What Do I Choose? | Flat Vs Clip Pedals ALPINE Edition
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- The classic Flat Pedal Vs Clip Pedal debate goes way back to the start of mountain bikes! However, have you ever wondered what would suit the challenge of alpine riding? Rich Payne is out in the Austrian Alps to compare flats and clips to see which pedal is suitable for such harsh, rough, and intense shredding.
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Would you choose flat pedals or clip pedals for Alpine shredding? Let us know down in the comments! 🤔👇
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Don't forget the pedal to the shin, mega con. But I still prefer flats :)
This still happens occasionally with cb mallet clipless pedals.
How? You're not fully clipped in, drive taht foot down, *SLIP* and the metal pins dig in :D
I will say it doesn't happen as often as it did with flats but it tends to happen.
and the clipped in slow motion tip over 😅
I enjoy pedal to the shin if its not that severe
Especially with those threaded pins❤️🤣
@@thedoggoesskrrrt the pain is a reminder we're still alive.
Or to the back of the calf 🥲 been there with both
i have run flats all my life and love them. never tried clips before but watching friends use clips and when they run into trouble and need to put a foot down they can't unclip in time and fall over with the bike and usually minor cuts and bruises. i run flats and wear roller blade shin guards in case of the foot slipping which is not very common for me because i wear hiking style shoe with big cleats and grip very well on the pedal pins.
Your friends on clips need to work on their muscle memory for unclipping, I came to mountain biking from road, so I had years of riding clips and not once have I had an issue unclipping in fact I have a harder time getting my foot off a modern flat pedal as my muscle memory is to twist my foot off the pedal which doesn't work on flats. I would never ride flats, but that has to do with having bad knees that are sensitive to my foot placement that and riding modern flats is like riding a clip with no float which is bad for your knees. I say ride whatever pedal you want, but don't let not being able to get unclipped scare you off, it just takes some time to develop the muscle memory.
@@paradox963 ya i agree or they need to ride more often as a bunch of us are regulars every weekend and there is the odd one that is once in a while and is the one that has a hard time unclipping. i just think he need more time in the so called saddle.
Clipless became the standard when the only alternatives were actual clips around the toes. Naturally almost everybody I knew of in the sport 20-30 years ago switched to clipless. Now, with the advent of "sticky" shoes and "grippy" flats, everybody I ride with has or is in the process of switching to flats. I for one finally made the switch to flats and will never be going back to clipless. I road Time ATACs for 30 years!
Also, there are some awesome flat solutions out there in different price ranges, such as: Catalyst Pedals (fits the whole foot), Hustle (uses a magnet), Bontragger/Chesters, Crankbrothers. I started with the Bontragger Line Elite, which was awesome, but now am riding Catalyst Pedals which give my whole foot support. I have more power, more control, much better comfort and have begun unlearning bad habits. Cannot think of a single Pro for clipless over a good pair of flats and sticky shoes. Never going back!
Okay, I still ride big miles of all sorts, but I want my best shot at walking away from every ride and that means flats for me. And I'm okay with being left in the dust. I'm still out there and I'm still smiling and even waving.
I’ve ridden flats or old school toe clips for my entire life. Never had the fancy shoes. Flats have gotten really good lately such that I rarely slip off. I wear shin pads though… because I’ve lost enough blood to the sport already. The toe clips just aren’t that useful for mtb, but I have them on my 80s roadie.
I’m riding with spd clipless sys. You can easily tell the higher pedaling efficiency compare with flat. Of course, I’m not riding crazy fast, just XC in the mountains.
I have been using a magnetic pedal from Hustle Bike Labs. Best of both worlds, can ride them "clipped" on or with flats. Crushing my times on my local trails.
Very cool, glad you're enjoying them David!
So glad I saw your comment. Thanks for dropping the wisdom. Looks like supply chain issues but an interesting option. I'll watch for this product.
My right leg is so scared up from flats, I’ve earned the life of flat pedals. Every time I take my bike out of the garage I get flats to my calfs due to the tight spot I park my ebike in. Someone should invent spring spikes for pedals. The idea is that the spikes do not come out until you put your weight on them.
Sir you just revealed your big break idea. That’s brilliant.
