I go between (also hardtail) but just having to actively weight down on flat pedals will make you ride clipless better and ride with more stability and control as many clipless riders ride them to forget their feet and do nothing active with their feet besides spin.
I rode clips for years until I rode in a 12 hour race. On the first lap I stacked it and broke a shifter and brake lever. I borrowed a demo bike as a "test" ride and rode flats. My times were quicker around the course. I've been on flats ever since and enjoy the ride far more - especially on technical uphill climbs where it was not uncommon to crash because I couldn't get my foot out of a clip. With flats, I'm focused on navigating the terrain rather than worrying about getting my foot out. Now I have an e-bike, there is even less reasons to have clips.
It's been a while since I've slipped my pedals. Large flat pedals just work so damn well. Sometimes I think about trying clipless but why change what's already working so well. Definitely a few past scars though haha.
I have matching scars on my ankles from pushing down on xtr pedals trying to force them to clip in, slipping off and catching the pedal edge on my ankle.
My volume watching this video keeps going up and down.. Whoever edit this video please be aware that when he's speaking, it's too soft.. And when playing the music it's too loud..
Foot blew off the front of the pedal and sent all the studs into the back of my calf and dragged down 2 inches yesterday on an awkward roots landing. Bled for 10 minutes everywhere. Im giving clips a try finally. The scars you showed on the back of the calf-- I'm pretty sure after that happened you switched to clip pedals for the rest of that shoot.
Same happened to me in February, switched to spd's and use the multi release cleats... Not too much time to get used to it and still very easy to get out in a hurry. You won't regret
3:51 wonder who carved that in there aha. Also can we just appreciate the single speed, no dropper and the front brake run through the top cap Blake's Bike looks so clean.
The best reasons for flats are that they facilitate a more mid-foot position, centering your body over the bike, and they allow for rotating your feet better, letting you open your inside knee into turns, and shifting your hips, making turns WAY faster.
I used to hate my flat pedals while I was learning, I had scars and scratches from the pins for all the mistakes I made. They were punishing at the start but as I progressed and constantly made adjustments and considerations for them I not only got better at not flaying the skin of my legs, but also got better at keeping my feet planted in the pedals even on the rough stuff.
I like this vid. Yes..Im like Steve from embn, if youre not putting your foot down every two minutes to stop yourself falling over, youre not trying hard enough.
Thanks! Riding with flat pedals is awesome, but if you're used to clipless pedals, you'll need some training to adjust. Right away, you'll notice the difference and might feel unfamiliar with flats. However, once you practice, you'll experience a newfound freedom.
Gleaming vid Blake, I just can't get on with flats ridden clipped for 30 odd years. I tried recently to convert to flats just smashed my shins to much. But I do ride trials n enduro but still so pooh at decent size jumps 🤭
I used clipless pedals for about ten years. I have multiple broken bones too from crashing down trails and landing on rocks because I couldn't eject fast enough. Now I stand all day at work and use flat pedals without the giant spikes. My feet feel much better w/o the clipless pedals standing all day.
You can definitely be really fast on flats, but it takes a lot more energy to always keep your feet in the right position. Clips don't make your legs feel tired as fast.
@@RealMTBAddict 1. it's more efficient when pedaling since you can apply power throughout the entire stroke (yes I know this is possible with flats, but a lot more difficult and tiring). 2. it allow a more centered body position on steep descents, allowing to get over the front wheel more thus having more control. 3. It makes popping and flowing through rough stuff much easier. You can stay lighter on the bike without having to worry that your feet will fly off.
Love flats. Practical and many are gorgeous bling. Also they teach you correct technique in jumps, bunny hops etc... Lastly after a ride I can walk into a microbrewery without clacking along like a cartoon character.
Went to flats last year. Took a while to feel really comfortable on them. Getting better at learning where I can unweight the bike, especially on the really rough stuff. The shin bashing yes, scars no, how? I use shin pads. Cheap Soccer shin pads. They have saved my shins a ton. I don't really slip pedals anymore other than in winter fat biking. Get some shins pads they will save you.
