- [Neil] Today we're going to open a massive can of worms, and talk about
clips versus flats, the two different types of pedals that mountain bikers use.
I've come from the background of using flat pedals for fifteen years.
- [Marc] As a seasoned downhill World Cup racer, I predominately spent most of my
time racing on clip. Although there has been the odd occasion,
for example Champery, where I've had to go to the cool gang and use flats.
♪ [music] ♪
- So I've got experience at both pedals. I sort of spent fifteen years
racing downhill solely on flat pedals before switching a few years ago to
actually ride clips. Nowadays, I sort of go between the two. The really important
thing with flat pedals is to get a good pedal and a big flat sole.
Doesn't have to be a mountain bike specific shoe but, any sort of big,
flat skate shoe is going to work really well. The first thing you learn really
is if you stand too far forward on your toes on flat pedal,
it's real easy to start slipping off that pedal. So when you slide your foot a
little bit further forward up, you're actually going to ride slightly more heel
down naturally, that's what we call being in the pedal. When the bike now hits
something, it won't slow down,
you're actually driving that bike forward without doing anything.
So the advantages of flat pedals, first one is being able to dab nice and quick.
Should you wash out the front end or something like that, you can just get your
foot to the floor a lot quicker than you can with clips.
That can be confidence inspiring for beginners. You don't really have to learn
to use them, you can just use whatever shoes you've got to begin with.
Cost is another one. They tend to be a bit cheaper. Again, you don't really have to
buy specific shoes. The main advantage really is they're much cooler.
So, the disadvantages of flat pedals, pedaling efficiency isn't as good.
For me, now switching between the two, when I go to flat pedals,
it just feels like using your quads and you're just pushing, whereas with the clip
you can spin a nicer circle. There is a bit of research to say that there
isn't much difference, but personally it does feel like I'm a lot more efficient on
the clips. You can also blow off your flat pedal a lot easier than you can on a clip.
Even with the best pedal and the best shoe, occasionally you'll hit something
really hard, and your foot can still come off. Moving that on as well,
is sometimes you get your foot stuck on in a wrong position and you're then trying to
readjust, that's something that you really don't have to deal with with a clip,
you're either in or you're out.
- Since 2001, I've used clips, I would probably say 95% of the time.
The pros of clip pedals are; I feel far more connected and in control with the
bike, especially of the rear wheel. I can move the bike around,
really control the bike, and feel like I'm 100% in charge. Secondly,
when I'm clipped in, I don't have to worry about my foot slipping out like you may
have to on flats. And lastly, a big one for me being a smaller rider,
being clipped in just felt like I was that more efficient on the pedaling section,
and I could really put the power down.
So the cons of riding clips can be pretty horrendous when you crash and
your feet stay clipped in so therefore, either the bike stays with you and drags
you all over the place. Slightly more expensive option, you've got to go out and
buy your shoes as well as your pedals, whereas flats you can use pretty much any
trainers you want. Lastly, and it definitely took me a good while to learn
to clip in and out efficiently. We've all fell over at traffic lights or out on a
ride with our friends, little bit embarrassing, not so cool.
- So summary, there's pros and cons to each pedal really.
I would say if you're just starting riding mountain bikes, learn on flat pedals,
get the basics good, things like bunny hops,
get them dialed before you think about switching.
- One great bit of advice is spend some time matching your shoes to your
pedals. What I mean by this is don't buy a clip pedal and then run a flat shoe,
or vice versa. You're going to get yourself in a lot of bother.
- Let us know what you think about clips versus flats, which ones you use.
Just leave us a comment down below the video.
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