I rode flats for YEARS when everyone else I rode with were clipped in. So, I switched about 2 years ago and I honestly don't want to switch back. I can always ride my old Enduro my son has now and wear my old Shimano flats (which I have a couple of times) but I just love how much confidence being attached the the bike has given me. Sounds weird I know, but it just feels right. At least I know I can do both. Great video Eric, YEEWW!
I think every UA-cam MRB'er has done 1 or 2 videos on this subject. So, there's advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I road with clipless for 6 years (Actually, I started with the old fashion toe-clips, yeah, I'm that old), now I only ride flats. I had a devastating crash 6 years ago and it was made way worse directly because I was clipped-in and my foot did not release in time. Granted, I was going really fast for the trail conditions, probably 20+ mph. I got knocked off the trail and did a couple of cart-wheels down a hill and hyperextended my leg and severed my hamstring off my pelvic bone because the bike was attached for a split second longer than it should have been. Major surgery and 3 months of rehab - now I ride flats.
Il 2nd this , crashed stupidly into a ditch 2 weeks ago after clearing some big 45ft jumps and due to being clipped in i snapped my ankle big time . If id been on flats I’m pretty sure the ankle wouldn’t have snapped
I would say this is one of the best Clips vs Flats videos on UA-cam. You nailed it 100%. Each has positives and advantages and as a rider it is better to have the ability to use both and to also understand when one application is better suited for what you are doing. I run flats daily but when racing I will throw on the clips unless the conditions are muddy. So in the in the, I agree with you!. Aside from your explanation I found the video entertaining and engaging. Good stuff. Keep it up.
I'm 40 now and ride flats on my current Scott Genius and Spark Bikes. I Bike here in Switzerland and we have 4 very distinct seasons. "Very" hot and dry Summers with "sandy" conditions, Autumns with lots and lots of leaves covering wet Stones and roots and often foggy conditions. Also hundreds of small spring streams everywhere. Winters with Snow and Ice and after 4PM it gets dark quickly, so its sunny on the top of Mountains but already pitch black and icy in the valley below and somewhere in the middle just nasty wet, cold and slippery. Spring is all over the place with lots of rain, sudden snowstorms, windy days and even weeks with perfect warm weather. :) So my entire life i just kinda did stick with flats on all my bikes and i really like those. Cheers from Switzerland!
My local trail conditions are almost always super dry and loose. Losing traction and washing out is a matter of when not if. The ability to bail quickly with flats gives me more confidence to push the limit in turns. Tech climbs are still the bane of my existence at this point though. I have to hit the right line with the right momentum or I’m hiking up.
excellent stuff. I can't comment on clips. I used to ride straps back in the 90's and got good at stepping out if I did an endo and got a little to exuberant.. but then I never rode DH properly back then (and My DH bike had a pair of shin shredders (the ol alloy saw tooth outer that can still be seen on my museum piece walkthrough of a 1995 Foes Weasel, still equipped with what went on it in 2000 including some now really bald Gazzaloddi tyres)
I had a much different experience in corners..I recently switched to clips (technically magnets, but I'm definitely locked in) and holy crap I can corner MUCH better now! The bike is way more responsive with my feet attached..I can corner faster and sharper than before.. Regarding safety... I have the Hustle REM pedals and OMG total game changer.. I gave "real" clips a try and noooo thank you! I would probably die not being able to unclip lol.. I realize over time it becomes muscle memory, but I don't even want there to be a chance of not being able to unclip. The Hustle pedals are AWESOME!! Extremely difficult to lift up and disconnect, but just a slight roll of the foot and your out.. I love them so much and would recommend them to literally EVERYONE! All the benefits of clipping in without the possible dangers of not being able to unclip fast enough...or at all lol..
@@JankyEric There have been a few on the market for years now... Maglock and Magpeds have been the most popular but they're pretty cheesy.. These Hustle pedals are totally legit though..lots of positive reviews from reputable bike outlets.. Should give them a try!
If you like the feeling of the flats on corners and jumps you should try a larger DH style clipless pedal and a flat-soled clipless shoe. Definitely the best of both worlds! I've tried the crankbrothers mallet DH but have not tried the shimano saints.