I switched to flat pedals this season after 7 years of SPD pedals, and I can tell you, I dont see any particular advantage besides little easier going on and of the bike/pedal. Climbing, descending, jumping for me is easier with SPD. I just have more control on the bike with clips. I bought flats to learn wheely, but I believe soon I will put back SPDs.
Love me some flats. Rode clipless on my road bike, but never really liked it on my mountain bike. I broke my ankle a couple times many years ago and they are not comfortable with my feet 100% locked in and trying to move around on the bike. Also, I would have been on my face twice this last weekend if I was clipped in. Since I was on flats I was able to get my foot off in time to save the front end slides on wet roots and keep on motoring.
I gave up on my shins early on. At 14, slipped a pedal *(being an idiot bunny hopping in wave sandals) ER said, uhhh, that's going to be over 100 stitches, it's late, we are going to tape it. Here is some extra tape. Scars for life. Then I started riding trials, no pads needed. :p
Hey Blake, when I first started riding flat pedals were awful. When I got clipped in it was like magic. Fast forward 25 years I decided to try flats again. I’m riding Crank Brothers Stamps with 5Ten impact shoes. Really, they’re great but can you give us some tips on finding the sweet spot. The pedals and the shoes are so good now that once they grab it’s hard to adjust your foot. Please address this for those of us that are shifting from clips to flats
I usually use clipless pedals. The first time I used flat pedals in something 25 years they scare the s*** out of me. I felt like I had NO control over the bike. I did use trainers. When I bought a pair of FiveTen Freerider shoes. They helped as I have started to feel more confident using flat pedals. I still use my clipless pedals about 98.7% of the time. I'm still not confident trying to lift the rear wheel on flats.
I think I would do better on some things clipped in, but I love being able to bail quick and easy when things go wrong. For this reason I run flats on my MTB and clipless on my road bike.
3 pedal strokes in the whole vid, I’ll take that any day with flats. Coming from bmx racing on flats, now riding AM7’s with DX pedals, no way I’m gonna blow my legs up again on flats in the weekly trail rides. Would switch them up to flats on the local pumptrack though. #canyondude #fattiesarefun 😍
I use double sided Shimano XT pedals with a flat on one side and spd clip on the other. In trickier stuff I normally ride with one foot clipped in. I find that I have a hard time keeping my feet on the pedals when just using flats. Granted this is on my rigid fatbike, I'm sure if I ever get another full sus mtb that'd help
@@charlie9ine yep. I have the specialized shoes for flats and some race face chesters. Grip at 9000. Can’t really wiggle or slide your foot into place.
@@jbw5485 I love the freedom but when I come off I’m back on and sometimes it just feels weird and instead of focusing on riding I’m paying attention to mr foot. Seems like it’s always the right foot.
I want magnetic pedals that have loads of float, break way easily, But still give you that connected feel. Mind you I might try it and hate it but I'd like to try it and see.
#askgmbntech hi guys love the show, do you think we will see wheels bigger than 29 on mountain bikes or is 29 the end, and would bigger wheels benefit the rider or impact them
@@RealMTBAddict that’s why I’m still on 26”… Oh, wait.. that’s mostly because I can’t afford a new bike 😒 I will still be a rubbish rider no matter the wheel size, but I have plenty of fun, so all good!
@@RealMTBAddict 26 is perfect size. I bought used 26 continental der baron tires, I rode them for few months, than my neighbor rode them for more than a year until I bought his bike with same tires and rear one is worn out just about 1mm
You forgot about the biggest reason why flat pedals are the best and that is bailing. I crash all the time it is a daily activity weather i do a skinny or i try to catch a corner with a ton of speed and if I was running clips during thise crashes they would have gone horribly wrong but with flat pedals I usually walk away with only couple of scratches or bruises
Right, so one reason for everyone to use flat pedals (accessibility) and another reason for no one but Blake (doing massive no-foot jumps)! Seriously though: I actually have the exact same pedals and can confirm bleeding chins and calves are awful. Has anyone used chin guards explicitly for this reason?
