Pedals - Platform vs Clipless

[Sombeech]

What's your preference?

After breaking my ribs twice, I went back to platforms. Never looked back.

[Skylinerider]

I currently ride with "clipless" but am thinking of going back to platforms. I don't race, and I usually am riding alone.

[johnnyspoke]

Pedals, that is, not tires.

I'm not terribly coordinated, and I have a LOT more confidence with platforms. I tried clipless for a while and hated them. I have one leg that's a little "off". I need to periodically move where my foot contacts the pedal front to back or I have knee problems. The key is good platforms-ones with pins. Put that together with a good pair of shoes like 5.10's and it's pretty dang hard to slip off a pedal accidentaly.

The downside is if you do slip a pedal, you'll have shin scars for life. But scars make good stories.

[tallsteve]

Egg Beaters all the way baby! If you actually like to climb like I do then it's the most efficient way to go. 'been riding clipless for many, many years.

[shagster]

Egg Beaters all the way baby! If you actually like to climb like I do then it's the most efficient way to go. 'been riding clipless for many, many years.

I agree I ride egg beaters and love em. I don't know that I would go back.

[glasscutter]

Yeah shagster, and how many times have we seen you tip over!

[ogdmfg]

I actually use both, platforms on the dh sled platform/clips on the xc

[live2ride]

I am going to have to jump on the egg beater bang wagon. I bought them when they were first released and have never looked back and now I am on my third pair, and my first set are still in great working condition. I will never switch to a platform pedal again, I love my pedals!

[greyhair biker]

I will ride anything but the ole strap pedals :lol8:

[accadacca]

I will ride anything but the ole strap pedals :lol8:
Oh yeah the ole strap pedals were awesome. :lol8:

I ride clipless. Time Atac to be exact.

[shlingdawg]

Lock 'em in. Tie me to the bike so when I eat sh!t, it can stay closeby to hit me in the back of the head when it comes back around.

I started of w/ platform and just don't like the all around performance. Then I switched to clipless. It took 1 spill because of them, but since, I feel quite proficient with the clipless pedals. I won't go back.

[fourtycal]

I rode clipless for several years, then I went downhillin Deer valley with Greyhair and freinds one time :eek2: , I ordered platforms as soon as I got home!

I just bought a hardtail bike again, I put Time Atacs on it and I'll probably keep platforms on the heavy rig or maybe change out every now and then depending on the trail.

[TreeHugger]

Definitely clipless - Time Atacs. Love 'em. One thing I do like about these over eggbeaters is that you have a bigger surface area so if you want to not clip in over a section you can still get some power on the pedal, so to speak.

I much prefer clipless for the uphills they allow me to get a complete pedal rotation of work, not just a push down, but a pull up as well. Much more efficient in my opinion. I also feel like I can manhandle my bike more, like to move it around and around on it while being "connected", not sure if that makes sense... but to me it does. :-)

I've never had trouble coming out of my clipless either, even with crashes when I wasnt trying.

[SprungShoulders]

From Brian Lopes and Lee McCormack:

[i]If you can learn to ride with flats, it

[accadacca]

I had platform back in the BMX days. . .15-20 years ago. Yep, I could do all that stuff with them too, including bunny hopping in the back of a pickup truck with the tailgate down. :cool2:

[chromehead58]

since i switched to clipless...have never had a regret...easier to climb and i feel as though i have more control on my bike. but most of my riding is cross country style riding. I actually think that half the fun is ridiing to the top of the hill!

[jinx]

anyone of you that says you have more control with your clipies than you do with your flats are riding the wrong flats... google the shinburger

[Shan]

Clipless here. Took me about one summer to get comfortable in them. I prefer them to platforms.

[trackrunner]

I ride with clipless.

[recinutah]

I ride eggbeaters and love 'em, but would consider platform on the DH rides.

[neilether]

CrankBrothers Candys for me. Have used clipless for about 8 years. Love em!!

[cachehiker]

CrankBrothers Candys for me.

+1. Three pair of Candys with a pair of Eggbeaters on the Zaskar hardtail. Will put platforms on a downhill or dirt jump bike if I ever get one or on the old Bianchi with winter studs if my dear old dad ever gives it back to me.

[Iceaxe]

For the past 20 years I have been riding and racing my mountain bike with clipless pedals. This year I bought a new mountain bike and decided to try some platforms mostly because I had a set sitting in the garage and the trails were still snow and ice covered.... anyhoo.... after riding with the platforms for the past month I will probably never go back to clipless.

The biggest improvement in my riding style is I notice I'm a little more aggressive with platforms. After about two days of riding I really didn't notice any difference in climbing, which is where I thought I might have problems with the platforms. I also feel safer with the platforms, which is a good thing for an old man... just thought you might like an update.

