Clipping in

[Iceaxe]

After my latest mtn bike crash (http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?63036) I'm re-evaluating clipping into the pedals. I used to race mtn bikes and considered clipping in to be a must do. But now I just ride for fun I was wondering what others do. Do you clip in? if not what do you do? what pedals do you use?

Thanks :cool2:

[Sombeech]

Do you clip in?

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/008/632/aw-hell-naw.jpg


Platforms, even the cheap $20 ones. Never looked back.

[blueeyes]

NO NO NO NO!!!!!! I need my freedom.

[nelsonccc]

I clip. I love the rock solid connection and efficiency. I tried to go back to platform but felt too 'detached', I feel there's a definite advantage to the leverage that can be applied when connected. I've had a few slow speed tipovers, though, none that resulted in more then my pride being hurt. I do however use a $13 bashguard so I don't have to worry about the chainring slicing me.

[mxerhale]

I started clipping in around '96 and have never looked back. Platforms are spooky to me coming down some trails, my shins got bashed too many times back in the day.

[Skylinerider]

Nope. I clipped in for a couple years, but never really liked being "stuck" to the bike.

[live2ride]

Clip in 100 percent of the time. I like the controll I get and it's second nature to unclip at this point.

[accadacca]

Clip in 100% too. I echo the advantages that others have listed.

[tallsteve]

Also clipped in 100% of the time. When I first switched to clipless, way, way back when they first came out, I tipped over all the time. Now, I couldn't tell you the last time I tipped over or crashed because I couldn't un-clip. Clipless is definitely more efficient but, I am not a 'clipless snob'. Whatever works for you. I'm just happy to still be riding at my age!

[double moo]

When I was racing, back in the 80's (before electricity...) I used Power Grips. I got a lot of crap from people who thought it was insane to be that attached to your bike. Then clipless came out and everyone moved on without a thought to the potential risks (including me). I still like my old power grips and have them on my bikes original platforms - just not on the bike at this time! They do give you good grab to the pedal... but you have to flick your heel out just like with clipless. The advantage is that in technical terrain you just flip them over and are not attached.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10052&categoryId=400570&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=400345&top_category=400345&pageView=

I only live a few blocks from you Axe if you would like to try them...

[REDFOX]

I have 2 pairs of shoes and clipless pedals. I like them on my roadbike and for mellow trails I can tolerate them. I use the shimano brand/style and have them adjusted at the most loose setting. For the majority of my biking and for more extreme riding and racing I prefer quality platform pedals. I ride with atomic laboritory trail pimps and kore pedals. Both of these styles have adjustable pins. The next crucial necessity is to have the right soled shoes. I have been riding 5.10 bike specific shoes. These shoes actually grip too much sometimes. Before these shoes, I liked using a tread pattern that was zig zag like on many basketball shoes or a vans style pattern. I move around a lot on my bike. Sometimes I will stretch my legs by riding with my foot in different pedal positions throughout a ride, not to mention a hike a bike routine that is sometimes required for my heavy bike. My personal perferance is platform pedals and with the right shoe/pedal combination, I have never slipped a pedal.

[nelsonccc]

I first started with single release cleats and entry level shimano pedals. I always tipping over, especially in the slow, rocky, technical stuff. Then I upgraded to the multi-release cleats. World of difference. I also now run a fancier pedal with more of a cage which helps me to feel like there is more for me to stand on.

With the multi release cleats at the easiest levels they come un clipped in any direction and super easy. Easy enough that i was getting unclipped when bumped on rocks. When going into technical spots i would pre-unclip and stand on the pedals, just in case.

I ran those for months at the easy level of tension then gradually increased the tension so that there was no more accidentally un clipping. Now I don't think I could even ride without them.

