This video made me laugh as it reminds me of my first time clipped in. Was always scared to be clipped in, now I can't ride a bike without them. What I love most about them is the rear end control you have, plus the different muscle groups you use peddling not only down, but up ways too. Twice the peddle power. Love your show boys.
Just watched this and it was lovely watching someone learning to navigate clipless pedals. It brings back memories of my first fall in my early Looks in the mid-90s. I was at a red light in the city and kept pulling up on the pedals and just fell over. After a few four-letter words, I began laughing.
you probably dont care at all but does someone know of a tool to log back into an instagram account? I stupidly lost the account password. I love any assistance you can give me.
Nice show... I always use clipless pedals on my EMTB, i cant imagine riding with out it. The confidence of descending for me is incredible. Up hill is the same thing , it´s just a matter of habit
What I have found that really helps new riders to clips is to clip in and out 100 times on each foot just sitting on the bike in a car park or grass area. That will help build in the muscle memory so you don't have to think about it anymore.
Also, a trick from riding cleated shoes on my road bike... If I have to stop at traffic lights, I find something to put an arm out to lean against, say a traffic light pole, and not have to unclip / reclip to start off again... on the trail, stop next to a tree / fence if possible and just lean against it if need be - or work on the track stand skill...
I'm fairly new to clips, maybe about 6 months. I was switching between clips and flats and found everytime I went back to clips was like going back to day one, to the point I almost gave up. I decided to just go for it and bought a second set of clips and remove the flats from both my bikes and perseverance has paid off. Clipping in and out is now second nature and although I'm still not as fast as i was on flats, im not far off it. I ride a lot of steep stuff in the tweed valley and a big problem was the mindset of constantly being conscious of being stuck to the bike. Now I love the extra control and how I can get a nice steady cadence on the climbs. I tried shimano clips my first time around but didn't get on with those. After advice from other riders and the internet, gave crankbrothers a go and found them much easier to get along with and would recommend anyone wanting give clips a try go with them first.
Steve is doing the right thing. Learning how to fall and not panicing is quite important because it will happen at some time. I just lower my dropperpost, lean on the bike and try not to use my arms as support, so I won't break them.
If I was 15 years old and had the next 34 years ahead of me on and e-bike I would use clips. But if i hit the ground now at 49 it seems to hurt more than when I was 15. I enjoyed the video. Cheers guys.
Agreed, I am a couple years older and don't contemplate the hits. Luckily I have been riding long enough to know exactly how to crash when it happens. I stopped using click pedals after I went to DH riding. Flats are my choice for almost 30 years now. Hitting log crossings full tilt has lead to a few feet-pedals seperation moments, not something I experienced on my analog bikes. They were notable pucker-able moments that ended well but made me think about buying a set of Time (I need float) pedals for my eMTB. Powered MTN biking has me rethinking things all the time...
haha, no problem, got my first SPD at 40. You see how much he's laughing though? that's exactly what it's like. You don't ever fall over on the go, it's when you stop and forget you're clipped in. You don't fall over hard, you just feel really silly, and you laugh your ass off. To my credit, I didn't fall over nearly as much as him. At the start, the trick is to always put the same foot down, and always unclip to prepare to stop. As you get experienced, you unclip instinctively , and usually when you crash, your feet come right out you can see it in the video how easy his feet just pop unlipped. I've only ever NOT come unclipped once.
@@better.better all well and good but take one more pedal ands its gone and clipped in again ffs.....there goes the skin off youre knees and elbows......grrrr, ive got some shimano flat adapters you can clip in, i just clip in on the road now.
Oh, and my first time, I practiced in an empty parking lot. I fell over immediately. After the second time, I stopped and worked the mechanism by hand to wrap my mind around what my foot had to do, then I brought the bike over next to a street lamp and hung onto it while I clipped my foot in and out a bunch before I committed to riding freely again.
This is one of the best videos ever. You showed what really happens in the real world. I’m with you one hundred percent . I just wouldn’t use clip less as I don’t want to get injured. Great video thanks
A couple decades ago... a fellow workmate got into biking to work... yea, a yuppie. We had manned gates at entry to our Kodak facilities. Well, in riding up to a gate , his clamped in feet on the pedals, made him lose balance, & fall over...almost slo-motion, when gate guard challenged him... it was hilarious... what a way for so many workers to laugh on their way in !
My husband use's flat pedals on his fix wheel road bike. Now we know that this going against the norm but he had a stroke so needs to get his foot down FAST!. Excellent video like the falling off!!
Great vid as always. I've just gone back the other way. After 30+ years of mountain biking with traditional clips and straps and then SPuDs, I've just bought some flats! Trying them out in scottish boarders this weekend. I'll report back. I actually feel worried about not being attached the the bike. We'll see :-)
Brilliant! Doddy is right though. I've been clipless SPD-SL / SPD for 30+ years now. Tried an eMTB with flats recently and felt as though I'd lost a level of control. Mind you, it was great not to be attached to the bike when I came off. :D
I rode clipless between 2000 and 2002 , tried SPD's which just clogged with mud and then Time ATAC which were a lot better but still felt wrong to me . After getting lapped by most of the field at Thetford in an MTB race , decided enough was enough and switched back to flats , 'EUREKA' !!! to be back on flats was pure joy and in 2017 got 112 Strava KOMs at the age of 55 , so it's flats for me every time !
Used clipless for years - shimano - sometimes best to check release tensions on different shoes - they can vary. Its the up power stroke that makes the upward jump together with the bunny - good video's keep um coming
I'm like Steve in that I am afraid to be "locked" in the pedals and not being able to get out in time. However, I know that there are a lot of advantages to clipless pedals so I know that I will move forward with trying to make clipless my pedals in the future. Thanks for all the spills Steve.
