, bending the knee, loose and low = way more suspension travel than the bike provides. Biggest problem with clips is where you ar eforced to put the cleat. With flats I ride with the middle of my foot over the pedal. My poor ankles thank me for it. Clips put the cleat way to far forward. Ouch.
I use clipless almost exclusively. The only time The flats go on my DH is if its really nasty muddy and I don't think they'll work reliably. BTW thats not very often, since I'll usually watch tv instead of turning my M1 into a rolling clay sculpture.
Clipless keeps my feet from bouncing off the pedals in the rough, help provide instant torque and generally feel more natural to me.
I do have some beefs with my 545's though. The float is too minimal and to clip in easy, the tension is so low you can unintentionally clip out. I will try Time Z pedals next time.
As far as skinnys I have NO clue, I only see that stuff in videos
Clipless keeps my feet from bouncing off the pedals in the rough, help provide instant torque and generally feel more natural to me.
I do have some beefs with my 545's though. The float is too minimal and to clip in easy, the tension is so low you can unintentionally clip out. I will try Time Z pedals next time.
As far as skinnys I have NO clue, I only see that stuff in videos
Id say try it. When i used to have a giant iguana (Kanter said:
) i had some clippless pedals and would do everything with them and not even think twice. But if you can, in my opinion flats make you a smoother rider becuase of those times barreling through rough sections you have to pick a more precise line, because if not you get your feet jarred off of the pedals. So i sa do the best of both worlds, get some quality flats, and some of those new 5-10 shoes...
i don't really understand what's with all this 'fear' of clipless - if you get in trouble, you take your foot off, just like a flat pedal. Instead of pulling up you pull out, it's not any more dangerous or more difficult, it's just different. If you get in a massive pile-up your feet come out anyway..... If you're 10 feet up on a skinny and you fall off, you're gonna end up f*cked either way - clipless or not.
I recently converted to flats for DHing from those red SPD DH pedals. The only thing that I changed was staying looser on the bike so you stick to the flats more. Also, I didn't bunny for the first little while because it was basically like me jumping up and down on the bike and the bike not coming w/ me. Once I got over that it was no difference. I do like the abilities to move all over the pedals. I also tried it on my trail bike and was only slightly noticable on the up. I use the Azonic A w/ those really sticky pegs and the old, super tacky intense shoes. It was pretty damn close to clipless on the uphills. I still use clipless for XC and road tho.Kanter said:
Buy some cheap flats and try it. You'll like it or you won't.Kanter said:
I ride both, but mostly clipless. Started using flats for DJ's and skinnies this summer and while it took some time to get the bunny hopping down (same problem as Pau11y - jump up w/o the bike), once I had it dialed I actually felt better doing the drops on flats. I'm a skier so being attached to the bike (a la ski bindings) feels more natural to me.
(cool, he listend to meKanter said:
)Nah, but good choice, it made me both a smoother and better rider so it should for you too. And, yes, it just takes practice...
(prolly a bad example, but what do trials riders ride, flats, and the can easily jump onto picknic tables...)
the answer your last question YES. the only disavantage i see with flat is long distance pedaling. i feel mid air control and grip are just as high as clipless. the only thing is that you gotta learn how to used the pedal to your advantage. they are not a eay to use a clipless.
right now i run platforms but in the near future i plan to try clipless for FR riding
right now i run platforms but in the near future i plan to try clipless for FR riding
Clipless all the way.Tried flats again for a while last season and didn't like it.I've bit it more times because of bouncing off the pedals than I ever have because of not unclippin'.
That makes a lot of sense. I ride skinnies and FR a lot and it scares me to be clipped it. I have jumped off my bike numerous time with clipless and have had no problems. I cant decide. I think Ill give it a try and see what happens. I have seen many guys bounce off their pedals too. If they would have been clipped in, it would not have happened.
There has been many times i have landed a drop and then slipped a pedal and then wadded it up.It may just be my inablity to ride flats but clipless give me more of a sense of control.
Basically, for me, when I jump, I almost always do "something" in the air, small whip, weak kickout, half assed table, something. When I do those things, I move my feet on the pedals. If I'm using clipless, that movement causes me to become unclipped.DßR said:
I never, repeat NEVER have a problem with slipping my pedals using flats. That's with tons of skatepark hours on BMX, and tons of freeriding/jumping. I personally have no use for clipless except for XC racing.
I don't race DH anymore, maybe if I did I would look into clipless. Most of the racing I did was at Plattekill though, I don't think clipless really give any advantage there.
I've used to use clipless for all riding until my knee surgery, now clipless only on my trail bike.
Example: Look at this dude's feet. If he were using clipless, this foot movement on the pedal would cause him to become unclipped.
I used clipless for 3 seasons. Never learned to jump the right way (used to just pull up and be totally out of control in the air).
When I started getting into DH, I decided to try flats (to be able to jump off the bike faster on scary parts, if needed). Going to flats was brutal for quite a few rides. Trying to jump like I used to with clipless had very painful results and climbing and trying to spin circles just wouldn't work (over bumpy stuff.. you just get knocked off).
After enough time of using flats for everything, I began to get better and better at it. I can now hop the right way and much MUCH higher than I ever could with clipless. I can still clean all the climbs I used to be able to clean with clipless.
