Clip-in or Flat pedals for downhill??
Highlands99
Posts: 5
Juts getting back into mountain biking and in the process of buying myself a new bike. Still going about on my 2010 Scott which has flat pedals but i'm tempted to try clip-in for my new bike.
What are the recommendations for downhill biking? Personal preference or is there a particular type that are better?
What are the recommendations for downhill biking? Personal preference or is there a particular type that are better?
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Depends.
I used to ride clips for cross country riding. Moved to flats a few years back and have little interest in going back. Occasionally I would like the added pedal-ability on some technical climbs that clips help with but for technical downhills I like the freedom to shift my feet on the pedals a little and dab a foot or go full bail if needed. I also like the ease of getting moving with flats on steeper climbs.
Plenty of people are fine being clipped in on the same terrain as I wouldn't consider it. So....Depends.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
what ever you want to use - I prefer clips, my friends use flats.0
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Crank Brothers Mallets for clipless.
Any old flats for flats.Trail fun - Transition Bandit
Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
Allround - Cotic Solaris0 -
Any old flats for flats.
No.
Good flats and good shoes for flats. Otherwise you have no contact with the bike just like trying to ride clipless without the cleats. Dont buy V8's or plastic flats - get something with a decent number of pins, a sensible size platform, not too thick a pedal and then get a shoe by Sombrio, 5:10, Giro or Teva, failing those a decent pair of Vans or DC's should cut it with their flat soles but better options exist both from support and grip points of view.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
SPD's for downhill. Much better for sprinting with the ability to pull and push pedals. They allow you to pedal over rougher ground where it would be difficult on flats and they stop your feet getting bounced on the pedals on heavy landings or when you hit something big.
I only use flats now for the odd freeride session where I might want to ditch the bike mid jump if it's going wrong.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
I'm with Paul myself, I love my flats just depends what you get comfortable with in reality.
also agree with Paul any old flats and shoes is not a great idea, decent flats with a decent shoe makes all the difference in the world!0 -
Any old flats for flats.
No.
Can't you tell I'm a Mallet boy?
Trail fun - Transition Bandit
Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
Allround - Cotic Solaris0 -
Any old flats for flats.
No.
Can't you tell I'm a Mallet boy?
We feel your pain.
But don't worry, it's curable.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
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Parktools0 -
Any old flats for flats.
No.
Can't you tell I'm a Mallet boy?
You can favour what you like but when giving advice to someone it's best to give them both sides of the argument in a measured way not some half arsed partial response based on your own favouritism. Only my opinion though. Do what you like and be judged accordingly. By God. He's watching. Or so they say.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
Crank Brothers Mallets for clipless.
Any old flats for flats.
I couldn't get on with mallets, too much float for me. I prefer Shimano DX. I might try some HT clipless pedals.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
You can favour what you like but when giving advice to someone it's best to give them both sides of the argument in a measured way not some half arsed partial response based on your own favouritism.
Isn't that what people do most of the time?All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=129946070 -
You can favour what you like but when giving advice to someone it's best to give them both sides of the argument in a measured way not some half arsed partial response based on your own favouritism.
Isn't that what people do most of the time?
Really? Someone asks a question and you think most people dont either give a reasoned response or only speak to their experience - if LBS had said - I recommend Mallets for clipless riding, I use them and love them that is one thing but mindlessly giving crap advice about flats "any old flats for flats" is pointless and unhelpful.
For me one of the most damaging pieces of advice given to intermediate developing riders is that switching to spd's is in some way an upgrade or a benefit when, in reality, if your skills are lacking they can actually be damaging to a riders positioning on their bike and development of key riding skills.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
You can favour what you like but when giving advice to someone it's best to give them both sides of the argument in a measured way not some half arsed partial response based on your own favouritism.
Isn't that what people do most of the time?
Really? Someone asks a question and you think most people dont either give a reasoned response or only speak to their experience - if LBS had said - I recommend Mallets for clipless riding, I use them and love them that is one thing but mindlessly giving crap advice about flats "any old flats for flats" is pointless and unhelpful.
