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Clipping in for num...
 

Clipping in for numpties

Posts: 1213
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The best clipless crash for me was when my cleat bolts slackened up slightly allowing the cleat to twist more and more every time I unclipped.

Cue stopping at a point waiting for mates to catch up, they catchup to witness me fall sideways and roll down the bank as I couldn't work out why I was stuck.

 


 
Posted : 28/08/2025 8:20 am
Posts: 7135
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I did experience a bit of 'float'. On berms and jumps where I'm using a bit of body language, if one of my feet goes light I can feel it swivel a bit. Is this normal or should they be set tighter?

As this part seems to have been ignored...

Adjusting the tension doesn't change the float. The tension is purely the affecting the force required to separate the mechanism and allow your foot out. Float is build into the system to allow your foot to move before the release mechanism is pushed against


 
Posted : 28/08/2025 9:38 am
Posts: 3358
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What I did for my first ride was swap my pedals in Chatel carpark, and jump in the first trail in front of me. 

This may or may not have been the best way to start riding clipless as I didn’t commit hard enough to the first berm, slid out and slit my wrist on the one pointy stone!  A bit of superglue and duct tape and I was ready to try again. Kept them on for the next 12 months to give them a proper chance. 

Having tried Crank Bros and Shimano we definitely prefer Shimano for feel and use. I have some old DXs and the wife has switched to Hope Union Gravity pedals this summer. Neither of us could get on with the feel of Mallets  

Good luck and have fun


 
Posted : 28/08/2025 10:02 am
Posts: 9010
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He uses flats so I just jumped off the pedals and the bike clattered into the kerb.

That's similar to how I found moving to flats after years of SPDs. Very unnerving jumping off the pedals immediately before riding a drop!

I'm completely used to flats now and probably would need to retrain myself if I wanted to use SPDs again.

Has anyone gone back to SPDs after learning flats (to a natural level)? Curious to know if, for someone knowing the flat pedal technique for bunny hops, being attached can be taken advantage of for boosting height even further?

 


 
Posted : 28/08/2025 10:45 am
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