[Closed] Anyone moved from clipless to flats?

I went from clips to flats on my full sus about 4 years ago. Haven't really regretted it. Still struggle with foot placement sometimes, and I initially had issues with not dropping my heels enough. I think this was just because I had become lazy with being clipped in. I've only had a couple of run ins with my pedal pins.

Made the switch a few weeks ago to see how I get on.
1st couple of rides were interesting but seems to be getting easier every ride and I'm planning on sticking with them for a while.
No shin-pin interaction yet...

Good to hear I’ve visions of my shins being cheese grated.

I started switching between the 2 after years on SPDs - found that shoes and pedals are so grippy now that it wasn't much of an issue. Much prefer flats at places like BPW and Rogate. After spending a few Covid related months of riding with clips I was pretty crap on my flats last time I rode them, but it comes back pretty quick. Haven't had any pin/shin interfaces.

Assuming you'll be taking it easy due to the knee surgery, there will be little chance of shredding your shins.

I made the move a few years ago, after jumping off the pedals for bunny hops, and feet leaving pedals on small drops and bumpy stuff, I soon learnt where to put my weight!

Numerous threads on the topic.

I did a few years back. It's a bit like knives in that a chef will tell you it's blunt knives that cut people.

Don't be put off by aggressive looking pins.
Ride with the mid foot over the axle rather than ball of the foot and point your heels down.
Saddle position might need adjusting.
Some combinations of pedal and shoe may make it harder to adjust foot position than a pedal with float.
You will spike the back of your calves while pushing the bike.
Get some Nox Sox to protect the car/house/shed/other bikes/family pets etc.

I've no intention of going back to clippers, in fact my last ride out in the road bike used flat pedals.

I switched back to flats after I damaged a clipless shoe. At first my feet were coming off when lifting the back end when hopping and jumping but after two rides all was fine - I think I was just over thinking it.

It sounds odd but my main issue with flats is that I don't seem to naturally place my foot in the optimum position every time, and find myself checking/correcting when I really should be concentrating on the fast-approaching feature!

Couple of things that I always notice when I go from one to the other.

After loads of time on clips, you'll notice that your foot will never quite be where you want it to be when you're on flats. It doesn't really matter, and you should probably ignore it, but it will bug you.

If you've bought flats with pins in them, you will need to consciously lift your foot from the pedal and replace it, if your foot's in the wrong place On a moving pedal that's not as easy as you might want it to be for the first couple of times. If you're doing it in a tricky uphill gnadgery section, it may even cause you to put a foot down. This also goes away after a while

You'll be surprised how much you use clips to move the back of the bike around, think of this as a way to relearn what you used to take for granted.

You'll be surprised at how easy it is for your foot to come off the pedal, unless your technique (heel down) is good.

You'll be surprised how easy it is, to get going again (especially uphill) if you've need to stop. and you'll be surprised how little difference to your uphill speed; clips make.

It's a fun way to keep MTBing fresh. Some bits of your trails will become a new challenge for you

Switched from clipless to flats on the mtb a year or so ago, much better for riding steep stuff as you can dab a lot easier.

So use clipless on the gravel bike, so go between them both regularly.

With proper grippy flat shoes it's hard to slip a pedal tbh.

"You’ll be surprised how easy it is, to get going again (especially uphill) if you’ve need to stop. and you’ll be surprised how little difference to your uphill speed; clips make."

this.. I've been playing with clips recently.. and I'm having a hard time feeling anywhere as near planted as I am on platforms....I really like the big platform I can feel under my foot, and I kind of gathered I wouldn't get on with the true clip platform combo (I would get stuck)
Literally just ordered a set of Mopeds to see if that's the combination I'm looking for

Ive only actually felt the benefit of being clipped in for pedaling efficiency once.. sprinting...

