Using clipless.

[manual63]

This is another one of my weak spots. Maybe it's my pedals, shimano DX downhill platforms, or maybe it's my technique. It's mostly getting in and out of them.

Anyone got some pointers?

Not just pointers on how to get in and out, but when also.

I have scabs on both of my knees and I blame the clipless.

[Trevize1138]

Learn how to ride better, stupid.

[Kingbozo]

Anyone got some pointers?

Get Time ATAC Zs. They have more float, they are easier to get in and out of, and dirt and mud have little to no effect on clip in/out.

[funky-funky-chicken]

Based on some of your previous posts, it "sounds" like you are pretty conditioned to riding with platform pedals. I've ridden with Shimano SPD (various models and knock-offs) and now ride and prefer Time ATAC. It takes a while until you become fully comfortable with clipless. At some point, you don't even think about getting in or out of them... It just happens when it needs to.

[manual63]

Originally posted by Trevize1138
Learn how to ride better, stupid.

Okay Mr. I won't do the drop off.............

[BrightYellow]

I agree with getting the ATACs, platform or otherwise. They are very predictable and never get clogged. I would consider my ATACs to be the most useful bike compoent I have bought.

I had Shimano 535s, then upgraded to 747s... both of which I had a lot of issues with, when it came to either getting in or getting out when I wanted. Hell, put the 747's on my road bike and I still bitch about them everytime I ride it.

If it's any consolation, it took me months to get the hang of clipless, after riding toe-clips for years.

[Daddy X]

Yet another vote for Time ATACs. When I first went to clipless I did not want to spend a bunch of money in case I did not like them. I had a lot of mud clogging, exit and entry problems with the reg spd style. Grizzly Adam told me to get the Time pedals since he has always used them with very good results. Now I would probably never swich to another style. Everyone I have met that uses them loves them and are very loyal to them. Like mentioned earlier, after riding them for awhile you just step on the pedal, start pedaling and you are in and don't even realize it.

[tmac]

I don't think it is really a question of which brand, although riding equipment you trust is a big plus.

I like Chris' advice on clipping out of your inside pedal on those sweeping, sandy corners. You are probably better than me on this one, but I did not see of you were doing that last night or not. I don't know if it is a motocross or a BMX skill, but it definitely gets your weight in a better spot to lean through the corner.

As for general clipless tricks, my rule of thumb is never to clip out untill you are on the way to the ground, and then it kind of happens automatically. My worst falls have been when I have chickened out of a line and tried to save myself by getting off of the bike. Staying on the pedals allows you to ride through stuff you didn't know you could.

As for equipment, the previous posts attest to how good Time pedals are, though I have switched from SPD's to Egg Beaters, and I have no complaints so far. They seem to be very similar to Time's, but with 4 sided entry/exit, and lots of float.

I could go on, but since I didn't have a point to begin with. . . :zzz:

[noise_is_life]

Nobody mentioned it, so I'll pipe in. Set your release tension to the minimum if you haven't already. The default tension on my pedals really gave me a lot of trouble. With your aggressive style you might pop out before you want to. If you do just increase the tension until you have a good balance of security and easy release.

Like someone else mentioned, when I get into trouble now my feet usually just pop out at the last second.

I still run minimum tension without any problems, but that's me.

[manitouman84]

yeah, if you havent already reduce the set tension on your pedals, and (IMO) brand doesnt matter, my scotts are the cheesiest pedals ever and its not a problem clipping out, even in the worst of mud and gunk. If i were you though id stick to platforms (based on what your riding style sounds like), clipless has put a crutch on my riding skills, I should go back to platforms for awhile.

[zerpy]

I'll chime in for the time ATAC Z pedals too. Although I don't have any personal experience with other pedals I love the ATAC's. They seem a lot easier to clip in and out of than my friends SPDs or ritcheys (sp?). Although, I am pretty terribble at it still. I am learning quite well to tuck the knees in and duck and just hang on for a ride;) Oh well, when I do remember that I am in clipless, even when I am pushing down hard with the reflex to get my foot on the ground, they will pop out when I twist, which is nice.

