Mountain Biking - Downhill and clipless

Im going to start doing some downhill racing soon, starting in April. I was wondering if I should go with a clipless set up or stay with platform pedals? Im going to either get a pair of azonic a-frames or save up more money for something like this http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/12684-285_SSOLZ3_KIT-3-Parts-65-Pedals/661-Launch-Shoes-w_-Time-ATAC-Z-Pedals.htm or http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/13432-285_SETEN4_KIT-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Sette-Enduro-Shoes-w_-Wellgo-M3-Pedals.htm or http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/13431-285_SETCR4_KIT-3-Parts-65-Pedals/Sette-Enduro-Shoes-w_--Crank-Brothers-Mallet-C-Pedals.htm . Also the mallet c pedals, can i ride those without the shoes if i need to? thanks

The mallets you can, but not for long distance...the cleat does still come up a bit. As far as riding clipless downhill...most prefer platform from what I've seen.

You wwant to go with the Mallet deal. I dont see clipless a good idea when going downhill, but clipless offers huge benefits. So if you use the mallet pedals you can unclip and still have a huge platform, where the other ones offer only a tiny platform for what you want. Plus the Mallet has the best reviews, the time atac Z's are great pedals. But you want a platform, so go for hte Mallet.

I use mallets and love them

Yeah...I like my mallets alot, but I would NOT recommend long term riding on them clipless.

your probably right there, but i doubt he is affected by that if hes doing downhill racing. The clipless can always help him climb the beast back up the hill

your probably right there, but i doubt he is affected by that if hes doing downhill racing. The clipless can always help him climb the beast back up the hill
my concern is the lack of grip he will get from the spindle pushing part of his shoe up....

You'll be find using clipless in DH, lots of pro riders do it. Also a couple of people at the local DH races do it and they are so quick off the line it's not funny and they also seem to be able to pedal over rocks better.

if your'e clipping in on the descent! GO FOR IT!!!

I worked up to DH from XC, so I used to ride DH with a PD-M636 when they first came out... A much better way to compete IMO. I didn't really see the attraction of BMX-style pedals for hardcore riding until I switched to more big-drop freeride style.


However, any wide platform clipless pedal is pretty useless with regular shoes for any serious riding in my experience, and the 'dual purpose' is only applicable when going down the shops or whatever.


I've not ridden in ages, so when I finally managed to throw some bikes together a couple of weeks ago I tried getting back into one of the 636's I still had in storage. These scare me now :D

If i did get the mallet pedals, i would always clip in for the racing and downhills. It is just sometimes if im doing a trail ride where im jumping off stuff and what not, i may not want to clip in incase i need to bail out. If i rode without clipping in it would be only for short distances.

I would go for the Mallet, if anything its certainly the better of hte pedals (i think). Crank brothers stuff is practicly mud resistant.

clips work for Dh but i prefer to use platforms. im good at unclipping but when the terrain is hairly platforms are where its at for me. maybe you'd be at an advantage clipped in on a long ,smooth,fast courses but those are few and far between at places like plattekill and diablo. if you do go for for clip pedals i like the time control Z. the seem burly and they shed mud and snow well.

clips work for Dh but i prefer to use platforms. im good at unclipping but when the terrain is hairly clips are where its at. maybe you'd be at an advantage clipped in on a long ,smooth,fast courses but those are few and far between at places like plattekill and diablo. as for clip pedals i like the time control Z. the seem burly and they shed mud and snow well.

thanks a lot man. my first race is going to be at plattekill, april 2nd for the snow race. I guess ill get some a-frames then.

Depends on the course. If it's super technical with a lot of rock gardens and roots, then platforms. If it's a DH with a lot of pedaling in between then the clipless.

Buy both and decide during practice.

I think it really depends what kinda tech though. For big rock gardens id probably want plat unless I was good at unclipping. Normal tech stuff though clips are good because you can pedal through it, youd be bounced off your pedals with platforms. Thats at least why im thinking about pickin up some mallets and oakleys.

I dont ride clipless DH and dont think i ever will. I like to stick my foot out when things get sketchy, not to mention the shocking injuries you can get if you dont unclip in time when you crash (I know someone who crashed and didnt get their foot out in time and broke their leg in 5 places- was in a cast for over a year- ouch!)

Of course you will be able to pedal trrough rock gardens better- your feet arent getting thrown around as much but i dont think its worth it.

Also, the Mallet Cs are perfectly flat and the spindle does not go above the platform. (Dont make me go and scan the ad for them in a magazine i got to prove it!)

If you are really unsure, get the Mallets because you can always use them as platforms.

interesting... pwrd has a set.. and the mech protrudes slightly. Are you saying his are faulty?

Nope, i dont know what the deal is. I can scan that pic if you REALLY want me to, its a real crank bros ad.

It varries. Most of the best pros use clipless, but I could never do it. Not worth the risk, I would much rather be unattached :)