Mountain Biking - Shoes?

Hey guys,

I'm just getting into road biking, and got a pair of clipless pedals at the LBS yesterday. While I was there I noticed MTB shoes. (Of course, you think to yourself) I grew up in Germany and used to ride trails all the time as a kid, tons of logs and crap to jump over as you careen down bumpy hills with branches slapping you in the face.

My question, after nearly breaking my ankle trying to snap out of the pedals (while still in the trainer!), is how are clipless pedals an advantage in off road biking? I remember needing to make sudden turns and unanticipated stops as a kid, and I know you can't do that when you're locked in.

I tried to find a question similar to this one in the site, but after scanning 9 pages, all I could find were two recomendations to go clipless, and to buy them from the LBS rather than a catalogue.

Thanks!

Hey guys,

I'm just getting into road biking, and got a pair of clipless pedals at the LBS yesterday. While I was there I noticed MTB shoes. (Of course, you think to yourself) I grew up in Germany and used to ride trails all the time as a kid, tons of logs and crap to jump over as you careen down bumpy hills with branches slapping you in the face.

My question, after nearly breaking my ankle trying to snap out of the pedals (while still in the trainer!), is how are clipless pedals an advantage in off road biking? I remember needing to make sudden turns and unanticipated stops as a kid, and I know you can't do that when you're locked in.

I tried to find a question similar to this one in the site, but after scanning 9 pages, all I could find were two recomendations to go clipless, and to buy them from the LBS rather than a catalogue.

Thanks!

Clipless pedals keep your foot engaged with the pedal. There are no slippery platforms. They also help you climb by making your pedaling stroke more efficient.

You can make sudden turns with clipless pedals, and bunnyhop, and ride wheelies, and power slide, and do brakies and just about anything else you can do with platforms or cages. I find them much more confidence inspiring than flat pedals or toe clip mostly because I know I am not going to bounce or slip off the pedals.

If you are having trouble with your clipless pedals, you may need to back off on the tension of the pedal to make it easier to clip out, and you need to practice a little bit. Before you know it, they will be second nature.

Happy pedaling.

slippery platforms can really hurt your shins if your foot slips off. i was climbing a hill with platforms last summer and one foot slipped off while the other foot caused the pedal to do a 180* right into my shin. caused some nice scars and finally convinced me to go clipless

What kind of pedals do you have??

I've got a pair of Speedplay pedals, and shimano shoes. I fell down yesterday when a car made a unexpected u-turn. *ouch* Hurt my ego more than anything.

I understand about the slippery platform problems, and not wanting to get whacked on the shin (I KNOW that crap hurts). I just couldn't get my mind wrapped around how you don't fall more with clipless since it's so hard to get out of the pedals when you need to make a quick stop, or a quick turn. Maybe I'm just not experienced enough, but it seems like they would be equally advantageous and disadventageous.

your muscles are pretty smart. once you practice enough, its like second nature, you dont eve need to think about it

speedplays should be fairly easy to get out of. Atleast that is my experience with them.