Switched to flats, as long as you stay on the ground your shins are safe. I've started learning to bunny hop immediately so now I have emmentaler-shins 😉

Cheers think I’ll give them a go , anyone using the Kona Wah Wah II Pedals?

went spds to flats a bit more than a year ago on my mtbs, ride spds on my xbike. Advantages:

- being able to dab on the way up and not fall over sideways when i run out of beans,
- being able to dab to make tight loose turns on the way down. It's really not cheating,
- walking into the pub without sounding like a clog dancer,
- just generally feeling solid

Disadvantages:

- yep, spiking back of calf when pushing. I've only cut myself once on the shin and not that badly, but had to take one of my lads to Wharfedale minor injuries last night after his first time out on spiky pedals, to get his shin glued up again and have my attempts at dressings laughed at.
- not being able to pull the back over obstacles on tech climbs, still not lost the reflex.
- likewise, as a very rarely (deliberately) airborne rider, I feel less secure on jumps and struggle to get the back of the bike off the ground. I know I should learn to manual and bunny hop for real, but, well, you know...
- difficulty changing foot position once you've started a downhill section.

Blimey an essay. Either way, sticking with flats (nukeproof plastic ones with little bolt pins, colours matching bike frame).

I went Spd from flat in about 1995 and only gave up about five years ago. I just wish I had returned to flat years ago, I just can't find a downside. I still have Spd on my road and gravel bike but for pure MTB it's flat all the way

Yep - and switched back shortly after. Shortly that is after a month off the bike  and numerous trips to A&E....

@martinkiely I’m assuming shin grating

I used to ride spds but I switched to flats when i got back into riding, because my leg's held on with bolts and one of my knees is pretty dodgy, it just seemed a good idea.

Still not sure which I prefer tbh. They both have advantages, I guess I'd say the only time it's a decisive advantage, is when it's flats- ie, snow and not filling your pedals with ice. The mega'd be a bit tricker on spds when you're a glacier-tripodder like me! Also, I just like being able to ride in normal shoes- go for a spur of the moment spin or just jump on when spannering...

I like that they both teach you different skills though.

Question is:

1 Colour match pedals to frame? Or

2 Colour match pedals to hubs etc

Swamp green Krampus with Hope purple bling hubs and purple Hope headset

Yes, switched around 5 years ago, I had an off in which one foot remained clipped in. I twisted my leg, knee and ankle.
Ride mid foot, I found it easier to drop my ankles in that position. I've never gone back, I wish I'd done it earlier.
As said above, you'll need to adjust your saddle. I needed to lower it a bit.

Clips to flats here about a decade ago. Did my trail cycle leader training and realised my technique was poor so swapped as a ‘learning’ thing. Since decided that flats are just more fun to ride on for MTB. Have recently been riding a bit more MTB after years of gravel and road. Tried the SPDs out and confirmed what I found before - flats are just more fun for me.

I switched about 4 years ago after many years of riding clipped in, but a couple of crashes wrecked my confidence. Still ride my gravel bike clipped in, but don't see any need to go back on my mountain bike. I don't really notice any lack of climbing efficiency with flats, but then I don't have a power meter either. All the above comments about adjusting saddle etc. are bob on. I have had a few minor spills but my shins haven't been shredded to mince.

Switched nearly 25 years ago 😳

Never found shins a problem. Calves and achilles when you’re pushing the bike, however…

I've switched a bit over the years, but probably spent nearly 10 years on SPDs, only to switch to flats a few months back just for a change. As others have said, first few rides were tricky - on drop offs and jumps in particular for me - but I've now got back into it. I like being able to move my feet around and (as I've become wimpier) like the option to bail more easily! I also really like it for more technical slow stuff where a bit of track standing/thinking time might be required.

Will keep SPDs on the CX bike though.

I chop and change between flats and clips a fair bit. No real reason. I just fancy a change now and again. After about ten minutes on the flats I'm comfy again. They really don't let you away with being lazy on steep techy stuff which I love. Keeps my habits in the right direction foot wise.

