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I like switching between the two, I like to think it keeps me sharp. Its good to learn how to move the bike around using proper technique rather than relying on the clips, but I do like the pedaling efficiency of clips.
Didnt everybody learn to ride with flat pedals anyways?
I ride both spd & flats. Wet weather on steep trails, flats.
Dryish weather or longer rides, spd.
Also prefer to do jumps/drops for the 1st time with spds ...
I miss the feel of SPDs when pedalling hard. But otherwise, I miss them not.
Didnt everybody learn to ride with flat pedals anyways?
Yes but since getting my first proper bike in 1978 I have always ridden clipped in
Well, i'll be doing my first ride in SPD's tomorrow morning after 4 years of riding on flat pedals. At this stage i think they both have pro's and con's, i may have a different opinion after tomorrow though!!
I sure as hell wouldn't want to be attached to my bike on the stuff i have ridden in the Alps or indeed any technical and fast descent full-stop. But on flat,pedally singletrack (like all my local stuff) then SPD's are probably better. Guess we'll see 🙂
Full-sus=Flats and Hardtail=SPD's.
Never use spds. I'd rather be able to bunny hop properly.
I just don't see the appeal of flats.
My shoes last a long time so I don't see why I should need to use the same shoes to walk to the shops and cycle.
I have crashed at pace and found myself unclipped when I figured out what is going on. Slow speed stuff also seems to be better clipped in.
SpokesCycles - Member
I deviated onto flats a bit recently <snip>SPDs are faster for me too- I find I have more control over the bike, but I can put more power down when I need to. By way of evidence, I did a DH race about 3 years ago with flats for one run and SPDs for the 2nd and the SPD run (the only variable was the pedals) was around 8-10 seconds faster.
Sorry if this sounds a bit preachy but it seems like you're saying "I'm faster on the pedals I've spent most time on and have the best skills for". I'm sure you can find people who'll say the exact opposite, they're more comfortable on flats than SPDs so they go faster.
Well, exactly, but I genuinely think if a rider who as good on flats gave SPDs a real chance they'd still be faster.
This thing about not being able to bunnyhop properly is also a bit of a fallacy. You can do that just fine on SPDs.
"SpokesCycles - Member
Well, exactly, but I genuinely think if a rider who as good on flats gave SPDs a real chance they'd still be faster"
I'm not sure whether I'd be faster on SPDs than flats now, it's a long time since I could use them. I think if there's a best option, for most riding it probably is SPDs but the benefits and disadvantages of each aren't enough to outweigh personal preference IMO. But I do reckon people benefit from being able to use both. And I reckon not everyone rides the same trails with the same skills on the same bike in the same way.
It does cause people to talk a lot of crap though doesn't it 
Well, exactly, but I genuinely think if a rider who as good on flats gave SPDs a real chance they'd still be faster.
nope! I can use both but I'm def faster on flats off road.
GW- you are always the exception to every rule
Edric 64 - MemberDidnt everybody learn to ride with flat pedals anyways?
No, I started out on clipless and found the transistion to flats a very hard one to make after developing a whole load of bad habits (poor foot positioning, pulling up with my feet on jumps, rattling over stuff rather than picking lines/hopping over stuff).
It was so worth changing to flats in the end though.
well after my ride today i'm quite taken to flats 🙂 both have there pro and cons but what I will say is that the v12 pedal and five ten shoes really do work I will need to learn how to ride flats properly but I was able to do some mini tail whips over the jumps so not bad really . I think I will use both pedals depending on the trail but for now I will be riding flats for a while as it's a total different way of riding to what i'm used too so that's good in it;s self !
Richie
gw is fast. 🙂