:cool2:

[accadacca]

@<u><a href="http://www.bogley.com/forum/member.php?u=116" target="_blank">double moo</a></u> shared this video about it. Thoughts?


https://youtu.be/LFgHaMHeKyM

[tallsteve]

I saw that when it came out a couple of weeks ago. The results for one guy doesn't make me lean one way or another. I'd like to see a more in-depth study although the whole thing seems a bit trivial in the grand scheme of things for someone to spend a bunch of research money on. Ride what you like. I've been riding clipless for 25 years or so. With that being said, I'm going to throw some flats on at some point this summer and try them on my favorite trail just for kicks. Impressions afterward.

[Iceaxe]

For the past 20 years I have been riding and racing my mountain bike with clipless pedals. This year I bought a new mountain bike and decided to try some platforms mostly because I had a set sitting in the garage and the trails were still snow and ice covered.... anyhoo.... after riding with the platforms for the past month I will probably never go back to clipless.

The biggest improvement in my riding style is I notice I'm a little more aggressive with platforms. After about two days of riding I really didn't notice any difference in climbing, which is where I thought I might have problems with the platforms. I also feel safer with the platforms, which is a good thing for an old man... just thought you might like an update.

:cool2:


It's been three years now and I have no plans to go back to clips. The more I ride platforms the more I like them.

[double moo]

It's been three years now and I have no plans to go back to clips. The more I ride platforms the more I like them.


+1...

[Sombeech]

Whatever the science says, even if it turns out that platforms are less efficient, it's just nice to not have this happen


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JNlv58OEV4

[double moo]

Just tonight I was riding around Eagle Crest from east to west when a guy coming the other direction was coming down pretty fast. He was kind enough to recognie that as the uphill rider I had the right of way. He was hard on the brakes and got it under control 15' in front of me... then he started the slow motion tip over as he struggled to unsuccessfully unclip. "Thats gonna hurt" I muttered as he was going over. As I was clearing him I asked if he was OK? "Yes, just stuck in my clips". My riding buddy was a hundred yards behind me - said he was still on the ground strugging to get his pinned down foot out when he passed, and again declined help!

Unfortuntley I have to admit to having done that myself on more than one occasion. Don't happen any more with the flats.

[neilether]

So I will still be off my bike for quite a while, but I already bought a pair of flat pedals and will get some nice stick 510 shoes. When the doctor gives me the go ahead I will start out riding with flats as I don't want to be clipped in during rehab rides. I'm very curious to see how I'll like it. I've been riding clipless for 12 years. Will I be the next convert to flats?

[neilether]

First shake out ride this morning with my new flat pedal and 510 shoes. It was interesting. Clearly I need some practice, but I was very surprised how difficult it was to keep my feet on the pedals.......going UPHILL. On rocky climbs my feet were all over the place. Descending actually felt pretty good.

Some of the issue is that I don't have hardly any strength in my right calf, so keeping my foot on that pedal is hard, but I noticed it with my good left foot as well. Is this an anomaly for me, or part of the learning curve?

[Iceaxe]

Personally my learning curve with flats was one ride, by my second ride I forgot which pedal I was riding. I have no clue if that is normal or not.

[REDFOX]

510 shoes with adjustable pinned flat pedals are solid. I never slip a pedal.

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[Sombeech]

I like pedals with the adjustable allen screws sticking up for grip. You can feel them grip into your average shoes. The bad part is, you can imagine them gripping into your shin flesh if you slip out.

[neilether]

I must be a slow learner. The downhill feels pretty good (granted, I haven't tried anything very technical yet), but the rocky uphills have me flummoxed. It's getting better though. i just have to remember to keep downward pressure on both pedals at all times. That wasn't a necessity with clipless.

Also, jumping......not good. I"m gonna have to do some serious parking lot practice when my foot gets a little bit stronger. I had no idea how much I was cheating and using my pedals to lift up the bike.

[Iceaxe]

What pedals are you riding? I've only ridden a high quality flat.

[neilether]

What pedals are you riding? I've only ridden a high quality flat.

RaceFace Chester. A plastic bodied pedal with the removable pins (screws). Not super high end, but they are decent ones.

[Iceaxe]

...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181012/611f8fc0dcc932c23e0ab1c561e18aec.jpg

Climb-Utah.com

[neilether]

...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181012/611f8fc0dcc932c23e0ab1c561e18aec.jpg

Climb-Utah.com

Looks like I chose wisely! I'm on flat permanently. Not going back.

[Iceaxe]

Looks like I chose wisely! I'm on flat permanently. Not going back.
X2

Climb-Utah.com

[Sombeech]

I've enjoyed the past 10 years with no broken ribs, thanks to the flats

[tallsteve]