I been riding clip in since the 90’s on my road and mountain bike. I just bought some 510 flat shoes and economy flat/ pin pedals to give it a try for the fun of something different. I so far in my first 6 rides I noticed climbing with tech challenges or riding tech sections that bounce the bike making it challenging to keep my feet on the pedal. In some sections that I pedal through clipped in I find that not pedaling and holding my feet in the 9 - 3 position to keep my heels angled downward and weight on the pedals keeps my feet on. However I loose momentum. On a downhill section we usually ride my top speed has dropped by 1.5 mph and I have lost the pedals several times. A friend has suggested more expensive pedals with longer pins. However getting hit with those longer pins seems to diminish the safer benefit of riding flats. I will keep experimenting and give it more time.
Mtb IS just for fun! Nailed it. One of the best looks at why someone would bother to try both types of pedal. I used to be a clip-in fan the 90’s, used some flats in a 4x race and never stopped riding flats……they just feel so good. And having 5-10’s (or similar) really makes the flat pedal thing work to it’s potential. Interesting observation of the idler wheel bike frame design too on how flats perform
Great video mate 👍 , I’ve run clipless for years and just playing with flats at the moment to improve technique and the best tool I’ve found is the FUNN pedals that have both - one side FLAT and the other CLIPLESS allowing me to switch between the 2 at will ! Cheers 🍻
Like most riders i learned how to ride a bike when I was a kid on flat pedals. Rode clipped in for 15 years and now back on flats the last 5 years and its been great
I started mtb'ing on a 24" cruiser and did lots of technical riding where tire placement was key. Still have some of that skill, but you get lazy when you can roll everything.
Bought a 27.5 2 years ago because 29ers are just silly. Still have my 26 and people laugh when I show up with it. When I nimbly roll pick through tech that they are striking pedals and getting high centered on those low bottom brackets they stop laughing.
You can develop tech climb technique on flats as well. If you tip down your backstroke foot and press it against the pedal pulling up it will be just like clipped in. Specially when off the seat. I've switched to clipped due to knee alignment issues as both my flat shoes were driving me off, but I miss the freedom and safety flats gave me. Specially when bailing out. Riding tech stuff with 40years old is way different
i am a roadie and a mtb´er at the same time (yeah we exist). i rode my mtb with clipless pedals for almost two years till i decided that i actually wanna try gnarly stuff instead of just xc and got myselft some flat pedals. since than i am not going back. clipless for road, flat for mtb. i think i would even compete in a xc race someday with flats.
Ive always ridden flats and its funny that now after having the previous movements towards clipless you have this new movement towards flat padels. Ive thought about getting cliples pedals for the drive efficiency but I like the freedom my flats give me and also I have very large feet so I am limited in my choice of shoes.
Wolf tooth pedals look similar to the yoshimura chilao pedals, I think the pins is the only difference. Next time I would try either of those. I had oneup aluminium pedals, good pedals but did not like the feeling. I had the crankbrothers, but too big for enduro ridding trails or crash on the rocks. I have the chromag synth composite nylon material, but slip when the soil is wet. Now Im ridding the dmr vault and my favourite of all because the concave feeling for downhill and enduro. Also I want to try the raceface atlas, some reviews say that are the best. And for last, I would like to test the madpeds enduro 2 or hustle pedals (both magnetic) and the review say thar are some between flats and clipless, more grip than pedals and more safe than clipless). Some races for more pedaling I use cranckbrothers dh clipless.
Superb Video and very insightful (NEW subscriber).. I use the same OneUp Flat Pedals on my 2021 Trek Roscoe 6.. I have the same Shimano Cleat Pedals, but am NOT using them until I get all of my form and function properly understood (former roadie).. 🇺🇸
Love flats. Given how much grip a good modern flat pedal gives I think the advantage of clipless is smaller than ever. I ride Deity TMacs and Deftraps with Vans and they have so much grip that I can actually pull on the upstroke if so inclined. With flats though have to have heels down and pushing into pedal when bombing down gnar. Which has the added benefit of getting you into a more aggressive stance by lowering your hips and butt as you go into a technical area. Done right there really should not be any issue anymore with being kicked off the pedals. In addition to being able to bail one of the biggest benefits to me is that I can adjust the pedal under my foot to optimize what I am doing- steep standing climb and I want to be more on balls of feet, no problem. Long seated climb and want pedal more under mid-foot- no problem. Bombing downhill and want it even a little further back under foot- no problem. Finally- no one that rides flats ever wore a heartrate monitor or had a cadence tracker- they’re just having fun. 🙂 Now if you’re racing though- maybe a different calculus.
