XC Pedal question

MarcBC

I am entering a 75kn offroad race in September as a target to get fit for. I will also be doing a couple lesser events beforehand as part of my fitness benchmarking.

All of this will be my first foray into XC racing

I am currently using XTR SPDs for road/ cinder track but wonder whether I should be using flats for XC?

What do you experts use and why?

Amos

For that sort of distance it would be more beneficial to use spds, as long as you have a good pedalling technique and can get the most out of them.

MarcBC

Amos,
Many thanks.

cjw

No where near an expert, but at the start of the XC races the only sound you hear is 500 clicks as everyone engages their SPDs

LordBanks

Definitely spds for xc,if your comfortable with them offroad that is. You can pedal a lot more efficiently with them, using less energy and therefore going further

off-one

So thats why I didnt win the 24/12, I used V8's Doh!!!!!

2008 epic

Crank Bros Candy all the way!

.blitz

MarcBC wrote:

I am currently using XTR SPDs for road/ cinder track but wonder whether I should be using flats for XC?

I'm no expert but I try to do some all-day rides in darkest Mid-Wales whenever I can. After 8 hours in the saddle I'm glad I don't have to think about my feet slipping off the pedals.

MarcBC

Thanks guys for the answers.

I am very comfortable with SPDs. Having been brought up on fixed wheel, my peddling technique requires them!

The question was really more to do with the right pedal for the job. SPDs it is.

streako

Another SPD user here for racing.

On an average xc race there isnt usually anything that is particularly technical for a good rider.

ednino

I've done 50k marathons on flat V8 pedals and shimano SPD

The SPDs were alot better 8)

ride_whenever

I'd stick with the shimano spds, i wouldn't do them on my CB pedals, i'd be too worried about them exploding on me!!!