DH - Clip in? Yay or Nay?

Unknown · May 2007

Just swopped to flatties after having ridden with SPDs for years. Jumping is a little different, albeit a bit scary if you mess it up. I know its usually personal preference as to what you're used to, or have grown up with. Some pro's clip in some don't. What do people on here do specifically for DH?? Just wondering. Why do you personally choose one over the other??


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mudface · May 2007

flats.

without a doubt.

for the crashing factor. i like to get as far as possible as quickly as possible from my bike in high-consequence crashes. anything which might slow that process down in any way, or get you tangled in your bike could be the difference between getting away with it, and a serious injury.

you'll get the proper technique for jumping if you do it on flats. then you can start doing one or no-footers...[;)]

Unknown · May 2007

dh flats
xc clipped

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Unknown · May 2007

Clipped in for everything i can't ride flats i feel like i am gonna fall off the pedals. It means i ahve no confidence so can't ride well. So clipped in all the way though release is very easy.

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Unknown · May 2007

I have no confidence when not clipped in too. I dont do any proper downhill, ie drops, but i have hit 50mph on some off road tracks clipped in....You only live once Guys [;)] but then agen doesnt mean you should waste it....[xx(]

But even over rough stuff, i always stay clipped in otherwise my feet get shaken off the pedals, but if its clearly too boggy/sticky then i unclip incase i have to put the foot down.

Bike : Marin Eldridge Grade 06

Unknown · May 2007

I even do big jump clipped in if i am not i fall off te pedals and off the bike and crash ouch [:(]

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Unknown · May 2007

Flats all the time, more out of
a) fear of the unknown
b) not wanting to spend money on more shoes [8)]

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Unknown · May 2007

Depends on the course for me, although 90% of my riding is clipped in, as I prefer fast and technical courses allowing pedal strokes where you usually can't with flat pedals.

If there's more freeridey stuff, I'll think about using flatties depending on whether I feel xcomfortable with the drops.

Jumping doesn't bother me, I stick with SPDs.

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monkeyfcuker · May 2007

flats baby!! way more confidence using flats with jumps, rough stuff and stupid drifty cornering! well trying to do drifty cornering! [:D] plus you can stick your foot out in a motox stylee on loose corners which means you dont smash your face in, always a bonus!!

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stuartlangwilson · May 2007

ALways used to use spds, been trying to get used to flats for jumpy and mild DH stuff, and shore. Mainly so i can get away from the bike in crashes, also its easier to dab and keep going with flats.

Its not been easy making the transition, but i'm enjoying the challenge. I have a few new scars from the pins

monkeyfcuker · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I have a few new scars from the pins

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">[:D][:D]

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Unknown · May 2007

I prefer to use spds because of the power issue, and not being a huge jumper. But atm i have to use flats because my knees are borked from racing last week. I need to let them heal up over the summer and go back to spds for winter gloop!

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corrie · May 2007

Clipped in for all.

It's sometimes hard to get clipped in on steep muddy downhills like the bottom section of Hamsterley so I've just ordered some with a bit more of a platform

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Unknown · May 2007

flats for most things hardly use spds at the moment

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madmole · May 2007

Clipped in for all. I prefer the bike to stay fixed to me when I crash, that way it cant come and slam me

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carlos-g · May 2007

Clipped in for everything apart from when my little boys in his bike seat with me then I stick a set of cheap flats on.

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mudface · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Belly
allowing pedal strokes where you usually can't with flat pedals.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

er...where can't you pedal with flats where you can with spds?

madmole · June 2007

any time your feet have come off the peddles and your tender bits have hit the stem!!

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mudface · June 2007

that's down to rider error (bad technique) or bad pedal/trainer combo. spds are the lazy option.

Ticaboy · June 2007

Surely SPD's are more efficient? You can't pedal the same in flats, as the action is more of a piston-like up-down stomp. SPD's allow a full rotational "spinning" style. Most technique guides suggest the full rotational motion (which is better performed in SPD's) is the more efficient - especially for climbing. I've only just switched, and still finding my feet so to speak, but definately can feel the difference on climbs.

EDIT - which I know is completely beside the point given this particular thread topic).

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mudface · June 2007

yes, they are more efficient, and a lot of pros use them, but the difference is that they already have superb technique - a lot of people who use spds never learn to ride on flats, so haven't learned the basic tecniques required to be a good mountain biker. of course, each to their own, and if they're happy with that, then fine.

i was told to start out on spds by someone i used to ride with. after a couple of months i swapped to flats and had to learn to ride again from scratch, as i realised that i had no technique. i couldn't even bunnyhop on flats. now i jump, ride DH, climb big hills, ride technical singletrack etc. i have no trouble keeping up with people on spds, and very VERY rarely slip a pedal. as i'm always on the quest for learning new techniques, i'll stay with flats. to me, riding is not about being the most efficient uphiller.

Unknown · June 2007

Ah, the good old SPD v Flat debate.

In terms of downhilling, there's not much to choose between them.
You may get a few extra pedal strokes in when running SPDs, but all you need is to not get clipped back in, to loose the time again.
Plus alot of SPD riders have very poor technique, which may be ok most of the time, but when things do go wrong (like a foot comes unclipped), they really do go wrong!

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mudface · June 2007

i once saw a guy at swinley do no footers in the jump gulley. with SPDs! he wasn't lacking technique. very impressive.

Unknown · June 2007

Yeah, there are some brilliant riders who run clipless. Cedric Gracia normally runs clipless, and he's not lacking in style. But I'm sure if you gave him a set of flats, he'd still be able to ride them.

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mudface · June 2007

well that's it. you won't find a pro rider who is unable to ride as well with flats.

DH - Clip in? Yay or Nay?

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