A small learning and you will be fine

Was on clips for about 10 years, then precisely 2 years ago decided to switch to flats. Might be relevant to point that my use ranges from full on DH tracks to all day trail rides.

It was a slow process of adaptation for me, but an absolutely worthy one. My riding had several issues that were being camouflaged by clips but badly surfaced with flats:
- my body position was all over the place, the load on my feet was not consistent, I was loosing composure all the time and the bike was taking me for a ride
- I wasn't dropping my heels
- I wasn't preloading the bike prior to maneuvers

Correcting these not only made flat pedals usable, but also made me a way better rider.
After 2 years I can say that:
- flats let you know on spot if you are with the wrong body position
- I used to consistently drop my outside foot on corners, now I always corner with level pedals, feel more stable this way
- all my current personal bests are on flat pedals
- climbing was never an issue, personally never understood the whole pedaling efficiency thing
- feel way more comfortable on long days on the bike. Feet, ankles and knees are not locked and more naturally
- raising your bars a little Vs your clips setup is generally a good idea, in my case +20mm made a huge difference on how planted my feet feel
- I feel a lot more connected to the bike, I know that as long as I do the correct operation the bike will do what I want, no unforeseen unclipping, etc

Great advice re set up will adjust saddle accordingly. Looking forward to not being so rigid especially my knees

I started to re-learn riding on flats recently. I haven't switched fully, flats on the BMX and the long-low-slack hardtail for fun stuff, clips on the faster bikes because I find them more efficient. I can happily switch backwards and forwards, took a bit of time to adjust back to flats after 20+ years on clips, but decent pedals and sticky shoes (CB Stamps and 5.10 Impacts in my case) means I haven't stabbed myself in the shins too many times...

fudge9202

Shin ripping (to the bone - bleugh!) rather than gouging... as bad as it sounds!

Get some burgtec penthouse flats btw

Switched 2 years ago after my ACL reconstruction. Got DMR pedals which are fine, but I only owned xc type shoes, so started off trying to ride in approach shoes - fine as I very slowly pottered about; but after a while drove me mad slipping off the pedals and @p20 picked me up some 5:10's in the CRC sale and it has been much better since.

That said, pending buying new pedals, I am looking to go back. I have ridden clipped in on cx and road for the last year plus.

switched to flats after many years with clips at the start of lockdown, so i could practice balancing, wheelies, manuals, and jumping off stuff in the garden, left them on so far, it does (re)teach you to get your feet and weight balance correct or they tend to bite you.

I know shallow question but pedals to match frame colour or match hub/headset colour?

Switch between SPDs (now Time) and flats few times each year, this year mostly on SPDs as I haven’t ridden any bike parks.

I’d use flats more but I find that they aggravate my knees more than SPDs. My theory is that on technical sections with flats I’m pushing pedals down more from different angles which my knees don’t like.

I know shallow question but pedals to match frame colour or match hub/headset colour?

I like a bit of colour on a bike, but always go for black pedals. Any anodising wears off very quickly.

Used SPD's for over 20 years and put flats on one bike to re learn some old skills for fun. It's taking me a while to break out of the habit of pulling up and small jumps and rough parts. I do find them quite a lot slower up hill or sprinting but that was expected.

I switched to flats 2 rides ago. And I have a nice shin dig to show for it, before I even left the garden.

If you’re a life long spd man then like me you’ll be putting your foot far too far back for flats. We usually put the ball of our foot on the pedal axel with spds, but you need the ball fo your foot in front of the axel for flats. This means you need to relearn/reset the muscle memory.

It’s important, because with the foot in the spd position you’ll not be able to lift the back of the bike with your feet very easily. Your toes won’t “grip” the pedal and therefore you’ll slip off when you bunny hop. When you land the bunny hop you’ll effectively apply pressure to the back 50% of the pedal and it will spin round and gouge your shin. This is what I learned in the garden day 1 of flats.