This entire segment just explains why I find MagPed pedals awesome “with the correct shoes”. Five Ten VXi shoes have a bigger clip in area, soft rubber for flat spikes & stiffness area for being clipped in. MagPeds allow to clip in in many position & adjustable without fondling around to clip in after sliding foot out on a burm. With practice these have given me the best of both worlds
Entirely down to the individual rider but after using clipless for eight years, I went back to flats. They are great for road, cyclocross and XC but after a trip to A&E last Christmas, due to not unclipping in time, I figured the risks outweigh the benefits. I'd argue my riding has improved no-end since going back to flats, I found that I'd got myself into so many bad habits, and that clipless was hampering my confidence on the bike. Basically, stick to what makes MTB fun for you.
Ive always been flat pedal rider , been riding Ebikes for 4 years and I’m riding new enduro Magped pedals which are a great cross over, bit of a fuss setting up but easy to disconnect when you need to, magnet just connects when you put your feet on the pedals .
This would be me, I've never used any sort of clip for my feet because I'm scared lol. But looking at this video I might have have to try it out sometime. Very very funny watching you fall off over and over again , you are a brave man!
Steve, brilliant. Very much a fun video with you and Doddy working together. I'm not an eMTB owner but eyeing owning one down the track as I see great potential in doing Tech climbs on them. I did recently return to clips after a year on Flat pedals developing my technique on the Flats. With my enduro bike, I have found Clips helped me considerably with tech climbs compared to Flats and also with being more sure where my foot was on gnar downhill sections. With your concerns of riding in mud and loose off-camber natural terrain, one just has to be a bit more preemptive with Clips but once you get used to them, dabbing your foot is quite easy. Also, it depends on how much Float you have on your Cleats, I understand the Crank Bros Cleats have a lot of float on them (side to side movement) which some people like but means they require a bit more side twist from my understanding to get them released. Shimano's have less which means less twist on the pedal but also less twist required to dis engage the cleat from the pedal. I ride the Shimanos. Also I found pins on Flat Pedals chewed through my shoes sole quickly (half a year on Aftons) where as a cleated shoe will last much longer. Keep falling and having fun.
This was a super helpful video. I'm totally going for flats on my new ebike. It'll be ages before I'm trying clipped in. But looks good for moving the backend around easier.
I’ve done 30 years clipless. Tried flats but never going there again. Only did it cus I forgot to fit the pedals and was able to borrow some flats. You simply cannot control the bike on the challenging descents or power on the upstroke. 100% clipless road or mtb for me and that includes my electric.
Great vid. I always recommend Shimano SH56 cleats to mates thinking of going clipless...multi-directional means they stay securely in when your foot’s straight but they’re much easier to get your feet out when needed
I've ridden with SPDs for 27 years, tried flats when I first got my E bike and hated it. Kept lifting my back foot off the pedal on steep climbs. They take some time to get used to but well worth it for the climbs.
When I first tried clipless pedals I did it with my road bike. Started with SPD but soon switched to Speedplay and moved the SPD over to my hardtail. As I had already practiced a fair bit with SPD on the road bike, it was an easy transition to using clipless on the MTB. I would recommend that one just ride on the road with clipless for a while before hitting the trails with it, as you will get the motions of clipping in and out practiced in less treacherous conditions. I am riding flats on the MTB now but I like clipless better and will probably put a set of clipless pedals on the bike soon. The advantages outweigh the cons.
Steve initially kept clipping in with his uphill leg first; but, the trick is to clip in on the downhill leg and use the uphill leg to steady oneself. Have personally been either strapped in/clipped in for the past 60 years and appreciate being clipped in for my cross-country type of riding/racing. But, if I was a downhiller, I would probably be on flats all the time. Have had my clipless pedal equipped much heavier e-bike literally "drill" me into the ground without being able to get released a couple times this past year.
Great video as always. I've run clipless on my traditional MTB for the past three years and it worked great. I was able to get out of the clip easily enough when I started to fall. I now have a eBike and am trying the flat pedals since it's a heavier bike and falling over and off the side of a mountain in Southern California because I'm stuck to the bike would not be fun. Two disadvantages that I have noticed with the flat pedal is if I want to pedal full stroke, it's not available and if I drop my heal down on a difficult climb for more power, my foot can slip or even spin the pedal under my foot. I'm not sure what I will continue to use going forward. Only had the eBike for a month now.
😂😂😂 Nice video. I used Time clip system since 30 years and I love it. Perhaps a comparaison between pro/cons and best usage of SPD, crank brother, Time, flat systems could be interesting.
THIS LITERLLY HAPPENED TO ME HAHHHAHAHA. learning is so hard, I have fallen off the bike more times clipped in in 2 days than in my entire life riding XDXDXD
Hi, I just saw this great video, I use shimano cleats on my mtb, but after a while I found a Cleat that is normally designed for learners and you are able to get off by pulling up, the one that I use is the SHIMANO SH56 Multi Directional Release SPD Cleat. Problem solved, never had the issue of left locked, I just tight a little bit more the pedals so it will be a little bit harder to get out.
Funny vid guys , thanks ! There other clip in pedals with adjustable clip tension as well as release degrees . Makes an easier release however you’ll still end up on your side now and then
For the most of my rides, i prefer being clipped in (SPD-System). Works great once getting used to it, feels like hell in the first few hours. Makes a big difference what system you choose! It´s not the best choice for any condition, especially when it´s super-muddy and slippery, no debate.I really love the plus on control when it gets really speedy and bumpy, also the extra power you gain from it.
Reason number 1 I haven't tried clippless. I need "special" shoes to be able to use them. So $100+ for pedals and $100+ for shoes. I do like the look of the Mallets
Trolling EMBN videos and found this. Wow...I can actually beat Steve at something! Hoping you have mastered clipless pedals by now; but, not sure that I have ever seen you using them in any of your more recent videos. Big fan of both Steve and Doddy since going to an e-mtb with a Levo SL. Seems that most of Doddy's informational videos carryover nicely to e-mtb.
Hy Guys, I loved watching this hilarious video. (Nice work Steve) 👍 But what about the ajustement of the force of the clips on the pedals. I use the Shimano spd pedals on my e-bike with a low force setting of the clip. Also you can use different kind off clips for you shoes. Hard ones (black), which put your shoes very tied on the clips for advanced clip users and soft ones (grey) which come off very easily. maybe Steve has to try these? 🤔
I have been riding SPD clips for nearly 20 years. It scares me to ride flats, because my foot seems to keep flying off the pedal at unexpected times. Or my foot slides around and I'm not quite on the pedal in the right position. I guess it is just what you are used to.
Had same problem after 20yrs of clipped, key is to get spiked pedals like the Rockbros, and good flats like the popular Five Tens..be conscious of "locking on" the pedal w downward pressure on a toe down position, since you'll be at a higher rpm on an ebike..
Been riding for 49 years. Thanks have been thrashed in the hospital twice using clipless. As I sit with 5 broken ribs I am retired from Clips. You can’t ditch the bike when something fast happens
While I definitely belong to the clueless clan, I've spent the first 66 years not being clipped to my bicycle, and intend to spend the next 40 years or so unclipped as well! I just received some very nice Nukeproof flats in the post and am busy adjusting the length of the pins (M3 bolts) to my preference.
I had traps on my old MTB for years. My eMTB has flats. Took a long time to get used to them. I would like to try traps again at some point... I wear hikers when I am trail riding for off bike traction.
I used clipless all my life (for road and xc). Recently using flats on my enduro bike. I would say when it's technical and hard descents, i use flats. Cliess for pedaling sections, or jumps.
Never tried clipless and I was curious to do it, but after seeing this video I don't think I ever will 🙈🤷🏻♂️😅 that was a great laugh Steve, thanks! 🤣🤣
I started riding on spds. Trust me when i say it is much much harder learning flats after riding clipless. Also much more painful! Worth watching this just for the laughs😂
I would so love to be able to know what it feels like to ride clipless petals to their full advantage. But I’m right there with Steve in problems with trying to get used to them. I fall too much and I am really at a point in life now where I need to avoid falling as much as possible. But I do feel they could improve my overall writing. But now the learning curve seems too steep to me. I am interested and how this will turn out with Steve. I have respect for him and his attitude about trying.
I had a few laughs on your behalf..hehe..thanks. Very pertinent vídeo, though. I prefer to ride flat pedals but being clipped offers so many advantages that I force myself to ride them, all the time. It doesn't feel very natural, to me, still.....although I've been doing it for over 10years now.. Thanks for the video. The crank arm tip is really useful for whoever might be making the shift from.flats.
Same here was on looks, spuds for 20yrs, switched to ebike n with the extra power for pedal assist, I'm on flats now, I think the key is getting the right pedals (w spikes) n shoes (five tens), n keeping a certain form n momentum..
Steve ,Doddy, that was hilarious. You should use a shimano multi release cleat.It allows you unclip in more directions. Hang in there Steve you'll get it.
Like Doddy. I have been using clipless pedals for years. About a year or so ago I bought a pair of the older Shimano Saint pedals and a pair of Five Ten shoes. The first few rides scared me to death. I felt like I had no control over the bike. I have used them a few times since and feel a little more comfortable using them. It looks like Blake was easier for Doddy to teach how to use clipless pedals.
Hi guys, loving the channel & particularly the one above on a Ebike with clipless pedals. I am a right leg below knee amputee & have a Haibike SDuro Hardtail 5.0. My brother is a cycling fanatic (Road & MTB) & he is convinced that clip in pedals would be a major benefit to me, I have tried them & like Steve, found it really scary in particular trying to unclip when coming to a halt with my prosthetic side, watching Steve constantly kissing the dirt reminded me of the couple of days that I tried them, spending almost as much time on the ground as in the saddle. Do you think its worth persevering until I master it, or because of my situation would your advice be to stick to normal flat pedals. Cheers, Ken.
I've been riding SPDs for somewhere around 30 years? I set them *just* tight enough that I don't bunny hop out of them. I can still release by pulling straight up with minimal force. At this point there is no mental process for me either clipping in or releasing. However. A warning. For me, it took a really dramatic bail solidify in my mind the necessity of getting out easily. I was jumping in and out of a 12' deep concrete drainage ditch. On one jump in I couldn't see the sewer outlet I was jumping into until I was in the air. My front wheel went in and I endoed into the bottom of the ditch. Chin first, and the bike on top of me. As the bike toppled my legs got all twisted up. Not good on the tendons. Anyway, I survived and the very next time I bailed it was an endo on a trail. I walked right over the handle bars like I was using regular pedals. Been cake ever since. So, my advice? Stay off technical trails until you have the big one. You'll know it when it becomes second nature. The last thing you want to do is have a root or rock kick your uphill foot out when you're on a ledge and then the downhill foot rotates the crank to the bottom with all your weight on it and you can't get your foot out and you topple down the hill. I just realized what I'm saying sounds really scary. I wouldn't ride any other way. It's quite tame once you get the hang of it. I'm just trying to save you all some knee ache.
