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Post by xybadog on Jul 25, 2008 19:35:11 GMT
I thought I'd start this thread as there are comments and opinions on SPD's in other threads, and it is an all time great debate, so thought I'd get it going in a more appropriate part of the forum.
So, I've got SPDs and find I feel insecure on the bike when on trails, but totally in command when on the road. Following a comment made in another thread I think I do need to play about with tension settings and find one that suits me, before I go out and buy flats.
What are your ideas on SPD's or flats?
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gw8izr
Have-a-go Hero
Posts: 123
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Post by gw8izr on Jul 25, 2008 19:52:39 GMT
I always said that I'd never be glued to my bike by anything more permanent than toe straps. Last weekend after suffering circulation pains in my feet I gave in.
Today Betws Beics are a touch more wealthy and I've just let Ellen know what my login and password is so she can post my obituary.
Will (hopefully) let you know how I get on :-)
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Post by xybadog on Jul 25, 2008 19:58:23 GMT
I always said that I'd never be glued to my bike by anything more permanent than toe straps. Last weekend after suffering circulation pains in my feet I gave in. Today Betws Beics are a touch more wealthy and I've just let Ellen know what my login and password is so she can post my obituary. Will (hopefully) let you know how I get on :-) ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by martinw on Jul 25, 2008 20:06:00 GMT
I couldn't do without SPUDS now. I had to ride flats in cyprus after mmy spuds broke and while waiting for a new pair, I was having a nightmare, I found myself pulling up on the flats, only to have nothing there to pull up on! I do miss the studs on flats digging into my shins when your foot slips off them.  Ive also found that when I smash it down a bumpy technical section with flats, my feet are not always in contact with the pedal, but with SPD's I feel at one with the bike and my handling is spot on. My advice, if you want to get into SPD's do it. Dont give up on them after your first crash, it will take loads of rides to get confident on them and loads more to be able to hit the techy bits on the trails without even thinking about being stuck to your bike. But they are not for everyone, Oggy will tell you that!  |
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Post by Oggy on Jul 25, 2008 20:19:43 GMT
Yep Martin ive told this story before but ill repeat it for anyone that missed the oppurtunity to laff at my misfortune
I thought that id break myself in easy when i tried spds.
I went for a bit of a road ride, but not being able to help myself i tried to jump off a little ramped bit in the pavement next to a main road, one foot came unclipped as i pulled up on the pedals but the other stayed clipped in i went arse over tit with the bike attached and landed in the road. I really hurt myself both knees were cut open badly as well as one elbow and I hit my head real hard on the road, very lucky there wasn't a car there.
To add insult to injury on the bloody ride home i pulled up at the local marina for a breather where i saw a group of about 7 really tidy young girls, i pulled up near them to get a better view (yes i am a perve ) but forgetting i was clipped in i fel side ways and ended up lying on my side still attached to the bike, it took a minute of wriggling on my side to get unclipped before i got up red faces then promptly made my exit
Thats why i ride in flats. Although i did feel great benifits on the hills they just dont suit my style of riding. ;D
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Post by xybadog on Jul 25, 2008 20:29:44 GMT
No, they don't suit my style either...if sh1t is a style!  |
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Post by sikora on Jul 25, 2008 21:12:42 GMT
Ive also found that when I smash it down a bumpy technical section with flats, my feet are not always in contact with the pedal I find this too. I find myself trying to get my foot comfortable position on the pedal, rather than concentrating on the trail On the other hand though, if your on an unfamiliar trail, having the ability to stick a foot out quickly is quite useful |
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Post by ftasb on Jul 25, 2008 21:20:01 GMT
Ive also found that when I smash it down a bumpy technical section with flats, my feet are not always in contact with the pedal Seconded! I have three nice juicy cuts on my leg at the moment, because my foot slipped off and my V12s tried to eat my leg on the very last rocky section of the MBR last Sunday.  I love my flatties though. ;D You're really not too sure about your SPUDS, are you Xybadog? |
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Post by xybadog on Jul 25, 2008 21:23:02 GMT
Ive also found that when I smash it down a bumpy technical section with flats, my feet are not always in contact with the pedal Seconded! I have three nice juicy cuts on my leg at the moment, because my foot slipped off and my V12s tried to eat my leg on the very last rocky section of the MBR last Sunday. I love my flatties though. ;D You're really not too sure about your SPUDS, are you Xybadog? Not at all mate. I might get some cheap flats, just to see the difference next time I'm out on a trail to see which I prefer. |
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Post by Rob on Jul 25, 2008 21:38:37 GMT
made the move to SPD's pretty quick after taking MTB a little more serious, at the beginning they are a little incomfortable but thats down to your feet because in flats your feet find the more comfortable position but SPD's keep your feet straight so the muscles pull a little more and i find them a lot more secure on technical downhill bits i would never go back to flats now it just dont feel right they say it takes around 6hrs of riding to become comfortable .
As for tension i have mine very slack to get out them as quick as i can during a fall but after a few falls it becomes very easy to de-clip quickly and will become 2nd nature and you wont even notice you have done it and even somewhere where your not sure if you have them slack a slight twist and your out just as quick as putting your foot down with flats.
And carry some spare cleats/bolts there is nothing worse than going around a trail with only one bolt on your cleat it gets annoying as it wont de-clip and get a bolt wrench to tighten then and get Multi release spd cleats so they will release from the pedal when the heel is twisted in any direction rather than single.
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Post by ftasb on Jul 25, 2008 22:49:50 GMT
Not at all mate. I might get some cheap flats, just to see the difference next time I'm out on a trail to see which I prefer. I've still got my original pedals off the 5 in my garage, i don't know what make they are but they're flat and you're welcome to give them a go if you want? I'll take a pic of them tomorrow and stick it on here and then see what you think. |
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Post by sikora on Jul 25, 2008 22:57:56 GMT
Not at all mate. I might get some cheap flats, just to see the difference next time I'm out on a trail to see which I prefer. Xybadog: I think going for really cheap flats could put you off them. A crap pedal with a poor amount of grip will make you think they're useless. If you can, try and stretch to a Wellgo V8 (DMR copy) www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=563 get Multi release spd cleats so they will release from the pedal when the heel is twisted in any direction rather than single. Don't these release when you lift your heel too? Which i think defeats the point of them |
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Post by Rob on Jul 26, 2008 9:35:52 GMT
Dan,
Only if there is sufficient hard upward force not a case of just lifting your heel, so if you fall heavily and there is sufficent force they will de-clip without having to twist.
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Post by Doug on Jul 26, 2008 9:38:27 GMT
I use flats, spuds and spuders. I usually use spds for most my riding but change to flats on stuff I'm not too confident on. I'd be quite happy on spd's on track 2+3 at Foel but atm still prefer flats for track 1 so that's what I ride on all the tracks as I can't be bothered changing them between runs. For mountain riding like Snowdon it's spd's all the way to stay glued to the bike through the rough stuff.
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Post by John on Jul 26, 2008 10:03:32 GMT
I've been using SPD pedals from the off, had the same problem with the falling off bit  came off a couple of times when riding the MBR trail than I took some ones advise and slackens the springs right off very rarely do my feet ever slip out. Excellent for climbing hills and where the bike goes I go and if I do happen to fall off my feet tend to release by them self's, I've found that because my feet are attached to the pedals at all times I tend not to put my feet down as I would if I was using flat pedals on steep hills and very technical sections I wouldn't swap to flats I'm only using a cheap pair of Shimano's. |
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came off a couple of times when riding the MBR trail than