Really concentrate on foot position and it’s absolutely fine. It’s like learning a skill - practice and concentration until the foot position is second nature.

Also, flats are so very grippy now compared to the late ‘90s, which inspires confidence a whole lot more. I’m using nukeproof neutron composites.

Hope this helps. Watch videos on foot position, it’s the only thing which will limit progress and cause shin digs in my experience. Very important and easy - simply move your foot to the right place. Just don’t forget to check/do it. It feels odd but makes a world of difference

@rickbst170 great explanation and great tip about video tutorials. I’ll check out YouTube. Cheers.

Also, on foot positioning, I see a good number of comments on trouble to both place the foot right away in the right place and correcting the position when riding.

This was an issue for me as well for a very long time, each time I put my feet on the pedals they went into the wrong place, to the point I was looking down to check what I was doing. Besides putting down the miles (perhaps the most important thing) the biggest thing for me was simply stop thinking about it. Just slamming the feet into the pedals and not pay attention to it for some reason seems to make things right.

On foot position correcting when riding, I'd say it pays off to play a bit with the pedal pins. Using Nukeproof Horizons with Five Ten Impacts I had trouble to adjust foot position, and then, after seeing so many people doing so, I removed the two inside pins on the pedals. This somehow made a world of difference, I can now adjust my feet mid ride without and detriment to actual pedal traction

I tend to switch between both. Generally I’m happier in flats (in my case I use 5-10 freerider elements with Superstar Nano Evo pedals) but I find on rocky / fast stuff I’d you’re doing it all day my ankles get sore on flats towards the end of the day. No idea why, but I don’t get that on spds. Wonder if it’s because I don’t keep my heels down enough and it’s putting force into my ankles gripping the pedals.

We’ve got a 3 dayer coming up - day at FOD exploring off piste - will use flats for that. BMCC uplift day - will be clipped in for that probably. 3rd day I decided yet but unless it’s steep off-piste I’ll probably leave the clips on.

Most of my riding is on flats though - most pin related injuries are from catching the front or back of my lower leg whilst pushing the bike uphill or getting it out the garage!

Match to frame...

(editing - why didn't that work - weird - can see pics on my phone, not on work laptop)

...agree with all the comments about how you actually have to (re)learn how to ride properly.

Not sure if this is a counter argument, or just showing that I'm a luddite but, having read so many of these types of threads and subsequently tried flats (V10s and 2FO shoes) for a few rides - I always return to clips.

The thought process is that I'd like to be able to mess about with wheelies, manuals and general messing around occasionally. Doing this with clips is asking for trouble and most of my rides don't really warrant these techniques, so it is just for messing about on.

However after 30 yrs+ of SPDs, releasing and placing my feet is very much second nature and I wouldn't hesitate on any trail just because I have my feet clipped in.

When going onto flats, the shoe to pedal grip is immense and I have trouble telling myself I can get my foot off the pedal rather simply in tough situations. Sounds very strange and counter to what most imagine but I feel more connected to the bike with flats and thus get nervous and cock things up.

Not sure this is just me being a tit or if others have felt this. Personally I get fed up with it after a few rides and then put the clips back on. I know perseverance is needed but I just don't seem to be able to stick with the damn things. 🙁

I switched just before a trip to see jedi bike skills. He tought me that the pedal should be in the centre of the shoe and you dont really need to dip your heel. You use you knees to absorb and tge movement needed to hop should be enough so that you don't need to lift at the pedals.

Never lost my footing after this but i missed being clipped in when on bumpy flat sections and also found myself dabbing more on steep stuff because it was easier. I also found it annoyingbto place your foot in the correct position when climbing.

I returned to clips. Prefer it for xc and hardtail but my ability to pop off things is now turd again which id say is tge biggest gain with flats.

Depends on the bike or the riding innit. Flats for tech, clips for miles.

I use both.

I’m thinking flats for my Krampus, I do run Candy pedals on my Vaya which I prefer for long rides and climbing.

