Ryan_M

I'm getting a bike together to pop my MTB cherry. I'm wondering how bad of an idea it is to go clipless. I already have the SPD pedals and the shoes/cleats. I've used clipless for ~30 years but for road and hybrid and I'm comfortable with it, but MTBing for the first time there's going to be a lot more to concentrate on - like not dying, or keeping sticks on the outside of my body. I already have bragging scars, not actively looking for more.

MaxKatt

I learned clipless on MTB before I was a road guy and it’s still the only way I’d ever ride. 20+ years.

tungsten

Back the tension off a few clicks or switch to double release cleats.

Steve B.

If you are family with and use SPD currently, I would stick with it. You have the pedals and shoes, easier than going to flat/pinned and learning a whole new pedaling technique.

Kapusta

If you are already very comfortable with clipless, you should be fine. But if you have any concerns, then there is no reason not to go with flats for a while. I would however get decent flat pedals. Race Face Chesters, Kona Wha Wha, One Up, and Diety Deftraps are all good affordable composite pedals. Flat specific shoes also help, but I might hold off on those unless you decide to keep pursuing riding with flats.

Among the more experienced MTBers I know, its about 50/50 on flats vs clipless, so neither is the "proper" choice.

prj71

Time pedals with the easy release cleats are probably the best solution for first time clipless mountain biker. They are the easiest to exit.

Eric F 

He already has MTB SPD pedals and shoes. Instead of forking out more money for new pedals, it seems to me like learning to use what he has (that are just fine) is a more sensible choice.

prj71

Just throwing another option out there. New Time pedals and easy cleats aren't very expensive.

Ryan_M

Thanks for the help everyone. The opinions are a bit of a mix but that is still helpful! If it was 100% absolutely not then I'd have go get some flats ASAP. I probably still will for colder weather riding to use insulated boots, hoping to ride mtb until the snow is too deep 🤞. But, I feel better starting on clipless for now. Good advice to back off the tension!

Calsun

Highly recommend using flat pedals (with pins) and Five Ten type shoes. Easier to rapidly dismount and more flexibility in moving your feet around on the pedal when negotiating trails. If you hit sand it is difficult even for experienced riders to negotiate it and being able to dismount and walk the bike across it is acceptable with no one keeping score.

msu2001la

I prefer clipless for MTBing and am far more comfortable and confident on tricky trails knowing that my shoes are solidly clipped in.

prj71

Same here. Flat pedals and pins eventually means you will have pin scars on your shins or calfs. It's not an if, but when.

Ask me how I know.

Brazosbynemo

When I got my first mountain bike I had been riding clipless on my road bike for a while. I took my road bike out for its maiden voyage and crashed three times and couldn’t get out of the clips. Wasn’t the epic day I had built up in my mind. I reduced the tension and all has been fine since.

deimos25

First you have to know that you will fall, everyone falls. But to make the falls easier, here are few advices: Reduce the tension on the pedals, practice getting on and off the bike first.

Russ Roth

I've now been riding flats for 5 years, switched from spd and only use spd when racing for the small advantages I find they give when speed is more important than screwing around and finding out how to make things flow better. No scars yet, and I've only ever seen that as a problem with people who ride DH or enduro. Most of the XC guys I've ridden with have managed to avoid any real damage.

prj71

It happens riding chunky stuff. It's not limited to downhill or enduro.

Coah

As a road biker you generally have a lot more heads up on intersections and stops to twist out. Also on road I think i'm generally able to make better use of the upstrokes because i'm just pushing speed and not moderating turns/obstacles.

As a beginner on dirt, I find someitmes I'll round a tight corner to find stairs I wasn't anticipating that I want to stop and walk. If i do want to try and obstacle I'm more confident if I have the option to put a foot down as needed. Other common situation is you're going downhill and the rock is too loose, being able to pop a foot down to stabilize and keep going is nice, or being able to slide my bike for a sideways stop is alot easier in flats.

I think estimates were clips give a 15% power boost if properly used. But GCN put out a video last year where they thought the vast majority that don't properly train and focus upstrokes were getting 0-3% power boost from clips.

Kapusta

Unless you are racing, I think the power delivery difference between flats and clips is not even worth considering.

Efficiency itself is not really any different, it is the max power delivery that is.

What it really comes down to is what are you more comfortable with. Do you want to be attached to your petals or not? There is no correct answer to this question. Some people are more comfortable on flats. Some people are more comfortable on clipless.

Ryan_M

Just thought I'd follow up.... I went with clipless and it's been fine. As suspected I like it. Getting out is the easier (and intuitive) part, getting in with crap in the cleat is the most of my worries and the odd time takes some mashing. I was worried when I didn't know what I didn't know, now that I know a smide, it's totally good.

[edit] The GF isn't too far behind. She recently got a MTB with flats to learn on. Funny 3.5 years ago she wanted to get into cycling and had no experience beyond department store crap, now her stable has 4 bikes and she finds riding without clipless weird. [/edit]