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 Post subject: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2016 12:51 pm 
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Are clip in pedals a usual upgrade for mountain bikers? I have ridden my xcal a few times and my feet tend to slip off the pedals from time to time. Is it common for mountain bikers to have clip ins or is it just upgraded pedals? Thanks! Also excuse me if my mtb jargon isn't accurate....I'm still new!


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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2016 1:00 pm 
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Yes, many swear by them, and some swear at them as they topple over. Nearly all XC riders use clipless (aka clip-in). A fair number of trail, enduro, and perhaps most DH riders prefer platform pedals (aka flat pedals) with traction pins, paired with sticky rubber shoes like FiveTen brand. Do a search (see top of page) for discussion on this forum, or google "clipless vs platform" for lots of pro & con discussions. You should probably try them to decide for yourself.

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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2016 1:17 pm 
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My 2 cents (no refunds!). I hate clipless. It hurts my knees a bit since I can't adjust my feet on the pedals. And I feel trapped on the bike. Since I'm not a XC guy, I feel like I need to be able to bail off the bike easily if something goes wrong. Every time I experimented with clipless, I'd end up getting hurt - usually toppling over at 1/2 mph on a climb when I could not unclip fast enough. It's a terrible feeling.

I've heard clipless gives you maybe 5% better efficiency?Not sure if that's true or not.

As Dan says, a pair of 510 sticky shoes are the ticket (Freerider), and would definitely be my recommendation. Combine the shoes with a good set of flat pedals (DMR Vaults are awesome!) and you'll be in business.

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Last edited by avidtest on Tue May 10, 2016 6:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2016 1:32 pm 
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Good stuff! I don't think I would get clip ins. Probably just good mtb shoes and upgraded pedals. Any recommendations for those besides 510? What are some good pedals for xc?


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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2016 1:38 pm 
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I'm a fan of gaerne I wonder if they have good shoes? That aren't clip in


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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2016 2:23 pm 
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Not that anyone above has, but don't let anyone tell you that you need to use clipless pedals.

Take a few months and get used to the flat pedals before you consider making changes. There could be a couple reasons your feet slip off.

One, because you're new and still getting used to flat pedals, and to riding in general. It takes a while to learn how to position, weight and move the body when riding on flat pedals. For example you may find when riding over drops the pedals fall away from your feet at first - you will learn to move with the bike so this doesn't happen. Same with feet bouncing off on rough sections of trail.

Two, could be you are using shoes or pedals that aren't great. Some shoes are much better than others. Skate and running shoes can be hit or miss, some bike brands make decent shoes but FiveTen impacts, as Dan mentioned are the gold standard and should grip well on any pedal that has decent pins.

It is possible you are one of those people who flats just don't work for. But give it some time, the biggest mistake people make when criticizing clipless or flats is not trying them long enough to actually get used to them. It takes a few months to really get comfortable on either.


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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2016 3:50 pm 
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To add something to this "clipless vs flats" discussion, that I found very helpful as a novice is that Shimano makes a cleat (the part that screws to the bottom of your shows and clips into the pedal) that is called a Multi-release cleat. I switched to those after a few minor falls where I couldn't unclip fast enough and I haven't looked back since. You can release your foot much more easily and at smaller angles of release. They have an M stamped on them. That black ones are hard to get out of at first before switching to XTR or XTR race. The Ms were game changers for me. :) I also felt that a pedal with a bigger platform like the M647 was better to start on, especially if you can't get your foot clipped in right away. You could at least get the middle of your foot on until you click it in. Good luck!
I also think playing around with flats is a good idea to learn body positioning, etc.

http://www.jensonusa.com/Shimano-SH56-S ... ti-Release
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/e ... p-prod4516

See you around La Costa. :cheers:


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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2016 5:43 pm 
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If you try clipped in, try them first on a lawn or grassy area for a while to get used to what's needed to unclip. That way you won't hurt yourself too bad when you fail on unclipping and possibly fall.

I am old and grew up riding clipped in XC style so I find it foreign and odd to not be clipped in. Clips are like ski bindings and you adjust to them in your riding style. They definitely make climbing easier and mild to medium rough stuff more navigable (for me) since I have grown accustomed to the clipped in bunny hop, etc techniques.

The super gnar and jumps can be a problem clipped in for the reasons stated above. If that's your goal as rider, I'd say start on flats and go from there. Get long socks to protect your shins.

Welcome to DT!

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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2016 5:44 pm 
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I think it is a safety issue with flat pedals no clip you can dismount the safest. If you look you can find five tens cheaper and performance has a plastic platform a transfer that people like. I like the covert by performance.

