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Poll:
Clips or no clips?
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Emile
Joined: 07/22/06
Outdoorzy Original
Bowling Green, KY
Posts: 185
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flanderflop
Joined: 11/08/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Louisville, KY
Posts: 10
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Posted: 11/11/07 2:18pm |
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I have been riding clipless for years now and I recently went out on a pair of platform pedals. It is crazy how unsafe you feel not being clipped in.
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Goose Creek Cycle
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joshuatheNomad
Joined: 10/05/06
Outdoorzy Adventurer
Skagway, AK
Posts: 123
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Posted: 11/13/07 1:10pm |
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I have been riding clipless for years now and I recently went out on a pair of platform pedals. It is crazy how unsafe you feel not being clipped in.
I recently did the same thing. I hate the inefficiency of platforms! Though, i'm thinking to change from spd [clipless] to a spd/platform combo for sprint adventure races and eggbeaters for XC races. That's when i get back to being high speed and rid myself of laziness padding of course!
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flanderflop
Joined: 11/08/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Louisville, KY
Posts: 10
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Posted: 11/13/07 1:20pm |
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i'm thinking to change from spd [clipless] to a spd/platform combo for sprint adventure races and eggbeaters for XC races. That's when i get back to being high speed and rid myself of laziness padding of course!
I would recomend staying away from SPD when there are so many better options out there. If you are going to use eggbeaters for XC, you may want to look at the Crank Bros Candy or Mallet which give you the combined platform and clipless. This will allow you to use the same cleats / shoeos. SPD's just don't hold as tight and are much more prone to clogging up. Just my 2 cents.
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Goose Creek Cycle
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joshuatheNomad
Joined: 10/05/06
Outdoorzy Adventurer
Skagway, AK
Posts: 123
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Posted: 11/13/07 10:38pm |
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nice insight. many thanks. I'll be sure to look at both. Crank Brothers is what i had in mind but i didn't know that there were platform/eggbeater combos out there. very nice to know!
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wkumtrider
Joined: 10/02/06
Outdoorzy Maniac
Da Ville, KY
Posts: 343
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Posted: 11/14/07 9:38am |
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I use the crank brothers candy pedals and really like them. They have a small platform around the eggbeater. Check them out.
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endercore
Joined: 02/18/07
Outdoorzy Adventurer
Lexington, KY
Posts: 153
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Posted: 11/17/07 8:45pm |
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go clipless, you will not regret it.
i love the eggbeaters, or anything like the candy or mallet.
i even have 'em on my road bike i like them that much!
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corndogggy
Joined: 11/19/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Posts: 1
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Posted: 11/19/07 3:34pm |
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If I need maximum pedal power and minimum weight, I will go clipless. If I am riding rough trails or messing around, I'll go with platform pedals. True toe clips are junk. I like platform pedals on more dangerous areas because that split second it takes to get out of them can really make a huge difference. Plus if you are balancing, you can pull straight up, then put your foot straight back down without looking and are ready to go again. Try doing that with clipless. If you ever come out of clipless pedals, which is really stupid not to on really technical stuff, it's really hard to get back in if you're doing something crazy. Biggest disadvantage isn't not being able to "pull up", but the weight. Usually platform pedals are sharp and you wear heavy shoes to protect yourself from them and they are much heavier than cycling shoes.
As for the pedaling power, most serious cyclists don't really concentrate on "pulling up", it's more of a back and forth motion like a nordic-trac, where you get power from going forwards and back more than pulling up. Obviously the downstroke is there too but that's a given. The only time pulling up is really an issue is on hills. Spinning just doesn't matter alot if you can't pull up. If you are one of those people who push back and forth, then you can do that with a good set of platform pedals that have replacable spikes, they grip really well.
Platform pedals are just tons safer but clipless is more efficient.
If anybody ever wants to use the "bunny hop" argument... just look at Ryan Leech. Real bunny hops aren't done by pulling up on the pedals, that's just a bad habit. Using clipless in trials like that is suicide, and it's just not needed.
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flanderflop
Joined: 11/08/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Louisville, KY
Posts: 10
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Posted: 11/19/07 7:39pm |
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If you ever come out of clipless pedals, which is really stupid not to on really technical stuff, it's really hard to get back in if you're doing something crazy. .
I would actually argue the exact opposite. I would say if you are heading into something really technical, the worst thing you can do is clip out of your clipless pedals. Being attached to your bike gives you much more control over the bike. Despite the arguement that the "true bunny hop" is not done by pulling up on the pedals, the ability to cheat by pulling up on the pedals is invaluble it sketchy situations. It allows you to throw the rear of your bike to the side without putting all your weight forward and risking endo, it allows you to pull up over obsitcles. most importantly it allows you to unweight the pedals without the worry that you foot will slip off causing serious pedal bang and or a groin shot from the Top tube or stem.
As far as getting back in, you may have a point depending on the type of pedal you are using. SPD's are notorious for unpredictable releases (either too easy or too hard) and for clogging up with mud and not allowing you back in. Times and eggbeaters are much more predictable and are not an issue when trying to reengage.
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