Pretty much ditched the SPD's a couple of years ago.

The best thing I did was get some proper stiff and sticky flat pedal shoes (5-10s in my case). Normal trainers and cut price skate shoes are NOT the answer.

I've got some lovely NS bikes flats on my good bike and a set of £25 Wellgo ones on the winter/riding with kids/taking on holiday hardtail. Both work fine but the Wellgo ones rattle like a box of rusty spanners!

I'm not hucking stuff to power of gnarr squared just going out and riding.

Best move I ever made after a few months learning to drop my heels and improve my pedal stroke to compensate.

No weird disco slippers, no hot spots on the balls of my feet (I tended to ride xc SPDs).

Even my road bike has flats on it now for convenience.

The worst injury I've ever done to myself with a flat pedal I wasn't even riding the bike. After the kids filled the side passage with badly propped up bikes and I fell over one and smashed my shin on a pedal as I face planted into the lawn.

I was on clips in the 80's, early adopter.
Shifted to flats after an Alpine trip in about 07 scared the crap out of me - trying to clip back on super steep rocky tech was hair raising.
Tried lots of nice flats, inc Kona WahWah v1, Penthouse Flats, Vaults.
Next chapter:
Bought a Geometron from Mr Porter in '15, it’s a very long bike so dropping the heels sufficiently needs a lot of effort / thought - so I went back too clips, Mallets.

(I saw a very interesting article by Richard Cunningham (Pinkbike) about Danny Harts super impressive muddy Champerey run, commenting on how far over the front of the bike Danny rode (too far to drop the heels much), Cunningham said this riding style and longer bikes being introduced would mean no more flats on the WC DH).

Me, though - even with the cleats slid right back in my AM7 shoes I never totally loved the foot position or messing about clipping in which sometimes just occasionally would make me feel like an uncoordinated gimp. I DID, though, love the ease of hopping the rear around, yeah that’s bad technique, I know.
Swopped back to flats last Autumn to better deal with slippy mud - the advantages of quicker foot down action when on flats.

When Summer arrived clips went back on - but this year I just couldn't get used to clipping back in - so I am back on flats and treated myself to some WahWah v2 composites, they are SO good with the 510 Freeride Contacts (with the bald sole). Nice and wide for my size 10's.

BTW I watched an EMBN video today with Fabien Barel and Steve Jones talking about flow. Intriguingly Barel said that he feels flats make for better corner grip as you are pushing into the outside foot better.
However, he rides Mallet clips, so, surely, he can do both, (have you seen him corner!) he also mentioned much preferring the clips on tech climbs, moving the bike around.

Get some Kona Wah Wah 2's, I got plastic as a low cost of entry and I love em, I don't get how folk think composite pedals are not grippy, they are great when the pins are positioned right by the designer. They are staying on.

The remedy for low heels on long bikes is a taller handlebar. I had the same issue you describe with a size L AM9 (500mm reach) until I raised the bars about 20 ou 25mm. Problem solved.

While I generally enjoy Cunningham's writing, that specific article, IMO, was not very sound for a number of reasons, many surrounding the pseudo scientific "Sam Hill rides aligned with the bike forces" thing. In my view WC racers tend to ride clipless because:
- their risk-reward balance is way different than ours
- they are good enough technically for the clips not to mess with their riding
- as professionals, they need to search for every single drop of juice

I am leaning towards the wag Wah 2 pedals, can you recommend which 5:10 shoes I should start with.

Freeriders or Freerider Pros on sale.

I personally am a Impact fan, very protective, the rigid sole keeps feet fatigue down on long or intense days, very good pedaling efficiency and love to walk on them on rough trails

I'm going to make this switch now after 25 years on clips, considered it for a while then the Adidas discount tipped me over the edge.

Five ten Freeriders and nukeproof neutron pedals ordered today.

