Flats v spd

Been covered before I know but am going to halfords after tea anyway so was looking for some opinions.

I have mtb type clip in pedals on both my bikes but I would like to be able to just jump on the mtb without having to put on cycling shoes. Don't mind on the road bike because my rides are longer but a short run to the shop on the mtb is sometimes a pain.

Has any one changed from clips to flats? How did it go? Does anyone use both?

The only thing I remember from using flats was slipping off and catching my ankle bone on the pedals, or even on the cranks...

Cheers...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/crank-brothers-doubleshot-3-pedals/rp-prod158272?gs=1&sku=sku579555&pgrid=55375185827&ptaid=pla-424574583022&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=PLA+All+Products&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid|s4QH1zheh_dc|pcrid|253998738371|pkw||pmt||prd|579555UK

Ah. Considered one that does both but not at that price.

Are they what you use?

[ATTACH=full]24933[/ATTACH]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/crank-brothers-doubleshot-3-pedals/rp-prod158272?gs=1&sku=sku579555&pgrid=55375185827&ptaid=pla-424574583022&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=PLA+All+Products&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid|s4QH1zheh_dc|pcrid|253998738371|pkw||pmt||prd|579555UK

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/crank-brothers-doubleshot-pedals/rp-prod145546

 

you loose the adjustable spikes but half the price.

[ATTACH=full]24934[/ATTACH]

Edited May 26, 20187 yr by soundwave

I use these in the link, no slipping issues and don't miss being clipped in in the slightest. I always have issues with the bearings on the right pedal on every pedal I've ever had, these click a little, bearings are adjustable and rebuildable like most pedals. They're quite large.

 

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-saint-mx80-flat-pedals/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&sku=5360535853&kpid=5360535853&utm_source=google&utm_term&utm_campaign=UK_PLA_Components&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mckv%7csRs1iTwzL_dc%7cmcrid%7c67090789262%7cmkw%7c%7cmmt%7c%7cmrd%7c5360535853uk%7cmslid%7c%7c&mkwid=sRs1iTwzL_dc&pcrid=67090789262&prd=5360535853uk&pgrid=17507338262&ptaid=pla-121252364462

Too risky off (or is it 'of'?) piste, so Five Ten Freeriders for both of us

I've always used spd but decided to try some flats for the reason you mention.Ended up getting something similar to the photos for my mtb ,but find that I keep lifting my feet off the pedals especially if out of the saddle so only use them with my spd shoes now.

However...................after a recent illness I started using my wife's Cube mtb which has an electric conversion kit. This has flattties (cheap looking ones !) but I find them quite sticky,I wear an old pair of fell boots with a grippy soles and don't have any problem at all.

Just seen these on halfords website so will give them a try...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=273937&productId=175544&storeId=10001

Never liked clips. Have used these for many years.

http://www.powergrips.com/

Never used clips but bent is a different beast and I am getting cramp in my right calf muscle from holding my feet out and in the pedals (they have MTB toe clips). So going to buy shoes and double sided pedals https://www.bike-discount.de/en/shop/clicking-on-one-side-8868/l-24

I've always used spd but decided to try some flats for the reason you mention.Ended up getting something similar to the photos for my mtb ,but find that I keep lifting my feet off the pedals especially if out of the saddle so only use them with my spd shoes now.

However...................after a recent illness I started using my wife's Cube mtb which has an electric conversion kit. This has flattties (cheap looking ones !) but I find them quite sticky,I wear an old pair of fell boots with a grippy soles and don't have any problem at all.

out of the saddle! the only time I do this is when I get off of the bike..

Just seen these on halfords website so will give them a try...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=273937&productId=175544&storeId=10001

 

Two things:

If you want V8 pedals, Wellgo do a copy for half that price (chainreaction usually have them)

 

Why not get single sided pedals? That way you can clip or wear flat shoes.

I personally like the click'r ones as they seem to still hold my feet in yet are much, much easier to unclip.

PD-T420 or 421

The only snag with these is that the flat side can be slippery in the wet.

 

I also have one bike with I think XT T8000 trekking pedals, that have pins on the non clip side. That a good pedal, but its a tad more expensive!

I use Nukeproof Horizon pedals; http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nukeproof-horizon-cl-crmo-dh-pedals/rp-prod156617

SPD compatible (unlike the Crank Bros pedals), rebuildable and a decent sized platform for when you aren't clipped in.

Buy a pair of five tens

Flats all the way for MTBing

I can’t stand being tied to the bike especially on technical sections

Spiked flats with soft sole trainers job done wet of dry

I think a circa £2.5K deserves better pedals. It's like fitting cheap Chinese tyres to your expensive sports car! Come on Gubbins you know it deserves better

I think a circa £2.5K deserves better pedals. It's like fitting cheap Chinese tyres to your expensive sports car! Come on Gubbins you know it deserves better

I buy lots of expensive stuff and then throw them in a drawer cos they don't work as expected.

