Getbigger's do you ride clipless/spd or platform?

[FermiDirac]

Well?

Bought myself an XC bike after reading the forum last week, decided to try SPD on a mtb. I must admit it was really scary the first ride, but it felt ok after the first couple of miles.
Almost shat my pants doing a 3 foot drop while clipped in, although I must say, being clipped in is really nice when the trails get rougher.
Pedalling in circles really worked wonders for cadence and speed as well, did a 15 mile ride in a local technical XC course and was completely dead by the end.

Do you prefer clipless or do you run platform?

[_aj_]

I ran with toe clips on my MTB for a year and hated it. I was much happier going back to stands. Just never got used to the kick-out motion and felt pinned. Plus, I had a weird endo over a car door where my clips stayed in that almost broke my back.

[Wolfox]

My pedals are clipless on one side and platform on the other.

I ride clipless on bike paths along the beach and river but ride with tennis shoes in the city.

[FermiDirac]

I ran with toe clips on my MTB for a year and hated it. I was much happier going back to stands. Just never got used to the kick-out motion and felt pinned. Plus, I had a weird endo over a car door where my clips stayed in that almost broke my back.

Ouch, glad to hear it wasn't serious. Must've been a freak accident? Did the bike's weight pull your back behind you?

[_aj_]

Ouch, glad to hear it wasn't serious. Must've been a freak accident? Did the bike's weight pull your back behind you?

It was just like doing a front endo over a door. The bike came along for the ride. It popped off when I body-slammed down on the pavement. Helmet saved my noggin, so I was just a little bruised.

This is 20+ years ago, BTW.

[no one]

awesome dude!

glad you bought a bike and are getting back into it- what did you end up getting?

i went w spd's cause thats what your 'supposed to do' i'd bet at least 90% of people you see who dont strictly DH use clipless. 100% of my friends who ride ride clipless.

i found after several bad wipeouts that they made me a very hesitant rider. i would dismount and walk over technical shit that i would normally eat on flats to save myself injury. i found i wasnt going into corners and getting up and over top of the bike to push it down when i was clipped in, i was slowing down more and sitting back in corners which causes the bike to slide out a good deal of the time if your being aggressive. it just sucked all the way around. and i gave them an honest try. 3 weeks worth of rides and i prolly was averaging 100k a week at the time. ya id have no problem saying i put prolly 250km on my spds.

it was ruining the enjoyment of my riding cause it was taking away all the things that made me a good rider- flowy and fast in corners, and aggressive over technical shit.

on flats i have way better control of my bike. im not afraid to attack something that might throw me. im waaaay more aggressive on flats.

i think it depends on the type of trails you ride. up here theres a lot of rock and root. very very technical shit- google 'buckwallow' theres youtube vids of the trails too.

the comfort of being able to attack a corner and just put a foot out, or put a foot down going over gnar is a huge upside for me and makes me faster in the long run cause my aggression increases exponentially.

if i were riding mostly rollercoastery flowy shit id stay clipless. i noticed a huge increase in the torque i could generate w them, and i liked the secure feeling of being strapped to the bike. but i find being strapped to the bike cause me to not focus on feeling what its doing like i do on flats a pair of 5tens cause you really become one w it.

everyone i ride with is clipless. im the only guy who isnt. im not getting left behind. in fact the only guys i lose pace w are cardio monsters on bigger switch back type of ascents. but technical riding and flowy shit, forget it- im as fast if not faster than a lot of guys i ride with.

for me the upside to flats far outweighs the upside to clipless.

* edit- trust me you'll get a lot of 'whos the new guy' look everywhere you ride on flats. i think peer pressure cause most people to switch over

[FermiDirac]

awesome dude!

glad you bought a bike and are getting back into it- what did you end up getting?

i went w spd's cause thats what your 'supposed to do' i'd bet at least 90% of people you see who dont strictly DH use clipless. 100% of my friends who ride ride clipless.

i found after several bad wipeouts that they made me a very hesitant rider. i would dismount and walk over technical shit that i would normally eat on flats to save myself injury. i found i wasnt going into corners and getting up and over top of the bike to push it down when i was clipped in, i was slowing down more and sitting back in corners which causes the bike to slide out a good deal of the time if your being aggressive. it just sucked all the way around. and i gave them an honest try. 3 weeks worth of rides and i prolly was averaging 100k a week at the time. ya id have no problem saying i put prolly 250km on my spds.

it was ruining the enjoyment of my riding cause it was taking away all the things that made me a good rider- flowy and fast in corners, and aggressive over technical shit.

on flats i have way better control of my bike. im not afraid to attack something that might throw me. im waaaay more aggressive on flats.

i think it depends on the type of trails you ride. up here theres a lot of rock and root. very very technical shit- google 'buckwallow' theres youtube vids of the trails too.

