Clipless and learning mountain biking

[Catrin]

I've been in a discussion over at MTBR on the wisdom of using clipless pedals at the Clinic in June. The advice I received was to not do it but to use platforms instead.

The only reason I am considering using clipless is that I don't come out of the saddle when I am road riding - and I think that I would be a lot more confident in learning how to do this in the Clinic if I am attached to my bike. My fitter adjusts my clipless pedals to a very, very light tension - so light that I don't fall over even when I forget that I am clipped in - it takes the tiniest amount of effort to get out of those pedals.

Then again, if I fall over multiple times because of the pedals - that won't exactly be good for my confidence either - though I fully expect and prepared to fall over a lot in the clinic since I will be learning totally new skills

Any thoughts about this from the wonderful mountain biking women of TE? Would YOU go to an introductory mountain bike clinic with clipless pedals?

[limewave]

Yes. Go clipless. I think it would be much better to learn the way you plan on riding than to learn with a crutch that may hold you back later. Especially if you are already used to that on your road bike. It will really help you with climbing and maneuvering.

[SheFly]

Can you practice with the clipless before the clinic so that you can easily get clipped in and out? If yes, definitely use them at the clinic.

To practice, go out on a lawn (so it is a soft landing), and just practice clipping in and out OVER and OVER until it becomes second nature. You can also do this with your bike in a door frame - hold the door frame and clip in and out.

Before long, the motion will become second nature. I NEVER think about getting into or out of my pedals - it just happens (but I have been using clipless on MTB and road for 15 years).

I agree with Limewave - use what you're going to ride when you are at the clinic, but some practice time beforehand should help reduce the spills you will take.

Have fun!

SheFly

[Catrin]

My LBS is switching pedals on both new bikes, and the cassette on the Jamis next week One of the LBS staff has already suggested I take it to a specific location and not only practice on the grass, but also practice clipping out going uphill - there is a very steep hill at this location and he suggested I go diagonally up the hill and practice clipping out.

I just returned to clipless on my LHT, which has gone quite well. Last year I got 4-500 miles on those pedals before I was taken off the bike.

It just has to stop raining so I can take my first paved spin on the Jamis! I need to get used to the SRAM triggers before I start practicing on grass. I do not have gear indicators on this bike, so that will also take some getting used to.

[Artista]

How about taking both clipless & platform pedals to the clinic along with 2 types of shoes? You could switch to platforms during a break if the clipless pedals aren't doing you any favors.

[Irulan]

Yes. Go clipless. I think it would be much better to learn the way you plan on riding than to learn with a crutch that may hold you back later. Especially if you are already used to that on your road bike. It will really help you with climbing and maneuvering.

I disagree. Having attending, and then coached many clinics, I strongly suggest flats. In addition, the professional coaches I work with strongly recommend flats. You can't force someone to change their pedals.

If you are trying something new, the last thing you need to be doing is monkeying around with clipping in to get started. In a clinic setting, there's a lot of sessioning, stop and go, and messing with clips can really affect initiation and suck away mental focus. That's the initiation part. Then there's the clipping out part. If you are trying something new: maybe a low skinny ( straight line riding) or a low teeter ( just for fun) or a descent that's more that you are used to... you might want to bail, FAST. Clips will keep you from doing this. You care going to be more injury prone with clips trying new things.

I ride clips normally, but switch out to flats for clinics.

[limewave]

I have never been to a clinic. Sounds like Irulan has the experience and makes some great points.

[Catrin]

Well, I have bought the pedals but there is no rule about having to install them right away. As it stands my seat post is, by necessity, too low until the Clinic. My LBS (several of their staff are certified instructors at the Clinic I am attending) has advised to leave it where it is until I learn how to mount/start the bike properly there. Between the higher bottom bracket + rear suspension it is going to be significantly higher than my other bikes...

After considering, I think I will wait until I am comfortable with my introductory skills before I add clipping in to the mix.

[gnat23]

Dirt Series had everyone switch to platforms. Their theory was "session in flats, race in clips" and "If you can do it on platforms, you can do it anywhere"

So you don't climb as efficiently; I would hope at a good clinic that there will be no extended climbing.

-- gnat! (just learned how to donkey kick on platforms, extremely satisfying!)

[PscyclePath]

I disagree. Having attending, and then coached many clinics, I strongly suggest flats. In addition, the professional coaches I work with strongly recommend flats. You can't force someone to change their pedals.

If you are trying something new, the last thing you need to be doing is monkeying around with clipping in to get started. In a clinic setting, there's a lot of sessioning, stop and go, and messing with clips can really affect initiation and suck away mental focus. That's the initiation part. Then there's the clipping out part. If you are trying something new: maybe a low skinny ( straight line riding) or a low teeter ( just for fun) or a descent that's more that you are used to... you might want to bail, FAST. Clips will keep you from doing this. You care going to be more injury prone with clips trying new things.

I ride clips normally, but switch out to flats for clinics.

Agree... One thing that's worked well for me is to install a set of pedals that have an SPD clip on one side and flats on the other, rather than plain double-sided SPD or some other device. Shimano M-520s, I think they are. At any rate it makes it easier for me to ride in either regular shoes or bike shoes, and as Irulan points out, there's lot's of times when life is a whole lot easier with flat pedals.

[Catrin]

Agree... One thing that's worked well for me is to install a set of pedals that have an SPD clip on one side and flats on the other, rather than plain double-sided SPD or some other device. Shimano M-520s, I think they are. At any rate it makes it easier for me to ride in either regular shoes or bike shoes, and as Irulan points out, there's lot's of times when life is a whole lot easier with flat pedals.

I have these pedals, and I hate the flat side - my feet won't stay on them So I just ride the clipless side, and these are the only SPD pedals that have worked for me. I need a very light resistance, but we can't seem to get the dual SPD pedals to adjust that lightly. So the 520s are staying on my LHT for now, going to experiment with Frogs on my Gunnar, and BMX pedals are staying on my mountain bike for now. If I like the Frogs, they will also go on my LHT. I understand that Speedplay is coming out with a new kind of mountain bike pedal but it hasn't been released yet.

[Irulan]

eh, I give a thumbs down to the 1/2 & 1/2 pedals. Which ever side you want is always on the other side, and that split second of messing around with the pedal, flipping it over with your foot, is crucial sometimes.