I 100% agree on the techy climbs but I wonder if that is because we are used to clipless so ride differently from someone who is a 100% flat pedal rider. I find my feet came off the front of the pedals on techy climbs when using flats.
Yeah, it’s about the technique you’ve developed. I ride in NJ and every climb is a techy rock fest. I eat all of that stuff up on flats. One riding mate does the same on clips. Once upon a time I tried clips and I couldn’t ride up even a small feature, and they came off straight away. Both work if you have developed the technique, but it’s a transition for sure. I ride clipped-in on a road bike, though
Nice video man! Very hepful. You say you will keep clipless pedals for racing because of the shorts techy climbs that enduro offers but if there is no climb and only descents do you feel that you can be equally faster on flats even in the dry? Or you feel that you're faster on clipless anyway?
nice vid. ima xc nerd so i will never go full flats, however i dj with flats religiously. i unfortunately cant do either though, as i broke my wrist, rip ians race season. I signed up for all the california enduro races aswell, just unfortunate. next year.
Crank Bros Mallets feel like flat pedals, while still being clipped in. Have tried Times, CB Candy, many various Shimano SPDs. Haven't found another brand/pedal that replicates the same feeling. I also find I need to run my rebound slower on flats.
I switched to flats 10 years ago and my technical confidence went WAY up. For me, it was well worth the tradeoff. I still use clips for gravel riding though. Dude, you know skidding is not cool, right? ;-)
Yeah man I race bmx with flats for like 10 years then switched to mountain biking and hoped back on flats the last 2 years and I’ve been so much more comfortable and do excel better on them in all aspects I podium abt all my XC and enduro races on them and everyone is shocked that I run flats.
I tried this experiment as well, I found that flats caused me to have more crashes, not because my feet would come off but because of the non-committal attitude they put you in, I found myself going into things with the mindset that I could just bail, which had me not fully committing to what I was attempting and this led to more crashes. Gave the flats to someone who wanted them and I will never be going back, give me clips.
That’s funny I also found myself doing that at first! It’s crazy how much muscle memory there is for riding clips. Also major props for having a swing bike! I’ve still never had the chance to ride one of those.
Excellent experiment here. Flats vs Clipless… one of the great debates of cyclists world wide. I personally ride flats and my favorite thing to do is tech climbs💁
@@JankyEric Boy i wish i had trials skills! I think it’s more of a matter of being on flats for many years that it has become a non issue. Maybe how skateboarders can send big airs and keep the board on their feet… or surfing as well. I think you just get better with time. But this debate over polarizing trade offs and compromises are what many love about cycling.
I always found it easier to clear techy climbs with a more flexible flat shoe. The stiffer shoe doesn't give you the same feel. Not sure what shoe you are on but try riding in a flexible shoe for fun.
Rode clips. That's right old school birdcages back in the late 80s right up until 2012 when I got my first FSR. The guy at the store straight refused to put them on they bike because he was afraid I would kill myself. Started riding flats and 5 10s, have seen too many broken ankles and wrenched knees after people couldn't bail and the bike went oppo to consider clippless
Big thing to me is that i can just say hey you want to try my bike? while im riding with literally anyone else on flats, no worry about clips being set up different or different style
:09 Funny! Was that on purpose? I'm older and don't get much air, but still climb in (techy) terrain that can result in having your foot getting bounced off the pedal. For the really rocky/techy sections, I'll lower my dropper by just a little - maybe 2 cm. That is usually enough to keep weight on my "down" foot while being bounced around.
Great suggestion! Lower the saddle an inch or so and "stand" when on really chunky climbs. For me, it helps me get up stuff I usually have to dab on if trying to climb it while seated. Also helps me get away from the bike should I really need to.
Needs more practice on the uphill, toes down. Also on the uphill nar, easy to bail when your power stroking. Falling on the uphill can be a disastrous as the down hill.
Well yeah... winter. That's what flat pedals are for. Sloppy, slippery and cold, gimme some flats and no hunk of metal on my foot. Interesting note on the kickback, I never thought of that.
Winter is a little more severe here. Complete snow cover on trails for 3 - 4 months. Some times icy too. After bigger snowfalls (15+ cm) we snowshoe first, then ride. 95+ % of winter riders here are on fatbikes, the other 5 % have studded MTB tires and can only ride when trails are very compacted. Coldest I rode this winter was -21 C. Whatever it takes to keep riding year round! :-)
@@greghenderson1362 oh I'm talking snow riding as well. The best we get is full melt-freeze where you can ride anywhere out on the flats in the valley. No compaction needed!
