nebrider

I'm a roadbiker turned mountain biker and have been really getting into trail riding and jumping/technical stuff. I'm used to clipless pedals on the road (shimano SPD-SL's) but i'm concerned about putting them on my mountain bike. The pedals i would put on my bike are Crank Brothers Mallet C's or Egg-Beaters. Should I be concerned about being able to clip out in time if I needed?

Cliffnotes: Want to put clipless pedals on the mountain bike, have road experience, should i just grow a pair?

theextremist04

yes.

elf 232

+1

Just do the clipless. They're amazing.

z415

It is not that bad. The only problem I have on my road bike when I clip out fast is that I tend to slip when I plant my foot down since the cleats are so slippery. With good mtb shoes, this isn't a problem so you should be fine.

nebrider

alright thanks, just needed to be told this. my friend who i got into road biking and he got me into mountain biking told me that they were unnecessary and could be dangerous where we ride, but this is all i needed to know.

Also, the shop that I work in (im a 'trainee') has this pair of Shimano shoes that are designed for clipless that look like tan steel-toed boots that are exactly my size for like 25 bucks. anyone try these?

scrublover

grow a pair. if you are already used to the mostin of clipping in/out on the road bike, the transition to doing so off road won't be bad. i started from a roadie background as well, and found it pretty easy to swap.

martytime

Or, you could NOT grow a pair and join me as the only other mountain biker in the world still using platforms. Reasons for using platforms:

- It's much less efficient so you get a better workout
- You look like a n00b so no-one expects much of you
- When your bike breaks down, it's much comfortable walking 6 miles back to your car
- No annoying click when you walk
- Massive pedals are better at catching on rocks
- Riding down a steep rough terrain is much more fun with one foot knocked off the pedal and the other one only half on

Oh, and you don't have to worry about not getting unclipped in time and falling over the side of the mountain and sliding down underneath a tree.

mx_599

i was the same way. just do it, you'll be fine. it is essential for any kind of xc racing or efficiency.

i use speed play frogs on a couple bikes and you can clip out of them pretty easy

mx

Banana Up

all reasonable i suppose. I ride clip less and love it. I definitly ate **** the first couple rides and few times pretty bad. But now I am really good and love them!

mtnbiker66

Oh yeah, go clipless. It's the best thing ever in the whole world.

outdoorboy

I used the mallet c's at first until I was fully comfortable now I'm on the eggs. The mallets let me jump on my bike any time and just ride no matter what shoes I had on. I don't recommend clipless for freeriding, I'm just sayin'.

Kendeathwalker

but you ride platforms..sarcasm?

elf 232

mtnbiker66

From me**********???

ed 

I've known 66 for many years...

That which I have said and am about to say is complete and utter crap.



...there isn't a sarcastic bone in his body.

mtnbiker66

It's nice to see that a Ninja has my back.

junkyard

Do gnarboots come in a clipless option?

ProFail

No.

Dannihilator

Now, now, depends on the make of gnarboots.

J-McKech

Time ATAC...only way to go.

c_m_shooter

I would skip the mallets and get a set of Egg Beater SL's. The C's will break if your trails are as rough as you implied, and the mallets tend to catch the tread of your shoes and make it difficult to get out. Not impossible, they just require a more effort.

ed 

I'm the "gold standard" for product durability testing and I run Candy C's.

Nothing wrong with 'em.

mtnbiker66

Time ATAC suck.

outdoorboy

Never had that problem with the mallets and my shoes have aggressive tread for adventure racing. My wife is using them now and has no problem.

junkyard

gnarboots suck