Mountain Biking - Reasons you don't ride clipless

So, I got a bike (will post pics later) and I'm trying to decide on pedals. I have SPD shoes and PD-M520s on the road bike so I could swap those on, buy I haven't been on a mountain bike in a while and the last time I had one I was using platforms. There were maybe a couple of times I wished I could pull up on the pedals to power through a climb, but there were an overwhelming majority of times when I was glad I could yank my feet off the pedals instantly, possibly to avoid banging my foot on something but more likely because of a kneejerk reaction to some fear of going down with the bike still attached.

So, help me rationalize my wussiness. What are your reasons for not using clipless pedals, say for DH or XC riding?

I was glad I could yank my feet off the pedals instantly,

I don't have a problem yanking my feet off the pedals instantly with clipless.

Platforms are good for tailwhips.

yeah basically if you don't have clips you can put a foot down, but at hight speeds that doesn't really matter, I really like having clips for many reasons other than the xtra effeciancy and power ect. I don't have to worry about staying on the pedals in a landing or slipping off em when i go over a rough section or a log roll, also i can cheat at bunny hopping

you could get a set of the shimano 324s and then do w/e you want at the time (1 side clip other side flat)

I'm more comfortable with clipless.

clipless = more control for me...ive actually managed to unclip mid air on my way to the ground if i go off a jump out of control.

Mountain biking can be more tricky' I'd not ride clipless. Road cycling . Its the only way to go if you want better energy recovery.

I love clipless. But i ride flats. Why? Because I'm broke.


Road cycling . Its the only way to go if you want better energy recovery.

That's definitely a roadie thing to say.

IMO, clipless is more safe than platforms for XC. If you're concerned about unclipping, just set the tension very low and increase tension with confidence.

As far as crashing goes, I have my pedal (SPDs) tension set to max and they have always released when I crash.

http://251.org/shared/bike/Eriksen/MD/SchaefferMudCrash.jpg

I switched to clipless (520's) and they are nice. Tension adjustment is critical, even so plan on a few crashes (ask me how I know, lol). Remembering they are not toe clips is really important when planning a graceful dismount. Having now ridden both styles mountian biking I'd say stay with the clipless. Switch out your 520s to your mountian bike and put 540's or XT's on your road bike as they are lighter.

yeah basically if you don't have clips you can put a foot down, but at hight speeds that doesn't really matter........

I have found is really helpful to be able to put a foot down at high speeds on off camber turns.


I really like having clips for many reasons other than the xtra effeciancy and power ect. I don't have to worry about staying on the pedals in a landing or slipping off em when i go over a rough section or a log roll, also i can cheat at bunny hopping


With a good set of prdals and shoes your feet will stay put with no problems

But you can't cheat at bunny hopping ^ :P

XC always.
DH never.

xc always.
Dh never.

qft

As far as crashing goes, I have my pedal (SPDs) tension set to max and they have always released when I crash.


Yeah, I dont understand how people just fall over in SPDs or other clipless. Every time I forget and start to fall over, my feet come unclipped when I try to put a foot out to catch myself.. I've also done a mid air bail while clipped in.

Same here. First month of clipless it was a different story. I used to stop and just fall over lol. But now with a pair of semi decent crank bros its more than a habit. You don't ever think about it, if your about to fall you feet automatically clip out like its an airbag and it knows to do it.

Without clipless pedals I honestly would suck at riding XC

Without clipless pedals I honestly would suck at riding XC

A Poem


Don't worry, it's okay
I think you suck anyway

Clipless gives me a sense of commitment when going into real techy sections or drops (although, crappy brakes help with the drops part because you cant stop in time even if you wanted to).

A Poem


Don't worry, it's okay
I think you suck anyway


I'm sorry. Have we met before?

I'm sorry. Have we met before?

No, but I was kidding anyway.

Unless you do suck.

I can back my riding.
But no use for one of those pointless e-races?

E-race?

Internet race.
You know, "Internet Tough Guy" when someone feels the need to show off how much testosterone they have and start challenging people to races... over the 'net.

Internet race.
You know, "Internet Tough Guy" when someone feels the need to show off how much testosterone they have and start challenging people to races... over the 'net.

I have larger.... genitalia than you, but I don't see how this changes anything.

Might I not ask how you know that.

dont bother

dont bother

Common knowledge.

Care to get the rulers out?
HaHa.
j/k
Lets not.
and say we didn't

Care to get the rulers out?
HaHa.
j/k
Lets not.
and say we didn't

Too late.

Mine goes ad infinitum.

Ok getting weird in here...
Worse than the lockerooms...

I don't recall the OP asking about nad size or why we ride clipless.

Did anyone actually say why they prefer flatties?

They feel good when you have an itch on the shins.

I don't ride clipless cause I can't afford 'em at the moment.

