MTB Pedals

[ukbabz]

So I've started going to the trails at Swinley forrest, and slowly getting the hang of the blue trail. However I keep finding that I'm missing / slipping off the pedals and today am pretty sure this is why I went over the handlebars on a bumpy sectin on the blue run.

So what pedal do folk use when they are on the trails?

Cheers

[DeuxCentCinq]

If you're just getting into it, you could do a lot worse than this offer:

https://www.facebook.com/MBUKMag/posts/10151802343...

Subscribe to Mountain Biking UK mag, get free DMR v12 pedals. Some might think them a little old school, but they'll run for years. Quality item.

[Stugots]

Five ten shoes and DMR V12's. Just right for me. Had these donkeys years, only problem is the pins can break and are difficult to remove. Newer versions have pins that are removed from underneath.

[DeuxCentCinq]

And if you don't do the subscription offer, DMR v8s will be fine to get you into it - same pedal, just different bearings and slightly heavier construction.

[tjdixon911]

I've had many pairs of V8's very good value.

I thought I'd try something different and purchased Shimano Saints, now have Shimano saints on 2 of my bikes and some old Shimno DX's on the other.

[anonymous-user]

Hate to say this, but if you're coming off the pedals at swinley, then it's poor technique rather than poor pedals / shoes.

Go see Tony here:

UkBikeSkills

and learn to ride like a god! ;-)

[ecsrobin]

Max_Torque said:

Hate to say this, but if you're coming off the pedals at swinley, then it's poor technique rather than poor pedals / shoes.

Go see Tony here:

UkBikeSkills

and learn to ride like a god! ;-)

Got to agree with this. Riding at Swinley is smoother than riding on most public roads. However I have fallen off twice at Swinley and that was going slowly and forgetting to clip out when I was new to SPDs

Question though what bike are you using and what are the current pedals.

[ukbabz]

Max_Torque said:

Hate to say this, but if you're coming off the pedals at swinley, then it's poor technique rather than poor pedals / shoes.

Go see Tony here:

UkBikeSkills

and learn to ride like a god! ;-)

Yeah am very new to the riding trails, and if am honest was pushing it a bit today which is why I came off. Previously had a knackered hardrock that I'd taken on the ridgeway / towpaths but nothing quite like Swinley

I'll give a look into one of his public courses in the near future and see how can improve!

The bike is a Cube Attention 27.5 with just standard pedals that came with the bike!

[anonymous-user]

What shoes are you wearing? As someone who has only recently got back into MTB myself I took a mates advice and bought Five Tens, amazing levels of grip on the standard pedals my Boardman game with. I took up the MBUK offer at the weekend so once my V12's arrive should be even better.

I think shoes would make more of a difference than pedals though.

[muckymotor]

For the full on comedy falling off routine, go clipless. I still sometimes forget that I'm clipped in until it's too late

[ukbabz]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Just a pair of walking shoes.. after a bit of reading I reckon my old DC's might be a bit better with a softer sole rather than hard sole?

As for clipless, somehow I've dodged "the moment" on my roadbike... (I've jinxed that now!)

[anonymous-user]

ukbabz said:

Just a pair of walking shoes.. after a bit of reading I reckon my old DC's might be a bit better with a softer sole rather than hard sole?

I've not long been back in the saddle myself so prob not the best to give advice but the 510's are marketed largely on their sticky sole so yeah I guess DC's might be better, especially being flatter

I guess it depends on why you came off, was it too much speed, or grip on pedals or technique. I've only had one off so far on a red and that was roots that did for me.

[American iv]

I ran DMR V8's and then V12's for ages and loved them, however if you fall off they rip your shins open something rotten. I've still got scars from where the pins when in and tore the skin. Similarly, the pins fall out after a little while and the walking shoes I used to wear got completely wrecked - I don't know if 5-10's would be more robust.

I ride clipless now and apart from the fairly steep and uncompromising learning curve (confidence wise it's a killer) it has helped keep me on the bike and put the power in on the hard sections (before I fall off).

[Gren]

Max_Torque said:

Hate to say this, but if you're coming off the pedals at swinley, then it's poor technique rather than poor pedals / shoes.

Try dropping your heels or leaning back more. Push yourself down into the pedals.

Superstar Nanos and 5:10 Freeriders do me fine. Shoes hardly ever come off the pedals unless it gets seriously rough. A lot rougher than Swinley blue and most of the red. I found the Nanos have far more grips than the V8s and V12s I've run in the past. The new shape V12s look a lot better though.

[AndyWoodall]

I run SPD's and flats now and again. Got a pair of V8's which are cheap and excellent. For the next bike I've bought a pair of Nukeproof Electron's (partly as a friend recommended them and partly for the funky colours) and they are very very good. Approx £34.99.

[lestershaw]

+1 for the electrons, great value pedals Tony from UKbike skills uses them, i have the neutrons and they are a little too grippy! look at the Teva Link shoes on wiggle, they are a great shoe.
careful with some of the 5:10s the midsole is cardboard and when wet weighs a ton and is hard to dry out

[AndyWoodall]

lestershaw said:

look at the Teva Link shoes on wiggle, they are a great shoe.

I've been struggling to get some of those in my size, nowhere seems to have any in any colour in a size 10. Bloody annoying and looks like I'll have to go for the 5 10's on that alone.

[seadragon]

I am not too hard-core about my MTB/Cyclocross riding. so have some DC (Lynx’s – with spongy inner sole) and some Hope F20 pedals (more expensive that the DMR’s but they got paid for from Xmas money, so treated myself).

Wouldn’t change to anything else, just my personal preference. I have so many scars from pedals in the 80’s that a few more due to ‘driver error’ wouldn’t make any difference, all part of the fun. I wouldn’t want to fall over because I couldn’t unclip, that would wind me up even more and would find them unsettling to use.

[daddy cool]

Im so used to SPD's now i could never go back to flats - i like the ability to pull up on the stroke as well as push down (oooh matron)

Shimano m520's are about £15 (include the cleats) and you can usually get some SPD compatible shoes for £20 (Aldi usually sell them in the regular bike kit events)

[DeuxCentCinq]

Max_Torque said:

Hate to say this, but if you're coming off the pedals at swinley, then it's poor technique rather than poor pedals / shoes.

Go see Tony here:

UkBikeSkills

and learn to ride like a god! ;-)

Those plastic things bikes come with, the tiniest amount of moisture and even a riding god such as yourself would be slipping off on the tamest of courses...