I have a cheap pair of flats but don't want even try them and halfords is just down the road (shut when I got there last night) so will try their spiky offerings before spending big bucks on something I might not like. Besides which they only last a year ...

I buy lots of expensive stuff and then throw them in a drawer cos they don't work as expected.

I have a cheap pair of flats but don't want even try them and halfords is just down the road (shut when I got there last night) so will try their spiky offerings before spending big bucks on something I might not like. Besides which they only last a year ...

 

I'm with you now, I hadn't considered you need to see how you get on with them, I'm sure you'll get on with the ones with the spikes (cap head screws sticking out)

I'm with you now, I hadn't considered you need to see how you get on with them, I'm sure you'll get on with the ones with the spikes (cap head screws sticking out)

And if they are any thing like the spd pedals I have bought, the cheaper ones are no different from the more expensive ones. Well, they go rusty quicker is all..

New pedals have arrived..

Been out t try and seems ok until I apply pressure.. So now I have to unlearn pulling and pushing!! lol

I went to the LBS to look at SPD shoes Had looked at the Decathlon ones and wasn't inspired by the quality, fit, only the price was right. Looked at ones that fit like gloves in the LBS, those be €€€ gloves... Don't like buying shoes online I have very sensitive feet and try before buy is essential. LBS lady said some she knows in the trade now bill 10€ to try shoes in their shops, 10€ taken off the price if you buy of course.

 

But SPD I must on the trike...

I wont change them on the road bike cos if you pedal at a high cadence they are a must, but I am now riding at a more leisurely pace on the MTB and these new pedals are so much better than other I have with the little bolts offering very grippy traction between them and my Trainers/Walking Boots or whatever I happen to be wearing.

Its not all positive as I miss the ability to back pedal to a setting off position with one leg, but its just a matter of adjustment..

Last week I bit the bullet and got a set of SPD-SL pedals and some shoes.

 

Why didn't I do that years ago? Yesterday I did my flat road trike training ride - 26 km in one hour with a stop for water at the halfway point and a slow section in town. 26 km/h average! I average about 26.7 km/h on the pedelec, OK with hills chucked in but still...

 

On one of the uphill bits (2% ?) a very strong rider 30 years younger caught me and passed slowly, I came back on him on the following down section where I can use 48:13! Of course he eventually rode off into the sunset as he should against a 60+ out of training guy on a trike weighing three times the weight of his bike.

 

Last week I did a hilly ride I did a year ago when the trike was delivered - pedals + gearing change = no getting off to push up the steepest bits (over 20%).

 

Observations:

 

- cadence where I like it but way too high for the GSM had it been fitted...

- cadence can be maintained in all gears

- taking your shoes off and changing for normal ones when you stop is less a hassle than I had imagined

- no more cramp in the calf muscles of my right leg! I didn't hydrate early enough and started to feel cramp in the right foot but the water stop fixed that (my right leg was badly banged in a MB accident which I think may be the root cause of muscle/tendon problems).

Last week I bit the bullet and got a set of SPD-SL pedals and some shoes.

 

Why didn't I do that years ago? Yesterday I did my flat road trike training ride - 26 km in one hour with a stop for water at the halfway point and a slow section in town. 26 km/h average! I average about 26.7 km/h on the pedelec, OK with hills chucked in but still...

 

On one of the uphill bits (2% ?) a very strong rider 30 years younger caught me and passed slowly, I came back on him on the following down section where I can use 48:13! Of course he eventually rode off into the sunset as he should against a 60+ out of training guy on a trike weighing three times the weight of his bike.

 

Last week I did a hilly ride I did a year ago when the trike was delivered - pedals + gearing change = no getting off to push up the steepest bits (over 20%).

 

Observations:

 

- cadence where I like it but way too high for the GSM had it been fitted...

- cadence can be maintained in all gears

- taking your shoes off and changing for normal ones when you stop is less a hassle than I had imagined

- no more cramp in the calf muscles of my right leg! I didn't hydrate early enough and started to feel cramp in the right foot but the water stop fixed that (my right leg was badly banged in a MB accident which I think may be the root cause of muscle/tendon problems).

Similarly I went out on my road bike yesterday, which has spd pedals, after a couple of weeks riding the mtb with flats.. and like you say the difference is definately noticeable in a positive way.. and some of the trainer type shoes are wearable off the bike..

Wait until you get into the habit of pulling and pushing at the same time.

Similarly I went out on my road bike yesterday, which has spd pedals, after a couple of weeks riding the mtb with flats.. and like you say the difference is definately noticeable in a positive way.. and some of the trainer type shoes are wearable off the bike..

Wait until you get into the habit of pulling and pushing at the same time.

 

didn't wait, started doing that on the third ride! So I don't have to worry about falling over (three wheels) and I don't have to worry about my feet and their position on the pedals either. So relaxing!

 

When I get to destination I reach over my shoulder and grab my street shoes out of the pannier for walking. This time of year is barefoot season too of course I have even taken to leaving the shoes clipped on and just removing my feet from the shoe as you sometimes see roadies doing on uprights.