Mountain bike flat pedals vs. clipless is a topic that often stirs heated debates on internet forums and known for reducing well-respected bike enthusiasts to childish tantrums.
We all know the “flats” which are the standard pedals that have pins that I for one love. On the other hand, it’s the rather confusingly named “clipless pedals” which have shoes clipped to the pedals. However, it all comes down to a matter of personal preference.
Pedals serve as an intimate link between you and your bike from the way you ride to the way it meets the trail. Every jump, berm, and corner is controlled through the grips and pedals.
Thus, it is possible to enjoy yourself with either of them.
Good Technique
Do you enjoy bunny hops or rear wheel lifts? Well with flats you learn how to position your foot correctly and in the process improve the technique, Of course after a few slip-ups here and there which can only be natural. “That’s how you know you are learning,” I told myself every time I fell.
You can also try track stands as the option of bailing out at any given moment gives confidence to novice riders and fosters an ample learning experience.
However, it is pretty easy to cheat and develop bad habits with clipless pedals as you tend to grow lazy about almost everything after just a few rounds.
Crashing
It is somewhat evident that there is nothing much you can do if you go off the front when you are clipped in: broken wrists and even more fatal accidents are pretty much on the table.
Sometimes it is the hilarious slow-motion falls that leave us short of breath, but it is entirely accurate that. Some of these bizarre accidents are possibly avoidable with flat pedals.
Like that time in 2010 at Mont Ste. Anne when Stevie Smith was racing for second, I have always had a firm conviction that he would have crashed was it not for the flats.
Skills Whenever
I am clipped, and I try doing the rear wheel precision, I find that it is way more comfortable to push the bike forward while balancing the rear from dropping to the ground.
But not so much when I am on the flats as it gets harder and I always end up frustrated. My lift and accuracy are considerably boosted too when I have to reposition my back wheel with a hop. I am also able to go off things at a desirable pace without falling on my nose when I am attached.
All in all, I have made significant progress with all these cool moves that I have watched online and the simple fact that I can pull off fresher stunts than most of my friends is remarkable.
Removable Pins
Both clipless and flat pedals have pins that are easy to remove and insert should you need to replace after damage from rock strikes.
Pins that are long, sharp and thin are unequaled when it comes to adding significant grip to your foot, but the downside is that they tend to eat into your shoes and shins in the event you slip.
By now you must know that sharp pain that shoots into your leg when your foot comes off the pedal, and it spins uncontrollably, right? Most bikers do or at least the flats enthusiast since it is not familiar with your feats clipped.
But something to take home though is that overly long pedal have the undesirable effect of regular flip overs when relocating.
Platform size of the Pedal
If you have a big foot like mine, then a large platform sized pedal is right for you. But not too big as it may feel somewhat awkward and increase your chances of rock strikes.
With clipless pedals and paying little attention to the weight, a large platform not only provides support when starting but also offers a sense of security should you find yourself unclipped on rough terrain?
For flats, though you have to stay with that nagging fear that your foot might bounce off anytime.
Float
The Float usually is, the amount of free lateral movement available when your foot is clipped on the pedal. Like when you want to hop on your bike from a sitting position, your foot axis position must change, and float allows for this to happen.
With flat pedals, if the float is not adequate, for instance, we say that I am stupid enough to ride a kids bike then it goes without saying that I will surely make a great mess of my shin. That is because of little or no float.
While on the other hand, you cannot start to comprehend the quality and tech that goes for clipless pedals; they screw a metal cleat through your shoe and hold it firmly.
Shoes
Whether you are riding on flat or clipless pedals, I cannot emphasize enough how critical it is to have the right pair of shoes.
Clipless pedals need dedicated shoes which offer a robust sole that in return facilitates increased power transfer. Since it is all about personally enjoying your ride and bonding with your comfortable bike, I use a pair of dedicated shoes with sticky soles which improves the grip between my foot and the pedal. This allows me to bunny hop a lot easier.
Final Verdict
It is almost impossible to cover everything to do with mountain bike flat pedals vs. clipless, but I try to offer you a feel for what to expect when swapping between the two.
Why swapping? You might ask. Reason being that there is very little to separate the two even after such an exhaustive list.
Playing for both teams makes perfect sense for me as I intend to enjoy and suck on all the fun from both worlds. It only sits perfectly well for beginner biker to start with the flats, but when you want to take it a notch higher and beat your friends on their turf, then clipless is undeniably the champion of speed.
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