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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2016 8:34 pm 
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Kimba wrote:
I am old and grew up riding clipped in XC style so I find it foreign and odd to not be clipped in.

The super gnar and jumps can be a problem clipped in for the reasons stated above. If that's your goal as rider, I'd say start on flats and go from there. Get long socks to protect your shins.

Welcome to DT!


I would never encourage a beginner to get clip-in style pedals but like Kimba, I started using them long, long, long before quality flats were in style or these new high tech sticky rubber on 5-10 shoes was ever invented. Consequently, I can't live without them. I have tried flats twice and quite the opposite of what most people experience, I had a hard time keeping my feet on the pedals as things got sketchy. I have no problem riding the sketchiest trails while clipped in.

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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2016 11:33 pm 
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k2rider wrote:
Kimba wrote:
I am old and grew up riding clipped in XC style so I find it foreign and odd to not be clipped in.

The super gnar and jumps can be a problem clipped in for the reasons stated above. If that's your goal as rider, I'd say start on flats and go from there. Get long socks to protect your shins.

Welcome to DT!


I would never encourage a beginner to get clip-in style pedals but like Kimba, I started using them long, long, long before quality flats were in style or these new high tech sticky rubber on 5-10 shoes was ever invented. Consequently, I can't live without them. I have tried flats twice and quite the opposite of what most people experience, I had a hard time keeping my feet on the pedals as things got sketchy. I have no problem riding the sketchiest trails while clipped in.


I run the Shimano PD-M324 pedals. Platform on one side, clipless on the other. For me, it has been a nice way to break into riding clipless because you can clip in on terrain you feel comfortable riding clipless and ride the platform side on trail sections where you think you might take an unexpected spill and want your feet free.


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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2016 7:43 am 
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The Walmart of bike stores, Performance, sell some very low profile polycarb pedals with really grippy pins. I really like them, and they are light & cheap, by today's prices, as well. $40.

I too ride 5-10's but these pedals grip pretty much anything. I've put them on all my bikes, so no more changing shoes for one bike or another. Any decrease in performance, based on my avg. speed, is nil.

The only thing I miss about being clipped in is the ease of lofting my bike...it takes zero skill to get airborne when yer clipped in. Then again, I have literally a wall full of x-rays and mri's that came for the most part from being clipped in. As a certified senior citizen, the fewer of those that I collect from now on out, the better.

Check some out at a Wal-formance near you.

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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2016 8:32 pm 
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I went straight into clips when I started. No, not clipless, but actual straps that are really hard to get out of. One of my first days riding, I did a rocky, exposed section, and I had to go for it because there was no way to get my feet out of the pedals in time. So, at least they made me take risks.

I wouldn't recommend anyone do that, actually.

GForce wrote:
I run the Shimano PD-M324 pedals. Platform on one side, clipless on the other. For me, it has been a nice way to break into riding clipless because you can clip in on terrain you feel comfortable riding clipless and ride the platform side on trail sections where you think you might take an unexpected spill and want your feet free.


you haven't lived until you've taken one of those in the shin!


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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Fri May 13, 2016 9:02 pm 
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As a recent convert to flats, I don't think I'd ever go back to clipless pedals unless I went full-on spandex xc racer...and that's not happening any time soon

Flats are extremely convenient and if you ever need to hit "eject" it's all good. I wouldn't stress so much about the pins tearing your legs up. I've got more scars from wearing clipless pedals than I do from flats. Sure a pair of stiff soled clipless shoes and pedals may be more efficient but unless you're racing you'll never notice.


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 Post subject: Re: 1st upgrade
PostPosted: Fri May 13, 2016 10:24 pm 
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Ld00d wrote:
I went straight into clips when I started. No, not clipless, but actual straps that are really hard to get out of. One of my first days riding, I did a rocky, exposed section, and I had to go for it because there was no way to get my feet out of the pedals in time. So, at least they made me take risks.

I wouldn't recommend anyone do that, actually.

GForce wrote:
I run the Shimano PD-M324 pedals. Platform on one side, clipless on the other. For me, it has been a nice way to break into riding clipless because you can clip in on terrain you feel comfortable riding clipless and ride the platform side on trail sections where you think you might take an unexpected spill and want your feet free.


you haven't lived until you've taken one of those in the shin!


I'll admit to taking a few from my combo pedals in the shin but, in my book, it's a lesser evil (and potential injury) than going down completely in rocks or other nasty stuff. A little blood running down your leg always looks awesome when you come back from a ride :)


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