There are two types of SPD MTB cleats - one releases only with a sideways twist - Shimano SH51 - and the other variant - SH56 that releases with an upwards pull as well as sideways twists... these do not help with pulling up on the pedals or pulling the bike up with your feet clipped in... to feel more clipped in and be able to pull up on the pedals, get the SH51's... if you want to be able to unclip easily and have your feet release in a crash more easily, get the SH56 cleats... there are adjustments on the pedals for the tension / release force required, and there are pedals that can cover both flat and cleated shoes, so you have the choice without having to change pedals each time...
I ride SPD on the road and flats off road. I did try SPDs off road but I always fell off going uphill , downhill was always fine. Just stick to flats now .
One thing Doddy was too mean to tell you: there is a difference between pedals and cleats. Some combinations are easier to unclip than others. For mountain biking I use only the Shimano SH56 cleat. Works with any Shimano pedal except the M858. Since you borrowed his shoes, I'd bet they were equipped with a more "expert" level cleat.
I didn't find it that hard to use clips. But on steep technical downhill sections all I could think about was being clipped in and it took all the fun away, so I went back to flats.
@Andrew Dodd mate I've had nothing but Shimano spd's for my mtbing life, both my brother's decided they had to have cranked bro's after being shimano and i've never seen two people that are really good experienced clipped in riders struggle so much with trying to get there foot out. now they are back on shimano style. Back the tension off and you have heaps of float for foot placement.
Those crank bros pedals have different Seperation angles depending on which way you install the cleat. Worth noting as some people hate having exess float others love it.
I went from toe clips to clipless, trying to go from pulling your foot back to twisting it sideways did lead a few fall offs, it must be easier to go from flats to clipless. when I get my ebike I will continue with clipless
Interesting. After almost 25 years of muscular mtb with clipless, I recently started ridind an ebike and found myself trying to go up steep, technical and sometimes exposed trails where the consequences of loosing balance were pretty high. So I've been thinking to actually try flats.
Timely since I have been having some pain in my feet riding with regular street sneakers. I was talking to a pro racer and he told me to get clipped in, one reason is the rigidity of the sole and therefore the distribution of the pedal force across the bottom of my foot instead of concentrating the force at the pads of my feet. But maybe just a flat soled shoe would do the trick as well. Comments?
I've always ridden clipped in but the only one drawback is not being able to unclip t get me out of trouble especially on steep technical slippery descents.
Clipless pedals offer DH confidence. It's so scary to come off a pedal, whether flats or clips! I'm a 50 year old, MTB riding since 1990. I've been clipping in since they came out with this system. I've fallen over way more than I can count due to failing to remove a foot before stopping and mud stuck. I've tried many brands of pedal, but not the crank brothers. They are similar to Time. One time I nearly fell off a wall because I couldn't get out! That was when I ditched the Shimano SPD's and went with Time ATAC pedals. You are "almost" never stuck! I use platform type ATAC's for the support now, but when you want to try something technical, where you really want to be free of the pedal, just don't clip in. I always try to do though, especially on hill restarts clipped. You have much more power control.
Loved this video, hilarious. Go on Steve own up, you are NOT a convert are you? I was considering but this has put me off. It looks like more trouble/pain than it's worth for my very limited abilities.
This video made me laugh as it reminds me of my first time clipped in.
Was always scared to be clipped in, now I can't ride a bike without them. What I love most about them is the rear end control you have, plus the different muscle groups you use peddling not only down, but up ways too. Twice the peddle power.
Love your show boys.
Just watched this and it was lovely watching someone learning to navigate clipless pedals. It brings back memories of my first fall in my early Looks in the mid-90s. I was at a red light in the city and kept pulling up on the pedals and just fell over. After a few four-letter words, I began laughing.
“This is only ever a problem with really dramatic people” - probably my favourite MTB quote.
you probably dont care at all but does someone know of a tool to log back into an instagram account?
I stupidly lost the account password. I love any assistance you can give me.
@Blake Conner instablaster =)
Nice show... I always use clipless pedals on my EMTB, i cant imagine riding with out it. The confidence of descending for me is incredible. Up hill is the same thing , it´s just a matter of habit
MBR Doddy is simply badass! He was solely the reason I subscribed to the pricey UK magazine.
What I have found that really helps new riders to clips is to clip in and out 100 times on each foot just sitting on the bike in a car park or grass area. That will help build in the muscle memory so you don't have to think about it anymore.
Also, a trick from riding cleated shoes on my road bike... If I have to stop at traffic lights, I find something to put an arm out to lean against, say a traffic light pole, and not have to unclip / reclip to start off again... on the trail, stop next to a tree / fence if possible and just lean against it if need be - or work on the track stand skill...
I'm fairly new to clips, maybe about 6 months. I was switching between clips and flats and found everytime I went back to clips was like going back to day one, to the point I almost gave up. I decided to just go for it and bought a second set of clips and remove the flats from both my bikes and perseverance has paid off. Clipping in and out is now second nature and although I'm still not as fast as i was on flats, im not far off it. I ride a lot of steep stuff in the tweed valley and a big problem was the mindset of constantly being conscious of being stuck to the bike. Now I love the extra control and how I can get a nice steady cadence on the climbs. I tried shimano clips my first time around but didn't get on with those. After advice from other riders and the internet, gave crankbrothers a go and found them much easier to get along with and would recommend anyone wanting give clips a try go with them first.