Good objectivity: weighing pros/cons. For the clipless crowd...I'm just a trailrider, but I started with flats 35 years ago, then went to clipless, big platform DH pedals with a season or two. Security for descents over chunder, better tech ascents, and more pedalling efficiency for long XC trail outings. Then 10 yrs later went to more streamlined "trail" XT SPD pedals to prevent rock strikes as suspension/slacker geo for trail bikes got plusher...now I'm back to clipless with bigger pedal platform on my Enduro E-mtb (Sorry, E-haters I'm not young any more and just happy to be pedaling---even with assisted⚡🚵♂️)...shorter 152 mm cranks appear to also help here. Currently, I'm willing to develop better tech skills by trying more baby jumps/drops and slow roll tech with raised features (Hey, I'm old as I said, and getting more injury prone😯). Honestly, I think switching back to flats for the quicker bailout-potential seems prudent for injury reduction/fun injection! (Note: my Funn Rippers SPDs are set loosely and do have pins on the platform for grip. But still I've been hung up just enough to skip some slow trials-esque features that I might have needed to bail on more quickly.) The higher power mode masks poor traditional analog climbing technique, and it's easier to go longer because it covers up efficiency gained through the clipless connection. Bottom line: to pop/drop/roll tech safer, I think flats are more fun (in my brief experience)...especially on an E-mtb. For, security on the downs, efficiency on the ups, and distances probably clipless on an analog are the ticket.😉 Also, note the modern flats have the pins...back in the day the grip was achieved with a BMX bearclaw-like platform. Pins seem more grip efficient, but rip the shit out the shins...so now I don a knee/shin pad combo. Again, I'm getting a old, not dumber...yet😋
How can anyone START with clips? :o Anyway, clip(less) killed MTB'ing for me. After a lifetime on flats (I'm 60 y.o., started with BMX in the 80's) I decided to try clips for two years. Raced in them as well. Killed my drive, my emotion, hated them all the time. Result: I quit cycling. Fast forward to 2021: bought myself a new bike (with flats, of course) and promised myself never to fit it again with those demon-clip things anymore. Happy as can be :)
flat pedals - the key ingredient for fun and not taking yourself too seriously.
Flats will keep you honest in your technique. Going back to flats, most of the time, has made me a better technical rider
Ive always ridden flats and alsways will
Flats + single speed
I rode flats for YEARS when everyone else I rode with were clipped in. So, I switched about 2 years ago and I honestly don't want to switch back. I can always ride my old Enduro my son has now and wear my old Shimano flats (which I have a couple of times) but I just love how much confidence being attached the the bike has given me. Sounds weird I know, but it just feels right. At least I know I can do both. Great video Eric, YEEWW!
I think every UA-cam MRB'er has done 1 or 2 videos on this subject. So, there's advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I road with clipless for 6 years (Actually, I started with the old fashion toe-clips, yeah, I'm that old), now I only ride flats. I had a devastating crash 6 years ago and it was made way worse directly because I was clipped-in and my foot did not release in time. Granted, I was going really fast for the trail conditions, probably 20+ mph. I got knocked off the trail and did a couple of cart-wheels down a hill and hyperextended my leg and severed my hamstring off my pelvic bone because the bike was attached for a split second longer than it should have been. Major surgery and 3 months of rehab - now I ride flats.
Using the right cleat helps. Shimano's multi release cleat is great for getting out of the pedals in any crash.
@@robertmisiuk7137 Flats are best
Ditto, had a crash were instead of an OTB my front axle became a pivot point when my front wheel suddenly jammed between 2 rocks
Il 2nd this , crashed stupidly into a ditch 2 weeks ago after clearing some big 45ft jumps and due to being clipped in i snapped my ankle big time . If id been on flats I’m pretty sure the ankle wouldn’t have snapped
I would say this is one of the best Clips vs Flats videos on UA-cam. You nailed it 100%. Each has positives and advantages and as a rider it is better to have the ability to use both and to also understand when one application is better suited for what you are doing. I run flats daily but when racing I will throw on the clips unless the conditions are muddy. So in the in the, I agree with you!. Aside from your explanation I found the video entertaining and engaging. Good stuff. Keep it up.
I'm 40 now and ride flats on my current Scott Genius and Spark Bikes.