But then when your weight starts coming off the bike, you suddenly have no grip
@@adamel-badawi9488 yeah the base would have to have some ridges to minimize slippage while the spikes were retracted. They would not be race pedals, but for casual riding and mild trail riding, they might be okay. They would suck for technical stuff I think…at least until a good technique was acquired.
@@Todd66 a button to activate it 😉
@@Leon-pu3vm wireless pedals!!! That would be pretty awesome. I think magnets would work, but then you have to have special shoes or at the very least modify a pair for riding….not ideal.
I honestly like both. Right now I’m riding flats, but that’s because I’m clipless shoes are out of commission. I really think it’s up to the rider. I prefer my clips for very technical days while my flats are for more everything else. I know that seems weird but it works for me.
Whatever works best for you Mac, sounds like you've got your setup dialled in!
I am a true libran and ride with the hybrid, flat on one side and clips on the other. Enables the best of both worlds and I love them.
Flats! I enjoy walking around in between pedaling. I'm more of a tourist than a racer. Pedal somewhere in eastern Idaho then hike around means flats so I can wear shoes or hiking boots.
Big con for clips is when a tire slips out from under you and it’s so quick you can’t release. Your foot gets suck under your bike and you go down on your leg,knee,hip hard on a rock,root. Lots of time this happens on slippery level or up hill roots,rocks. Another con is starting on a sketchy spot. With flats there’s little problem, you just need to get a bit of a toe on and you can shift your foot around till your comfortable. Not so with clips, bouncing down the rocks and roots trying to stay on your pedals can be dangerous.
As for the con of flats where your foot skips around on the rough stuff that just means you have poor shoe pedal combination. I have ridden with 510 shoes when they were still just a climbing shoe company and I’ve never had that problem. Another pro is I find that I’d like to move around on my pedals. Sometimes my heel is way outside say on super tight steep switchbacks.
I rode clipless pedals for 20+ years. Older MTB’s were pretty awful to ride and the only way to keep your feet still was to clip in as you perched on top of small bikes with 26” wheels. With the modern geo of MTB’s and larger wheels where you sit inside the bike I feel clipless pedals are no longer really needed. Flat pedal technology and shoes has improved so much too. Also realised I move my feet around for different terrain, descending, climbing etc. Just feels wrong having my feet in the same exact position now…. I enjoy riding loose and being more in touch with the terrain. Ride what feels right to you I say.
Clipless are the way to go especially pointed dowhill and they are more effiecient when pedalling. However, Technical climbs on clipless pedals pose a real challenge!
Clipless are great for technical climbs until you stall out on something steep. I don't know about other brands but my Crankbrothers Candy c pedals are sometimes really slow to unclip from when pointed up hill. This happened recently, I fell over and broke the boa on my shoe on a rock.
They are not not efficient. It's been proven in countless studies
Not the case anymore, see my posts above. Get a good shoe and some flats, your technical climbs will eventually surpass what you can do with clipless.
Last time I checked, there was a butt load of climbing in the alpines! Climbing=clips. SPDs in the 90s. C-Bros for the last 20ish years. Clips for me, especially for efficiency on tech uphills. To unclip is instinctive now. I can’t remember the last time I had to bail in which I didn’t get unclipped. Anyone who can’t appreciate clips doesn’t do much uphill riding.
Nope. Hear me out. I road Time ATAC clipless for 30 years and was a damn good technical climber with them. However, I have switched to flats and will not be going back, ever. The main reason; is that the shoes and the pedals available now are so much better. When I first switched, my climbing sucked, but after about 100 miles, I am now climbing as good and possibly better than before. So my point is if you get the right flats and shoes along with some retraining, you can learn to climb better with flats. For me, I think using the full foot pedal (Catalyst Pedals) allowed me to get more power and control in my stroke and thus compensate for no longer being able to pull the bike up with the pedal. By the way, this is a very bad habit and will lead to bad traction around corners. Also, your cardiovascular will respond better to a "push - rest" cycle, rather than a "push - pull (no rest)" cycle. This means your legs will have more blood (aka oxygen) as you get towards the top of a long climb. You cannot cheat your body's blood circulation design. Besides, it's nice to ride a full day and not have your feet sore as f*ck when you are done.
@@tonymcdow7206 you present a great case for using flats for climbs. It would be great if GMBN made a video about clips vs flats on climbs, rather than just the pros and cons of them going downhill.