[Kent K25]

Unclipped with 5.10 Freerider shoes and great platform pedals. I stay on the pedals all the time and come out easier when I don't want to be on them ;)

[chromehead58]

clipless, I had many more wrecks on my platforms when I got bounced off my pedals---but I have lots of friends that feel just the opposite, so its whatever floats your boat..my pedals, egg beater candy... they done gum up in the mud.

[Iceaxe]

At the time of my accident I was using Tyme A.T.A.C. pedals similar to the picture below. Uncliping in a fal is not a major issue as you just kick your heel out.

53440

The strange part is if I had not of unclipped my right foot (and fallen to the left) I would not have been injured as the sprocket would not have been able to reach my calf.

So my next question is... I know this pedal system is older as the bike is 12 years old. But this was state of the art at the time and the pedals were $100. Is this pedal system still a descent system? or should I replace them with something else?

[neilether]

At the time of my accident I was using Tyme A.T.A.C. pedals similar to the picture below. Uncliping in a fal is not a major issue as you just kick your heel out.


The strange part is if I had not of unclipped my right foot (and fallen to the left) I would not have been injured as the sprocket would not have been able to reach my calf.

So my next question is... I know this pedal system is older as the bike is 12 years old. But this was state of the art at the time and the pedals were $100. Is this pedal system still a descent system? or should I replace them with something else?

For what it's worth, I run exclusively Time pedals on my mountain bike(s). They are my favorites that I have tried thus far. Shimano SPDs run a close-ish second and Crank Brothers are a very very very distant 3rd. Anyway, I have a set of older ATACs like those shown and a set of newer ones. I like them because they don't easily get gummed up with mud and trail debris and they have a very positive entry and release so you know for sure when you are in. The Shimanos and CBs can be a little bit vague in that regard sometimes.

[ahansen60]

When I first got into mountain biking I got me a set of SPD's for my bike. For the first couple weeks I constanly had scraped up knees. I fell over quite a bit. But as I got better at releasing my shoe, and knowing when to release, I no longer had these tip overs........until one day I tipped over and injured my knee pretty bad going up the really steep section in Beus Canyon of the BST. I was going uphill through a technical section and lost my momentum. To my left was a pretty steep drop with rocks and bushes in the bottom. I started to tip over to that downhill side and I just couldn't get my shoe to release. I ended up falling down that slope and smacking my knee right on a boulder. Full of adrenaline at that point, I quickly got back up and started to ride back down to the trailhead. As I was heading back down I looked down and saw that blood was pouring down my leg and soaking my sock and shoe. I had to get some stitches and my knee took a few months to get back to where I could enjoy biking again. So to make a long story short, after that I seriously considered getting rid of the clipless and getting platforms. But the advantages to being clipped in were too great. I loved having my feet secured, and being able to pull up on the pedal as well as push down. But to avoid another accident like I had, I loosened up my pedals considerably.

[live2ride]

If you like them roll with em. I love my eggbeaters and as long as you like your time pedals go big and ride wih them. Sounds like a freak accident and very unfortunate.

[Pelon1]

I clip 100% of the time, love the control and attachment to the bike. Fell over Thursday on my way home from work stopped at a crosswalk with just one foot clipped in and somehow the front tire turned and I fell over right in front of an intersection full of people. Man that sucked...I use eggbeaters :crazy:

[double moo]

If the pedals are called "clipless", why do we "clip in"?

[accadacca]

If the pedals are called "clipless", why do we "clip in"?
I've often wondered that too??

I use old school Time ATAC pedals just like Iceaxe has. From what I've seen, the new Time pedals really aren't that different.

[mxerhale]

I've often wondered that too??

I use old school Time ATAC pedals just like Iceaxe has. From what I've seen, the new Time pedals really aren't that different.

Waaayyyy back in the old days we used straps with metal/plastic clips that went over the front third of your foot that were called toe clips! I'm sure most of us have seen them because some guys still use them and you can buy them new still. Anyway, that's where the clipless moniker came from because the new style pedals did not have "toe clips". History lesson over :lol8:.