I Bike here in Switzerland and we have 4 very distinct seasons. "Very" hot and dry Summers with "sandy" conditions, Autumns with lots and lots of leaves covering wet Stones and roots and often foggy conditions. Also hundreds of small spring streams everywhere. Winters with Snow and Ice and after 4PM it gets dark quickly, so its sunny on the top of Mountains but already pitch black and icy in the valley below and somewhere in the middle just nasty wet, cold and slippery.
Spring is all over the place with lots of rain, sudden snowstorms, windy days and even weeks with perfect warm weather. :)
So my entire life i just kinda did stick with flats on all my bikes and i really like those.
Cheers from Switzerland!
wait thats cray i ordered clips because of this video like 5 months ago and then saw you on pb academy lol im loving you and rooting for you!
My local trail conditions are almost always super dry and loose. Losing traction and washing out is a matter of when not if. The ability to bail quickly with flats gives me more confidence to push the limit in turns.
Tech climbs are still the bane of my existence at this point though. I have to hit the right line with the right momentum or I’m hiking up.
A very reasonable presentation. Thanks for your efforts!
Nice video with relevant content to compare the two types of pedals, thanks.
excellent stuff. I can't comment on clips. I used to ride straps back in the 90's and got good at stepping out if I did an endo and got a little to exuberant.. but then I never rode DH properly back then (and My DH bike had a pair of shin shredders (the ol alloy saw tooth outer that can still be seen on my museum piece walkthrough of a 1995 Foes Weasel, still equipped with what went on it in 2000 including some now really bald Gazzaloddi tyres)
Great info explaining with the differences. They definitely both have their strengths that do help in the long run 🍻🚲
I had a much different experience in corners..I recently switched to clips (technically magnets, but I'm definitely locked in) and holy crap I can corner MUCH better now! The bike is way more responsive with my feet attached..I can corner faster and sharper than before.. Regarding safety... I have the Hustle REM pedals and OMG total game changer.. I gave "real" clips a try and noooo thank you! I would probably die not being able to unclip lol.. I realize over time it becomes muscle memory, but I don't even want there to be a chance of not being able to unclip. The Hustle pedals are AWESOME!! Extremely difficult to lift up and disconnect, but just a slight roll of the foot and your out.. I love them so much and would recommend them to literally EVERYONE! All the benefits of clipping in without the possible dangers of not being able to unclip fast enough...or at all lol..
Interesting! I’m definitely keen to try out some magnetic pedals sometime
@@JankyEric There have been a few on the market for years now... Maglock and Magpeds have been the most popular but they're pretty cheesy.. These Hustle pedals are totally legit though..lots of positive reviews from reputable bike outlets.. Should give them a try!
If you like the feeling of the flats on corners and jumps you should try a larger DH style clipless pedal and a flat-soled clipless shoe. Definitely the best of both worlds! I've tried the crankbrothers mallet DH but have not tried the shimano saints.
Just get the Hope Union GC, definitely the Best
You should check out the HT X2 fantastic pedal.
I been riding clip in since the 90’s on my road and mountain bike. I just bought some 510 flat shoes and economy flat/ pin pedals to give it a try for the fun of something different. I so far in my first 6 rides I noticed climbing with tech challenges or riding tech sections that bounce the bike making it challenging to keep my feet on the pedal. In some sections that I pedal through clipped in I find that not pedaling and holding my feet in the 9 - 3 position to keep my heels angled downward and weight on the pedals keeps my feet on. However I loose momentum. On a downhill section we usually ride my top speed has dropped by 1.5 mph and I have lost the pedals several times. A friend has suggested more expensive pedals with longer pins. However getting hit with those longer pins seems to diminish the safer benefit of riding flats. I will keep experimenting and give it more time.
Great job on the video. Been clipped in for 7 years now. Been saying I need to get back to flats.
Mtb IS just for fun! Nailed it. One of the best looks at why someone would bother to try both types of pedal. I used to be a clip-in fan the 90’s, used some flats in a 4x race and never stopped riding flats……they just feel so good. And having 5-10’s (or similar) really makes the flat pedal thing work to it’s potential. Interesting observation of the idler wheel bike frame design too on how flats perform
Great video mate 👍 , I’ve run clipless for years and just playing with flats at the moment to improve technique and the best tool I’ve found is the FUNN pedals that have both - one side FLAT and the other CLIPLESS allowing me to switch between the 2 at will ! Cheers 🍻
Like most riders i learned how to ride a bike when I was a kid on flat pedals. Rode clipped in for 15 years and now back on flats the last 5 years and its been great
Great vid with clear and entertaining explanations! Your editing is awesome as well! Don’t know why you don’t have more subs, as I just subbed!