@@loren7936 Agreed Loren, my guess is that GMBN doesn't want to piss off any vendors so their reviews end up being sort of vanilla, everyone-is-different pros and cons for every option kind of rubbish. The reality is that everyone who hasn't tried flats with recent technology is missing out. The move to modern flat technology is as significant as disc brakes in my opinion.
Started using cleats with Onza pedals in the 90’s and for my riding style, they work.
I’ve used them so long that it’s a reflex action to kick my heels out if I have to bail, just as the tuck & roll reflex remains from childhood judo training.
As I ride my Scott Scale (Hardtail) almost everywhere I ride Clips... With the Hardtail just love the fact that it keeps my feet safe and sound on the pedals... But no matter what pedals having fun is all that matters to me!!! ;-) Oh and an other great video!!!!
I use clipless because I'm a cross-country rider and have grown to loving them. They've been really nice on very technical trails and especially while jumping and dropping you don't have the fear of pedal strikes or completely missing the pedal upon landing and uh... balls...
Shimano SPD since it came out back in the days - then Crankbrothers - a very very short time Flats (f...ing vampires!) - now the best of both worlds with magped Enduro magnetpedals...
I loved flats they where my go to pedals back in the day for all types of riding. I still have the scar’s to prove it. I certainly don’t miss those slipped pedals from doing trials. But I much prefer in recent years using clips, much more comfortable and efficient when putting the miles in 👍
Controversial even amongst my friends, but flats with long pins lets you use goretex army boots, excellent toe, foot and ankle protection, amazing value for money from army surplus stores and I don't feel that grip is too much of an issue (though that could be because my technique is poor enough as it is!). Bit hot in the summer, but that's the trade off I'm comfortable with.
That's too much weight and not nearly enough grip, and yet I love the idea!
Depending on what I am doing on a particular day, I will ride flats or clips. I have the dual pedal with flats on one side and clip and SPD on the other. Seems to work great for now.
Thanks for sharing Steve, Good tip!
The cheapest Shimano spd pedals are around £40, I've not seen a good set of flats that cheap (or as well made) same with Shimano spd shoes. So that's the price con blown out of the water. Walking in my spd shoes is no different to trainers, the cleat is set into the sole so no clicking or sliding around.
Use to use clip in pedals. Unclipping was never an issue for me, once I got past the annoying learning curve. Became muscle memory and second nature. But clipping back in after a clip-out moment was often a hassle and super dangerous in steep rough sections. Especially if cleats were clogged up.
After a couple of serious crashes because of this problem, I switched to flats. Yes, not all roses, especially with pedal strikes knocking feet off in bad places, and certainly not as good for tech climbing. But the freedom to foot dab in desperate moments and get your foot back on quickly with few dramas is just so reassuring.
Great Video, but your rear brake disc is for quite some time (and quite some videos) mounted in the wrong direction! clear to see at 2:00. Is there a reason behind this or has it simply been overlooked? Keep up the good content!!
The cons of the flat pedals mentioned are kind of weak. It’s all about learning the technic, understanding better position and learning how to use your legs. All of these things make you a better rider and also a better rider when using clipless as well. After watching this video I am not sure what you even wanted to say!?!?! Seemed like a video just to upload a video, with beautiful production and backdrops.
Honestly, I dislike these repetitive videos that don’t really offer anything concrete or proof of anything really. Do laps and show us times. Show something with quality vs telling us a con of clipless is going to the bar looking like a tool in clipless shoes. Get professionals to leave you comments as to why they use what they use. I remember when this channel focused more on educating riders vs confusing them with clickbait topics and opinions based on the sponsors desires.
I digress, there really aren’t pros or cons of either….there are only applications where one is more suitable than the other…… and the most important thing is…really….choosing what is best for you. As for my choice, I use both depending on the bike, route, etc etc as they both offer things that I like and that only helps me as a rider.
Take care and despite not liking the video, thanks for making it.
Been doing that a lot lately. Find you get a lot more in depth with actual proof behind the testing etc through gmbn tech like when doddy does the suspension telemetry or whatever.
I like GMBN for entertainment, but they're at their best when making Top Gear style content and filming events. Things like their bikepacking epic videos, or Blake pushing his hardtail like few others can. Their instructional/educational content has always ranged from mediocre to awful, even as far back as when Simon was on the channel
Would someone please recommend higher quality MTB content? YT and websites? I'm kinda new in the sport and have no extra money to burn on useless gear.