Blake is one of the best presenters on UA-cam his enthusiasm, passion and skills coupled with great editing make these videos a joy to watch.
AND... he thinks we're ALL beautiful!!!
Whoever did the audio levels on the video needs to do some training.
Lmao that music is like being at a rave.
Phew, Im glad it's not me, thought I needed new pc speakers :- /
Yeah the track coming in at 2.30ish was blown out to hell - not sure what happened there
bad audio..avoid that audio clipping watch your gains ..sounds like in a bad disco ..sorry
Glad someone said it. I am 50% more deaf after this video.
2:23 the music in my head while riding down the trail
2:24 *HEADPHONE WARNING!!!*
I ride flats on my hardtail. Love it. My feets keeps planted, even on rough sections.
I go between (also hardtail) but just having to actively weight down on flat pedals will make you ride clipless better and ride with more stability and control as many clipless riders ride them to forget their feet and do nothing active with their feet besides spin.
"rough"
I'm just learning flats on my hardtail, and you're giving me hope to carry on because I had doubts after trying some jumps😂
@@jacquesduplessis6175 I never tried clips. So it's a no brainer for me 🙈
@@psychonaut038 haha, that makes total sense😂 well, I've been riding clipped in for like 25 years, imaging the shock!
I love that we can just jump on them pedals no worries get it Blake
The BASS
I rode clips for years until I rode in a 12 hour race. On the first lap I stacked it and broke a shifter and brake lever. I borrowed a demo bike as a "test" ride and rode flats. My times were quicker around the course. I've been on flats ever since and enjoy the ride far more - especially on technical uphill climbs where it was not uncommon to crash because I couldn't get my foot out of a clip. With flats, I'm focused on navigating the terrain rather than worrying about getting my foot out.
Now I have an e-bike, there is even less reasons to have clips.
It's been a while since I've slipped my pedals. Large flat pedals just work so damn well. Sometimes I think about trying clipless but why change what's already working so well. Definitely a few past scars though haha.
They say ‘no pain, no gain’, so apart from gaining scars, you are probably gaining :)
I have matching scars on my ankles from pushing down on xtr pedals trying to force them to clip in, slipping off and catching the pedal edge on my ankle.
My volume watching this video keeps going up and down.. Whoever edit this video please be aware that when he's speaking, it's too soft.. And when playing the music it's too loud..
Yep, the volume is way off. Not the first time though
It was definitely a fun video to watch on headphones. I had to keep my finger hovering over the volume keys the whole video.
@@gpearce11 Yeah I was watching on my laptop. Same situation
Spot on!
And as a bonus: It is so easy to get on them in tough technical terrain.
Foot blew off the front of the pedal and sent all the studs into the back of my calf and dragged down 2 inches yesterday on an awkward roots landing. Bled for 10 minutes everywhere. Im giving clips a try finally.
The scars you showed on the back of the calf-- I'm pretty sure after that happened you switched to clip pedals for the rest of that shoot.
Yeah..I just use standard grip pedals..4mm high..not sharp.
You won't regret it takes a while
Same happened to me in February, switched to spd's and use the multi release cleats... Not too much time to get used to it and still very easy to get out in a hurry. You won't regret
Yeah but chicks dig scars
@@oldsamsauce good one😄. sad but true
Seeing Blake shredding is like having a dessert after the main course that is Crankworks. Always good and can't complain for more.
3:51 wonder who carved that in there aha. Also can we just appreciate the single speed, no dropper and the front brake run through the top cap Blake's Bike looks so clean.
I was already sold ! Thanks for the entertainment all the same Blake. You Ledge! 🙂🤘
🥰 showing customizability - color, shape, size, grip... material, weight, feel..look.. would make this video perfect....🤔 Blake is a MAN.