Of course, if somebody feels like selling me a set of Shimano M520s real cheap then that might change :lol:

I use platforms on the trail bike when I:
a) don't have to climb;
b) want to pump and flow;
c) go out jumping.

I use clipless on most XC rides because of the increased efficiency. We have a lot of elevation around here so it helps quite a bit.

I use platforms on the trail bike when I:
a) don't have to climb;
b) want to pump and flow;
c) go out jumping.

I use clipless on most XC rides because of the increased efficiency. We have a lot of elevation around here so it helps quite a bit.

What he said.

I don't recall the OP asking about nad size or why we ride clipless.

Did anyone actually say why they prefer flatties?

Fatties? I prefer thin girls. Oooh, flatties. I know nothing about that.

There are always e-thugs lurking on the forums. My favorite is when they spout off something that would get the @ss handed to them in person, but as they are sitting in stained underwear infront of their monitor, surrounded by stale food and p0rn, they feel safe and free to be a prick.

Anyway, back on topic: I rode with clips for years before switching to SPDs and it made my proformance jump probally 30% on single track from almost day one, maybe more on the hardpacked Colorado mountain trails below Pike's Peak. On fire roads and on wide groomed stuff, it didn't make much of a difference. I would NEVER ride downhill on lift-served slopes with out clipless peddles. I did a race 2 years ago on a borrowed bike - long story - that had tourist peddles and I felt like I had no control of the bike. I couldn't whip the tail around scary corners, went down 4 times, lost skin, left blood, and couldn't lift the bike to hop over much more than an exposed tree root - it that. It would have been a different story with my feet attached.

I rode SPD on road and mountain for three years >100 miles per week and my knees really felt it after long road rides and after a day of hill climbing on the trails. A buddy of mine who has done 2 RAAMs talked me into trying Speedplay Zeros on my road whip and I have NEVER looked back. My knees love me again and I switched to Speedplay Frogs on my MTB soon after. Just as much control, no pain after a long day of climbing and bombing, my feet come right out when I want them to, and on the many occasions that I have gone @ss over tea kettle on various trails - my feet have always popped right out.

There are always e-thugs lurking on the forums. My favorite is when they spout off something that would get the @ss handed to them in person, but as they are sitting in stained underwear infront of their monitor, surrounded by stale food and p0rn, they feel safe and free to be a prick.

Anyway, back on topic: I rode with clips for years before switching to SPDs and it made my proformance jump probally 30% on single track from almost day one, maybe more on the hardpacked Colorado mountain trails below Pike's Peak. On fire roads and on wide groomed stuff, it didn't make much of a difference. I would NEVER ride downhill on lift-served slopes with out clipless peddles. I did a race 2 years ago on a borrowed bike - long story - that had tourist peddles and I felt like I had no control of the bike. I couldn't whip the tail around scary corners, went down 4 times, lost skin, left blood, and couldn't lift the bike to hop over much more than an exposed tree root - it that. It would have been a different story with my feet attached.



Sounds like a rider problem instead of a pedal problem.If you learn to ride properly you would'nt need to use clipless pedals as a crutch.

^^ concise summary.

Sounds like a rider problem instead of a pedal problem.If you learn to ride properly you would'nt need to use clipless pedals as a crutch.

+1.

And it was really impressive watching Mert jump with regular shoes (or maybe even sandals) and clipless pedals without a platform.

Which is why I consider myself a lycra wearing hack.

Sounds like a rider problem instead of a pedal problem.If you learn to ride properly you would'nt need to use clipless pedals as a crutch.

You are probably right - surely a rider problem. I will work on my riding ability and duly report back with my progress...

Some people use clipless as a crutch but if you ride them almost exclusively for years it's hard to go back simple because of what you're used to. If Iride platforms I forget I have em and I and up pulling up and pulling back ect and that causes problems. Sure, I can ride platforms; I just have to think about it.

Also if this changes to what pedals we like: crank bros FTW

There are always e-thugs lurking on the forums. My favorite is when they spout off something that would get the @ss handed to them in person, but as they are sitting in stained underwear infront of their monitor, surrounded by stale food and p0rn, they feel safe and free to be a prick.

Whom are you speaking of?

sirtigersalot, stop with the AOL-ese. I cleaned it up this time so that it resembled English but I may not be as helpful next time. I might just delete it.

Some people use clipless as a crutch but if you ride them almost exclusively for years it's hard to go back simple because of what you're used to.

I rode them excusively for years and I switched back with no problems.If you're as good as I am it's no big deal.

I rode them excusively for years and I switched back with no problems.If you're as good as I am it's no big deal.

But, that is like being as all knowing as God. It is an impossibility.

But, that is like being as all knowing as God. It is an impossibility.

I think you're just trying to be an internet b@d@ss.

I think you're just trying to be an internet b@d@ss.

You have me figured out.

Trying to be? He IS! Wait . . . a badass in lycra; or a bad ass in lycra?