New to MTB - New Pedels - Flat or SPD?

mijk

Hi, I'm still very new to this mountain biking business. I've been happily riding around for the last month or so mainly dirt tracks and a few on road bits but it seems now one of my pedals has broken (think its a problem with the bearings).

Anyway, I think its time for my first upgrade in the form of a nice new set of pedals. The question is weather I go for flat pedals or SPD clips?

I've never used the SPD type so I have no idea what they are like to use, and I cant seem to find any information about the pros or cons of each type.

Can someone give me a rough idea of what are the usual uses for each type? Or is it more of a personal preference then?

Thanks!

Mike

llamafarmer

This has been debated at length in a quite a few threads

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12609138&highlight=spd

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12605148&highlight=spd

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12608429&highlight=spd

Obviously you need to factor in SPD compatible shoes if you want to go clipless, which adds a fair bit to the cost.

FSR_XC

I guess a lot depends on how much you ride and what sort of riding you do.

Have you got a mate who can lend you some shoes and pedals?

Some good LBS will be able to let you try some pedals (shoes are a bit different though). A few weeks ago you could have got shoes from Lidl for less than £20. They would have been suitable for spd or flats too.

Ellio

I was in the same situation as you last year so bought a set of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shimano-M324-Sing ... 240%3A1318.

They suited me as I wasn't sure if i would get on with clipless and you clip in on one side but the other is like a normal pedal so you can just go out with trainers etc on. I have bought the shoes and everything as well but just don't get on with them so will be going back to normal pedals when i get my new bike. its all about personal preference, you get a more effective ride being clipped in but if you come off you are attached o the bike so could do your self a bit more of an injury.

KnightofCydonia

I like a really big pedal feel underneath my feet, gives me more confidence so I'm going for flats personally. I like knowing I can just bail out if needed without keeping my feet stuck to the pedals! All personal pref though.

Northwind

The bottom line is it's personal preference, but you can't tell your own preference without trying both. But I do reckon that flats are simpler, SPDs require their own skills so if you're fairly new to this sometimes I think that can just be too much to learn all at once. And also, i personally wouldn't have wanted to complicate the falling off/nearly falling off process when I was getting back into riding The less that came between my foot and the floor, the better! (the flipside is that you're more committed with SPDs so you're less likely to dab a foot for no reason, which is good)

I'm stuck with flats anyway for medical reasons but to be honest, with good flats and suitable shoes the grip is so huge that it's not the drawback a lot of people think. SPD fans tend to talk about slipping feet etc, but I've never had a foot slip on a good pedal, just on rubbish ones, and I just ride in skate shoes usually. But equally, good SPDs work very well for people.

(don't believe the hype on cycling specific flats shoes either, they have huge grip but skate shoes offer more than enough for most riding anyway. And as for stiffness, every review of the new AM40 shoe which is adjustable for stiffness says "We liked it best with the stiffness inserts taken out and the shoe flexible"

ride_whenever

I'd say flats, they're just more fun.

A set of wellgo mg1 are light and grippy, should set you back about £30 on ebay and are fantastic.

KnightofCydonia

ride_whenever wrote:

I'd say flats, they're just more fun.

A set of wellgo mg1 are light and grippy, should set you back about £30 on ebay and are fantastic.

but don't come in the irish green that some of us want to match our forks detail

Rabbit171

Why not try Power Grip Straps? You can try them on the pedal to see if you get on with having your feet connected to the pedal or without to see if you prefer flats and not having your feet connected to the pedal.

I use them as I'm old school and have only just go rid of my cages, and I find them good. Takes a bit of getting used to but once I was used to them they were great. Plus you can wear them with any shoe.

ride_whenever

Get them powdercoated? Or in silver, because all pedals end up silver...

jimmer2704

Hi,

I recently decided on new pedals and had the same dilemma as you, but after my foot slipped on a wet day and took a chunk out of my shin I decided to get some SPD's
I have never looked back, I wont lie to you... if like me you will forget that your feet are locked in and you will fall off ( hopefully no one will see, night time is good). they do take half an hour to get used to but now they work a dream and seem to give more control and indirect power.

I picked up a set of shimano pedals and shoes for about 100 quid all in. and the simano pedals also work as a flat pedal for the tricky bits when you loose your nerve!!


Hope this helps

Jimmer

wings988

I'm very happy with my DMR V12 flats, grip nicely on my Timberland walking trainers!!

mark1892

put flat dmr V8's on my xtc to start with and used shimano mp66's but was wondering myself how spd's would work so bought a cheap pair of shimano mp520 pedals for £20 just incase i didnt like them. put them on my older bike and the cleats on an old pair of specialized shoes and have used them this week for work, bit of a faff to get connected to first time round but after 10 minutes of clipping in and out, adjusting and then a few miles, you can really fel the benefit and improved efficiency. just do what i do and 'unclip' well before you need to stop

not sure im ready to use them on the trails yet though :roll:

Anonymous

OP You won't get a definitive answer here because 50% will love spd's and hate flats and the other half will be the reverse.

I'm relatively new to spd's and have no problem with them. I haven't crashed yet though.

I bought my bike with spd's and had never used them before. Haven't even noticed that I'm fastened to the bike yet.

Its a bit like changing gear in a car for the first time. You need to think about it a few times but before you know it it's second nature and you don't even know you're doing it.

Its also a bit like japanese squid porn. You don't know how good it is until you've tried it :shock:

Gazzareth

I went from clips and straps to SPD's - much better easier to get into, and once you get used to them not so hard to get out of, and much more comfortable. They come with single-release cleats but you can get multi-release cleats for them which mean you can get your feet out with a hard yank (most of the time) rather than having to manually release them.

I got mine from Merlin Cycles - which for the shoes, pedals and multi-cleats came to about £70.........

G