@@divaythfyr4251 for skills, check out pinkbike's series "how to bike with Ben Cathro", and the channels "Roxy's ride & inspire" and "Kyle and April- ride mtb".
For mechanical: the gmbn tech channel is ok, but I would highly recommend checking out park tool's repair help playlists, rj the bike guy, and syd fixes bikes.
For entertainment: there are a lot of awesome channels. I'm only naming a couple of my favorites: gmbn, bkxc, and bcpov.
@@joelhenderson3723 Thank You very much!
Flats for me thank you please, you can have your clippie's, I started out on clips, was a clip snob for a long time, not anymore. Took me a couple years to adjust to the learning curve of Flats after getting into MTB but I'll never go back to clips. I don't know what kind of Flats make your feet "dance and move about" not the one's I use; I have total confidence in my Flats, OK maybe I'm not at racing speed being 64 years old but neither is 95 % of the MTB population out there.
There is a new pedal class to consider "magnetic". I'm a 1 legged rider (the left is a fake) and have to clip in because I can't tell where that foot is other than instinct. Then another rider like myself introduced me to "MagPed" pedals that use a metal plat for a clip that is grabbed by a magnet. The pedals look just like your existing clip-ins. The advantage is that they are far easier to clip in and out because the magnets pull you in and a slight tilt let's you break. I'm trying them out now.
Thank you for calling them "clip pedals" instead of sticking with the confusing anachronism "clipless" for something that definitionally has clips.
Ever since I got serious (edit: in the early 90s) about mountain biking I've used SPDs or similar, until recently when I switched back to flats. It's definitely a bonus (and improves your riding) to be familiar with both.
I've ridden clipless for 32 years. There's absolutely no way I would switch to flats at this point. I started on the 1st gen Speedplay, then Frogs, Time ATAC, and now Look. There's also been a little SPD along the way. The Look pedals are hands-down the best pedals I've ever used. No one ever mentions them, so I thought I'd put in a little plug.
I was born and raised on flats. Til death do we part. Teaches you better technique in almost all aspects of riding. If I was an XC competitor I’d do clips. But I’m not. If I was an XC competitor I’d do wagon wheels. But again I’m not. 27.5’s on a jump line all the way. I’ve seen some ridiculous crashes due to not getting out of clips.
Swiss here. I use clips all the time. Best control and great for climbing.
When its super difficult I might disconnect one or both feet in case I fall.
Thanks for sharing, good safety tips!
Choose the pedals that fit your riding style. Just remember, on the back of DMR V12 Brendog edition it say "Clips are for Kooks" .
Coming up in GMBN next month: clips Vs flats, 29 Vs 27.5, xc Vs enduro. Coming up the month after: clips Vs flats, xc Vs enduro, 29 Vs 27.5....😒
Rocki’n my deity deftrap flat pedals paired with 510 freerider mtb shoes on a technical rocky trails here in Nova Scotia Canada!i love flat pedals!
I prefer clips for climbing tech and for riding my hardtail. Modern clipless pedal with a wider stance just rock, My feet never move around. I have some nice flats that I use for skills practice. But when I am riding hard up and downhill on my trail bikes full suspension or hardtail it is clips all the way.
I like both... But on *REALLY* gnarly trails, I prefer flat, only because it's faster to put a foot out and not have to reclip in. For all other riding, I prefer clips. But the wrong pedals with the wrong shoes...Well, I've had my slips with flat pedals - and I got to say that I really dislike having an aggressive flat pedal smash into my shin.
I only ride flat pedals it suits my style better I'm not a racer or anything I always rode bmx and dirt jumpers so it makes sense for me. However clipless pedals are definitely better for pro racers but that doesn't mean everyone needs to use them all the time.
Got the funn Mamba dual padels. Best buy ever! As long with Rockrider clipless MTB shoes. Can change whenever I want. Even the Rockrider shoes have recessed clips so they don't bother when walking or riding the flat side of the pedal. Best buys ever!
Flats for life..Shin scars heal. Funn Fundamentals. Still a fan of the Old School Shimano DX flats.
I prefer my flats a bit slippery with very small pins that dont bite and allow me to reposition my foot at any time.
