I may be ditching the clipless setup

[SuperJETT]

I'm doing fine but do have a fall maybe every 3rd ride or so, it just depends on which trail I'm riding.

However, the more I read and think about it, at max I'm gaining 10% efficiency but increasing the odds I'll get hurt, plus I listened/read this today: http://www.bikejames.com/q-a/flats-vs-clipless-pedals/ Make sure to listen to the podcast, here's the mp3 if you need it http://mtbstrengthcoach.podbean.com/mf/web/4aeqer/FlatsvsCliplessPedals.mp3

I'm probably going to get some decent platforms and good shoes and see how I do.

The short story of his podcast: clipless are great for top riders and roadies, but the average rider doesn't gain enough to account for the increased risk

 

[WaveDemon]

I'm doing fine but do have a fall maybe every 3rd ride or so, it just depends on which trail I'm riding.

However, the more I read and think about it, at max I'm gaining 10% efficiency but increasing the odds I'll get hurt, plus I listened/read this today: http://www.bikejames.com/q-a/flats-vs-clipless-pedals/ Make sure to listen to the podcast, here's the mp3 if you need it http://mtbstrengthcoach.podbean.com/mf/web/4aeqer/FlatsvsCliplessPedals.mp3

I'm probably going to get some decent platforms and good shoes and see how I do.

The short story of his podcast: clipless are great for top riders and roadies, but the average rider doesn't gain enough to account for the increased risk

are you swapping to just platforms or platforms and clips? I rarely ride my bike with it's cyclocross tires on so I'm basically an on road guy and ride with clips (and love them).

 

[SJBrit]

I didn't like mine to start with, but once I'd become used to them I couldn't ride without them. A lot depends on getting good pedals that release well, but nevertheless hold you in when you want them too. Like I said before, it's been a good while since I was riding seriously, but my Look SPDs were the bomb - super tight hold with plenty of float to save your knees, easy clip-in even in thick mud, and I never got stuck in them on a fall. Being clipped in saved my butt countless times - sometimes you just need both wheels off the ground in a hurry.

 

[Big Kahuna]

I have about 15 years on clipless. I am going to disagree with the "top riders adn roadies" comment.

One if the biggest reasons people fall at low speeds is from looking at the obsticle. Look ahead of where you are going. If you get stopped, you will not be anticipating the fall and you will just unclip.

 

[McDog]

Don't give up now. It will be 2nd nature to unclip before you fall after the first year. It will be subconcious. I can't imagine riding any other way now. I love my Time ATAC's.

Don't be a wuss old man! The falls from adjusting to clipless are usually slow speed falls. Not enough to injure you, just enough to hurt.

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

For me it's about so much more than just the 10% increase in efficiency or whatever. Once I was accustomed to clip-less my whole riding style changed. It makes it so much easier to manipulate what the bike is doing instead of just being along for the ride, esp in the air.

 

[SJBrit]

For me it's about so much more than just the 10% increase in efficiency or whatever. Once I was accustomed to clip-less my whole riding style changed. It makes it so much easier to manipulate what the bike is doing instead of just being along for the ride, esp in the air.

X2. It's not about efficiency - it's about control. You just can't properly control a bike that you're not attached to.

 

[SuperJETT]

I don't think you guys listened to the podcast?

 

[Big Kahuna]

about 30 seconds.

Anybody can speak about what they found to work for them. If your bombing down a mountain or doing dirt jumps, then loose the clips and go platforms.

 

[WaveDemon]

I listened to it. the guy sounds like a tool and doesn't like clipless because he had a bad experience when he first got his bike.

Basically he says don't go clipless before you now how to ride your bike and then makes a case for never going clipless.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Bingo

 

[SuperJETT]

Have any of you ever ridden with 5.10 shoes and platforms?

 

[SJBrit]

Yup: my lower legs are almost entirely comprised of scar tissue to prove it....

 

[NVJAY775]

I've never liked clips, because they put me in ER twice. For me, the gain was not worth the pain. But that was 10yrs ago. I don't ride anymore, because I have a hard time riding slow and mellow. Used to race bmx a lot and then freestyle, so they were not the ticket for me. And I was on a bmx bike. Times and tech have changed though... I'm 41 now. When I needed to bail, or needed to adjust in the air, I needed freedom from the bike. It's nice to be able to pull a leg, make an in air adjustment, then get back on before landing. Everybody has different riding needs to fit their style, or type of riding.
I even took the clips off my mtn bike too. But I was still jumping.

Just my .02

 

[Big Kahuna]

I've never liked clips, because they put me in ER twice. For me, the gain was not worth the pain. But that was 10yrs ago. I don't ride anymore, because I have a hard time riding slow and mellow. Used to race bmx a lot and then freestyle, so they were not the ticket for me. And I was on a bmx bike. Times and tech have changed though... I'm 41 now. When I needed to bail, or needed to adjust in the air, I needed freedom from the bike. It's nice to be able to pull a leg, make an in air adjustment, then get back on before landing. Everybody has different riding needs to fit their style, or type of riding.
I even took the clips off my mtn bike too. But I was still jumping.

Just my .02

But your riding is not that of typical mountain biker. Your needs involved platforms.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Darin, if you have SPD's, try losening up the tension all the way.

 

[accbr]

Have any of you ever ridden with 5.10 shoes and platforms?

I have some Kona Jacksh!t platforms with some sticky skate shoes I tried. I ended up going back to clipless pedals for the trails. The hold you foot on there pretty good, but you still can't pull up on the pedals to hop the bike around. I'm not sure if I would like them if I was doing a lot of down hill runs though.

I'll put the Kona platforms on occasionally if I'm gonna be riding around the neighborhood with my son. They spikes on the platforms will eat your leg up if you accidentally spin the crank into your shin or calf. Wear shin guards if you get platforms.

edit: I'm going to get some egg beater mallets to try. Looks like the best of both.

 

[smoofers]

I have been riding clipless pedals for ~12 years now. Still have yet to have a wipe out that I didn't unclip for. It is all about knowing your bike and how your body should be reacting to it (just like a ski).

The great thing they add is upstroke power... you can push down with one leg and pull up with the other.

Most people I have met that hate clipless usually weren't at the level they should have been to be using them in the first place. It takes a bit of coordination and calm under pressure to learn how and when to unclip.

I personally think they are worth the extra "danger" for a normal cross-country rider.

 

[sportfish258]

If You ditch the clip less pedals you CAN NOT pedal with proper circular form ie efficiency . The clips allow you in simple terms to push with one leg and pull thru with the other. You are using all the muscle groups in your legs as well as your core . This circular motion yields way more efficiency IMO . Control / handling are also very key elements clip less pedals offer . I don't know how they come up with 10% or what ever the calculated loss was , but I do know after 22 years of riding that that number is wrong unless your riding a slide ruler. I don't know many things on this forum , but i do know this topic . Now .... enough of this non sense. You WILL learn to like and master clipless pedals and that is final .


seriously , ride in your yard a few minutes a day and practice clipping in and dismounts. The industrial engineers that do Motion studies say it takes 500 repetitions of a particular motion before your body / mind START to make it an unconscious decision. On trails there is no time to decide, it must be an unconscious decision. As for looping out a wheelie in a parking lot .............. you are on your own. One must ride that little maneuver all the way to it's gravely end.