Me, a hardtail rider: flat pedal gang, yeah!
Blake: ...unless I ride a hardtail.
Me: =(
There's dozens of us!
@@HappyDuude dozens!
Love flat pedals. Grew up riding BMX and tons of dirt jumps so I can relate. It's the same with my mountain bikes.
The best reasons for flats are that they facilitate a more mid-foot position, centering your body over the bike, and they allow for rotating your feet better, letting you open your inside knee into turns, and shifting your hips, making turns WAY faster.
Yep...being able to shimmy you're feet around is neccessary. Maybe they'll invent clips that swivel 😶
@@larsvonrinpoche1229 swivelling clips would be unclippable!
Flat? Those are spike pedals!
'Humongous pins' as Zenmaster Blake prefers.
Koan for this episode: Clip in or Pin in
Pin in shin? XD
Totally agree, Blake, and my two words of love for flats are bail out.
I used to hate my flat pedals while I was learning, I had scars and scratches from the pins for all the mistakes I made. They were punishing at the start but as I progressed and constantly made adjustments and considerations for them I not only got better at not flaying the skin of my legs, but also got better at keeping my feet planted in the pedals even on the rough stuff.
For the love of God, watch audio levels when you're editing :D My ears thank you!
Someone messed around too much with the audio levels with this one.
That nukeproof 🔥🔥🔥
I like this vid.
Yes..Im like Steve from embn, if youre not putting your foot down every two minutes to stop yourself falling over, youre not trying hard enough.
Thanks! Riding with flat pedals is awesome, but if you're used to clipless pedals, you'll need some training to adjust. Right away, you'll notice the difference and might feel unfamiliar with flats. However, once you practice, you'll experience a newfound freedom.
Gleaming vid Blake, I just can't get on with flats ridden clipped for 30 odd years. I tried recently to convert to flats just smashed my shins to much. But I do ride trials n enduro but still so pooh at decent size jumps 🤭
Whoever mixed this audio must love that song.
I like that Blake went a lowered that middle Stamp pedal pin. Need that cup feel.
I used clipless pedals for about ten years. I have multiple broken bones too from crashing down trails and landing on rocks because I couldn't eject fast enough.
Now I stand all day at work and use flat pedals without the giant spikes. My feet feel much better w/o the clipless pedals standing all day.
Imo flats are the best for fun riding, though clipless is definitely faster. Love the channel guys keep it up!
i agree only look at sam hill he was really fast on flats
You can definitely be really fast on flats, but it takes a lot more energy to always keep your feet in the right position. Clips don't make your legs feel tired as fast.
@@nichtDarkDiamond yea ik
@@RealMTBAddict
1. it's more efficient when pedaling since you can apply power throughout the entire stroke (yes I know this is possible with flats, but a lot more difficult and tiring).
2. it allow a more centered body position on steep descents, allowing to get over the front wheel more thus having more control.
3. It makes popping and flowing through rough stuff much easier. You can stay lighter on the bike without having to worry that your feet will fly off.
@@RealMTBAddict yup it's not faster that's why the entire world cup DH field uses them (aside from a very select few riders).
Excellent Vid 😎 I Tried Clipless on the Weekend .... Went home and Put my OneUp Flats On 😁 Life IS Good Now lol
How manay times can I say you are the funniest/best presenter
I bought a pair, love them. Yes they are very simple. Just the way I like it
Love flats. Practical and many are gorgeous bling. Also they teach you correct technique in jumps, bunny hops etc... Lastly after a ride I can walk into a microbrewery without clacking along like a cartoon character.
Went to flats last year. Took a while to feel really comfortable on them. Getting better at learning where I can unweight the bike, especially on the really rough stuff. The shin bashing yes, scars no, how? I use shin pads. Cheap Soccer shin pads. They have saved my shins a ton. I don't really slip pedals anymore other than in winter fat biking. Get some shins pads they will save you.