If I know something is coming that I'm likely to lose it on (like the large log on the intermediate loop at leb) I will clip out, and I really like the Z's for that because they are still a platform pedal. Also, although they feel a little weird, I can ride them in my sneakers for trips to the store.

Except for my body geometry seat, I think they are the best upgrade I've done on my bike. Oh wait, those are the only two upgrades I've done, never mind:)

[jjrsds]

Time atac's are the cats meow. My bike came with spd's and after adjusting the tension and falling down alot I bought a pair of Time's. The Atacs float nice and when I need to unclip in a hurry I don't have any problems doing it. Well worth the money.

[cheese4brains]

I use beaters on both my road and mountain bikes. At first I had great difficulties clipping in and out, but after a couple months it's become second-habit. I still do have problems clipping out during panic situations, however. During a recent ride at Terrace Oaks (my first ride there) I took the initial gravel corner too fast and went down. I can't say that I'd have faired any better with toeclips, but with platforms I may have been able to get a foot down. Judging from what I've heard here and elsewhere, this is one of the drawbacks with clipless that will get better (hopefully) with experience. Like others I have taken to clipping out in certain situations such as sandy/gravel corners and technical areas I'm unsure of (most of them!). Clipless is excellent for climbing and cross-country, and even with the occasional crash I have no thoughts of changing my pedals.

[Trevize1138]

Originally posted by manual63
Okay Mr. I won't do the drop off.............

You're mean :cryin:

[qheuie]

i agree that the right tension is key. i had the 636's for a while and i found that i liked the tension to be fairly tight so my cleats weren't slipping out on accident.
also, keep them cleaned, i used to clean mine after every ride or two. i would scrape out any dirt that was in the engagement area and blast them out with some air. and make sure your cleats are in good condition. if the cleats are worn, they will pop out all the time. sometimes you can compensate by tightening the tension, but that only works for a little while.
i am also a time convert, i like them a lot except for the lack of support for the rest of the shoe.. it feels like my feet are "wobbling" sometimes. maybe the new Z is in order.

[manual63]

Look like I have to get some Time pedals huh?

Now all I have to do is come up with the cash. In the mean time, Chris said he would borrow me a pair of Ritchy SPD pedals that don't have the platform. Maybe that will help.

[jaybird]

Time petails came stock on my bike last year and decided to give them a try over the Shimano 535's I've ridden for years. But my 2 cents is still in the SPD corner. I gave up on the Time petals after about a month of riding and racing. Maybe I was just too used to the Shimano system to change. I would still recommend Shimano petals - shops are more like to carry cleats, parts, etc for Shimano petals.

[manitouman84]

Originally posted by manual63
Look like I have to get some Time pedals huh?


Youre better than that, you dont need Time's.

[Crash]

Pedals are definately a personal preference thing as can be seen by the prior posts.

I rode Shimano 747's for the longest time and then switched to Time ATAC's about 2 years ago. With the 747's, clipping out was not nearly as consistent and predictable. Also, they were really hard to get out of when your cleats were full of mud (from walking up from the raft at the river bottoms NOT riding in mud :D ).

The ATAC's are very predictable when it comes to clipping out and the shed mud like you wouldn't believe.

I have not tried egg beaters, but I have heard they are alot like Time's - but shed mud even better.

I ride Carbon ATAC's on my MTB, but picked up a second pair of used Alum. ones on MTBR.com for less than $50 bucks for my beater bike.

Three bananas to Time :banana: :banana: :banana:

[manual63]

Okay, so I got enough info on pedals, but what about technique? When do you clip in and out and is there an easier way to do it than others?

If I only wanted info on pedals, I would not have written this in the Riding Tips section........:p

[jkalla]

Clipless pedals require a certain motion of your foot to release from the pedal. It may be different for each type of clipless pedal depending on the degree of float and the tension. With platforms you can step off in any direction. With toeclips you can slip out the back of the pedal. With clipless you need to sort of twist your foot out. Once this becomes a natural movement for you, releasing from your pedal will be automatic.

[jjrsds]

Shad, when you want to ride the bike clip into the pedal. When you stop you want to unclip. Any questions?

:D

But seriously, you just have to ride with the pedals to get the feel and technique of clipping in and out. I would assume you know the limits of your bike and can feel when you need to put a foot down. At that point you need to unclip the correct foot(feet) to keep yourself upright. As your experience increases you find yourself doing it without even thinking. You know the balance point of you and your bike, and as you start to fall over you find that your foot is unclipped and ready to keep you upright. You fall some as you first start to use them. The effeciency of clipless makes using them worth it. Most pedals have some degree of float (side to side motion) to them. Give them a try. If you want more of a platform type get the time Z-pedals. Good luck.

[Brick]

Originally posted by jjrsds

At that point you need to unclip the correct foot(feet) to keep yourself upright. As your experience increases you find yourself doing it without even thinking..

Thinking....too much thinking, that's the problem. I'll admit, I've only been clipless for two days now (so who am I to talk right:fool: ?), and overall the concept does'nt seem so bad on the surface. I can clip in, and I can clip out--what gives me MAJOR problems is all of the thinking that goes on (ok, coming into the intersection, which foot am I going to clip out.....which foot do I need to start out with.....how quick do I need to clip back in....). The concept seems simple enough--I just have to think too hard to make it work relliably....yet. I have to mentally reverse engineer my anticipated future movements--kinda sad.

Should have seen me in the garage the other night, propped up between the cars, clip-in, clip-out. Rinse.....repeat :laugh:

[Torpedo]

I have never been mountian biking without clipless pedals. I think its very natural and have never had an issue. Its just one of those things that becomes second nature and time and skill just work themselves out. It really helps on the up hill.

I did an Adventure Race last month were 20% of the course was a foot or two of water and/or deep mud. The only advice I can give for these areas are that I unclip one foot and continue on into the mud or water. The reason I take it out is to speed up my dismount one the obsticle becomes too hard to pedal through or I loose my balance. Then I can just throw my leg over, jump off and throw the bike on my shoulder and keep on running until I get back on. FUN FUN!

I REALLY hate running in clipless shoes. If any has found shoes that you can run a mile or two in, let me now.

[GearDaddy]

Originally posted by Torpedo
I REALLY hate running in clipless shoes. If any has found shoes that you can run a mile or two in, let me now.

I actually use a road touring shoe most of the time when I'm riding the MTB. It has a recessed cleat, form fits like a road shoe (unlike the "hiking shoe" style where your heel wants to come out), and is lighter weight than most MTB shoes. I've found that the beefy MTB shoes with the toe spikes and all is usually overkill for trails in the Midwest. You only need a shoe like that if you have to push your bike up a super steep rocky slope. So, these touring shoes are quite practical and easy to run in.

[manual63]

Originally posted by GearDaddy
You only need a shoe like that if you have to push your bike up a super steep rocky slope.

Like on the Maah Daah Hey????

I will stick with mountainbike shoes.......

[manual63]

Yesturday I loosened up the tension on my Shimano DX platforms and I could get out really easily. I set them so the tension screw wanted to fall out, then I went 1 click tighter. On my Leb ride, I got my front wheel caught in the XX-Loop going down the decision maker where you go down the rock on the right of the tree or around the tree to the left. I went to the right, caught my front wheel and went over the bars.......feet first, just like on my BMX bike. Man, my feet just came right out of the pedals and I was able to step over the bars and land right on my feet. If I hadn't loosened my tension, I think I would have face planted (hey i had a helmet though). Dave saw the whole thing. It just ran out of it without falling and my bike just tumbled behind me. I got all excited because I didn't eat sh$# on my face. I was like "Sweet! My feet just came right out!".