I know that clips less pedals are fast and efficient but flats for me are the way to go, I’m not what I usually am on clip less
@@ualreadyknoitsyaboi but there called clip less, clip are when your foot is actually stuck with a strap around it so I don’t know what your talking about
Depends, flats on the ebb and clips on the fixed
Hey Lee, interesting thought - How come? Sounds like you've got your rides absolutely dialled! 🎉
@@gmbn trial and error, efficacy for the fixed gear and just lots of fun flat on the eeb, no restrictions just smile
If you get flats, get some with a really good waffle design bottom. They will stick to your pedals if they have the protruding metals on the ends. Mini clips! Best of both worlds.
Great tips for the GMBN community, Thanks!
The biggest downside of flats, for me, is pedal strikes. The wider platform and tall pins can grab roots and trail hard enough to throw me way off balance, when I am riding fast. The only time I don’t like clips is when I am on unknown trails that have tricky climbs because failures to unclip tend to get me, in that situation.
For me, I can't imagine ever using clips (they give me the fear)... I've seen the mess of my mates arm and ankle, clicked in - falls down cliff with bike attached. I ride a hard tail and use chesters and a beefy pair of hiking boots that come up to my ankles. I'm in Scotland, and there's a lot of ankle-snapping features wherever I go, I prefer a reliable foot plant when I need it... I think clips would do me more harm than good.
Fair enough tbh when you get good at clips you can unclip vvv fast nearly as fast as flats
I m riding flats. I m just a step before switching to clippers and the only thought that holds me back is the possibility of a crash with my foot locked on the bike. This doesn’t sound good…
I can’t decide between xc or trail clipless.
I’m a cross country rider. I love long distances and trails too.
As far as efficiency is concerned (road bikers). Every study so far conducted on amateurs and pros has shown that they break even, or even are worse, than flats.
Agreed! Even with flat pedals you can pretty much get the same efficiency by scooping your foot into the pedal on the back/up stroke. People seem to forget that we have TWO pedals to work with. Sure, if you could only pedal with one foot, clips would definitely be more efficient. But with two feet you can use the outward pressure against the pedals the same way a mountain climber can climb up a narrow chimney stack by wedging between two rock faces.
@@alhypo it's not even the up stroke. Pulling up uses more energy than pushing down. So you actually waste energy when doing the pulling motion. Meaning given the same amount of energy, someone just pushing would go further than someone pushing and pulling
Also, think about how the body is designed to keep oxygen in the legs. If you are compressing the muscles in the leg for the entire stroke cycle, you will end up with less oxygen in the leg as you crank up a long hill. By using the cycle your body was designed for: Push - Rest - Push - ..., your legs can remain useful for a very long uphill. This is not the case for a clipless rider using a push-pull stroke.
Possible, but who gives a shit about "efficiency" anyway? It's about maximum short-term output, and clip/less are vastly superior.
@@tularjaggs334 I respectfully disagree. You will have more short-term power with a flat like this: ua-cam.com/video/hMcML_lGqm8/v-deo.html
The other con of clip pedals is having to explain to your family that you like men
Some times with the different pedals would've been nice.
I prefer flats for the convenience and comfort. I just ride for fun.
I think this video has already happened more than once
That wasn't the Alpine Edition, you're talking about the somewhere in the UK Editions.
@@hollakeef )))
well done video only thing i will say i wont ever use clips unless on indoor bike that fear of not being able to let the bike go off a curve or into traffic cause im clipped in scares me . i ride 3 k miles a year also i've never had issue with losing my grip with my feet on flats i can see a new person wearing wrong shoes can t count the times i see folk wearing sandle or those new rubber no heals type shoes . i'm 54 after that many years na not changing your right plastic pedals on any trail is a death wish must have those spikes and a pair of shoes with good traction being diabetic i need roomier shoes more padding Flats are cheap so are clip on peddles buy the best you can afford in your price range upgrade when you catch a closeout sale my shimano flats ran $140 to $ 80 us dollars i snagged a pair on closeout for $53 upgrade time same deal on shoes grab them when your able your feet will thank you love the video
You can get a pair of Bontragger Line Elite pedals for $55. Add a pair of Five Ten Freeriders at $100 and you are good to go. Lots of good options now for riders that want good pedal systems on a budget. Well put, your feet indeed will love you.