I started mtb'ing on a 24" cruiser and did lots of technical riding where tire placement was key. Still have some of that skill, but you get lazy when you can roll everything.
Bought a 27.5 2 years ago because 29ers are just silly. Still have my 26 and people laugh when I show up with it. When I nimbly roll pick through tech that they are striking pedals and getting high centered on those low bottom brackets they stop laughing.
I’ve only used clips eversince. I will probably give flats a try sometime.. thanks for the inspiration
You can develop tech climb technique on flats as well. If you tip down your backstroke foot and press it against the pedal pulling up it will be just like clipped in. Specially when off the seat. I've switched to clipped due to knee alignment issues as both my flat shoes were driving me off, but I miss the freedom and safety flats gave me. Specially when bailing out. Riding tech stuff with 40years old is way different
i am a roadie and a mtb´er at the same time (yeah we exist). i rode my mtb with clipless pedals for almost two years till i decided that i actually wanna try gnarly stuff instead of just xc and got myselft some flat pedals. since than i am not going back. clipless for road, flat for mtb. i think i would even compete in a xc race someday with flats.
Ive always ridden flats and its funny that now after having the previous movements towards clipless you have this new movement towards flat padels.
Ive thought about getting cliples pedals for the drive efficiency but I like the freedom my flats give me and also I have very large feet so I am limited in my choice of shoes.
Wolf tooth pedals look similar to the yoshimura chilao pedals, I think the pins is the only difference. Next time I would try either of those. I had oneup aluminium pedals, good pedals but did not like the feeling. I had the crankbrothers, but too big for enduro ridding trails or crash on the rocks. I have the chromag synth composite nylon material, but slip when the soil is wet. Now Im ridding the dmr vault and my favourite of all because the concave feeling for downhill and enduro. Also I want to try the raceface atlas, some reviews say that are the best. And for last, I would like to test the madpeds enduro 2 or hustle pedals (both magnetic) and the review say thar are some between flats and clipless, more grip than pedals and more safe than clipless). Some races for more pedaling I use cranckbrothers dh clipless.
Shimano XT pedals had a Flat clipless pedals.. you can use it as a clipless pedals and also flat pedals
Get the best of both worlds , crankbrothers double shot is the best option, I switched back and forth all the time, no need to swap pedals
Superb Video and very insightful (NEW subscriber).. I use the same OneUp Flat Pedals on my 2021 Trek Roscoe 6.. I have the same Shimano Cleat Pedals, but am NOT using them until I get all of my form and function properly understood (former roadie).. 🇺🇸
Love flats. Given how much grip a good modern flat pedal gives I think the advantage of clipless is smaller than ever. I ride Deity TMacs and Deftraps with Vans and they have so much grip that I can actually pull on the upstroke if so inclined.
With flats though have to have heels down and pushing into pedal when bombing down gnar. Which has the added benefit of getting you into a more aggressive stance by lowering your hips and butt as you go into a technical area. Done right there really should not be any issue anymore with being kicked off the pedals.
In addition to being able to bail one of the biggest benefits to me is that I can adjust the pedal under my foot to optimize what I am doing- steep standing climb and I want to be more on balls of feet, no problem. Long seated climb and want pedal more under mid-foot- no problem. Bombing downhill and want it even a little further back under foot- no problem.
Finally- no one that rides flats ever wore a heartrate monitor or had a cadence tracker- they’re just having fun. 🙂
Now if you’re racing though- maybe a different calculus.
Tmac 👍👍
I 100% agree on the techy climbs but I wonder if that is because we are used to clipless so ride differently from someone who is a 100% flat pedal rider.
I find my feet came off the front of the pedals on techy climbs when using flats.
I was also thinking that
Yeah, it’s about the technique you’ve developed. I ride in NJ and every climb is a techy rock fest. I eat all of that stuff up on flats. One riding mate does the same on clips.
Once upon a time I tried clips and I couldn’t ride up even a small feature, and they came off straight away. Both work if you have developed the technique, but it’s a transition for sure.
I ride clipped-in on a road bike, though
Toes down.
Nice video man! Very hepful. You say you will keep clipless pedals for racing because of the shorts techy climbs that enduro offers but if there is no climb and only descents do you feel that you can be equally faster on flats even in the dry? Or you feel that you're faster on clipless anyway?