I have switched between flats and clips at various points over the last 25 years, now I'm only on flats. Clips made me lazy on the bike and never felt fully in control, couldn't pick up the back of the bike and put it where I wanted it as easily as with flats. Current set up is Shimano GR9 and Deity Decoys but I'm looking forward to some Chromag Daggas arriving.

Were did you get the daggas from. They seem to be out of stock everywhere.

I was quite excited about the Daggas until I saw NSMB's review with pics of them next to other popular pedals. The size difference next to the Horizons (my current ones) is so marginal I could never justify the cost

Rode flats on my mtb for the first time 2 weeks ago and the improvement in my riding is palpable already.

Endura shin guard socks are your friends btw.

Switched a couple of years ago on the trail bike. (was formerly clipped in 100%)

Not having a commute this summer means I've not clipped in (or got the rigid bike out of the loft) since last september.

I have a (probably irrational) fear of a front end washout, which leaves my inside leg caught in the pedal, and going down destroying my knee. No I dont washout with flats, and I probably am not quick enough to save it with a dab anyway. Like I said, irrational, but gives me confidence, especially cornering and pumping.

Trying it in running shoes and crap pedals, only to decry it as rubbish and switch back to clips is not the path to success. I'm a 5.10 fan, I'm sure others are also good. Every time I see something described as being as good as 5.10, they cost the same, so I dont take the risk.

I use the freerider pro, which is completely different to the freerider (an often overlooked fact. The criticisms of the free rider, being hot, heavy, and holding a load of water don't apply to the pro)

I have genuinely no idea how people cut their shins on pedals while riding, what is the mechanism? but they do stick out a bit, at shin height, when pushing, putting in a car, etc.

I have genuinely no idea how people cut their shins on pedals while riding, what is the mechanism?

In all honesty, the fact that so many seem to "struggle" with riding flat pedals, aka without the crutch of being attached to the bike, tells you everything you need to know. Nobody learns to ride a bike as a kid clipped in..

i move back and forth a fair bit - mainly to keep things interesting. i came from flats originally. i ride differently for both and i think one style complements thee other. for example - i`m more confident in my tyres from using clips and move the bike more. but have the flat techniques for bunnyhopping etc.

perseverance is key. youll have moments of 'sod that' but they will get less. Im back on flats as i`m doing more messing about and less serious riding.

@brads great tip on the Endura shin guard socks. I’ll have a look at those. Could avoid needless effing and blinding😂

Went flat a couple of years ago after many attempts with probably 20 years on SPDs, for the last 15 on Time ATACs due to knee issues, can't even think of going back now, it's all about getting the right combo though, some pedals don't mate well with some shoes, i found that on certain types, in the end i have five tens (like everyone else), as the rubber on the soul and pattern just mate well with a fair few pedal types, pedal wise, i found longer studs work better, best pedal i've used in the raceface atlas, but it's expensive, i got a deal on one over a year ago and wish i'd bought two now!

But, most pedals are decent enough these days, if you're not a jumper or hitting big stuff, then composite flats are good, same shape and pattern, just a different material and half the price, i found in composites penthouse composite or crank brother stamp composites are good.

As for shin burgers, as others say, starting out you can use some shin guards, doesn't have to be fancy, some football/hockey style small lightweight ones will do, make sure they have the elasticated bands though, easier to use for long rides.

@ argee has looked at Kona Wah Wah II pedals, I’ll look at those you suggested. Probably composite to see how I go without too much expense.

In all honesty, the fact that so many seem to “struggle” with riding flat pedals, aka without the crutch of being attached to the bike, tells you everything you need to know.

oh yeah? What’s that then?

if you actually read what folk are saying is that “after spending 20 years doing one thing, I’m now trying another thing” not a massive surprise that folk find it a bit weird, no?

So my 5:10 sleuth shoes arrived. Seem good quality and really comfortable. I just ordered a pair of HT resin pedals after reading some great reviews.

These ones

https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/components/pedals/ht-pa03a-flat-pedals-review/

Anyone running them?