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Flats
This should be interesting... He he. Discuss.
"Being pro-flats isn’t the same as being anti-clipless and misapplying either pedal system in the name of blind ideology isn’t helping advance our sport as a whole."
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I have nothing of value to add......but I'm getting the popcorn ready
Try both. Ride whichever one you prefer. Both have pros and cons
Would have thought if he was that passionate about it, he would have persevered with clipless a bit more than "a few trial runs" to really have a balanced view.
Wasn't he advocating riding barefoot at one stage? Strange feller. "Manifesto" ... ROFLMAO
Just do whatever works. Clipless works for me and flats definitely do not. Flats work for Simon and for Hans, but clipless doesn't. Each riding style has its requirements - you wouldn't DJ or ride trials on clipless unless you were a maniac, and I think clipless suits XC / marathon better. However, I can understand if you prefer flats for XC if your only experience of clipless is Crank Bros
Is a good example.
Im about to put 7yr old on BMX in clips, is this a good example? No MTB is MTB, BMX is a groomed flow circuit on STERIODS. NO comparo I recon. Stand in a BMX gate anytime with serious contenders.
When I saw this was not going to get involved, but hell this going to be good.
I LOVE flats, but ride most week in clips.
Cheers and have a great XMAS
Bike james is a self promoter. He's a guru, just ask him
However, i do agree with the basic premise, that people are told to use clips way too early, threads are littered with "get them, you wont look back etc - but no-one checks back to see if the newbee has done major shoulder damage or other.
Didn't we do this last month?
Anyway, I love my 5.10 Impacts and have ridden techy single track up to six hours in them. Would I ride them on the Oaks up and back for 4 hours, no way, I'd clip in.
I agree going clipless immediately did hold me back in my skills development at the start - I'd get off and walk stuff that in hindsight I could have ridden in flats. The tell-tale was when I got a set of knee and elbow pads, and I started riding the trickier stuff at Manly Dam and actually fell off less, because the fear went away.
SO being able to put a foot out more easily is an advantage when learning. These days I don;t have much trouble as the reactions are well automated... except when the pedals stick because they're jammed with mud or the carbon fibre soles on my race shoes stick to the pedal jaws
great - post some picks
Take your pick
Think I prefer the first one - better for building sweet singletrack
or
http://instagram.com/p/TSt1V-KVgO/
Apparently Brian Lopes rides 4X and DH with one clip and one flat.
I have never understood why you would want or need to clip in to a bike on the trail.
So in order to have a balanced view, because I ride flats with 510's, I'm going to give it a go in clipless. I've got the eggbeaters and shoes that came with the bike and I'm going to pop over the park to get my practice before hitting the trails.
If nothing else I will look 'normal' when I meet other riders.
I have one bike with clips and 1 with flats .
Its Horses for courses and what ever takes my fancy on the day.
Jarrahdale always clipped - KC sometimes - Goat farm never..
having gone straight to clipless first time dirt riding i regret i did so. followed, wrong thing.
Like my other passion (kiteboardng) i seek the zen of feeling free and earning skills to match.
I ride kiteboards unstrapped, i now ride my mnt bike with flats.
funny this post came up around the same time i was purchasing pedals.
After a couple of half hour sessions on the street and park practicing a few bunny hops and staying on the pedals time to try on trails. Recon im almost sold. feel free, happy to try near anything already. love the foot outs on speed corners. love the feeling of hitting a kicker just right and tweaking out the rear on the flats. Still a bit scary hitting it wrong, or foot coming off in a rocky section...
Quite humbling in all, my speed has dropped a tad due to not being very good at lifting the bike and rear wheel quick, no more just pull up with bad technique and clip ins, have to do it properly. Recon ill bring it back up pretty quick tho with determination and practice.
So far the Vans are working, but eager for Mr postman to deliver my 5-10s.
Agree each to their own, but i am one for normally trying different things and searching for more. Think this is what i have been looking for to continue my search...
ride on people any way you go, spin the wheels.
most of the top 10 dh riders use clips...minnaar,brosnan,peaty,hart,atherton, hannah and me
http://www.usabmx.com/site/postings/870
Good decission I believe.