Mountain Biking - Flat pedal techniques?

I was dropping and jumping off stuff again today (man i want my bike) and it donned on me.......how am I going to ride flat pedals as opposed to clipless which I learned on and have rode since.

Whether you are doing a slower controlled drop or a higher speed jump/dropoff how do you keep your feet glued to the pedals. I am picturing myself flying off the edge and the rear end of the bike dropping down away from my feet, and then my boy's makin love with the seat on landing.

Any suggestions to keep in mind? Techinques?

my feet automatically stay on the pedals. i dont know if it is the same for everyone else?

Yes, you need to start practicing on flats. When I first got into flats I was worried about the same thing....feet falling off but when you drop stuff they automatically stay on. You drop at the same speed as the bike.

Dead sailor? :)...my feet have come off before on jumps but on drops everything falls at the same speed. As long as you don't move you feet they will stay there.

Point you toes down and learn how to drive the pedals into your feet. This should help you 'attach' flats to your shoes. :)

As what Mael said, I tend to point my toes down and press on the pedals if I do not want my feet to loose contact.

Like this ;

Originally posted by dirtbikedude
As what Mael said, I tend to point my toes down and press on the pedals if I do not want my feet to loose contact.

Like this ;

Great pic...Did you take that pic specifically to explain pointed toes syndrom :)...

No. Just a crop job. That is why it is not in focus.

Originally posted by dirtbikedude
No. Just a crop job. That is why it is not in focus.

Still thats a keeper. Worthwhile for that explanation :)

Ok that makes sense how your feet would stay on the pedals with the pins sticking into your soles at a more vertical angle. I will start nightly visualizations for practice until I actually get to try it for real:p

The whole pins driving into your shoe thing while pointed down isnt how it works.

The whole pins driving into your shoe thing while pointed down isnt how it works.

In a manner of speaking, it does for me. Why do not you enlighten us with your wisdom oh mighty K?:p But try to keep it simple for those of us not familiar with the laws of physics.;)

:beer:

Fg=(G*m1*m2)/(r*r). r= distance between the two objects. since F=m1 *a, then the m1 cancels out, leaving you with only m2, the mass of the earth, in the equation, which is constant. therefore, the mass of the item falling does not matter. No matter the mass of the falling object, the acceleration due to gravity is the same, because it is simply not a variable!

Heres where that gets applied to biking. Your feet and your pedals fall at the same speed, and so have no reason, scientifically, why they whould seperate. personally, I have not had any trouble with my feet falling off the pedals except slipping off on landing w/ some cheap plastic pedals and tennis shoes on the huffy. the pedals broke quickly, and I switched to higher-quality platfroms.

Well that is far more complicated than soft sole shoes being driven on the pins :D

I know that my reply may not pertain to this thread. But when I ride downieville or northstar or areas that are really speedy and rocky, I generally run flats because regardless of my ability to stay with the bike, it boosts my self confidence and I am able to ride a lot faster with the flats than I would if I am clipped in. I ride clips most other places however.

My only question, if Fg=(G*m1*m2/r*r), know full well that a= 9.8 m/s2, what happens when m1 is actually moving forward and vertically, yet has a downward force vector, and m2 is moving forward and down? Does the downward force on the pedals act tangentially to the direct downward force of gravity (a)?

L8R

How does a simply question as such turn into a physics debate. You guys are thinking way too hard.:)

But this is coming from a guy who never took physics or chemistry in highschool.:p How could a human being sit through one of those classes and not think about shooting his/herself in boredom. But once again........this is coming from a guy who had to take beginning algebra twice in highschool and then again in college. :beer:

Dude, I often thought about shooting myself sitting through those classes! Actually, I just kinda fell asleep, then studied like heck to try to understand it!

L8R

But for the mathematically challenged, nothing can save you from insanity.........