Bluebatmobile

Just picked a new Look 927 full suspension bike. Its been a good 17 years since my last purchase, a Cannondale Raven, with Ritchey Logic pedals! Your input is appreciated .

B@t™

MAK

I like the Shimano m647. I can clip in or, when needed, can ride unclipped because the platform gives me a comfortable surface.

Stormsedge

Lately, I've been using flats on my MTB. Purchased Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedals for my new FS.

Steve B.

I use lower end Shimano SPD pedals on a number of bikes, 520 or 540 series, whichever was on sale at Nashbar at the time. I typically paid about $25 a pair. I assume there's a difference between the more expensive XTR series and lower levels, likely titanium spindles and weight, maybe better bearings, but nothing I would notice. I also have a pair of Shimano PD-M424, which are dual sided SPD with a dual sided rubber platform to allow street shoes to be worn. Heavy but really functional for my tourer/commuter

I've been mt. biking 30 years and am in the camp of using pedals that keep the foot attached to the pedal, to avoid the foot coming off the pedal in the rough stuff. I don't quite get the pinned pedal concept and how that keeps the shoe on the pedal when you are getting bounced around. People like them though.

2cam16

I just switched over to flats a year ago after all these decades on spd's and I feel "safer". I don't have that thought in the back of my mind about unclipping while crashing. Control wise, definitely not as good as being clipped-in but you get used to it and figure it out.
I still have spd's though on most of my mtb's but they hardly get ridden.

Steve B.

2cam16

Because this:

Dave Mayer

At the Co-op, I just finished taking apart and reassembling a set of Shimano m520 pedals. Someone had stripped the release tension bolts, and I replaced them, as well as relubing the internals. Now good for another 5,000 miles!

These are one of the great bargains in cycling. Great retention and release, hard to kill, and relatively resistant to mud. Plus you can replace/service almost everything on them.

BTW: I used (Version 2) Ritchey pedals for many years. The Richey 2-bolt cleats superficially look like Shimano cleats, but they are dangerously incompatible. When you clip in, you either cannot stay in, or release out, I cannot remember which; in any case - scary...

cormacf

I have three pairs of Specialized Bennies on three different bikes (full-time on the commuter, and I swap M8020 XT Trail pedals on the hardtail and roadie when I feel like clipping in). For clipless, I can't say enough good things about the whole Shimano line. I've had 520/540s before, and they've been super-reliable. The 8020s are essentially the same pedal with more of a frame to support your foot if you miss a clip or are really bearing down hard. I've replaced Ultegra road pedals with them on my roadie, because it's easier to clip in/out, I can wear MTB shoes on brevets (much nicer for walking), and the frames seem to keep hot spots at bay, on anything up to 220 miles so far.

mikeng64

I've been pedaling with Crankbrothers Doubleshot II on my FS and have been happy with them. The clip side is not the easiest to clip in (maybe I need to break them in some more or I need to add more lubrication). But I love that the other side is big and flat.

Maelstrom 

Yep... yep and yep... cannot recommend these enough. They are literally amazing.

Maelstrom 

I am not sure I agree with the "not as good" statement. lifelong flat pedaller, and yes ex dhiller, and I have no problems with control at speed, or in rough stuff and I ride in almost every condition imaginable. Heck, I ride mid winter on the north shore. Can't get much worse than that for conditions. You do need really good ankle mobility to make flats work really well though. That is extra important ... check out Ryan Leeches video (which may not be free... O_o) for converting from clips to flats. Will give you a lot of great tips for ensuring your ride is even better than in clips.

I find I have better control (as in, more skilled) and I am far safer since I can bail. The adjustment is in how and where your feet are positioned for each type of terrain. Jumping vs climbing vs descending. In fact, since I can maneuver for each I would think that's better for my knees and ankles, but that's really just me guessing since I can't maintain any single position for long with aches and pain... hahaha

PaulRivers

Are you using Five Ten shoes? I started with Chrome shoes but they slid around on the pedal a bit sometimes. Then I tried Five Tens and that completely went away. They had the same grip on the pedal as I had with clipless for down, forward, or back. Not up of course, if you pull up the shoe it will come off as you'd expect.

I also enjoy the not-on-the-bike advantages - wearing the same shoes in the car that I wear on the bike and being able to walk around on any surface with normal feeling shoes.

I felt the same way when I switched back to flats, that there was a tiny bit of thinking my brain no longer had to do now that I wasn't clipped in. Not a huge deal but it was nice.

PaulRivers

DMR Vaults


They are expensive but having tried a few pairs of flat pedals they were definitely the most comfortable for me with size 12 feet so I kept them.

Steve B.

hig4s

has anyone ever seen anyone clipped in to a motocross bike? Nuff Said.

Steve B.

2cam16

And therein lies one of my problems. I wish I could afford Five Tens but not at this moment so I'm still using my old Specialized mtb shoes.

hig4s

Using the clips to pull the bike up is not the correct way to bunny hop. Learning to bunny hop in clipless can make it difficult to get your technique correct.

Why Flats
Again

Steve B.

To get the rear wheel off the ground, you need the pedals level and to lift with the pedals ?. That's how I learned it. You do have to compress with the legs to get the power to launch the bike, but seems easier to be in clipless and be able to pull up with the feet.

But I'm not Danny MacasKill and I think he does it on flats, so obviously it can be done.

EDIT: Well being curious I watched the GMBN YouTube on how to bunny hop and apparently I've been doing it wrong for 28 years. Seems your NOT supposed to do a simultaneous pull up of the front with your arms and the rear with your clipped in feet, but instead are supposed to lean weight back to get the front wheel up, then shift forward to get the rear up.

OK, got it.

Maelstrom 

Ride whatcha ride. …

I have 20 years on flats. I have tried spds on my road bike and even switched to flats. I maneuver my feet too much I guess.

Darth Lefty 

snugent

i've used time atacs on both my bmx and mountain bike for nearly 20 years now. i prefer them over spds for a few reasons. 1. there's no need to adjust the tension. one tension setting is it and it's pretty much perfect. 2. the amount of side to side float is great for when you're diving through berms and avoiding rocks, roots and trees. spds don't allow that as there's little to no float. 3. they're durable. i've had no issues with the 2 sets that i have. they're both close to 20 years old and have needed no maintenance other than a new set of cleats every few years.

Steve B.

I love discussions like this where I learn stuff about alternatives to the way I've been doing it for 30 years.

I saw a good YouTube last night from the GCN folks where they test flats and clipless on a road bike on a inclined roller. The flats were more efficient, which seemed to surprise them.

Bluebatmobile

Wow! I've really been out of the loop! So it seems quite a few of you are using flats. Flats meaning non clipless pedals? What are pinned pedals?

B@t™