@@tonymcdow7206 i have my Shimano pedal coming in Bonteragger seems to be low quality the guy at Trek shop put pair on my Marin after he destroyed my original pair i was ticked at him for not mentioning it to me .
the bike was only month old i was having the entire drive train upgraded to a 1x11 not upset at you just bad experience maybe i'm still irked over his abuse . i'll give him a c for effort i've only used them 1,100 miles not impressed one is already caving in . i cant stay angry to long at them just not my style .
i've never tried Five ten curious thou are they durable off the bike also ?
i normally use salmon shoes currently using X crest version for my shoes
@@melainkinney7213 That sort of makes sense, the Bonteragger pedals are some kind of fiber, so they are not likely to last as long as some of the aluminum pedals. I'm currently using Catalyst Pedals and they seem super strong, although they are longer, which is why I'm using them to get the whole foot experience. The Freerider shoes were recommended by my bike shop and seem to have lots of positive reviews. They are a good price and so far I love them. I would do a little research before selecting the shoe. With flats the show is now a critical part of the equation for grip and comfort.
What about the long term health cost of clips? Who cares about run times etc, if it results in an avoidable injury?
Just because racers do it doesn't mean its good for you..
They can have short term, and long term injuries. If you don't dial in "float" good enough or fit, you get repetitive knee injuries
I’ve used clips since i was 16 and I’m now 31 I literally have never had any injuries which are caused by the clips primarily so i guess if you get them set up right they should be fine
@@mandycharva563 @31 you've not reached that age where issues will start to appear and don't go away by themselves.
Just look at rowers who've had to have back surgery in their late 30's from repetitive 'correct rowing technique' wear and tear stacking over the years.
But its a free choice.
It’s not whether to ride clips or flats but when.
Xc = clips Enduro = flats
Flats for me
You forgot "gashing your shins!" 😀
Ankle/shin bites for life!!
Flats can also me massive pains in ...the shin if you push your bike and axxidentally slip . Straight up holepunching your leg
I call them vampires... ;)
Neverever!
Todays mountain bike pedals have evolved from road (clipless) and BMX (flats) pedals. Ask yourself 'Is it speed or stunts on the trails?' and pick a pair, if its both then get the combo.
What about magnetic pedals..
a pro of clipless buy the right pedal and a flat can't beat the ground clearance.
The only thing I really miss about clips is smashing through a chunky bit of trail without worrying about my feet bouncing around. However, even clips aren't perfect for that. If you don't keep your feet at the correct "locked in" orientation, they will pop out. And because you're using clips, you aren't expecting them to do that. And when your feet pop off unexpectedly, it can be way worse than if you were anticipating that they might pop off.
Obviously the pros are pinning it when they make their runs and the margins between winning and losing are so small that even a slight mishap like your foot coming off the pedal might as well be a more significant mishap. It makes sense for pros to use clips. I don't think it makes sense for us regular riders. We all must make our own decisions on risk vs reward. If you're a non-pro smashing through gnarly rock gardens at break-neck speeds like a pro, you might want to consider if it's really worth the risk you are taking. If you're not a pro, there is no endorsement opportunity waiting for you at the podium. So why would you take pro-level risks like that?
That's my school of thought.
Missed one the biggest cons for clipless: If you lose control and about to crash and you don't unclip soon enough your bike crashes with you.
Yep, that's annoying when that happens!
Chromag Dagga & RC flats can’t go wrong ………… if it does I’ll be getting stitches 🚑
Unless you are very competent and experienced stick with flats , I see loads of riders on clips who are way to inexperienced to ride them , they effectively have put a huge barrier between them and clearing a tech trial as a climb or a descent because they are bailing out rather than attempting because of the fear of not being able to put a foot down before a fall .
if you can ride pretty much everything on flats then changing to clips possibly helps but for most of us who are not pros the difference is pretty marginal overall
I've got pedals with clips on one side and flats on the other.
Best of both worlds Tony, Nice idea!
One of each
Short answer. Flats 👌
Super cool 🤘👍
I’d say a big con for clipless is the inability to bail. I ride both depending on the situation, but, getting airborne whilst clipped in terrifies me. I like the idea of being able to toss my bike away from me if things get squirrelly in midair.
Have you ever ditched your bike in the air while riding a trail though? I’ve gotten squirrely and landed with one foot off the pedals many times, but the only time I could see myself really ditching the bike like that would be on dirt jumps
@@jarnold1789 and nobody (I hope) consider riding clipless on dirt jumps 😅.
