Clipless pedals. Dangerous?
#52
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I know a dh'er who jumps fairly large dirt jumps with clipless and he seems fine. I didn't even know he had clipless before he showed me.
I am also thinking of maybe going clipless, cause it gets quite hard controlling the bike going down long rocky downhills, cause I constantly lose my footing. Its fine going down slowly then its really easy staying on but if you speed up a little too much then you start losing your footing. If you lose your footing and you start bouncing up and down and eventually fall on your seat, I'm sure there isn't much worst injury than having the family jules crushed
I am also thinking of maybe going clipless, cause it gets quite hard controlling the bike going down long rocky downhills, cause I constantly lose my footing. Its fine going down slowly then its really easy staying on but if you speed up a little too much then you start losing your footing. If you lose your footing and you start bouncing up and down and eventually fall on your seat, I'm sure there isn't much worst injury than having the family jules crushed
#56
Norcal 29er
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Mendocino Norcal
Bikes: Gary fisher Mt Tam 29er
i just got my clipless pedals 3 days ago. i can see how these could be kinda scary, but i have just been riding around in areas that challenge me for balance and technique. this way I am forced to become comfortable sooner than i would if i were just riding normal trails or around my yard. the amount of control that these pedals give is amazing! the only part that i am not comfortable with yet is doing tail kicks to spin my bike around for switchbacks, but i only just started learning how to do that a week before i got these. they are some sort of shimano pedals so i made them really loose. the thing that surprises me is that i am not completely locked in, my feet can wiggle side to side alot more than i thought that i would be able to. Is this because they are used pedals and cleats? or do all clipless do this?
peace
harris
peace
harris
#57
Wood Licker


Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 16,966
Likes: 2
From: Whistler,BC
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002
Originally Posted by zx108
i know people that race bmx with clipless
You just can't beat the power generated by someone clipped in.
#58
There is a pic of a bud of mine doing a 20' drop at Whistler a couple of weeks ago at www.leelikesbikes.com, while clipped in.It was Schley's line in the new NWD vid.
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Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
#64
Originally Posted by Maelstrom
Don't you mean
Git er' done...
Git er' done...
Chris is a cool hillbilly, when he got back in this week he gave my son his world cup rider pass he used this year at the WC races. My sons been wearing it around the house all day.
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Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
#65
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Fort Collins, Colorado
Bikes: Serotta Fierte
I see your point. I had the same fears once I started riding too. Here's a suggestion... set the tension setting on the pedal real loose, so basically it doesn't take much twist to get your foot out. Try this for a bit and see how it goes. Talking yourself into the fact that you CAN get loose and you WONT fall is the psychological way of getting past your fears. I have downhill clipless pedals that have large platforms like regular pedals instead of the puny small ones. Those gave me a lot of confidence too. Try it. Do what works best for you. If you are uncomfortable with the clips, how fun is the ride going to be? And isn't that what matters anyway?
#67
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: N/A
Clipless pedals take getting used to. I resisted for years and finally broke down and suffered through getting accustomed to them. Now I can't imagine riding without them. I even use them on my full-blown DH bike where I probably shouldn't, but I feel that I am much more capable in the really technical sections with them. It really comes down to preference...with or without you will develop your riding skills accordingly.
#68
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Clipless pedals are awesome. I first got some and I really got frustrated and had a hard time clipping in and out. Sure I still fall when going up tough hills, but it's sweet when you can make it up those. Now, I hate riding with out the clips and I even ride them to school. The ride feels so much more uniform with clipless pedals. Make sure to get the Eggbeaters by Crankbrothers. This is the best clipless pedal on the market. HANDS DOWN. They are a great company who even replaced one of my pedals for free when it was my own fault for damaging it. (I crushed one of the entry points going downhill at hmm 20mph or so. It hit a rock and got smashed.)
Crankbrothers rocks and they've earned my business forever.
https://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater.php
Crankbrothers rocks and they've earned my business forever.
https://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater.php
#69
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
spd? bad?
I just dislocated my ankle mountain biking with spd pedals. The pedal did not release and my foot twisted 90 degrees out of socket. The is very painful. I am a very experienced rider, ride only steep advanced single track with full body pads. i am 190 lbs at 11 percent body fat. I now have a cast and screws in my leg so all the ligaments from my knee to my ankle can repair
#70
Still kicking.


Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 47
From: Annandale, New Jersey
Bikes: Bike Count: Rising.
Sorry if this comes across shallow, but did you need to bump this thread which was inactive for two years?
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Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
#71
Elite Rep
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne - Australia
#72
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
Yeah, I've always found that to be one of the most entertaining ironies of bikeforums. People are frequently chastized for creating a thread that has "been done before," but are equally ridiculed for "bumping" old threads.
#73
Still kicking.


Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 47
From: Annandale, New Jersey
Bikes: Bike Count: Rising.
#74
Banned
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: New England
Bikes: 2008 Trek Fuel EX8
Clipped pedals on a trail? No way. I wanna be able to fall and not have my bike come with me. And I like being able to take my foot off the pedal. And I don't care about getting bashed in the shin, must of happened 50 times already in a couple years! So worth it =)
#75
Have you ever tried them? Once you get used to it, it's second nature. I don't make mine uber-tight so it makes it a little easier too.