The best bike video I have ever seen, my eyes are watering, I hope your a little better now.
Best video I’ve seen for ages. Please keep us up to date on Steve’s progress
That was great..... Lots and lots of laughs. One of my favorites on EMBN.
Steve is doing the right thing. Learning how to fall and not panicing is quite important because it will happen at some time. I just lower my dropperpost, lean on the bike and try not to use my arms as support, so I won't break them.
If I was 15 years old and had the next 34 years ahead of me on and e-bike I would use clips. But if i hit the ground now at 49 it seems to hurt more than when I was 15. I enjoyed the video. Cheers guys.
we dont bounce like we use to. ive tried clips and i agree that we've been pedaling too long now to get use to them.
Agreed, I am a couple years older and don't contemplate the hits. Luckily I have been riding long enough to know exactly how to crash when it happens. I stopped using click pedals after I went to DH riding. Flats are my choice for almost 30 years now. Hitting log crossings full tilt has lead to a few feet-pedals seperation moments, not something I experienced on my analog bikes. They were notable pucker-able moments that ended well but made me think about buying a set of Time (I need float) pedals for my eMTB.
Powered MTN biking has me rethinking things all the time...
haha, no problem, got my first SPD at 40. You see how much he's laughing though? that's exactly what it's like. You don't ever fall over on the go, it's when you stop and forget you're clipped in. You don't fall over hard, you just feel really silly, and you laugh your ass off. To my credit, I didn't fall over nearly as much as him. At the start, the trick is to always put the same foot down, and always unclip to prepare to stop. As you get experienced, you unclip instinctively , and usually when you crash, your feet come right out you can see it in the video how easy his feet just pop unlipped. I've only ever NOT come unclipped once.
@@better.better all well and good but take one more pedal ands its gone and clipped in again ffs.....there goes the skin off youre knees and elbows......grrrr, ive got some shimano flat adapters you can clip in, i just clip in on the road now.
Oh, and my first time, I practiced in an empty parking lot. I fell over immediately. After the second time, I stopped and worked the mechanism by hand to wrap my mind around what my foot had to do, then I brought the bike over next to a street lamp and hung onto it while I clipped my foot in and out a bunch before I committed to riding freely again.
One of the best explanations of the differences between pedal types I have seen regardless of bikes
I rode Mt bike for 15 years, always used the inexpensive peddle cages (FIT ANY BOOT) versus clipped in, they were absolutely amazing.
Funniest thing iv seen in a long time 😂🤣😂🤣😅🤣😂😂
This is one of the best videos ever. You showed what really happens in the real world. I’m with you one hundred percent . I just wouldn’t use clip less as I don’t want to get injured. Great video thanks
A couple decades ago... a fellow workmate got into biking to work... yea, a yuppie. We had manned gates at entry to our Kodak facilities. Well, in riding up to a gate , his clamped in feet on the pedals, made him lose balance, & fall over...almost slo-motion, when gate guard challenged him... it was hilarious... what a way for so many workers to laugh on their way in !
My husband use's flat pedals on his fix wheel road bike. Now we know that this going against the norm but he had a stroke so needs to get his foot down FAST!. Excellent video like the falling off!!
Don’t know if anyone will read this but, I really like the energy of both of you working together. You guys are like the odd couple. ✌🏼
We're always watching 👀 Thanks for the feedback though! You never know, you may see these two in a video again in future.
Great vid as always. I've just gone back the other way. After 30+ years of mountain biking with traditional clips and straps and then SPuDs, I've just bought some flats! Trying them out in scottish boarders this weekend. I'll report back. I actually feel worried about not being attached the the bike. We'll see :-)
Possibly my favourite embn video of all time. Made me want to switch back to clipless pedals
Brilliant! Doddy is right though. I've been clipless SPD-SL / SPD for 30+ years now. Tried an eMTB with flats recently and felt as though I'd lost a level of control. Mind you, it was great not to be attached to the bike when I came off. :D
I rode clipless between 2000 and 2002 , tried SPD's which just clogged with mud and then Time ATAC which were a lot better but still felt wrong to me . After getting lapped by most of the field at Thetford in an MTB race , decided enough was enough and switched back to flats , 'EUREKA' !!! to be back on flats was pure joy and in 2017 got 112 Strava KOMs at the age of 55 , so it's flats for me every time !
Used clipless for years - shimano - sometimes best to check release tensions on different shoes - they can vary. Its the up power stroke that makes the upward jump together with the bunny - good video's keep um coming
Oh happy memories of learning "clipless"! And so nice to see Muttley is alive and well
Try SPD padel from Shimano!
Gotta love the enthusiasm!!!! 😂
Wow! I loved this video! I’m still a beginner to clipless and I’m looking forward to learning and practicing more!
I'm like Steve in that I am afraid to be "locked" in the pedals and not being able to get out in time. However, I know that there are a lot of advantages to clipless pedals so I know that I will move forward with trying to make clipless my pedals in the future. Thanks for all the spills Steve.
This entire segment just explains why I find MagPed pedals awesome “with the correct shoes”.
Five Ten VXi shoes have a bigger clip in area, soft rubber for flat spikes & stiffness area for being clipped in.
MagPeds allow to clip in in many position & adjustable without fondling around to clip in after sliding foot out on a burm.
With practice these have given me the best of both worlds
Fun to see you learn that
I ride flats in winter.
