wolfchild

It`s true we don`t have mountains around here but the suburbs and rural areas surrounding Toronto have more than enough hills to challenge the strongest cyclists out there.

Kapusta

Translation: “I have nothing relevant for the OP (or have not bothered to read it) so please allow me to spew some unrelated opinions”

BTW, I agree that one should use the best tool for the job. That is why they make cycling specific shoes for flat pedals

Wildwood 

Wait.
I never said anything about strong cycling and clipless. 2 different topics.
I said only a couple of things: I cannot climb strongly nor can I spin a high cadence on flat pedals.

Flat pedals are fine for many places, styles, tasks, etc.

if I called flat inferior - it would be for roadies who: a. climb on occasion, or b. do all out sprints (or facsimiles thereof, or c. spin 90rpm cadence to push cardio over musculature? Doesn’t almost everyone do those things on their roadie? If not, there is a lot of cycling technology being sold for no real purpose.

I ride 130m elevation change coming and going (1st/last) 2.5km. At the end of a 50 mile ride, that last hill with ramps is a killer. I am 100% convinced others who ride big hills and mountain foothills and on truly mountain roads - are more efficient strapped or clipped to pedals.


just because I hike in boots, doesn’t mean I don’t like my shoes, too!
…horses for courses….

Kapusta

Still have not read the OP, have you?

Hint: OP means “original post” or “original poster”.

Wildwood 

Translator and public critic are 2 different occupations/pastimes.

Kapusta

Still not read the OP?

Spoiler: he is specifically asking about MTB, not Road.

livedarklions

And out of respect to the OP, I'm not biting on the 47,000th argument about flats on road bikes.

Kapusta

Same here.

Ironfish653

Clips 'n straps are hardly the best tool for any job.

If you had bothered to read the OP, they're an experienced rider coming back into the sport after an extended illness, and dealing with both skills degradation, and some new limitations; wants to brush up on his lost MTB skills, but isn't ready to go back on his clipless yet.

A lot of us ride both flats and clipless; and as we pointed out, there are some good flats for MTB, and riding MTB on flats can actually help build your skills, because your technique has to be sharper than with SPDs.

There, all caught up now?

rumrunn6

great for winter boots too

MarcusT

Is 130m big for you?

Wildwood 

@MarcusT - Depends on the ramps, and where in the ride it comes. For an old guy (70) getting up his big hill, ~7% average grade for 2.5km at the end of a 50 mile ride with vintage gearing (42/26) on a 22 pound bike - yes, it can be tough in the wet and/or cold.

Do you ride northern Italian mountain roads with flat pedals? How ‘bout your mtb bikes?



……and no, I don’t need to upgrade all my bikes. But both legs could use 1!

livedarklions

You're not going to be happy until you troll an argument that has nothing to do with the OP, right?

OP wants to relearn MTB riding on flats, and was asking for advice on how best to do that. That's a relatively novel topic for a thread. OP has decided he wants to do this, he isn't asking for anyone's approval or requesting they talk him out of it, he wants practical advice. Other people wanting to do both might find such advice useful as well.

You are trying to morph this into a general debate on SPDs vs. flats. There are many (probably dozens) of such threads. If you want to have that debate yet again, start your own thread or bump one of the old ones so we can trot out the same old, same old yet again.

Kapusta

I think that pretty much sums it up.

MarcusT

I grew up racing with clips and the few times I ride my racing bike, I'll still use the old cages. I tried clipless, but as my riding style slowed down, so did my desire to be clipped in. My EMTB, my Fat bike, my commuter and my touring bike are all flats. I don't miss the clips on climbs, sometimes on some gnarly downhills, but I manage. A casual ride for me is about a 500 meter climb, but in very low gears, with no desire to keep up with the kids. Unassisted climbs, I can go about 15%. But who's counting. As long as we can ride

Paul Barnard

I have gone to flats on my MTB, Touring Bike and Gravel Bike. I'd never consider clipless for those applications. I have had no choppy cadence issues or issues with my feet slipping off the pedals.

