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Funny thread.
I raced XC for years too, and have size 5 feet.
I hit the same problem when I tried Enduro, it is hard to drop the XC pedals as they give you so much on hills and pedally sections, and you are used to riding clipped, thats how you move the bike around. If you do take a foot out on a technical section on the descent you are screwed, as you can't ride with it flopping around everywhere, and you need to get back on board fast.
DHers I know who ride clipped in (mostly older guys) use five ten style shoes with cleats in them, and quite a wide platform.
Or she could just ride flats. I decided against it, if you ride flats you have to wear shin pads, or scrape up your calves/shins. If you wear pads you have to wear baggies, which also slow you down. And I could never get used to having to push down on the pedals to stay on.
It was all just starting to get a bit too equipment heavy for me.
You're telling me you absolutely never ever unclip from getting on your bike to getting off?
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Or she could just ride flats. I decided against it, if you ride flats you have to wear shin pads, or scrape up your calves/shins.
This was me when I first went to flats after a lifetime of clips. Then a session with Jedi and a change to my brake lever angle and never been a problem since. It's funny how a tiny change to your wrist angle makes a world of difference to your feet. I now feel so much more secure and 'loose' whether clipped or unclipped.
Women's specific stuff is a nightmare to get in bikes, shoes, bodyarmour. Mrs Marin has size 3 feet! Try shopping for them. Says she'd have pink pedals if they were in a sale though.
hels - Member
Funny thread.
I raced XC for years too, and have size 5 feet.
I hit the same problem when I tried Enduro, it is hard to drop the XC pedals as they give you so much on hills and pedally sections, and you are used to riding clipped, thats how you move the bike around. If you do take a foot out on a technical section on the descent you are screwed, as you can't ride with it flopping around everywhere, and you need to get back on board fast.
DHers I know who ride clipped in (mostly older guys) use five ten style shoes with cleats in them, and quite a wide platform.
Or she could just ride flats. I decided against it, if you ride flats you have to wear shin pads, or scrape up your calves/shins. If you wear pads you have to wear baggies, which also slow you down. And I could never get used to having to push down on the pedals to stay on.
It was all just starting to get a bit too equipment heavy for me.
Thanks hels, Mrs Bobsproket says you've hit the nail on the head!
Changing to Woman's Northwave Enduro shoes have given her much more confidence as opposed to carbon soled XC disco slippers.
Shimano XT M8020 seem pretty decent compromise to me as I ride clipped in unless DH day. You can easily rest foot on platform if you think you may not make the section and get the fear and can still peddle. Mrs has them on her bike with her tiny Hobbit feet. Sure someone will be along to tell me I'm wrong!
Or she could just ride flats. I decided against it, if you ride flats you have to wear shin pads, or scrape up your calves/shins.
You don't have to wear pads. If you're scraping your shins you are doing it wrong!
If you wear pads you have to wear baggies, which also slow you down.
What sort of clown shorts are you wearing that slow you down??
And I could never get used to having to push down on the pedals to stay on.
Again, you're doing it wrong if you are having to push down.
To the OP. I think using some flats for a while will help. Flats are good and SPD are good but if you can ride both well it'll improve skills both ways. Why? If you learn to ride flats (e.g. Bunny hops, jumps, corners etc) then you can use SPD pedals with platforms much better - i.e. You won't be dependant on being clipped in to handle the bike with confidence. You'll also be able to do stuff clipped in more naturally - flats help with doing things the right way rather than using the fact you are clipped in the move the bike up and around. Then when back in clips the panic when unclipped might be reduced.
I guess you need a clipless/platform combo pedal manufacturer that does pedal sizing, and I don't think there is one yet.
Spank, Syntace and Crank Bros all do flat pedals with S/L or S/M/L sized platforms, but those are the only ones I know.