Clipless pedals
Discussion
big_peaches said:
Sorry to high jack the thread, what are the benifits of clipless ? i recently came off mine (i used flat dmr v12 mag's) clipless may have helped me....i do alot of xc comming from 24' trails back ground so unhinging the rear aint a problem for me... any info or websites ???
Especially when XC you gain in climbing and flat performance... I think downhill the benefits aren't great (possibly even a disadvantage)Having used them since I started cycling again four years ago I now can't keep my feet on the pedals without them, so I guess they must be helping me to apply power all the way round the stroke.
Off-road I can't get the back wheel off the ground without them, and my feet get bounced off the pedals all day.
Off-road I can't get the back wheel off the ground without them, and my feet get bounced off the pedals all day.
For day to day riding, XC, trails, I'd always use them. You get a much better pedaling efficiany than on flats.
But you can get knee problems (why I am switching to speedplay) and you can get lazy in jumping technique.
I've always foudn it beneficial to go out and mess around on flats, to practice techniques. Once i could hop with flats, and lift the rear of the bike eaisly I found that my clipless techniques was way better.
Then you switch from a 100mm travel Hardtail to a 140mm full bouncer and it all goes out of the window.
But you can get knee problems (why I am switching to speedplay) and you can get lazy in jumping technique.
I've always foudn it beneficial to go out and mess around on flats, to practice techniques. Once i could hop with flats, and lift the rear of the bike eaisly I found that my clipless techniques was way better.
Then you switch from a 100mm travel Hardtail to a 140mm full bouncer and it all goes out of the window.
Wildfire said:
For day to day riding, XC, trails, I'd always use them. You get a much better pedaling efficiany than on flats.
But you can get knee problems (why I am switching to speedplay) and you can get lazy in jumping technique.
I've always foudn it beneficial to go out and mess around on flats, to practice techniques. Once i could hop with flats, and lift the rear of the bike eaisly I found that my clipless techniques was way better.
Then you switch from a 100mm travel Hardtail to a 140mm full bouncer and it all goes out of the window.
know what you man fella, my trials riding has helped alot but i feel myself getting lazy when doing the odd fallen tree hops... think al stick with me flats for nowBut you can get knee problems (why I am switching to speedplay) and you can get lazy in jumping technique.
I've always foudn it beneficial to go out and mess around on flats, to practice techniques. Once i could hop with flats, and lift the rear of the bike eaisly I found that my clipless techniques was way better.
Then you switch from a 100mm travel Hardtail to a 140mm full bouncer and it all goes out of the window.
I'd never go back to flats on the road, but I can't stand them off-road, as even with them at their loosest setting, I used to find myself unable to get out of them if things suddenly and unexpectedly went pear-shaped.
The last time I failed to get out of the bloody things in time whilst off-road, I ended up tearing a bicep tendon, and couldn't ride for months as a result. The annoying thing was that if I'd not been clipped in, I'd have done myself no damage at all. Riding up to the top of a bank, I figured I'd got enough momentum to make it over the top, except for the root which I'd not seen. Front wheel went over, back wheel didn't, I failed to unclip, and went down the bank, still attached to the bike, with absolutely zero forward momentum.
Basically, my technique isn't good enough, and I'm too worried I'll kill myself before I get it good enough!
Also, I've not had any problems so far with DMR V12s and squishy soles on my shoes, so I'm going to stick with what I'm comfortable with.
The last time I failed to get out of the bloody things in time whilst off-road, I ended up tearing a bicep tendon, and couldn't ride for months as a result. The annoying thing was that if I'd not been clipped in, I'd have done myself no damage at all. Riding up to the top of a bank, I figured I'd got enough momentum to make it over the top, except for the root which I'd not seen. Front wheel went over, back wheel didn't, I failed to unclip, and went down the bank, still attached to the bike, with absolutely zero forward momentum.

Basically, my technique isn't good enough, and I'm too worried I'll kill myself before I get it good enough!
Also, I've not had any problems so far with DMR V12s and squishy soles on my shoes, so I'm going to stick with what I'm comfortable with.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff


