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For today’s Gear Therapy episode, we get the team together to try to solve Jonathan’s pedal dilemma. Like many riders out there, Jonathan is questioning his current pedal choice, and not surprisingly, he’s considering ditching his clipless pedals and replacing them with flats. Sascha and Zack bring a valuable mountain bike coaching perspective to the conversation, and together with my years of experience in the industry and bike shops, we look at the advantages and disadvantages of both styles of pedals and do our best to guide Jonathan’s decision. We know he’s not alone, and anyone in a similar pedal conundrum will benefit from tuning in.
RELATED LINKS:
BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered
TOPICS & TIMES:
Pedal Horror Stories (1:24)
Why the Hell are They Called “Clipless”? (13:29)
Jonathan’s Pedal Issues (18:49)
Clips are Jonathan’s Security Blankie (24:39)
Pros & cons of flats (27:25)
Clipless Pedals Promoting & Masking Bad Habits (35:50)
Good Technique Equates to Safety
How to Transition Between Flat and Clipless Pedals
Cornering Technique & Flat Pedals
Sascha Calls Simon Out
New Flat Pedal and Shoe Design (42:18)
Jonathan’s Pedal Prescription (47:21)
Technical uphills & pedal strikes (1:02:36)
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS (click each to learn more):
100% horses for courses- pick the pedal for the ride. Charging fast gnar or racing- clips are great. Sketch tech and exposure- flats. This is the way.
I don’t think I’ve had such a vague mental image of a scenario while experiencing such a visceral physical, emotional, and mental reaction and aversion, other than to Simon’s story.
Haha. I’d already blocked it out of my mind till I read this comment.
I think there is a massive CITATION NEEDED on the conventional wisdom that clippy pedals are more efficient. The more you dig into it the less convinced you become.
Dylan Johnson video on the subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUEaN9FKGLE
Hi Alex, having looked into this topic a good bit over the years, here’s my *current* position on this (which is certainly subject to change): most – nearly all – of the studies I’ve read and videos I’ve watched on this topic – really fall short when it comes to real-world mountain biking testing. (And in our conversation, we were only discussing real-world trail riding on mountain bikes… so… everything from bike park laps to rides like Doctor Park, etc.)
So personally, I think it’s fine for Sascha and Simon to say that in their experience of real-world mtn biking, they find clips to be more efficient, regardless of what all of the not-very-real-world tests have shown.
And having said that, I also agree with you that we should not be overstating the efficiency of clips vs flats – especially for those who haven’t been able to judge for themselves.
As for me and for the riding I do most, I just don’t care much about efficiency. That said, I’ll be riding Rebecca’s Private Idaho this Friday on an ENVE MOG gravel bike, and I’m opting to clip in for that 56 mile ride. Then, once I’m back in Crested Butte, I’ll start doing my own comparisons of flats vs clips, and we’ll see where I end up!
Sounds like there is a market for a shoe + pedal combo that gives you best of both worlds. Like those inWild Tele-tech bindings with the heel connection.
Or maybe coupling a speed sensor with a solenoid in the pedal that releases when stopped?
That said, I feel like the Crankbrothers Egg-beaters are easier to get in-and-out of vs. SPDs. Maybe they are the best compromise for now.
Has Blister done any testing on the magnetic pedals?
Flat pedal rider that has never ridden clips, and rides in the Wasatch, once I started riding with MTB shoes and not whatever sneakers I picked that day, I don’t have any issues with feet coming off pedals when I don’t want them too.
I’m a huge fan of the Deity Deftrap pedals. Maybe at some point I’ll give clips a try but so far I’ve seen no need for where and what I ride
Thanks for weighing in. I’ve only heard good things about the Deftraps, they seem like great bang for the buck, and lots of people love them. Currently, I’m super intrigued by the Deity Tmacs. If I found that I preferred them even a little bit more than the Deftraps, I think it would be worth the price jump for me, since I *really* just want to stay on the pedals when I want to, come off when I don’t. So who knows, maybe I’ll have a chance to check both out before biking season ends this year.