[Closed] Convince me that flat pedals are the way forward.

They're really not.

use what you w ant

Another use what you want. I like messing around with flats but I like longer rides with clips and really miss clips on technical climbs where I really need the power and to be stuck to the pedals. Oh and get a 4-5 year old decent bike that has not been ridden very much instead of paying thousands for this years must have.

Use what you're comfortable on.

I'd never ride off road with them. Fine rolling down to the shop.

Everyone seems to be using them now and even bike journos are ditching the spds for them

That's all your need, surely?

yes yes...I will ride what I want (and my bike is 6 years old) but I need to understand the hulla-ballo about them, and are they are all they are cracked up to be.

Their main benefit is that they force you to develop certain aspects of technique which then improve your riding whatever pedals you use.

what do they force you to do?

god knows but can,t wait for the answer.hahaha

me too.....in suspense as this could be the trump card!

I like riding flats at the moment but I'm struggling to say anything in their favour....

I've put flats on after 16 years of SPDs.
I'm finding it easier to learn how to pump. Bigger pedals mean I can push through my feet more. Same for fast cornering and riding berms, I feel like I can push my weight on the outside pedal more cos there's more of it.
I'm practising my manuals and wheelies and I worry less about coming off and going down with the bike when I'm using flats.
Also, it's helping me learn bunnyhop technique, less tempted to just pull the bike up.
I would buy a cheap pair (DMR V8's) and ride them round your usual trails for a while and see how you get on with them.
Horses for courses I guess

In life, try everything.

rockhopper70.
Is the answer that will make us all a jedi 😉
Come on chiefgrooveguru ...where waiting here...

I tried flats for one ride. Managed to put so much presure through the outside pedal and develop so much grip that I managed to roll the tyre off the rim - stacked it and broke 3 ribs. I'll stick to spds now thanks.

Try both well enough to be able to make an informed decision. Or, try only one and just assume it's best 😉

But don't give them a desultory try and then give up instantly because you feel like you're going to fall off, like most SPD riders dabbling in flats do (this cuts both ways)

Try both well enough to be able to make an informed decision. Or, try only one and just assume it's best

But don't give them a desultory try and then give up instantly because you feel like you're going to fall off, like most SPD riders dabbling in flats do (this cuts both ways)

how much does that cost then, to get decent pedals and shoes?

I use flats because their cheap, you can get a decent pair 2nd hand for about £15-20 and you dont need special shoes.
Never tried spd's so i cant compare but cant think how they would benefit me

Come on, isn't it obvious? Bumps + flats + excess tension & poor balance = feet no longer on pedals = high chance of unplanned dismount.

I should add that I don't think they're the way forward though. They're just pedals!

depends how you use them 😉

I come from a bmx background where flats are compulsory and it teaches you control. I've tried SPDs, bought the shoes and pedals, but it totally spooks me being unable to detatch from the bike when it all goes wahooni shaped. Gone back to DMRs with Karrimor hiking boots, they're brilliant, the grip is phenominal and pretty useful when having to push up the unrideable bits.

rockhopper70 - Member

how much does that cost then, to get decent pedals and shoes?

Not much at all. Pair of Vans, £30 if you shop around, then any sort of cheap spiky pedal.

Managed to put so much presure through the outside pedal and develop so much grip that I managed to roll the tyre off the rim - stacked it and broke 3 ribs. I'll stick to spds now thanks

DMRs with Karrimor hiking boots

on that point, I use Northwave mission shoes that have a "bike n walk" sole, with a chunky tread. Would these be ok with flats as it all seems to be AM40s/Five Tens with flat soles?
Just done a trawl on ebay and I reckon a pair of pedals can be has for £15 max.

TK-MAX for your flats.Loads of skate shoes in there cheap...

rockhopper70: Have a look at 'Bikejames' he has some nice views on flats vs spds. Has some interesting bits and pieces on the website.

I used spd for many years but have now gorn back to flats on both my bikes as i prefer it. Try both and see what you prefer/enjoy the most.

Try both well enough to be able to make an informed decision

a voice of reason in a sea of the sheep following blindness that usually occurs on this forum

You've got to try them both really.