I like to adjust how far forward or back my feet are on the pedals so flats only.
nice vid. ima xc nerd so i will never go full flats, however i dj with flats religiously. i unfortunately cant do either though, as i broke my wrist, rip ians race season. I signed up for all the california enduro races aswell, just unfortunate. next year.
Crank Bros Mallets feel like flat pedals, while still being clipped in. Have tried Times, CB Candy, many various Shimano SPDs. Haven't found another brand/pedal that replicates the same feeling. I also find I need to run my rebound slower on flats.
I had no trouble choosing a flat pedal with a clip on one side…
Best of both worlds.
Mine were made by ‘Funn’…
In Australia we have very dry conditions much of the year, having flats works a lot better with the loss of traction and slide outs
Great video
What about large clipless pedals. Are any of them made to fit the whole shoe on and cliped in
I switched to flats 10 years ago and my technical confidence went WAY up. For me, it was well worth the tradeoff. I still use clips for gravel riding though. Dude, you know skidding is not cool, right? ;-)
Hustle Bike Labs pedals FTW. Best compromise.
Falling over attached to the bike vs shin gouges 😭
Yeah man I race bmx with flats for like 10 years then switched to mountain biking and hoped back on flats the last 2 years and I’ve been so much more comfortable and do excel better on them in all aspects I podium abt all my XC and enduro races on them and everyone is shocked that I run flats.
I tried this experiment as well, I found that flats caused me to have more crashes, not because my feet would come off but because of the non-committal attitude they put you in, I found myself going into things with the mindset that I could just bail, which had me not fully committing to what I was attempting and this led to more crashes. Gave the flats to someone who wanted them and I will never be going back, give me clips.
the biggest thing with flats when doing fast bumpy rocky stuff is to keep your heels down. and let the recoil move up into your knees.
I've always run clips. I have flats on my swing bike and I found that when I get off the bike I still twist my foot like I was wearing clips lol
That’s funny I also found myself doing that at first! It’s crazy how much muscle memory there is for riding clips. Also major props for having a swing bike! I’ve still never had the chance to ride one of those.
I like both, but I absolutely hate when my feet come off the pedals, especially in the wet.
Im thinking about switching to flats 🧐
underated
Excellent experiment here. Flats vs Clipless… one of the great debates of cyclists world wide. I personally ride flats and my favorite thing to do is tech climbs💁
Thanks! And that’s interesting. Do you think you’ve adopted “trials” skills to help you clear tech sections?
@@JankyEric Boy i wish i had trials skills! I think it’s more of a matter of being on flats for many years that it has become a non issue. Maybe how skateboarders can send big airs and keep the board on their feet… or surfing as well. I think you just get better with time. But this debate over polarizing trade offs and compromises are what many love about cycling.
I always found it easier to clear techy climbs with a more flexible flat shoe. The stiffer shoe doesn't give you the same feel. Not sure what shoe you are on but try riding in a flexible shoe for fun.
Rode clips. That's right old school birdcages back in the late 80s right up until 2012 when I got my first FSR. The guy at the store straight refused to put them on they bike because he was afraid I would kill myself. Started riding flats and 5 10s, have seen too many broken ankles and wrenched knees after people couldn't bail and the bike went oppo to consider clippless
More videos, this was good.
I’m interested to see what size and speed cassette you’re running on this bike. Looks a lot smaller than the usual 12 speed stuff we see these days.
Good eye! I’ll try to make a video about it
on gravel bike, flat or clip?
Big thing to me is that i can just say hey you want to try my bike? while im riding with literally anyone else on flats, no worry about clips being set up different or different style
On my enduro bike I use flat but on my xc bike I prefeere clips
:09 Funny! Was that on purpose? I'm older and don't get much air, but still climb in (techy) terrain that can result in having your foot getting bounced off the pedal. For the really rocky/techy sections, I'll lower my dropper by just a little - maybe 2 cm. That is usually enough to keep weight on my "down" foot while being bounced around.
Great suggestion! Lower the saddle an inch or so and "stand" when on really chunky climbs. For me, it helps me get up stuff I usually have to dab on if trying to climb it while seated. Also helps me get away from the bike should I really need to.
What backpack are you using?
Camelbak chase vest
What vest is that? Thanks
Camelbak chase vest
Needs more practice on the uphill, toes down. Also on the uphill nar, easy to bail when your power stroking. Falling on the uphill can be a disastrous as the down hill.
What saddle are you running, Eric?
