Back from another epic weekend at Afan. Cleaning the bike last night and noticed my lovely new cranks/pedals are now covered in small gouges from rock strikes.

Is this down to bad technique? I try to keep my pedals level as much as possible, drop an outside foot on non-bermed corners etc.

Certainly on the Whites/Blade climb I noticed catching the odd pedal on the more technical bits.

I occasionally catch my pedals, but its inevitable on the more rocky trails, mainly caused by stones thrown up by front wheel.

Pretty inevitable on rocky climbs unless you can find a way up them without pedalling. maybe you need these:

Although if you don’t clean it you don’t notice these things so much.

Also why only drop your outside foot on non bermed corners?

Is this down to bad technique?

Nope. It’s to do with being extremely rad. That’s what I tell myself anyway.

🙂

Mine are covered scuffs and marks. In direct line of stones, rocks, my ham fisted gigarad riding style.

Also why only drop your outside foot on non bermed corners?

Not quite sure, I think I was always told to try to keep my pedals level though berms. Think it’s just a habit now. Flat corners etc I drop my outside foot.

Cranks and pedals are like cats whiskers and as such should be IMO regarded as sacrificial parts.

I clip mine when I’m trying hard…

(too paraphrase another poster if your not mashing then through rocks your mincing)

don’t know how but managed to get the inside pedal & foot stuck under a rock on the final descent of whites IIRC it was the very last corner.

Is this down to bad technique

Normally yes, whenever I clip mine it’s always because I’ve made a mistake, if I’d timed things better, or been paying more attention it wouldn’t have happened.

Ergo, I normally clip my pedals more when I’m tired or not concentrating, technique definitely comes into it, and obviosuly with some bikes it’s easier than others depending on BB height, suspension, and what pedals you’re using, sure sometimes it’s just a result of being SuperGnar (!) but normally it’s a case of bad timing or not paying attention.

Certainly on the Whites/Blade climb I noticed catching the odd pedal on the more technical bits

This kind of backs that up, as there’s nothing particularly techy on the Whites climb, and certainly nothing that can’t be avoided if paying attention.