I used to use SPDs and loved them, but now use flats and also love them.
For me, theres less faff with special shoes and setting cleats up just right. I can get my feet off the pedals when I need to and move my feet around on them.
With decent grippy pedals and some practice, your feet should stick to the pedals just fine.

I used spds for loads of years then put flats on with 5:10's for a bike skills day. Yes I was all over the place at first especially on rocky ascents but very quickly got over that stage! I have now used flats for a couple of years and would not go back to spds. They're are just so much more fun, I feel like I'm a better rider and don't really notice the difference on climbs.

No one will ever agree that one type is better than the other. The only agreement is that flat's and spd's are better than no pedals at all...

even bike journos

Anyone else laugh out loud at this one. I even think a little bit of wee might have escaped.

As for pedals, try both. I've ridden spds for year but thought I'd try flats gp see what all the fuss is about. still undecided but I'm not sure I've given them enough of a chance yet.

People are different. Riding terrains are different. Try both and see what suits best. Used SPD's for years then moved to flats and won't go back.

I was relatively inexperienced and the shift to flats gave me a lot more confidence to really push my limits on the steep, technical, rocky trails around me in Scotland, knowing I could instantly bail if necessary. Also I now do quite a lot of hike a bike and flats are much easier to walk in

I tend to switch to whatever I'm riding that day. If it's a hoon around Chicksands then the flats go on. If it's a afternoon of XC then on go the SPD's. Both have their pro's and con's - just use what is right for the occasion.

Personally I think it can only be an advantage to be able to use either.

Well do you not like riding spuds? if you don't then try flats, if you do then stick with them 🙂

Trying both is a great idea, but in practice I've grown really used to SPDs over 22 years (toe straps for some of that).

I tried flats over a few rides (probably 5 hours in total) and just couldn't enjoy the rides as much. Some people would say that I've got bad habits (just picking the bike up at any time with my feet without any forethought for eg). But I just couldn't ride the same.

Yes, I felt like I could go nearer the 'edge' and bail quicker on slippy corners, wheelies and suchlike but more often than not, I tried to hop the bike and my feet left the pedals leaving either a heart in mouth or a load of gashes in my shins.

I kind of want to try again, especially for the BMX track, but unlearning seems a lot harder than trying something totally new.

yeah buy these for £35 posted 😉

only used a few times before going clipless

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I use both, each is better for certain rides (for me).

Get used to flats before you head off to the Alps on them though. In case you wish you'd taken your SPDs.

Can't you borrow a pair off a mate to try out first?

Have to admit, I think the likes of Crank Bros Mallet's are the way forward for me - flat platforms with the ability to clip in if needed. However, I'm not a fan of the Crank Bros ones in particular - would like to see more options on the market.

Just buy some and try them, i dont like spds, not even on a road bike but that is just me.#

The simple answer is that it is down to personal preference, it really is an unanswerable question as we are all different.

I use a mixture, clips for road and looooong xc rides, flats for hooning about in the woods, dh and throwing myself off of things...

I would like (may even design and market...) a shoe and pedal combo that has a cleat at the ball of the foot and a recess in the instep that will securely sit on top of the pedal (like lego) so you can go down bumpy stuff and over jumps unclipped but gripped.

I need that, because my ankles are wearing a bit and are jarring painfully when I do rocky downhills clipped in.

For winter, make it a waterproof boot with studs heel & toe for grip.

Has anybody ever tried adding a second cleat to a shoe, at the instep? Been considering this.

(Mr MC posting)

18yrs on SPDs. 2 serious crashes in the last 3yrs where injury from failure to unclip (albeit in limited circumstances, both in morzine) meant i didnt fancy third time unlucky, so have transferred to flats. Took a long time to readjust and feel comfortable on flats but now SPDs feel alien (as my foot can rotate which it wont on flats I perversely now feel more secure on flats).

Horses for courses, neither is better than the other its what feels right for you.

posted before in similar thread but the result of my last SPD ride...(its 2 pics of the same knee I didnt do both!)

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