Certain things just don't feel safe to me with clipless (example: riding up an elevated log.. lose balance and want to jump straight up off the bike and over to the side, dumping the bike... much easier with flats). Pros of flats just outweigh the cons, for me.
Been riding flats for 3 seasons now.. don't see myself going back to clipless. Hell, I even use flats on my road bike!
When I started getting into DH, I decided to try flats (to be able to jump off the bike faster on scary parts, if needed). Going to flats was brutal for quite a few rides. Trying to jump like I used to with clipless had very painful results and climbing and trying to spin circles just wouldn't work (over bumpy stuff.. you just get knocked off).
After enough time of using flats for everything, I began to get better and better at it. I can now hop the right way and much MUCH higher than I ever could with clipless. I can still clean all the climbs I used to be able to clean with clipless.
Certain things just don't feel safe to me with clipless (example: riding up an elevated log.. lose balance and want to jump straight up off the bike and over to the side, dumping the bike... much easier with flats). Pros of flats just outweigh the cons, for me.
Been riding flats for 3 seasons now.. don't see myself going back to clipless. Hell, I even use flats on my road bike!
I disagree that taking your foot off is "just like a flat pedal". If you are tuned in to your clipless pedals you can bail very quickly, but it's not the same as just jumping off your pedals. Plus when you are riding on something skinny, flats give you the option to move your foot around the pedal to balance your weight. Also with flats if something goes horribly wrong on a jump, stunt, whatever, you can throw the bike away in mid-air...that might not put you in the best situation, but it's an option and sometimes a very good one. I don't see doing that with clipless.DßR said:
Sure you can FR with clipless and many folks do....it's just not my preference for the reasons stated above.
I think I am going to try using clipless on my DH bike this season. I've been on flats of various makes and models for the last few years, but I had a few issues at races that might have been easier to deal with if I were on clipless. I always ride clipless on my XC and CX bikes, so I am used to doing both.
As far as tips for using flats, there really aren't that many things to say. Just that it's different from clips and you have to get used to it by riding (...and getting a decent pair of pedals and shoes). Hopping and other specific skill moves just take time to get used to on flats. You can still pull up with your feet and things like that, it's just different and almost impossible to explain.
As far as tips for using flats, there really aren't that many things to say. Just that it's different from clips and you have to get used to it by riding (...and getting a decent pair of pedals and shoes). Hopping and other specific skill moves just take time to get used to on flats. You can still pull up with your feet and things like that, it's just different and almost impossible to explain.
Thanks for all the pointers. I think Ill give flats an honest try. If I cant get use to them after a month or two Ill just switch back.
My main reason for switching is for skinnies. I have been riding a few that were 7-8 feet off the ground and being clipped in up that high is not a good idea.
My main reason for switching is for skinnies. I have been riding a few that were 7-8 feet off the ground and being clipped in up that high is not a good idea.
i don't like riding skinnies while clipped in. whistler style skinnies, which are probably what most of the non-pac nw considers "skinnies" are fine with clipless, but anything more technical than that calls for flats imo.
basically i've insulted all of your trails. take that
basically i've insulted all of your trails. take that
We go to Fernie a lot. Plus, Rossland and Nelson are real close. Go to Nelson if you want skinnies. That is the skinny capital of BC. We ride the NS a few times a year and there are some nice skinnies on Circus to be found.Toshi said:i don't like riding skinnies while clipped in. whistler style skinnies, which are probably what most of the non-pac nw considers "skinnies" are fine with clipless, but anything more technical than that calls for flats imo.
basically i've insulted all of your trails. take that
Also, I think flats would be real nice for the steep stuff and we have real steep trails here in MT, unlike your rolling hills in Seattle.
basically Ive insulted your mountains. take that
For you guys that trail ride with flats...
Do you notice a big difference in riding uphill? I would think your quads would get more of a work out.
Ive read numerous places that over working your quads and letting your hamstings become weaker is a bad idea. People are more prone to pulling or tearing muscles because the quad is so much stronger. Does this sound true? Or do you still get some pull from the pedals that work out the hamstring?
Do you notice a big difference in riding uphill? I would think your quads would get more of a work out.
Ive read numerous places that over working your quads and letting your hamstings become weaker is a bad idea. People are more prone to pulling or tearing muscles because the quad is so much stronger. Does this sound true? Or do you still get some pull from the pedals that work out the hamstring?
Everything, but then again I don't do skinnies.
DH, Drops, Trail, XC, even some DJ's.
Skinnies freak me out partially b/c I do ride clipless and know I can't bail well.
DH, Drops, Trail, XC, even some DJ's.
Skinnies freak me out partially b/c I do ride clipless and know I can't bail well.
I rode XC with flats for a year, including rides in the Cascades (you know those rolling hillsKanter said:
)with some grueling climbs to the top. It required to be seated for more of the climb than usual and the quads definitely felt like they were working overtime. It wasn't as terribly inefficient as I though it would be. Once you get used to flats you can get a good spin going, but IMO at best you get power through 3/4 of the crank rotation...vs. clipless where you can get power through the full rotation (due to the pull-up through the last 1/4 of the spin, if that makes any sense). With flats you really can't pull directly upwards for the obvious reason. I never had problems pulling or tearing muscles due to riding flats though. I eventually went back to clipless for XC ... I just missed the power for the climbs. I'd say just give it a try and see how you like it. p.s. Riding in Nelson must be awesome...I'd love to try that one day.
Take it easy.....