cyclezen

So I got the Chesters and took them out for a shakedown ride yesterday. Mostly loved them, except for one problem I've never had before.
Pedal strike/getting stuck and stopped by the wider chester pedals...
I opened another thread, in MTB forum, figuring this might be best addressed there...
Also has a pic comparo between the Chesters and the Crank Bros Acid 1s I had on the bike before putting on the chesters...
link to new thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/mountain-...at-pedals.html
Ride On
Yuri

ofajen

You might try the VP-538. It’s a worthy plastic platform pedal with sealed bearings and made by Victor in Taiwan. Rivbike sells them as the Clem Smith pedal. They are not as wide as some platforms I’ve ridden. Noticeably so. At first I was a tad concerned they wouldn’t be wide enough, but really they seem just about right. I never notice them, which is a good thing.

Otto

DMC707

I am doing a similar thing. I've used SPD's and other road clip less systems for 30 years, and wouldn't dream of having flats on a bike that I worried about turning some performance numbers on,

but - after a knee replacement a year ago, I put flats on my mtb as I was rehabilitating. Over the spring I built a new mountain bike as a reward to myself and rode it a few times clipped in, -- but then, after suffering from some malaise and depression, I just didn't feel like riding.

i thought everything sucked and just didn't want to deal with changing clothes and shoes at the trailhead anymore, - so I put flats on that bike. If I ride I just go out for short spins in regular athletic gear or street clothes (if I truly think ill be out longer than 45 minutes, I'll throw on a set of bibs under my pants though- I may be depressed but I'm not a total masochist) and I'm currently just wearing Vans skateboard/bmx shoes

​​​Iim sticking with the flats until I get my "mojo" back, but the floppy and non supportive Vans (they're basically gardening shoes with a grippy sole) have got to go.
My LBS ordered some real shoes for me from Specializeds catalog. They are hideous to look at, - kinda like the 5-10's and other dirt jump inspired shoes, but they are real shoes at least. (Still waiting for them as everything is back ordered)

if it all works out, I will upgrade the "Rock Brothers" anodized pedals to some Shimano Saints if availability ever comes back around again but until then I'll just run what I have.

JayKay3000

Most of my scars on my shins have gone now, but flat pedals only suck when you mess up and they dig into your shins. I found riding clipped in made riding easier, but it also made me a lazier rider. You can get away with a lot more clipped in. But it's fun riding flat pedals and it's nice to be able to just move your foot around if you want to. My trail bike was just my trail bike so having flats for running errands to shops was never a thought.

Worth practicing skills off the trail though.

cyclezen

so, i've been rding the chester flats... and it's been eye-opening and good to work on off-road skills again. Especially now that the bike also has some great up-grades - 27.5 frt wheel, dropper post... makes a huge difference! On Wed I did a longer ride in the Los Padres backcountry - using the flats. Great Day!
my post in MTB, was regarding my pedal width issues - here:
quick update... so, I purchased a few varying mtb pedals thru amazon... they ALL noted a slightly different 'dimension' on the pedal/cage width.
When they came in, except for some very slight cosmetic difference, they were ALL almost exact duplicates of the Chesters ! LOL!
so back they went...
update on Chesters - I do like them a lot and did use them on an mtb ride I like, and hadn;t done in a couple months - Red Rock to Sunbird Quicksiver mine & return along Santa Ynez river trail - approx 15 mi RT. Some Los Padres Forest Service rd, some steepish singletrack and some frequent knarly bouldered, dry river crossings of the Santa Ynez.
UPdate/upgrade on my '04 Spec EPic is almost complete - swap to 27.5 front wheel (awesome !!!) dropper seat post, chester pedals and coming is a shorter stem...
All three 'upgrades' are making a huge difference in singletrack riding - a lot more fun when you feel more in control... LOL!

'04 Spec Epic (27.5 frt) at Sunbird Mine - west view to Gibraltar Reservoir

Pic is at the Mine Overlook bench - view west to a very dry section of Gibraltar Reservoir (our serious drought results). Mine is down to left with red slag heap in view - waste cinnebar.
Trail hugs the steep left side and goes through the notch in the far left background. Awesome fun ride!
I'll keep the Chesters and swap back to the Eggbeater Acids on rides where width issues and strikes are a problem.
Ride On
Yuri