For me one of the most damaging pieces of advice given to intermediate developing riders is that switching to spd's is in some way an upgrade or a benefit when, in reality, if your skills are lacking they can actually be damaging to a riders positioning on their bike and development of key riding skills.
Oh, I agree. But fact remains that most people on forums will guide you towards what they ride. It's human nature. It's almost a dead cert that everyone recommending clipless in this thread are riding clipless and that's why they're recommending them, whereas you've outlined exactly why new riders are better off on flats. The OP is just getting back into riding and he's being told what's good for downhill by someone who has a strict definition of downhill or that "any old flats will do" by someone who probably knows better. Is that impartial advice?All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=129946070 -
I use flats for DH myself.
I think I you want to be faster and are good enough not to have to dab or bail on most runs then clip ins are probably better. If you want to have fun and the option of hopping off it it goes pear shaped or you lose your bottle, flats are probably better. But each to his own."I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]0 -
I use flats for DH myself.
I think I you want to be faster and are good enough not to have to dab or bail on most runs then clip ins are probably better. If you want to have fun and the option of hopping off it it goes pear shaped or you lose your bottle, flats are probably better. But each to his own.
I was of the same opinion until I tried SPD's. The only part of that I still agree with is being less easy to dab a foot but just because it can be awkward to clip back in. Getting unclipped when it's going bad just isn't an issue, it happens without even having to think about it. SPD's definitely allow pedalling over rougher ground where it's difficult with flats. There are plenty of riders much faster than me on flats but I'm faster on SPD's than I am on flats.
The only time I use flats now is for freeride sessions but I'm not sure why! It's not like I can superman or no foot over jumps.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
i use both, if its my usual XC routes then its clips all the way, much more feel of the bike.
For anything technical i'll opt for the flats. I've done the MTL several times and only once with clips, never again.0 -
i use both, if its my usual XC routes then its clips all the way, much more feel of the bike.
For anything technical i'll opt for the flats. I've done the MTL several times and only once with clips, never again.
Why do you find it more difficult with clips? And what's MTL?Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
i use both, if its my usual XC routes then its clips all the way, much more feel of the bike.
For anything technical i'll opt for the flats. I've done the MTL several times and only once with clips, never again.
Why do you find it more difficult with clips? And what's MTL?
Flats make me work on my half arsed technique, clips just play to my fears of falling face first down a mountain!
I was wondering what MTL was - someone else mentioned it on another thread.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
Sorry the MTL is the Mary Townley Loop, pretty well known if your from the North West of England.
As for clipins i also find they worry me more and so i ride less confident, for both uphills and downhills, prefer being able to bail easily.0 -
As for clipins i also find they worry me more and so i ride less confident, for both uphills and downhills, prefer being able to bail easily.
Same for me. Have flitted between both (I'm used to using SPD's from CX racing) but actually find I ride more cautiously clipped in as mentally I know I can't bail out as easily. Using decent flat pedals and skate shoes help alleviate some of the disadvantages of not being clipped in IMO.0 -
I found clips good for technique. No dabbing a foot in corners, just commit and ride it properly.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350
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I found clips good for technique. No dabbing a foot in corners, just commit and ride it properly.
I developed bad habits of riding with my heels up when clipped in and still found I unclipped one foot on technical stuff (I used platform dx pedals so had something to keep my foot on) so lost some of the benefit. I know I am a better rider now having been on flats for 4 years and also having ridden more tech terrain.
I know I could make better time on some climbs clipped in, clear some sections with the additional oompf able to be applied with clips but not sure I would find huge advantages down hill. I am definitely a foot up rider - dont dab much but do like to be able to twist my feet on the pedals to help steering on flats and they highlight if I drift to a heels up position from time to time.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
MTL. Is that the Mary Towneley Loop in the Pennines?
I clip in all the time but it's really about what you prefer. I am used to being clipped in and I'm happy riding anything while clipped in. The more you do it the easier it is. Saying that, it would be nice to be a bit more free from time to time when needing to bail.Many happy trails!0