the comfort of being able to attack a corner and just put a foot out, or put a foot down going over gnar is a huge upside for me and makes me faster in the long run cause my aggression increases exponentially.

if i were riding mostly rollercoastery flowy shit id stay clipless. i noticed a huge increase in the torque i could generate w them, and i liked the secure feeling of being strapped to the bike. but i find being strapped to the bike cause me to not focus on feeling what its doing like i do on flats a pair of 5tens cause you really become one w it.

everyone i ride with is clipless. im the only guy who isnt. im not getting left behind. in fact the only guys i lose pace w are cardio monsters on bigger switch back type of ascents. but technical riding and flowy shit, forget it- im as fast if not faster than a lot of guys i ride with.

for me the upside to flats far outweighs the upside to clipless.

* edit- trust me you'll get a lot of 'whos the new guy' look everywhere you ride on flats. i think peer pressure cause most people to switch over

Nice input, appreciate it. Yes, I somewhat was "goaded" into SPD's after joining in on my first ride with Sam Hill signature 5tens and flats with shin-eating spikes.

I see I'm not alone in feeling a loss of comfort, had that uneasy feeling right before technical sections like you described. Any hint of being "too" technical I would rather unclip and lead the bike just because I didn't want to land on my face. I too much prefer of going balls out on technical terrain, having a foot out and drifting/scrubbing berms and off cambers. I lost a lot of confidence with the SPD's but at the same time I couldn't ignore the huge benefit they provided when it came to cranking down the watts.

I'm currently thinking about sticking to flats and pulling out the SPD's for the milder trails and gravel roads. I'd rather lose some fitness optimisation than lose out on the fun of offcambers, drops and rock gardens.

This is the bike I got
Frame looks like shit, I know, but the spec on Canyon is beyond crazy.

[CalvinH]

Bike speak sounds weird.

[Wolfox]

clipless = clipped in the pedals with cleats i.e locked in.


First day riding clipless i hit pavement at the stop light with one foot still clipped in.

So embarrassing.

[no one]

Nice input, appreciate it. Yes, I somewhat was "goaded" into SPD's after joining in on my first ride with Sam Hill signature 5tens and flats with shin-eating spikes.

I see I'm not alone in feeling a loss of comfort, had that uneasy feeling right before technical sections like you described. Any hint of being "too" technical I would rather unclip and lead the bike just because I didn't want to land on my face. I too much prefer of going balls out on technical terrain, having a foot out and drifting/scrubbing berms and off cambers. I lost a lot of confidence with the SPD's but at the same time I couldn't ignore the huge benefit they provided when it came to cranking down the watts.

I'm currently thinking about sticking to flats and pulling out the SPD's for the milder trails and gravel roads. I'd rather lose some fitness optimisation than lose out on the fun of offcambers, drops and rock gardens.

This is the bike I got
Frame looks like shit, I know, but the spec on Canyon is beyond crazy.

actually it think it looks great. its a great looking bike.

im on their website now- even their tail end of the line spectral is all XO/ cane creek/ pike. thats a sick spec for the price point.

ya man, flats are just more 'fun'.

[FermiDirac]

clipless = clipped in the pedals with cleats i.e locked in.


First day riding clipless i hit pavement at the stop light with one foot still clipped in.

So embarrassing.

This is probably what I fear most, embarrassingly falling from a dead stop. I'd imagine it hurts like hell as well, landing on the shoulder/hip.

[no one]

This is probably what I fear most, embarrassingly falling from a dead stop. I'd imagine it hurts like hell as well, landing on the shoulder/hip.

falling at a dead stop hurts more than getting launched off it at 30kmp/h

[FermiDirac]

falling at a dead stop hurts more than getting launched off it at 30kmp/h

It's some kind of primordial fear that awakens when I'm on SPD's.
I've done a lot of dumb stuff on my bike and broken a lot of bones, but I've never been as afraid as when I'm clipped in and feel that slight "tilting" in one direction.

On the Canyon, I highly recommend the brand since you pay half the price of other bike companies and receive the same spec. I dare not even imagine what Canyon's top spec bikes would cost if the spec was placed on a frame like Trek or Specialized.

[_aj_]

This is probably what I fear most, embarrassingly falling from a dead stop. I'd imagine it hurts like hell as well, landing on the shoulder/hip.

Yup, that was my first week riding clipped in. Ugh.

[Wolfox]

This is probably what I fear most, embarrassingly falling from a dead stop. I'd imagine it hurts like hell as well, landing on the shoulder/hip.

I dont ride mountain bike trails so i cant say but riding in the street or on paths I can say you'll get use to clipping in and out with little worry.

The feeling of riding high speed clipped in is awesome. Much easier to generate power. Much more efficient use of energy.

[Wolfox]

Yup, that was my first week riding clipped in. Ugh.