[accadacca]

Ah ha! Yeah, I figured it had to do with those. I had them on the first couple bikes...

Kinda confusing still!! :lol8:

[neilether]

A small (relative to Ice's injury....) counter-argument to NOT clipping in:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h206/neilether/IMG_9788.jpg

Foot comes off of pedal, pedal comes around, pin gouges shin down to bone. Luckily I was the "medic" in this case and not the victim.

Debate. Go.

[accadacca]

A small (relative to Ice's injury....) counter-argument to NOT clipping in:

Foot comes off of pedal, pedal comes around, pin gouges shin down to bone. Luckily I was the "medic" in this case and not the victim.

Debate. Go.
I've had that happen back in the day when I still had the "clip" type pedals. It wasn't that severe, but every once it a while it would happen and really smack you in the shin. :cry:

[blueeyes]

I am no fan of clipless or "clipping in" but I do have a rather large growth on my shin from the pedal coming around and smacking my shin bone as a kid over and over. Weak spot in the bone now... should I ever break that leg probably where it will break. Still very tender any time I bump it or even if you lightly press on it. I think you have to pick your poison and at some point in time you will question if it was right. Such as glasscutter accident where he wasn't clipped in and lost the pedal or Ice's injury being clipped in and flaying his leg open. I would like to ride clipless on my mountain bike because it is more efficient but I wouldn't try half the stuff I do if I was clipped in because I need to "feel" like I can get off the bike at a moments notice with out the added issue of twisting my foot the right direction. It also doesn't help that the first set of clipless pedals I bought the bike tech set them up backwards and I had no clue and tried riding like that for 3 months before I went back to the shop frustrated and wanted my old pedals back. :facepalm1: Or the second set (came stock with the Safire) that no matter how hard I tried wouldn't release my foot and there was no way to adjust the tension. I am scared to death now to ride clipless.

So I choose to give up efficiency for freedom. I will probably reevaluate that one day when I don't feel I need the freedom anymore.

[Taylor]

Clipped in 100% of the time. Crank bros Candy 2's because they match the color of my Iodine wheelset.:cool2:

[fourtycal]

I rode clipped in pedals for many years (time pedals were my favorite) and felt they were second nature. Then I spent a day at Deer Valley on the fun stuff, came home and ordered platforms. I like Azonic's with five ten low impact shoes.
Sometimes in the rough stuff clippless is too slow no matter how good you are at it. :2thumbs:

[Sombeech]

From last night's ride on Mueller Park :haha:


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

[DOSS]

100% clipped in on the road, 100% clipped in on my hard tail bike, Platforms on my FS but wish I had clips for those uphill sections :)

[Sombeech]

All I can say is that my bad wrecks would have been a lot worse if I were clipped in. I can't remember ever losing my pedals though, my feet might have shifted on them once in a while but the little tip overs shown in the video from last night happen a lot more often than the little mishaps with platforms.

I just don't like tipping over. :mrgreen:

[neilether]

I just don't like tipping over. :mrgreen:

Wuss

[accadacca]

In the guys defense on the video...it was his first ride using clip in pedals.

Some of you guys have been riding with them for years and still cant get it right. :lol8:

[nelsonccc]

Noob!

[Sombeech]

More adventures with clipless pedals from last night :haha:

Notice now he's falling and the bike is still attached, twisting his knee. ouch.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u6dU6xTVYo&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

[DOSS]

More adventures with clipless pedals from last night :haha:

Notice now he's falling and the bike is still attached, twisting his knee. ouch.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u6dU6xTVYo&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Looks like someone should adjust their cleats a bit as it should have released when he got to 30* of rotation (or sooner since he is a noob) and it didn't....

[blueeyes]

Mark! Don't take out your knee.

[Sombeech]

My platforms release immediately :lol8:

[neilether]

Most clipless pedals are SPD compatible, which fit Shimano-style cleats.