Entirely down to the individual rider but after using clipless for eight years, I went back to flats. They are great for road, cyclocross and XC but after a trip to A&E last Christmas, due to not unclipping in time, I figured the risks outweigh the benefits. I'd argue my riding has improved no-end since going back to flats, I found that I'd got myself into so many bad habits, and that clipless was hampering my confidence on the bike. Basically, stick to what makes MTB fun for you.
Ive always been flat pedal rider , been riding Ebikes for 4 years and I’m riding new enduro Magped pedals which are a great cross over, bit of a fuss setting up but easy to disconnect when you need to, magnet just connects when you put your feet on the pedals .
Hilarius!!! Doddy: "Bla, bla bla" and Steve "Boom" you both made my day 🤣😅🤣
This would be me, I've never used any sort of clip for my feet because I'm scared lol.
But looking at this video I might have have to try it out sometime.
Very very funny watching you fall off over and over again , you are a brave man!
I didn't know Mutley worked for you guys.
Lol
Beat me to it.... that laugh hahaha
lol made my Saturday morning nice one⚡
Funniest vid. 100% eMTB with clips. Keep producing great content, love the channel.
Steve, brilliant. Very much a fun video with you and Doddy working together.
I'm not an eMTB owner but eyeing owning one down the track as I see great potential in doing Tech climbs on them. I did recently return to clips after a year on Flat pedals developing my technique on the Flats. With my enduro bike, I have found Clips helped me considerably with tech climbs compared to Flats and also with being more sure where my foot was on gnar downhill sections.
With your concerns of riding in mud and loose off-camber natural terrain, one just has to be a bit more preemptive with Clips but once you get used to them, dabbing your foot is quite easy. Also, it depends on how much Float you have on your Cleats, I understand the Crank Bros Cleats have a lot of float on them (side to side movement) which some people like but means they require a bit more side twist from my understanding to get them released. Shimano's have less which means less twist on the pedal but also less twist required to dis engage the cleat from the pedal.
I ride the Shimanos. Also I found pins on Flat Pedals chewed through my shoes sole quickly (half a year on Aftons) where as a cleated shoe will last much longer.
Keep falling and having fun.
This was a super helpful video. I'm totally going for flats on my new ebike. It'll be ages before I'm trying clipped in. But looks good for moving the backend around easier.
Brilliant! Educational and entertaining...& real!! Well done Jonesy...respect! 😀
25 years on clipless switched over to flats. Never going back
I’ve done 30 years clipless. Tried flats but never going there again. Only did it cus I forgot to fit the pedals and was able to borrow some flats. You simply cannot control the bike on the challenging descents or power on the upstroke. 100% clipless road or mtb for me and that includes my electric.
@@gressshap8200 full control of the bike ,even more so now with flats.
@@gressshap8200 I beg to differ.
Great vid. I always recommend Shimano SH56 cleats to mates thinking of going clipless...multi-directional means they stay securely in when your foot’s straight but they’re much easier to get your feet out when needed
I've ridden with SPDs for 27 years, tried flats when I first got my E bike and hated it. Kept lifting my back foot off the pedal on steep climbs.
They take some time to get used to but well worth it for the climbs.
And you went back to clips?
@@phillancaster8155 sure did, cant teach an old dog new tricks
When I first tried clipless pedals I did it with my road bike. Started with SPD but soon switched to Speedplay and moved the SPD over to my hardtail. As I had already practiced a fair bit with SPD on the road bike, it was an easy transition to using clipless on the MTB. I would recommend that one just ride on the road with clipless for a while before hitting the trails with it, as you will get the motions of clipping in and out practiced in less treacherous conditions. I am riding flats on the MTB now but I like clipless better and will probably put a set of clipless pedals on the bike soon. The advantages outweigh the cons.
These guys are the best! 😂 love them!
Steve initially kept clipping in with his uphill leg first; but, the trick is to clip in on the downhill leg and use the uphill leg to steady oneself. Have personally been either strapped in/clipped in for the past 60 years and appreciate being clipped in for my cross-country type of riding/racing. But, if I was a downhiller, I would probably be on flats all the time. Have had my clipless pedal equipped much heavier e-bike literally "drill" me into the ground without being able to get released a couple times this past year.
1 word:
Muttley 🐶
Lol was just about to say the same thing. So what about the rest of the presenters. We need to name them all after the whacky racers. 😂
Great video as always.
I've run clipless on my traditional MTB for the past three years and it worked great. I was able to get out of the clip easily enough when I started to fall. I now have a eBike and am trying the flat pedals since it's a heavier bike and falling over and off the side of a mountain in Southern California because I'm stuck to the bike would not be fun. Two disadvantages that I have noticed with the flat pedal is if I want to pedal full stroke, it's not available and if I drop my heal down on a difficult climb for more power, my foot can slip or even spin the pedal under my foot. I'm not sure what I will continue to use going forward. Only had the eBike for a month now.
😂😂😂
Nice video. I used Time clip system since 30 years and I love it.
Perhaps a comparaison between pro/cons and best usage of SPD, crank brother, Time, flat systems could be interesting.
THIS LITERLLY HAPPENED TO ME HAHHHAHAHA. learning is so hard, I have fallen off the bike more times clipped in in 2 days than in my entire life riding XDXDXD
Lots of fun. Thanks.
Hi, I just saw this great video, I use shimano cleats on my mtb, but after a while I found a Cleat that is normally designed for learners and you are able to get off by pulling up, the one that I use is the SHIMANO SH56 Multi Directional Release SPD Cleat. Problem solved, never had the issue of left locked, I just tight a little bit more the pedals so it will be a little bit harder to get out.
Nice laugh 😅🍺
For me it is the best episode you have ever made 👍🏼
Funny vid guys , thanks !