Love flat pedals for the ease of use and serving, clipped in if on the road but feel safer with flats on the proper stuff.
I switched to flat pedals this season after 7 years of SPD pedals, and I can tell you, I dont see any particular advantage besides little easier going on and of the bike/pedal. Climbing, descending, jumping for me is easier with SPD. I just have more control on the bike with clips.
I bought flats to learn wheely, but I believe soon I will put back SPDs.
Man, wish I could ride this well. Your so good.
I even have flats on my XC bike. To quote Blake " I love it!"
Honestly 5/10's plus Wellgo MG-1's with Ti spindles, is a match made in heaven.
Love your pink helmet 😉
Love my Stamp 7s
I can’t do any of those tricks but I still love flat pedals
I had headphones in and 2:24 just blew my eardrums away 💀
I tried "toe clips" 40+ years ago. Hated them immediately and never clipped in ever since!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love me some flats. Rode clipless on my road bike, but never really liked it on my mountain bike. I broke my ankle a couple times many years ago and they are not comfortable with my feet 100% locked in and trying to move around on the bike. Also, I would have been on my face twice this last weekend if I was clipped in. Since I was on flats I was able to get my foot off in time to save the front end slides on wet roots and keep on motoring.
And flat pedals love you too, Blake!
3:51 something is being sent, a massive trick!
what a really good video guys you should do next why this person likes clips.
2:28 just vibin
I like flat pedals, but I love your pink helmet Blake 👍😉
This Video is just an excuse to see some shredding from Blake, but I Love it!!!
Flats for down hill trails. And you love Pink Helmets too.
I gave up on my shins early on. At 14, slipped a pedal *(being an idiot bunny hopping in wave sandals) ER said, uhhh, that's going to be over 100 stitches, it's late, we are going to tape it. Here is some extra tape. Scars for life. Then I started riding trials, no pads needed. :p
Hey Blake, when I first started riding flat pedals were awful. When I got clipped in it was like magic. Fast forward 25 years I decided to try flats again. I’m riding Crank Brothers Stamps with 5Ten impact shoes. Really, they’re great but can you give us some tips on finding the sweet spot. The pedals and the shoes are so good now that once they grab it’s hard to adjust your foot. Please address this for those of us that are shifting from clips to flats
Next gmbn tech show "How Blake was made" :p
I usually use clipless pedals. The first time I used flat pedals in something 25 years they scare the s*** out of me. I felt like I had NO control over the bike. I did use trainers. When I bought a pair of FiveTen Freerider shoes. They helped as I have started to feel more confident using flat pedals. I still use my clipless pedals about 98.7% of the time. I'm still not confident trying to lift the rear wheel on flats.
Great filming and simple useful tips. Keep on rolling👌👀
Check out Blakey, throwing in a casual Evel Knievel quote! : 'Bones heal, pain is temporary, and....'
This is why I dont need cleats. I have so far to go on flats before changing will help.
Bmx trick. Get some skateboard griptape leftovers and customize your pedals. Works hella good
I think I would do better on some things clipped in, but I love being able to bail quick and easy when things go wrong. For this reason I run flats on my MTB and clipless on my road bike.
The music at 2:45 is so distorted and loud. Did someone not give this a once-over at the end of Editing?
Blake is so passionate, he could convince me to ride with no pedals at all. kidding aside, flats all the way baby.
Flats roolzzz! 🤘🏻😎
4:12 look at those pins! I am shure that pedal has a lot of grip!
Flat pedals rules!
Getting a flat pedal to the shin is like the grown up version of a razor scooter to the shin
9:01! sign on side of dirt feature is awesome (-:
You got some Steezy air on that last berm
3 pedal strokes in the whole vid, I’ll take that any day with flats.
Coming from bmx racing on flats, now riding AM7’s with DX pedals, no way I’m gonna blow my legs up again on flats in the weekly trail rides.
Would switch them up to flats on the local pumptrack though.
