[Closed] To clip or not to clip

If I was used to riding flats I wouldn't bother switching to clips for that sort of riding.

I'm flat curious having been clipped in since my early teens, particularly for when I may ride raised woodwork and jumps that may require bailing out - clips are fine in the damp for getting a foot out, but not so great for just jumping off the bike.

Try it on the cheap, there's loads of second hand shoes and pedals going on FB groups from people who have tried and not taken to it.

I do it myself periodically, I ride clipped on my road bike, and I'm happy clipped for xc stuff, but I feel more vulnerable clipped in doing anything even approaching sketchy so my pedals and shoes are in the garage waiting for me to wonder if I should switch again.

HAted it.... awful.... moved back quickly....

Some love it..

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool flat pedal user, but was curious about 15 years ago. Tried them for 6 months, didn't have any real issues, but just preferred flats. My riding is dh/jump/fast trail stuff though, not much xc type stuff. Which sounds more like what you've done.
As far as I'm concerned you've done it the right way round though. You see an awful lot of people around who, although comfortable with SPD's, have become lazy/never developed the technique that flats give you when it comes to moving the back of the bike around. That sort of skill pays dividends, even when clipped in.

I've got a road bike as well now so am thinking of trying spuds with some cheap shoes again, but I'm kind of enjoying trolling roadies with bright red v12s at the mo.

Also thinking about it, the two worst crashes I've had have been on flats, possibly because I'm more comfortable pushing harder.

Maybe I should go back to clips...

I switched over a long time ago to SPDs, I have used flats occasionally since for certain things and while they're fine I can't see how they're better unless you're doing dirt jumping, street or freeride. I used them exclusively when I did street riding but I've not had much call to use them for about 4 years.

I find I have more control on technical trails with SPDs, I can more accurately place the bike where I want it. I have more feedback and more awareness of what the bike is doing, too. Add in the benefits while climbing and it suits me much better.

I'm a long-term (Nearly since they arrived...) mainly clipless pedal user who has been trying flats in the last few months.

I think both have their merits and I wouldn't rule either out without trying.

I'll will have to give it try I think. As Prawny said, my worst crash was on flats while messing about with a BMX... I left that BMX/skate park in Mr Carpetners van heading for hospital with my left foot pointing the wrong way.

Clips it is.

Long time user of flats until probably 9 months ago - ride a variety of trails including steep stuff and blacks like you on both a DH and trail bike.

Bought a pair of Shimano AM9 and some Time Atac pedals and I can honesty say I won't be going back to flats. Did a sloppy day at Nant G N.Wales just before Christmas on them and never had a problem.

My fear before being clipped in was not being able to clip out and back in quick enough but with a bit of practice that's no longer a fear of mine.

My climbing on both fire roads and technical climbing has improved and so has the ability to control the bike on descents.

I would say the type of pedal you use is important though.

My riding has come on loads since to the point I'm comfortable doing 4+ft drops and very steep natural trails, blacks at BPW etc.

If this is the sort of riding that you're into and do most regularly then you need to ask yourself what kind of benefits (if any) would going clipless provide?

Tried SPDs for a while, seemed I didn't like having my foot in a fixed position I'm used to being able to shift my foot around on a motorbike also it aggravated my right knee as I was never able to get a comfortable position with the cleat.

Gave them to a roadie commuter friend.

I use flats on one bike and clips (Time now) on the other. I can't for the life of me remember which ones I happened to be riding during my worst crashes, and doubt they were either the cause or exacerbated any injuries. Though, my biggest shin scars come from a set of Shimano M520s and not any of the flats I've had.

If I'm honest, I think I actually prefer clips for sketchy stuff. There's an element of commitment to them where flats might let me chicken out, or take it slower.

I chop & change. I can ride clips almost as fast & spent most of a summer season in Canada riding clipped in, which forced me to commit to stuff.

Still prefer to ride flats. On steep tech, I do ride noticeably tighter when i'm clipped in, on stuff that I wouldn't even think about on flats.

Clip in on the road, and always have done with no issues. I guess if I was a pure XC rider off road, I would probably clip in there too. But I don't tend to ride flat, boring stuff.

Clipped in on the XC bike, flats on the full sus. I'm less worried about uphill speed and efficiency on the full sus anyway. On the sketchier stuff I tend to ride on the full sus I like being able (or at least the thoght of) to get my foot down quickly without thinking should I need to.

buenfoxa - this is what I wanted to hear, very similar riding to me. You seem to have gotten on with them.

Devash - Perhaps no benefit as such, such curious who it feels the ride clipless

Definitely give em a try. I prefer the feeling of my foot being planted on the pedal when you're clipped in but as with hobnob I stiffen up when it gets slidey and/or steep. Making an effort to get over that this winter though.

Got both SPDs and Flats.
Love them both.

Clipped in on everything but my full-suss, but that's only while I get used to it.

Once happy, I'll go to clipless on that too.

Lot to be said for trying both then at least if you still prefer flats, you know it's the right call. I mean really trying, not just riding for 10 minutes and falling off because you can't unclip and then giving up. You might find interesting things too (my mate Peter used to be a "foot out" guy and was convinced it made him fast, a couple of rides on clips proved him wrong... And it helped me with pedalling technique)

But at the end of the day, on balance, flat pedalz for medalz yo!1!!

I tried the other way (SPD to flats) after that thread on here before Xmas. El Plastiques from SS for <£20 and my old SPD Five Tens without the cleats in. Did 3 day rides and 1 night ride in my local haunts of Hamsterley and Chopwell.

I found that I was constantly aware of my feet not being in quite the right place, and because the pins and 5:10's were so grippy it was very difficult to get them to the right place in a short time. I was also twisting my foot the get off the pedal as you would with SPD's. Muscle memory, I guess.

SPD's are in the right place or they are no - none of the not quite of flats. It was the night ride that sent me back to the M530's.

Glad I tried it, but SPD's since Aug 1991...just prefer them.

Tried it for about a month or so, clips are now on the turbo...I know I should've stuck with it longer, but couldn't find a comfy foot position even with loads of float, and it stopped me committing properly to stuff where a dab might be required. Which in turn made falling over sideways into a boggy stream about 50 percent more likely.

I was a committed SPD user until I bought a FS six years ago, when I thought I'd give flats a try. Loved them, but kept the clipless on the commuter. Got fed up of not being able to just jump on either bike in trainers, so stuck flats on the hack as well.

Tried clipless on the FS last year and even with the cleats all the way back I felt like I was standing on tip-toes. Plus the float felt like I was stood on ice and I didn't feel connected with the bike (ironically!). Binned the clipless pedals and have no intention of going back.

Clips better for pedalling.
Flats better for technical stuff.

That's about it.

Personally I like being clipped in for steep stuff, especially if it's rocky. Feel like I can guide hte bike more and know I won't loosefoot position. Given how grippy flats are though I'm pretty sure it's all in hte head