You just gotta give it some time. Then clipping in and out is almost subconscious. You imprint that muscle memory.

Anyone who hasn't road clipless should google tips for newbs and watch youtube.

You'll get the hang of it.

[Palpatine Q]

You just gotta give it some time. Then clipping in and out is almost subconscious. You imprint that muscle memory.

Anyone who hasn't road clipless should google tips for newbs and watch youtube.

You'll get the hang of it.

That's where I'm at.

The mental block of having my feet locked in keeps me from going that route. plus I don't think I hit any trails advanced enough for me to need the gear. it's more exercise to me...I'm not some crazy banzai trail rider

[FermiDirac]

You just gotta give it some time. Then clipping in and out is almost subconscious. You imprint that muscle memory.

Anyone who hasn't road clipless should google tips for newbs and watch youtube.

You'll get the hang of it.

You are probably correct, I'll stick to SPD for gravel/asphalt on my mtb until it comes naturally and then I'll progress slowly to easy/light trails.
Currently, I'm practising by clipping in and out 10 times each side for a couple of sets.
For the "pedal pulling" I'm practising by pedalling with only one leg for a couple of hundred meters.

The easy way out is going back to what I'm comfortable with, riding with flats and flat shoes but I'm too stubborn and too sore a loser to give up this easily.
 

[no one]

It's some kind of primordial fear that awakens when I'm on SPD's.
I've done a lot of dumb stuff on my bike and broken a lot of bones, but I've never been as afraid as when I'm clipped in and feel that slight "tilting" in one direction.

On the Canyon, I highly recommend the brand since you pay half the price of other bike companies and receive the same spec. I dare not even imagine what Canyon's top spec bikes would cost if the spec was placed on a frame like Trek or Specialized.

my buddy just bought this http://www.specialized.com/ca/en/bikes/mountain/enduro/enduro-elite-650b - same spec as the canyon - cane in the back/ pike up front/ XO all around and i think it was around 6k after tax.

i test rode one. i found it too slow in corners compared to some other bikes ive ridden. wasnt very precise feeling. rather whale-ish instead of shark-like. but in terms of all day comfort it was a very good ride.

[no one]

You are probably correct, I'll stick to SPD for gravel/asphalt on my mtb until it comes naturally and then I'll progress slowly to easy/light trails.
Currently, I'm practising by clipping in and out 10 times each side for a couple of sets.
For the "pedal pulling" I'm practising by pedalling with only one leg for a couple of hundred meters.

The easy way out is going back to what I'm comfortable with, riding with flats and flat shoes but I'm too stubborn and too sore a loser to give up this easily.
 

this is the key word here. lol after chewing up my shins and hips and knees for 3 weeks i said fuck it. plus a really good bail off where i landed on my head hard enough to go to need to go to the chiro and get realigned.

its def a head thing in my case. i have a huge fear factor regarding them now. if i can get past that i'll try them again next year maybe. maybe. lol

[oldtimer1]

I ride on the road with SPD's pedals. When I ride off road I just ride with ordinary pedals. I'm not racing but just working out off road. I want instant feet off the pedals instead of being afraid of going down and locked in. On the road I feel safe knowing I can twist out quick enough.

[mazrim]

Recently have gotten really interested in biking after not doing cardio for years and started doing it again with bikes and really like it. Much more fun. Gotta look up what all these words/acronyms mean to learn more.

[FermiDirac]

Recently have gotten really interested in biking after not doing cardio for years and started doing it again with bikes and really like it. Much more fun. Gotta look up what all these words/acronyms mean to learn more.

I must warn you, it's highly addictive.

[no one]

Recently have gotten really interested in biking after not doing cardio for years and started doing it again with bikes and really like it. Much more fun. Gotta look up what all these words/acronyms mean to learn more.

once you get your cardio up and your flying thru the woods at breakneck speed all it is is pure fun and adrenaline. nothing exists in your life for those 2-3 hours but just you and your bike.

[no one]

was thinking we could make this a goto MTB thread for all things MTB related.

so an update. went out Saturday am w some older guys. not much giv'er but very good technically. did a lot of rocky rooty technical stuff. did a good 2.5 hrs.

at the start I blew a crank arm. came right off the spindle. got it back on and tightened it up. and for abt the dozen time this year endo'd the bars. I really need to see my chiro. it's affecting me in the gym. that's 3 bad spills since my last visit. def need to get that sorted Monday.

took my bike in and shimano is replacing the crankset under warranty and i'm switching to a 50mm stem. not using all my travel up front but think I'm a little too spongy. they're compressing too quickly and inertia does the rest to send me flying over so I'm going to adjust the pressure up front and see how that works. pump it to 200psi and play w the dampening a bit.

only a few more weeks of good riding left up here. hope I get it back for the weekend.