It's the nukeproof horizon enduro. Allows me to just barely fit a 200mm dropper.
Flats only for me, I know too many people that broke ankles or tore muscles because they were clipped in and couldn't bail in time.
Meant to be a joke I've always liked flat pedals safest way to be in the woods
you forgot one key thing: THE SHIN GASHES. its not if - its when
The debate between flats and clips has always been a personal preference but so far this video hss been the non biased.
At a casual riding level sure, but saying it’s “personal preference” for an elite XC racer is just not accurate.
@@RyanBoardman234s i meant his discipline which is enduro
What drivetrain is that?
Good eye! It’s Shimano zee 10 speed freeride. I’ll have to make a video about it.
Haaay I wish I could have that bike
amen
Broke the 333 subs
Well yeah... winter. That's what flat pedals are for. Sloppy, slippery and cold, gimme some flats and no hunk of metal on my foot. Interesting note on the kickback, I never thought of that.
Winter is a little more severe here. Complete snow cover on trails for 3 - 4 months. Some times icy too. After bigger snowfalls (15+ cm) we snowshoe first, then ride. 95+ % of winter riders here are on fatbikes, the other 5 % have studded MTB tires and can only ride when trails are very compacted. Coldest I rode this winter was -21 C.
Whatever it takes to keep riding year round! :-)
@@greghenderson1362 oh I'm talking snow riding as well. The best we get is full melt-freeze where you can ride anywhere out on the flats in the valley. No compaction needed!
Tried toe clips back in the day, Nope! I've never ridden clipless. I thought SPD stands for Stupid Pedal Death.
How do you only have 150 subs?!?
Haven't focused much on youtube but I'm hoping to change that!
It's all novel until you go down after kicking your front wheel, lol.
Nobody mentions that going for descent flats and shoes can be a lot more expensive than clip and shoe alternative
Check sales for flat pedal shoes (e.g. FiveTen) and also go with composite flat pedals (e.g.1Up). Saves $$$$ and they seem to work well for me.
really? first time? even when you started learning how to bike ? wow, you must be a bike genius learning to ride on clipless pedals!
Good objectivity: weighing pros/cons. For the clipless crowd...I'm just a trailrider, but I started with flats 35 years ago, then went to clipless, big platform DH pedals with a season or two. Security for descents over chunder, better tech ascents, and more pedalling efficiency for long XC trail outings. Then 10 yrs later went to more streamlined "trail" XT SPD pedals to prevent rock strikes as suspension/slacker geo for trail bikes got plusher...now I'm back to clipless with bigger pedal platform on my Enduro E-mtb (Sorry, E-haters I'm not young any more and just happy to be pedaling---even with assisted⚡🚵♂️)...shorter 152 mm cranks appear to also help here. Currently, I'm willing to develop better tech skills by trying more baby jumps/drops and slow roll tech with raised features (Hey, I'm old as I said, and getting more injury prone😯). Honestly, I think switching back to flats for the quicker bailout-potential seems prudent for injury reduction/fun injection! (Note: my Funn Rippers SPDs are set loosely and do have pins on the platform for grip. But still I've been hung up just enough to skip some slow trials-esque features that I might have needed to bail on more quickly.) The higher power mode masks poor traditional analog climbing technique, and it's easier to go longer because it covers up efficiency gained through the clipless connection. Bottom line: to pop/drop/roll tech safer, I think flats are more fun (in my brief experience)...especially on an E-mtb. For, security on the downs, efficiency on the ups, and distances probably clipless on an analog are the ticket.😉 Also, note the modern flats have the pins...back in the day the grip was achieved with a BMX bearclaw-like platform. Pins seem more grip efficient, but rip the shit out the shins...so now I don a knee/shin pad combo. Again, I'm getting a old, not dumber...yet😋
Isn't that a girl seat on that blue bike riding
How can anyone START with clips? :o
Anyway, clip(less) killed MTB'ing for me.
After a lifetime on flats (I'm 60 y.o., started with BMX in the 80's) I decided to try clips for two years. Raced in them as well.
Killed my drive, my emotion, hated them all the time.
Result: I quit cycling.
Fast forward to 2021: bought myself a new bike (with flats, of course) and promised myself never to fit it again with those demon-clip things anymore.
Happy as can be :)
nope... clipless all the way. you wouldnt wanna ski clipless either.
clipless is awful and pointless on any bike
Unless you want a better start out of the gate (if you race), clips are pointless