This isn't really a very true statement. Be very careful if you are buying pedals and make sure you have the matching cleats. There are a lot of different pedals out there. Yes, old Ritchey cleats can jam into SPD pedals. Yes, you can likely jam random cleats into different pedals. However, this will greatly effect how you are able to release your foot from their potential deathgrip.

[accadacca]

Nooooobs... :haha:

[bigred72]

My platforms release immediately :lol8:

+1

[UTJetdog]

If the pedals are called "clipless", why do we "clip in"?

Because with 'toe clips' you don't 'clip in' - silly... :crazycobasa: :bootyshake:

[accadacca]

Clipping in...new shoes! :2thumbs:

55785

[trek87]

I just switched to clip less from platforms a couple weeks ago. I've noticed I can hit downhills and jumps a lot harder without worrying about my feet getting bumped off the pedals. They also make uphills more manageable. I'm riding with SPD pedals and have been considering trying Egg Beaters for more points of entry. Anybody have any advice as to whether Egg Beaters make much difference from the SPDs?

[DOSS]

I just switched to clip less from platforms a couple weeks ago. I've noticed I can hit downhills and jumps a lot harder without worrying about my feet getting bumped off the pedals. They also make uphills more manageable. I'm riding with SPD pedals and have been considering trying Egg Beaters for more points of entry. Anybody have any advice as to whether Egg Beaters make much difference from the SPDs?

I like my egg beaters far batter than I did my SPD's, easier entry, even caked with mud I could just shove my foot on and clip in. nothing to adjust or go out of adjustment. Then again if you have SPD's I wouldn't change until you have a hardware failure unless you really just like to change parts :)

[rich67]

Tried to clip in, but hated it. Some of my worst MTB injuries were received while being clipped in. I have used platforms for about 4 years now and will never go back. I ride easy Florida rock quarry terrain, been to Moab and Sedona to ride, and never bashed my shins or had platform-related injuries. The argument about how being clipped in allows more endurance/force to be applied to the pedal is also questionable. My legs fatigued the same and my ride times are the same regardless if I'm clipped or un clipped. Clipless, in my opinion, was something brought over by the crossover roadie/MTB crowd, and I personally feel that it has its place on certain trails. I could see being clipped if I were riding the Kokopelli or Arizona Trail, but if I were on Porcupine Rim or Amasa Back, there is no way I'd want to be clipped in. :blahblah: just my two pennies.

[DOSS]

The argument about how being clipped in allows more endurance/force to be applied to the pedal is also questionable. My legs fatigued the same and my ride times are the same regardless if I'm clipped or un clipped.

You are aware that you are also supposed to pull UP when clipped in to create a full circle of power... Not sure how if you are using them correctly you could have the exact same fatigue as there are different muscles used when you pull up than when you push down..

[rich67]

Yes, I am aware of that. However, most of my riding is up and down and rarely flat, lengthy riding. When climbing, I was not able to "pull up", so maybe I was doing it wrong...Who knows. I still stand by my opinion that they have their place on certain trails I personally don't see any distinct advantage, but it may be that my technique was off.


Sent from my iPhone4S using Tapatalk

[nelsonccc]

I ride a single speed and couldn't live without them. It's all about being to pull up. I ride technical stuff and when standing on a SS I need to yank the peddle up to maintain momentum on certain sections.

[rich67]

http://www.bikejames.com/wp-content/uploads/Top-3-Clipless-Pedal-Myths-Building-a-Better-Pedal-Stroke.pdf
Not trying to create an argument, but I really think the clipless pedals myths are definitely being promoted heavily, and may have no merit. Granted, everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I can honestly say it is simply a matter of preference, and it really doesn't appear to be a distinct advantage either way. If you feel more comfortable with it, then go for it. But if you're like me and have had some bad experiences being clipped in, then give the platforms a try and you may be happier.

[Sombeech]

Yeah, all about preference. When somebody says I could do something better while clipped in, well they could do something better not clipped in.