Flats to Clipless? Who has done it?

Mattyp said:
I used to chop and change between flats and clipless on different bikes, then rode just clipless for a few years, it was only when I started riding steep off-camber jank in the wet and found myself unclipping in anticipation of needing to unclip, that I decided flats were for me.
It was actually a faster mate who pointed it out while following me riding down a trail like a Gumby and yelling at me to stop unclipping.
As well as having some dumb low speed stacks, one of which cost me a CSU as I got hung up in a techy rock climb and couldn't unclip...
Once on flats I found the foot doesn't leave the pedal as I know it will come off at anytime if I actually need it to. Mind games ey.
Also riding motocross a lot over the years means hanging the foot out when leaning over is natural to do at times.
Still ride like a Gumby though...
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yeah mate that's a huge one for me! Motorcross most of my life, at this point I will probably keep the flats, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think I like knowing I can dab my foot down whenever.
 
Thanks a lot for all the information lads! Really appreciate it. I think I might keep the flats for now, I've always used them. I'm not trying to break records.
 
I rode exclusively on clips for years, only the odd drama with not getting clipped back in after hanging a leg out etc. But did find you seem to get dumped on the ground a lot faster during any mishaps.
Tried Flats again 3 years back, loved it and now use them again exclusively on my enduro bike, but still chuck the clips on for XC and less technical trail rides.
 
I also found trying clipless caused me to loose proper riding technique. I’ll see a lot of clips riders using poor technique to bunny hop or jump etc which sometimes gets them in trouble. I flipped flopped a bit and every time I went back to flats I realised I’d gotten lazy.
 
Chriso_29er said:
Tried Flats again 3 years back, loved it and now use them again exclusively on my enduro bike, but still chuck the clips on for XC and less technical trail rides.
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+1. I find it weird that most people here seem to do the opposite. Maybe it's the difference between dudes who will try to save their bike vs chucking it at the first sign of eating dirt.
 
Calvin27 said:
+1. I find it weird that most people here seem to do the opposite. Maybe it's the difference between dudes who will try to save their bike vs chucking it at the first sign of eating dirt.
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Does what other people do with their bikes matter to you? No-one wants scratched up stanchions on their fork, or a rooted derailleur or even a binned frame.
I've not broken any bones, thank Jeebus, but I've had some nasty stacks that resulted in hospital stays. If I had some sort of Matrix time slowing power to make that choice between saving myself or the bike, I'll choose to avoid injury every time.
 
I remember when I first got a mtb I rode with a group more into XC and they all claimed the benefits of clips as more efficient pedaling.
Now that e bikes are here there is less pedal efficiency benefits and it is more being connected to the bike. When is someone going to give us clipped in mtb gloves ?
 
Halo1 said:
When is someone going to give us clipped in mtb gloves ?
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Zip-tie around your wrist?

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My 2c: after having a great day of riding like an absolute dickhead (a sea of hero dirt can have that effect) I can confirm I'd rather take up e biking than go back to clips - at least half a dozen times today flat pedals saved me from eating all of the shit by being able to chuck a foot out to stop irrecoverable slides etc.

Unless you have the reaction times to unclip faster than a very fast thing, flats are just better. Would only go back to clips if I gave road riding another go.
 
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