- I did the combo thing for years, and I can tell you, standing on a platform/combo pedal, not clipped in, wearing a mtb shoe with clips on the bottom is NOT the same thing at all as a flat sticky shoe with flat pedal combo. I did this for years: I'm a strong technical rider and I didn't want to switch due to the "pedal stroke efficiency" stuff that we get hammered with.

In retrospect, it's kind of awkward, as when you are standing on the pedals not clipped in, you are going for the best position where you a)hopefully won't get bounced off and b)you won't get clipped in by accident. By my observation, this is not optimal for best balance and foot position.


My very first ride with the flat/flat combo blew-my-mind. It was incredibly stable. My feet went exactly where they needed to go for best and most natural balance, and I can tell you this is not where they go when you are standing not clipped in on combo pedals. My cornering and balance improved instantly, and I've been riding since 1996. The first ride was a 5 mile singletrack climb, no problems there. And then on the descent, same thing...blew my mind how stable I was cornering. I ride with a PT, and she commented on how from the rear view I have much better joint alignment now than I did when I was clipped in. Short version is, consider ditching the combo pedals, they are a half assed solution. I can say that since I rode with them for the last 8 years.(platform with clip on both sides)