There other clip in pedals with adjustable clip tension as well as release degrees . Makes an easier release however you’ll still end up on your side now and then
For the most of my rides, i prefer being clipped in (SPD-System). Works great once getting used to it, feels like hell in the first few hours. Makes a big difference what system you choose! It´s not the best choice for any condition, especially when it´s super-muddy and slippery, no debate.I really love the plus on control when it gets really speedy and bumpy, also the extra power you gain from it.
It would be interesting to see Steve trying out magnetic pedals also, might be and easier transistion from flats..
Reason number 1 I haven't tried clippless. I need "special" shoes to be able to use them. So $100+ for pedals and $100+ for shoes.
I do like the look of the Mallets
I can understand the benefits to clips and would be interested in giving it a go always good to experiment with different things if money allows
Trolling EMBN videos and found this. Wow...I can actually beat Steve at something! Hoping you have mastered clipless pedals by now; but, not sure that I have ever seen you using them in any of your more recent videos. Big fan of both Steve and Doddy since going to an e-mtb with a Levo SL. Seems that most of Doddy's informational videos carryover nicely to e-mtb.
Hy Guys, I loved watching this hilarious video. (Nice work Steve) 👍
But what about the ajustement of the force of the clips on the pedals.
I use the Shimano spd pedals on my e-bike with a low force setting of the clip.
Also you can use different kind off clips for you shoes. Hard ones (black), which put your shoes very tied on the clips for advanced clip users and soft ones (grey) which come off very easily. maybe Steve has to try these? 🤔
I have been riding SPD clips for nearly 20 years. It scares me to ride flats, because my foot seems to keep flying off the pedal at unexpected times. Or my foot slides around and I'm not quite on the pedal in the right position. I guess it is just what you are used to.
Had same problem after 20yrs of clipped, key is to get spiked pedals like the Rockbros, and good flats like the popular Five Tens..be conscious of "locking on" the pedal w downward pressure on a toe down position, since you'll be at a higher rpm on an ebike..
Been riding for 49 years. Thanks have been thrashed in the hospital twice using clipless. As I sit with 5 broken ribs I am retired from Clips. You can’t ditch the bike when something fast happens
While I definitely belong to the clueless clan, I've spent the first 66 years not being clipped to my bicycle, and intend to spend the next 40 years or so unclipped as well! I just received some very nice Nukeproof flats in the post and am busy adjusting the length of the pins (M3 bolts) to my preference.
What a great episode! Wery inspiring, looking forward to testing irl......
I had traps on my old MTB for years. My eMTB has flats. Took a long time to get used to them.
I would like to try traps again at some point... I wear hikers when I am trail riding for off bike traction.
I used clipless all my life (for road and xc). Recently using flats on my enduro bike. I would say when it's technical and hard descents, i use flats. Cliess for pedaling sections, or jumps.
Very useful video. Thank you!
Never tried clipless and I was curious to do it, but after seeing this video I don't think I ever will 🙈🤷🏻♂️😅 that was a great laugh Steve, thanks! 🤣🤣
Never laughed so much ...... been there done that but once you get the hang of them clip in’s are the best
I started riding on spds. Trust me when i say it is much much harder learning flats after riding clipless. Also much more painful! Worth watching this just for the laughs😂
Does Chris Akrigg go clipped in? (Only on his road bike)
the beautiful thing about clips is when you feel yourself falling over you can use your clips to move the back wheel underneath you again!
Brilliant, and hilarious 😂😂 great video 👍
Great video, super info and presentation, well done to all.
I would so love to be able to know what it feels like to ride clipless petals to their full advantage. But I’m right there with Steve in problems with trying to get used to them. I fall too much and I am really at a point in life now where I need to avoid falling as much as possible. But I do feel they could improve my overall writing. But now the learning curve seems too steep to me. I am interested and how this will turn out with Steve. I have respect for him and his attitude about trying.
I had a few laughs on your behalf..hehe..thanks.
Very pertinent vídeo, though.
I prefer to ride flat pedals but being clipped offers so many advantages that I force myself to ride them, all the time.
It doesn't feel very natural, to me, still.....although I've been doing it for over 10years now..
Thanks for the video.
The crank arm tip is really useful for whoever might be making the shift from.flats.
Switched to flats a year ago for the new e bike I bought don’t feel the need to go back to spuds but loved the video
Same here was on looks, spuds for 20yrs, switched to ebike n with the extra power for pedal assist, I'm on flats now, I think the key is getting the right pedals (w spikes) n shoes (five tens), n keeping a certain form n momentum..
@@noels8817 Yep I have 5 10s I also had the spuds for around 20 to 25 years the flats came with my specialized which I've not had any problems
Steve ,Doddy, that was hilarious. You should use a shimano multi release cleat.It allows you unclip in more directions. Hang in there Steve you'll get it.
Like Doddy. I have been using clipless pedals for years. About a year or so ago I bought a pair of the older Shimano Saint pedals and a pair of Five Ten shoes. The first few rides scared me to death. I felt like I had no control over the bike. I have used them a few times since and feel a little more comfortable using them. It looks like Blake was easier for Doddy to teach how to use clipless pedals.
Hi guys, loving the channel & particularly the one above on a Ebike with clipless pedals. I am a right leg below knee amputee & have a Haibike SDuro Hardtail 5.0. My brother is a cycling fanatic (Road & MTB) & he is convinced that clip in pedals would be a major benefit to me, I have tried them & like Steve, found it really scary in particular trying to unclip when coming to a halt with my prosthetic side, watching Steve constantly kissing the dirt reminded me of the couple of days that I tried them, spending almost as much time on the ground as in the saddle. Do you think its worth persevering until I master it, or because of my situation would your advice be to stick to normal flat pedals. Cheers, Ken.
