Coping Without Being Clipped In!

I dislike not being able to click in on techy terrain and prefer flats

That’s a confusing statement.

That’s a confusing statement.

Not really, I wholely agree with it – what they mean is its worse to be unable to engage a spd and have zero platform to work with than to have no clip but at least have a good platform to stand on/grip.

I really have never found the “getting out” a problem at all, it comes instinctually to me, but getting in often takes a bike length or two especially in mud – this ruins whole sections at speed if you’ve needed to dab due to a slip etc.

Got to agree with you coffeeking.
I’ve been riding SPD for a few years (after switching from flats) now and never had any problems getting them to release in any type of riding.

I have do have a set of caged shimano ones though as it at least gives me a good amount of contact if there are mud issue or I have had to release for any reason.

Guess you just got to try the two and go with what suits

Not really, I wholely agree with it – what they mean is its worse to be unable to engage a spd and have zero platform to work with than to have no clip but at least have a good platform to stand on/grip.

I really have never found the “getting out” a problem at all, it comes instinctually to me, but getting in often takes a bike length or two especially in mud – this ruins whole sections at speed if you’ve needed to dab due to a slip etc.

Not being able to clip straight in isn’t an issue….

I dislike not being able to click in on techy terrain and prefer flats

I am still confused. You dislike not being able to “click in” (do you mean clip in?) and prefer flats? Eh?

Yeah, that one got me too

Yes, I was confused by that post aswell.

And, In fairness to the poster who said toes down, they were not talking about barreling down rocky descents. You would point you toes down to scoop the back end up for example.

And, duir is mincing with words, I don’t see anyone saying that SPDs “promote bad technique”, like it’s the pedals fault. I think most people are talking about laziness, which would imply the person being at fault. So, duir, you are just re affirming what is being said.

And, duir is mincing with words

steady on no need to be rude.

I don’t see anyone saying that SPDs “promote bad technique”, like it’s the pedals fault. I think most people are talking about laziness, which would imply the person being at fault. So, duir, you are just re affirming what is being said.

I think I understand what you are trying to say in the same way that I suggest that flat pedals promote the poor technique and laziness of constantly dabbing intead of correct bike/body position. Of course that is a sweeping flat pedal generalisation by me just as

1.This is correct technique anyway for control of the bike, but SPD users tend not to bother, which causes bad technique/body position.

is by you.

So I guess it’s all about the feet then? I am going to go watch my Greg Minaar, Steve Peat and Gee Atherton vids and see what their clipped in feet are doing.

Oooh just found this post again!

The confusing post – the point was, I think, that if you cant clip in (click in, call it what you will) then with SPDs you're shafted and have nothing to grip with if you cant clip in properly in time. So in that case I prefer flats so that I can just step on and not worry – with basic shimano spuds your feet will slide right off the spud if you dont clip in straight away.

I like my flaties becasue you can litteraly jump on the bike and ride away.

Expecialy on realy technicaly bits where you need to put power down/have controll from the off, and don't have the luxary of rolling a few ft before cliping in. Flats you could stand on a ledge, jump on and ride off it, i'd like to see a cliped rider do the same!

SPD's have their place, but for me I can't see the point off road, they just comprimise too much on the kind of stuff that run to ride! Just look at the beast any weekend, covered in riders mincing down on their cliped in, whilst the riders on flats breeze past.

Personally I swap between the two. I have never had a problem releasing from spd's. I'm still trying to get to grips with lifting the rear wheel with flats, hands up I relied on being attached to the bike in the past. Unlike some here, I personally find it harder to get my foot positioned correctly with flats quickly (Easton Flatboys and 5.10s).

(mr MC posting)

after 15yrs of spds I will be going to flatties when my broken knee heals and am reading this with interest. Saying spds encourage laziness or lack of skill is piffle. You develop a technique that makes use of the equipment you have. Drivers dont double de-clutch now as they dont need to, does that make modern drivers lazy or lacking in skill? I shift up the box on my motorbike without using the clutch, laziness or just a different developed skill?

I am half looking forward to, half pensive about learning to ride flat as it does take a different technique. I have always been happy to stay clipped in spds on high woodwork, gap jumps and drops, and the only time I rode with flatties as an experiment and did a teeny drop (the small ladder drop at chicksands) the bike "fell away" from me, and indeed MC took a quality picture of me with my feet off the pedals, and an "oh f*ck" expression.

Riding flats wont make me a better rider, it will require a different set of techniques to be learnt.

I'm loling @ this thread

I've got used to the Mallet's now and love being clipped in

To be honest, you just get on with it, there's no mad skills involved. The only time I wish i could still clip in is jumping, but that's because I'm rotten at jumps and clips would prevent me from jumping off the bike. I know that the usual fear is for your feet to slip off but it just doesn't really happen unless you positively invite it.

Lets face it no one is right or wrong to use flats or SPD's, Its an individual choice and choice is good! Just because you use a certain type of pedal does not mean that you are a better rider and everyone should use that particular pedal. I use Z control Time pedals, they have a large platform to support my foot when I land hard or find it difficult to clip back in. They are the best choice for ME. The same thing could be said about buy different bikes and components.