benefits of spd pedals on mountain bike...?

[Hard-Drive]

I started off with cage SPDs but I actually much prefer the M520/540/XTR style. I don't really see the point of the cages...if you are trying to pedal but not clipped in, then you end up with the SPD cleat slipping around on the platform bit, or clipping in whn you don't want it to. Much better IMHO having a small pedal that will fit into the arch of your foot if you really want to pedal clipped out, and easier to engage and less prone to mudding up when you ride clipped in.

Just don't be a hero, ride really slack...I personally have them wound up just enough that if I hit something rocky on an XC course like Coed y Brenin I don't get bounced out, but no tighter! I will always, always be clipped in, but I can disengage in a fraction of a second if required. I think there are 2 designs of cleat so you can in theory rotate the foot one way or 2 ways to get out but I've had both and don't see any difference if the pedals are backed off.

[Chris71]

I totally appreciate the efficiency benefits of having your foot stuck to the pedal on both strokes, but how do SPDs compare with really grippy shoes and pedals?

On my new bike then pedals are so evil and spikey you have to kind of peel your shoes off the spikes!

[beanbag]

Chris71 said:

I totally appreciate the efficiency benefits of having your foot stuck to the pedal on both strokes, but how do SPDs compare with really grippy shoes and pedals?

On my new bike then pedals are so evil and spikey you have to kind of peel your shoes off the spikes!

Think about it like this....can you pull up with platforms while pedalling?

Pushing back on the pedal and pulling is all well, but you are losing a lot of energy pushing on to the pedal to give you grip.

With SPD's you get a much more efficient pedal cycle and therefore your energy doesn't get wasted.

[ewenm]

Chris71 said:

I totally appreciate the efficiency benefits of having your foot stuck to the pedal on both strokes, but how do SPDs compare with really grippy shoes and pedals?

On my new bike then pedals are so evil and spikey you have to kind of peel your shoes off the spikes!

Can you pull up on them?

I'd always go for clipless pedals on any non-downhill only, non-trials bike. Anywhere where you'll be pedalling for a while on the flat or uphill. I've got Time Atacs on both my MTB and road bike.

[//dean]

Jimbo. said:

...with your feet slipping around everywhere...

Not an issue if you wear decent shoes (i.e. Five Tens). Never, ever had a foot slip using the aforementioned...

I've been eyeing up some five tens....worth the money?

[Chris71]

ewenm said:

Chris71 said:

I totally appreciate the efficiency benefits of having your foot stuck to the pedal on both strokes, but how do SPDs compare with really grippy shoes and pedals?

On my new bike then pedals are so evil and spikey you have to kind of peel your shoes off the spikes!

Can you pull up on them?

I'd always go for clipless pedals on any non-downhill only, non-trials bike. Anywhere where you'll be pedalling for a while on the flat or uphill. I've got Time Atacs on both my MTB and road bike.

Virtually, yes. They clip into the grip on my shoes like lego bricks!

[mk1fan]

//dean said:

I've been eyeing up some five tens....worth the money?

Yes, you can get 'stuck' more than with clipless!!

[Darkslider]

I've got 5.10s, and they are good. When I walk across the kitchen in them the lino tiles stick to the soles and peel themselves up from the floor.

[option click]

ewenm said:

Chris71 said:

...but how do SPDs compare with really grippy shoes and pedals?

Can you pull up on them?

Aside from the pedalling efficiency etc.. you also get the ability to pull HUGE bunny hops

[Richair]

Road bike, yes goes without saying.

But on the trail, no. 5-10's and decent pedals/some big pins are where it's at. All this crap about 'being able to lift the bike up'!? WTH! You can do that without being clipped in!!! Just learn to ride properly.

I ride flats on everything from flat out DH, to XC to BMX tracks and don't have any problems with slipping pedals and I ride some pretty rough/scary stuff (several of my friends are on the dh-WC circuit and I ride a lot with them, not that I'm any where near as good lol).

Unless you need to get every last 10th from pedalling efficiency (say pure xc) then they're just over rated. Pushing it out on the trail if you need to drop a foot you've got a much greater chance of dropping it. Then when you put your foot back on you've got less control untill it's clipped back in thus slowing you down even more.

This has gone round and round on the DH/4x/BMXrace scenes for ages. But the likes of Sam Hill, Rennie etc.. have shown us there isn't a disadvantage from flats. Granted, there it's still a lot about prefference but I know many fast racers that have made the switch from clips to flats for good.

It's all about the shoes

[naetype]

Jimbo. said:

...with your feet slipping around everywhere...

Not an issue if you wear decent shoes (i.e. Five Tens). Never, ever had a foot slip using the aforementioned...

What he said ^^

5.10's and long terror pins are the way to go. The only place I ever use SPD's is at Fort Bill... and even Rob Warner used them there ....