I might end up liking my DX pedals after all. Thanks for the tips. I know you will all be here when I need you. (Hey John, where is the smile with the little hearts coming out of it, I need it right now)......:laugh:

[Kingbozo]

Just beware of accidental clip outs when jumping, hopping etc...I ran into issues with that when I had the tension set real low.

[manual63]

That might be why I think the platforms are good to keep. That way, all I really do is treat them like on my P.2 or BMX bike when I am not clipped in. I think riders who only ride clipless have this problem of their feet coming out or falling off the pedals. You're too used to the pedals holding your feet on. I don't see this as a problem for me since I am used to not being clipped in anyway.

[socrates]

Originally posted by manual63
Yesturday I loosened up the tension on my Shimano DX platforms and I could get out really easily. I set them so the tension screw wanted to fall out, then I went 1 click tighter. On my Leb ride, I got my front wheel caught in the XX-Loop going down the decision maker where you go down the rock on the right of the tree or around the tree to the left. I went to the right, caught my front wheel and went over the bars.......feet first, just like on my BMX bike. Man, my feet just came right out of the pedals and I was able to step over the bars and land right on my feet. If I hadn't loosened my tension, I think I would have face planted (hey i had a helmet though). Dave saw the whole thing. It just ran out of it without falling and my bike just tumbled behind me. I got all excited because I didn't eat sh$# on my face. I was like "Sweet! My feet just came right out!".

I might end up liking my DX pedals after all. Thanks for the tips. I know you will all be here when I need you. (Hey John, where is the smile with the little hearts coming out of it, I need it right now)......:laugh:

Yeah it was pretty sweet seeing you endo...fly over the bike...leaving it on the ride and then land on your feet!!!! Thought I was watching the "flying shads" at a circus or something

[manual63]

Now my feet pop out every time I have an incident or crash. I love it, I just fall on my feet instead of my knees or head. I will eventually get some time pedals, most for the fact that they stay cleaner easier, but having super loose tension on my SPD pedals has solved the clipping out problem I had before.

[mtnbykr]

"....but having super loose tension on my SPD pedals has solved the clipping out problem I had before."

you'll find w/ time pedals you won't have this problem. i've never had the bike stay attached to me in any kind of a fall. the more you ride clipless, your feet [and brain] will know when/how get out.

"...my feet pop out every time I have an incident or crash."

i find w/ a spd-type pedal set w/ the tension that loose, i have no control over the bike. when i would use any little body english, i'd unclip when i didn't want to.

[and yes, i know riding bmx/flat pedals would teach me this 'skill', but it's too late now]

k

[manual63]

Originally posted by mtnbykr
and yes, i know riding bmx/flat pedals would teach me this 'skill', but it's too late now

It's never too late!

:)

[Trevize1138]

Originally posted by mtnbykr

i find w/ a spd-type pedal set w/ the tension that loose, i have no control over the bike. when i would use any little body english, i'd unclip when i didn't want to.

[and yes, i know riding bmx/flat pedals would teach me this 'skill', but it's too late now]

k

Seems to me this bit right here says a LOT about many of the "which equipment is better" debates on here. There's better equipment, and then there's what you're used to riding.

The perfect balance between the right equipment and what kind of riding you're used to is what everyone should strive for, meaning it's never as simple as SPD vs. time, clipless vs. platform, HT vs. FS, Path of Evil vs. Path of Good...

[mtnbykr]

there will alway be "debates" about which equipment is right/wrong. that's good cuz that means we have choices...

also i was relating my real world experiences w/ ****mano pedals. the worst pos pedals in imo [if you wanna debate]

btw, my "political cause" has been working on getting legal mtb trails and more new trails in the duluth/n minnesota area. does that mean my cause sucks also??

k

[Trevize1138]

A classic topic. Clipless, platforms, TIME vs. SPD vs. EggBeaters ...