My girlfriends starting to take to mountain biking which is great in my opinion, joining me for the odd ride or two and out regualarly with a local girlie group.

However, she's shredded her shins twice over the last few weeks on DMR V8's, and now refuses to use them again, but also doesn't want SPD's. 🙄

Where do I go from here?

I'd rather avoid shin pads or toe clips. Are there any pedals out there which might fit the bill?

These are not actually that bad grip wise, and they are quite light and very cheap! They even come in purple!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=40073

crank bros 50 50's not too shin shreddy.

V8s or similar (I like Kona Wahwahs) with 5:10s and learn to push into the pedals. It takes time, and there will be accidents, but it's the only way to learn.

Even kid's style nylon pedals get nasty burrs on which will slice you open (and you're a damn sight more likely to do it because they're slippy!)

Oh, and shin pads whilst you're learning!

crank bros 50 50's not too shin shreddy.

Or Grippy, I'm using Wellgo B54's at the minute, not bad for the price but if money's not a factor them Easton Flatboys FTW…

all flat pedals will ruin shins unless correct technique is used to stay in contact with them

What Jedi said. It helps to lower your saddle a bit and try to read the terrain and move with the bike. I'd actually put longer pins in the leading edge of each pedal – they look nasty, but it makes them a fair bit grippier.

yep, and the cheaper less grippy ones are more likely to shred your shins are you are more likely to slip them. Personally I would get some of the SS Nano's and some grippy shoes, that way she won't shred her shins as she won't slip off them.

Also as jedi said, you need some technique with them as well, so you need to make sure she is dropping her heels and pushing into the pedals

These are really, really good. They have an absolutely huge platform and are supportive and tolerably grippy without being spiky. They wouldn't do for anyone rad or extreme, but for bashing around off road on things which aren't too rough they are fine. 🙂

buy her some shin pads you tight git! 🙂

Clipless pedals but with a platform? This way she can be confident of having a full pedal with the added security of the mechanism when she wants to. My SO took a while to get used to clipless but would not go back now.

I bought Shimano DX's as a first flat pedal partly for not getting shredded too much. Leave the short pins in the edge and use the longer pins in the middle where the pedal is concave.

Shin pads are one option. The other option that worked brilliantly for me was just wearing long thick ski socks. Even the long DX pins didn't seem to get through the socks

do you wear those socks with shorts?
The style.

one sided flat/spd pedals are rubbish for off road riding.

glenh – Member
do you wear those socks with shorts?
The style.

Tis a sartorial conundrum, but I only wear 3/4 baggies, and only pull the socks up on the downhill or pushing bits where there is most chance of pedal/shin contact. Don't bother with them now so I am back riding with other people 🙂

Why not shin pads?

Anyway, a less shin damaging pedal will provide less grip, she'll slip more and probably be worse off than with the v8's.

Get some decent wide flat pedals (not v8/v12's or crank bro's 50 50's), and decent grippy soled shoes, if 5-10's or shimano am40's are too expensive, then get some cheap skate shoes with a sole that the pins will grip/push into.

But, it basically comes down to technique as to why the foot is slipping off all the time, she needs to learn the basics of controlling the bike with the feet. Practice practice practice 😉

What shin pads would you recommend for women?

fuse

Jedi

The fuse pads look good but I can't find any in stock anywhere apart from Winstanley's who only have size XL. She's not an XL 😉

I'm thinking these might be the answer…

http://www.enemite-bmx.co.uk/moreinfo.php/King_Kong_BMX_Shin_Pads/651

try custom riders

Shin pads til she stops doing it. Wish I'd done that myself 🙄

Shinpads is the answer – IMO flats and shinpads should be considered as a pair. Don't want shinpads – use spds

always worn shinpads on flats apart from commuting and that one time i took them off – did one more (trials) move, gashed my shin to the bone and gouged my shin bone – ow!

661 veggie shin – ace. also do kids sizes if she is v. small

Some flat pedals are pretty poor in the grip stakes (50 50s being a good example) the problem is only compounded by poor shoe choice, hiking boots/shoes do NOT make a good flat pedal shoe. If you hit your leg hard enough any pedal will hurt, so pads would be a good idea. As said above, she needs to learn technique inc' foot placement … it does differ a lot from that of clipless.

Stuart

As a girlie, can I suggest that decent shoes will make a huge difference. 5:10's for me 8)

IMO DMR pedals are rubbish, have recently been converted (recent thread on here) to Straitlines. Very happy with them, also use Funn Soljams which can shred calves 🙄

I know these pedals have a large platform but it's needed cos 5:10's are a tad chunky.

Hope this helps.

Maybe I need a grippy shoes for girls thread!

Cheers for all the advice 😀

I wear men's cos the word "small" does not apply to me 🙄

Actually you can get girlie 5:10's with purple bits.

Being a girlie who massively used to shred her shins……I'd recommend 5:10's, Lithium (?) Specialised pedals and 661 shin pads, although have been brave enough to ride out a few times recently without the pads (and without injury!) so am either losing my sanity or getting slightly better??
The only downside to 5:10's is that they hold water in the padded bit on the inside of the ankle; its like wearing a large sponge in wetter weather