Flat or clipless pedals for fatties?
12-15-17, 12:44 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Flat or clipless pedals for fatties?
I've gone the flat pedal route but was wondering what pedals you guys are using with your fat bikes? I tried clipless a while ago but never felt comfortable with them, so reverted to flat pedals.
12-15-17, 01:44 PM
#2
Senior Member
Flat - Race Face Chester on my fatbike and a similar form giant on my hybrid.
they keep my feet on, i literally have to lift my foot to move it around, that is how good they hold my feet.
I'm cheap and just use whatever shoes I have. For example, I have old tennis shoes not good enough for walking (hurt my feet), but they are fine on the bike. That also is more practical than having separate biking shoes. And if you ride through the seasons you need quite a lot of bike shoes and boots if you have clipless. I just use my super-insulated bulky winterboots.
I never used clipless, so I may not know what I'm missing. But everyone I know with clipless fell at least once. and with a fatbike going through mud, sand, snow etc. I imagine you need to take down your foot more often than with a road bike. i know many MTB people have clipless, but many winners of MTB races also have flat pedals.
they keep my feet on, i literally have to lift my foot to move it around, that is how good they hold my feet.
I'm cheap and just use whatever shoes I have. For example, I have old tennis shoes not good enough for walking (hurt my feet), but they are fine on the bike. That also is more practical than having separate biking shoes. And if you ride through the seasons you need quite a lot of bike shoes and boots if you have clipless. I just use my super-insulated bulky winterboots.
I never used clipless, so I may not know what I'm missing. But everyone I know with clipless fell at least once. and with a fatbike going through mud, sand, snow etc. I imagine you need to take down your foot more often than with a road bike. i know many MTB people have clipless, but many winners of MTB races also have flat pedals.
12-15-17, 01:51 PM
#3
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And honestly, I still use all of these options, depending on conditions and planned rides. However, my favorite and current pedals are the Crank Bros Mallet E pedals.
12-15-17, 05:59 PM
#4
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Crankbros Mallet DH.
I hate not being clipped in. The Mallet offers more support while clipping in than Eggbeaters, which is useful because sometimes snow packs in around the cleat and you have to bang it loose. The Mallet you can ride like a flat if you have to.
I hate not being clipped in. The Mallet offers more support while clipping in than Eggbeaters, which is useful because sometimes snow packs in around the cleat and you have to bang it loose. The Mallet you can ride like a flat if you have to.
12-15-17, 06:35 PM
#5
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As with , Race Face Chester. I decided I didn't want to drop $300 on winter boots just to be clipped in, when I have plenty of worthy winter footware already.
I've been riding in old running shoes that I don't care about. Learning how to ride off-road, yes, being unclipped has saved me from going down many times.
I've been riding in old running shoes that I don't care about. Learning how to ride off-road, yes, being unclipped has saved me from going down many times.
12-15-17, 07:30 PM
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Did flat pedals for years, now using Time Atac MX6. Flats work, I like clipless better. I have never had a problem unclipping. But I have had issues clipping back in after pushing in the right (wrong?) snow conditions -wet snow or overflow.
Main problem with clipless in the winter is that footwear gets expensive if you ride in cold (sub-freezing) weather.
Main problem with clipless in the winter is that footwear gets expensive if you ride in cold (sub-freezing) weather.
12-15-17, 11:50 PM
#7
Senior Member
I guess it depends on the terrain. I do lots of water, sand and loose gravel. Flats work best in my opinion. I am not a clipless fan, but I certainly see the advantages they offer.
12-16-17, 03:49 AM
#9
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Thread Starter
The special shoes requirement of clipless pedals also pushed me towards flats. I wanted my fatbike to be a bike that I can just get on and ride on the spur of the moment.
12-16-17, 11:36 AM
#10
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I use Wellgo MG-1s on the beach/trails and eggbeaters when I ride the STP. Clipless just can’t handle the grit.
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12-17-17, 06:52 AM
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Flats. Shimano Saints on my fatty, Race Face Chester on my wife's.