As I ride exclusively clipped in I was terrified when I've got first time airborne while on flats. My shoes left the pedals and I've almost crashed.
@@kosskrit Scary! That’s the benefit of learning on flats and then moving to clipless, you learn how to jump and bunnyhop without using the pedals to cheat
Stick with Flat Pedals Wins Medals
I ride with clips
Clipless for everything but riding to the beach in your flippy floppies.
I have trouble finding wide width shoes. Flat or clipped I haven't found anything that fits my wide feet.
Hey Rod, Your best bet is to go to your local bike shop and try some on, if they don't have any that work then they will be able to recommend you some!
No mention of bleeding shins with flats?
Knew a guy that broke his leg on a rock because his foot wes clipped onto the pedal during a slow speed fall
I slipped on my flat pedal because it was extremely wet and muddy and was falling off a 2,5m high north shore
The plural of ‘anecdotes’ is not ‘evidence’
I've been riding for 30+ years, flats are safer. full stop.
@@tonymcdow7206 being unsafe on clipless pedals is caused by a lack of skill from the rider, but not a fact that is true for everyone. Some people are safer on clipless and some on flats. You just need to try both and decide what is suited for you
@@nichtDarkDiamond It doesn't matter how skilled you are, you will eventually encounter a situation where 1/100th of seconds matter. Nothing is faster to get out of than flats. Ride long enough and I guarantee you will discover this fundamental truth.
I'm no trail ripper, but I always go on flats. I just can't stand the idea of being connected to my bike.
If you ride Clips you can't really stear your shoes on the pedal
You mean turning your shoes on the pedals for turning?
@@nichtDarkDiamond No for better balance
Huh just move your body init
I use shimano SPD and I can definitely move my foot while clipped in.
Flat Pedals
Win Medals
Flat ist just the best what ever you say
Flats are cheaper for a reason
Flats and scars for life
Why Improved controll all trials guys riding flats
I guess they can use their flats really well for the moves they do. But when you bomb down a rough dh trail I prefer not having to worry about constantly placing my feet on the pedals correctly
Flats all the way! Easier to foot dab on techy trails
Gone from clipless to flats on MTB and gravel as all my footwear is barefoot/minimalist. 👍🏽
Can you do a video about your knee pads and safety gear please. I’m new.
Hey John, we've made lots of videos, here's one to get you started! - ua-cam.com/video/QKdLyg5qI2E/v-deo.html
@@gmbn you’re the man! Thank you 🙏
Clips are for amateurs.
I wear steelies that I weld to the pedals every time I go for a ride.
No chance of feet accidentally coming off then...
Flat pedals win medals
Easy, one foot clipped in the other on flats
I must say flats become much less grippy in the wet and especially in the mud. Terrible in winter.
i want a quick dab when its slick and greasy, flats all year round for me
Wow
None
that U.S. pres Biden in clips would be horrid🤣😂
there is one major problem with flats (which still are my favorite anyway) and that is that the shoes that work well with the flat, do not work well walking in the mud because of that flat sole they usually have.
I'm still looking for the right combo of mountain shoe and flat pedal performance...
Five Ten Freeriders -- super comfortable and very sticky. Try the Catalyst Pedals to get something that supports the whole foot, amazing how much more power and control that gives you. Seems like there are lots of good flats now. I've tried the Bontragger Line Elite and they are awesome as well, and a bargain. The Hustle sounds promising too.
@@tonymcdow7206 awesome, thanks for the advice! I will try give them a try
If I could find a spd shoes that’s wide and comfy I’ll go back but it’s flats until then. If anyone knows a shoe for an old dude with wide feet hit me up
Hey gmbn and all the lads here in the comments, I recently smashed my mallet e pedal into a root and now they got a bit of play/wobble to them. Do you think a service kit would fix the problem or could something else be damaged? Would be real nice if you could help me with this
Probably a bent axle, you can replace them and may as well do a service at the same time but could also just be a loose axle bolt, best bet is try a small service and if nop joy replace the axle, however dont get in too deep, i think from memoery the cost of a service kit and parts starts getting close to a new set depending on which model you have
flat or clip, it doesn't matter to me. However, never ever a pink gay helmet