I've been riding SPDs for somewhere around 30 years? I set them *just* tight enough that I don't bunny hop out of them. I can still release by pulling straight up with minimal force. At this point there is no mental process for me either clipping in or releasing.
However. A warning. For me, it took a really dramatic bail solidify in my mind the necessity of getting out easily. I was jumping in and out of a 12' deep concrete drainage ditch. On one jump in I couldn't see the sewer outlet I was jumping into until I was in the air. My front wheel went in and I endoed into the bottom of the ditch. Chin first, and the bike on top of me. As the bike toppled my legs got all twisted up. Not good on the tendons. Anyway, I survived and the very next time I bailed it was an endo on a trail. I walked right over the handle bars like I was using regular pedals. Been cake ever since.
So, my advice? Stay off technical trails until you have the big one. You'll know it when it becomes second nature. The last thing you want to do is have a root or rock kick your uphill foot out when you're on a ledge and then the downhill foot rotates the crank to the bottom with all your weight on it and you can't get your foot out and you topple down the hill.
I just realized what I'm saying sounds really scary. I wouldn't ride any other way. It's quite tame once you get the hang of it. I'm just trying to save you all some knee ache.
Great video! Loved the wheezy laughing!
There are two types of SPD MTB cleats - one releases only with a sideways twist - Shimano SH51 - and the other variant - SH56 that releases with an upwards pull as well as sideways twists... these do not help with pulling up on the pedals or pulling the bike up with your feet clipped in... to feel more clipped in and be able to pull up on the pedals, get the SH51's... if you want to be able to unclip easily and have your feet release in a crash more easily, get the SH56 cleats... there are adjustments on the pedals for the tension / release force required, and there are pedals that can cover both flat and cleated shoes, so you have the choice without having to change pedals each time...
Great Video!!
I ride SPD on the road and flats off road. I did try SPDs off road but I always fell off going uphill , downhill was always fine.
Just stick to flats now .
Maybe you should have put him on Shimano SPD’s with the multi- release cleats
meh not good idea, when i jumped from flats to clips i was uncliping in air when i moved mah bike under me so you would unclip soo much more
@@icewallowcum856 personally I don't like the multi release cleats, I want to know exactly when I'm clipping out.
@@tommyestrada6464 ye
I have flat pedals with clips on one side and no clips on the other. That way, depending on conditions, I have the option to ride either way.
So so funny! had a real good laugh!
Oh Doddy the even have you wearing the E shirt. The E takeover is complete.
One thing Doddy was too mean to tell you: there is a difference between pedals and cleats. Some combinations are easier to unclip than others. For mountain biking I use only the Shimano SH56 cleat. Works with any Shimano pedal except the M858. Since you borrowed his shoes, I'd bet they were equipped with a more "expert" level cleat.
I didn't find it that hard to use clips. But on steep technical downhill sections all I could think about was being clipped in and it took all the fun away, so I went back to flats.
I know your sponsored by crank brothers, but Shimano SPD is a lot easier to learn!
@Andrew Dodd mate I've had nothing but Shimano spd's for my mtbing life, both my brother's decided they had to have cranked bro's after being shimano and i've never seen two people that are really good experienced clipped in riders struggle so much with trying to get there foot out. now they are back on shimano style. Back the tension off and you have heaps of float for foot placement.
Spuds are nice and compact so you get better pedal clearance on tech climbs. Plus shimano pedals last forever. You can keep the crankbros.
Nah crank bros all the way.
Those crank bros pedals have different Seperation angles depending on which way you install the cleat. Worth noting as some people hate having exess float others love it.
I went from toe clips to clipless, trying to go from pulling your foot back to twisting it sideways did lead a few fall offs, it must be easier to go from flats to clipless. when I get my ebike I will continue with clipless
Interesting. After almost 25 years of muscular mtb with clipless, I recently started ridind an ebike and found myself trying to go up steep, technical and sometimes exposed trails where the consequences of loosing balance were pretty high. So I've been thinking to actually try flats.
Timely since I have been having some pain in my feet riding with regular street sneakers. I was talking to a pro racer and he told me to get clipped in, one reason is the rigidity of the sole and therefore the distribution of the pedal force across the bottom of my foot instead of concentrating the force at the pads of my feet. But maybe just a flat soled shoe would do the trick as well. Comments?
I've always ridden clipped in but the only one drawback is not being able to unclip t get me out of trouble especially on steep technical slippery descents.
Clipless pedals offer DH confidence. It's so scary to come off a pedal, whether flats or clips! I'm a 50 year old, MTB riding since 1990. I've been clipping in since they came out with this system. I've fallen over way more than I can count due to failing to remove a foot before stopping and mud stuck. I've tried many brands of pedal, but not the crank brothers. They are similar to Time. One time I nearly fell off a wall because I couldn't get out! That was when I ditched the Shimano SPD's and went with Time ATAC pedals. You are "almost" never stuck! I use platform type ATAC's for the support now, but when you want to try something technical, where you really want to be free of the pedal, just don't clip in. I always try to do though, especially on hill restarts clipped. You have much more power control.
What model are those black and white specialized shoes that Steve is wearing initially? Thanks…
Loved this video, hilarious. Go on Steve own up, you are NOT a convert are you? I was considering but this has put me off. It looks like more trouble/pain than it's worth for my very limited abilities.