Alrighty, since Iceax resurrected a 2 year old thread, I'll chime in. I decided to experiment with flats this summer and rode with them for 2 months. I think I gave them a fair shot. I bought some OneUp composite pedals. They were $60 so, not the best pedal out there and not the worst. A lot of guys said they ride this pedal so, I think it was a good choice for the money. I used a Pearl Izumi shoe with a fairly flat and sticky sole. Not the most ideal but, I wasn't going to spend $100+ on shoes for an experiment. In the end the PI's worked OK and were never really an issue. With flats the first thing I noticed happened while climbing. My foot was popping off the pedal at the top of the stroke, especially on a more techy climb. After thinking it through I realized that with clipless I hadn't been starting the power phase of the pedal stroke soon enough. Applying power sooner = no more foot pop off. So, I had gotten lazy with clipless. With flats I also discovered that my foot likes to be farther forward on the pedal. I thought I had my foot pretty far forward with clipless but, learned it needs to be even more forward. So, I learned some good, helpful stuff from riding flats. Mostly, that my pedal stroke had gotten lazy from years of riding clipless. Bottom line is I still like the feeling of being more connected to the pedal, particularly on the climbs. Riding flats I also learned I was using far more upstroke with clipless than I realized and I was missing that part of the pedal stroke. I also find it easier with clipless to get my foot in the right position to start pedaling, especially on a climb. Again, I gave flats a good, fair shot and I just like clipless better. I’m the type of guy who just doesn’t care what others are riding. I rarely notice what bike someone else is on, what shoes and pedals they are using or whether they are wearing spandex or baggies. I just don’t care. Ride what you want and works best for you.

[accadacca]

I’ll stick with clipless too. I like being connected to the pedals as well and not having my foot sliding around on climbs and descents.

[Iceaxe]

If your foot is sliding around you have the wrong or you have a poor shoe and pedal combo. If your foot is not setting in the correct position on the pedal you don't have a good shoe and pedal combo.

A good rider can easily ride flats or clips... Just sayin...

[accadacca]

A good rider can easily ride flats or clips... Just sayin...
Maybe we should decide this with a race down Rush, Vertigo or Levitate? Take your pick.

You ride with flats and I’ll ride clipless. The winner gets bragging rights. Lol

[Iceaxe]

How about a race up canyon hollow or Clark's. Take your pick :-)

I don't race DH anymore because crashes take way too long to heal, one day you'll be old and understand...

[emoji469]

[double moo]

Go big or go home... some oversized Crank Bros Stamp 7s. Trying to get a better support for the size 13s. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181024/79ba06fa787ec06f63b607e9ef7652ed.jpg

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[Sombeech]

Maybe we should decide this with a race down Rush, Vertigo or Levitate? Take your pick.

You ride with flats and I’ll ride clipless. The winner gets bragging rights. Lol

I'll bring the video gear

[Iceaxe]

I'll bring the video gear

Bogley has a Strava group that I'll plug right now. Anyone that's a member of the group already knows which Bogley contributors are fast and where. Come join Bogley on Strava as it's fun stuff.

And just for giggles here is a picture of the last time I raced an official DH and why I don't race them anymore :-) the shoulder will never completely heal or work normal again.

Now if you want to race a couple of laps on Levitate I'm all in.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181024/83c8763749e72fee357bec99c5d1331b.jpg

[Sombeech]

I'm so fast I didn't want to be accused of riding an ebike

[rich67]

Tried both, and won't ever use clipless again. I love my platforms and never have to worry when riding technical stuff. I've seen too many of my buddies get hurt bad riding clipless and the bike ends up twisting parts of them that would never have been twisted if they could have bailed off flats.

[Iceaxe]

I followed tallsteve and his adventures with platforms on the Facebook MTB group and knew immediately he would probably not be able to transition to platforms as it was really messing with his head and many of the issues he had like pedal strikes were a mindset and not really a pedal issue.

YMMV

[uintafly]

I went from clipless to flats this year and will never go back. Sure, clipless are a little more efficient and I still like them a little more for real techy climbs, but overall I like the flats so much more on the downs that it makes it worth it for me. My first ride on them was Captain Ahab and I did slip a pedal on a climb and still have the scar to prove it, but luckily it was on the calf and not the shin. But after a few rides I figured out the climbing and haven't had problems since.

[twotimer]

Meatgrinders for me. Sure beats broken ribs or separated shoulders.

91035

[tallsteve]

Meatgrinders for me. Sure beats broken ribs or separated shoulders.

I've never done either and have been riding clipless for 25 years or so (knock on wood!).

[Iceaxe]

I've never done either and have been riding clipless for 25 years or so (knock on wood!).

There are two types of mountain bike riders in the world.... those who have visited the emergency room and those who will visit the emergency room.

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[tallsteve]

There are two types of mountain bike riders in the world.... those who have visited the emergency room and those who will visit the emergency room.

Climb-Utah.com

Yep. I've visited the ER a couple of times from mtn. biking. Not for broken ribs or broken collarbone, though.

[twotimer]

I've never done either and have been riding clipless for 25 years or so (knock on wood!).Knockin' on wood for ya, brother!

Perhaps it's because you're so damn tall...you have so much more time to prepare for the crash.

[uintafly]

There are three types of mountain bike riders in the world.... those who have visited the emergency room, those who will visit the emergency room, and really slow riders. :)

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FIFY

[gholt]

There are two types of mountain bike riders in the world.... those who have visited the emergency room and those who will visit the emergency room.

Climb-Utah.comI'm in that club. Hope to not get another entry.

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