#canyondude #fattiesarefun 😍
Switched to clip-less after 15 years of riding flats. 😜
I use double sided Shimano XT pedals with a flat on one side and spd clip on the other. In trickier stuff I normally ride with one foot clipped in. I find that I have a hard time keeping my feet on the pedals when just using flats. Granted this is on my rigid fatbike, I'm sure if I ever get another full sus mtb that'd help
Flat is where it's at !
I’ve been riding flats for the last two seasons after riding clips for 20 years. The only thing I don’t like is finding that sweet spot when I engage
That’s a definite issue. I notice this also. Still love flats. But I do feel like I’m adjusting fairly often.
@@jbw5485 between the 5Ten Impact and the Crankbrothers Stamps adjustment isn’t so easy!
@@charlie9ine yep. I have the specialized shoes for flats and some race face chesters. Grip at 9000. Can’t really wiggle or slide your foot into place.
@@jbw5485 I love the freedom but when I come off I’m back on and sometimes it just feels weird and instead of focusing on riding I’m paying attention to mr foot. Seems like it’s always the right foot.
@@charlie9ine yep. Same here
I want magnetic pedals that have loads of float, break way easily, But still give you that connected feel. Mind you I might try it and hate it but I'd like to try it and see.
Surely you'd constantly pull off on the upstroke while pedalling hard climbs.
I've actually heard of a few people who really liked them.
How about super strong electromagnets with a handlebar mounted on off switch
that bike looks sooo nice to ride
Yeah!, Flats all the Way!!
The music is so stupid loud, I can't watch the video.
Love listening to Blake, hate that music though. Crank it down 30 notches. It's bouncing off the top of the equalizer.
#askgmbntech hi guys love the show, do you think we will see wheels bigger than 29 on mountain bikes or is 29 the end, and would bigger wheels benefit the rider or impact them
@@RealMTBAddict that’s why I’m still on 26”…
Oh, wait.. that’s mostly because I can’t afford a new bike 😒
I will still be a rubbish rider no matter the wheel size, but I have plenty of fun, so all good!
@@RealMTBAddict Maxxis tires have great performance,but in my experience they don't last as close to continental and michelin
@@RealMTBAddict 26 is perfect size. I bought used 26 continental der baron tires, I rode them for few months, than my neighbor rode them for more than a year until I bought his bike with same tires and rear one is worn out just about 1mm
You forgot about the biggest reason why flat pedals are the best and that is bailing. I crash all the time it is a daily activity weather i do a skinny or i try to catch a corner with a ton of speed and if I was running clips during thise crashes they would have gone horribly wrong but with flat pedals I usually walk away with only couple of scratches or bruises
is it just me or is blake not running a dropper in this video?
No dropper. No gears. Freeride duuuuude
Right, so one reason for everyone to use flat pedals (accessibility) and another reason for no one but Blake (doing massive no-foot jumps)! Seriously though: I actually have the exact same pedals and can confirm bleeding chins and calves are awful. Has anyone used chin guards explicitly for this reason?
Flat pedals on dual suspension, clip less on hard tail but overall I prefer flat pedals. Not sure my wife appreciates the scars on my shins though…
I race cross country so clip less of the way to go for me but flats are perfect for Blake
What Crankbros pedal are you using? niceee!
Those are the Stamp 7s. They're the only Stamp metal Pedals available in all the interesting colours.
Could you do a video about budget all arounders? Please
5:30 talks about shins shows calf
RIP headphone users at @2:25 levels not even once.
Bought the stamps.. 🙏
Volume levels are way off on this video. Especially the music segments.
Pause at 3:51 and look at the berm
Scars + pink helmet = maybe not quite the desired appeal factor ;) but your riding makes up for it. Maybe get some pink socks and pedals for next vid.
Nice Video brother
I love flat pedals more than my wife (but not my dog)😀
These look like the stamp 7 small. How big shoes do you have Blake?
combine nice flat pedals with mtb specific shoes and it's way grippy dude