Having doubts about clipless!

[Nanci]

Clipless- pedals without toe clips/cages/straps. Connect the pedals to your shoes directly with cleats.

Flats- platform pedals without any sort of attachment to the shoe, but may have spiky things for traction.

Personally, I'd be _scared_ to ride a MTB clipless! And I believe I'd fall just as much- for me it's practically never pedal-related. And I like my bike to have a nice soft landing on top of me! :-)

Nanci

[fatbottomedgurl]

I went clipless and never looked back. My Shimano pedals are pretty big so if I want to unclip a foot (never both) for a section I can position my arch over the mount. I have my tension set as low as I can for quick escapes. I agree- if it looks too technical, I walk. I too like to be "one with the bike". Better sense of control. You can buy "campus" pedals which are platform on one side, clipless on the other. I think there is also a gizmo that can clip into an spd and turn it into a platform- saw it online somewhere.

[CorsairMac]

<---rank beginner MTB here and I use the double sided Shimano SPDs on my MTB. One side is clipless, the other side is flat with a cute little spot for my cleat to fit. I Love them on my MTB coz when I'm cruising along feeling very good and comfortable, I can be clipped in. If I see something coming that looks scary to me, I can unclip, flip the pedal over and ride on the flats (coz I promise you I'll fall!)

currently my falls to rides ratio is 2:1!

[chickwhorips]

i love my clipless. granted now and again i still somehow just stop for no reason and fall over. i ride around to work without being cliped in and don't like it. i feel safter with the clipless than without.
i have shimanos and for me they are easy to clip in and out of (when i'm actually paying attention). i still get frustrated with forgetting to clip out once in a while, but it just makes me get up and do better the next time.
good luck! you will get the hang of it.

[Fredwina]

Aftr looking to see what the Candy were, my suggestion is to do what I do. I have shimano 545's (spd's w/ a platform) I unlcip and ride them as Flat pedals when I get into a situation where I don't wnat to be clipped in.

[Pebble]

Thanks for all the great input here. At times I do unclip through certain sections - the Candy's are pretty good for that, providing enough platform to still ride unclipped for short sections. But yes I've noticed in a way that it just doesn't seem right to be riding unclipped - it's just a strange feeling I get that I have to clip back in asap, or I guess more the fact that the shoe could easily clip back in without me realizing

Does anyone know or have an opinion of Candy's vs Mallets? I really like the float that the crank bros provice, nice and friendly for my knees. A thought I had was that the Mallets would provide that bit more of a platform for unclipped riding - but can they be ridden with regular soft soled shoes?

I've only been riding clipless for almost a year now.

Good point about "flying off" on platforms downhill, it's easy to forget what it was like with flats & being bumped off the pedals.

I have a feeling that it would be best to stick with it, and build confidence and ability. I have been trying bunny hops when my kids are out riding in the street (just sneakers on and unclipped) and I agree that it's good to develop those sort of skills on platforms. Trying the same thing clipped and out on the trail feels so good though!

I love dual suspension now - I don't think there will be any turning back - well only if I could have more than one bike

tattiefritter your post was really good to read!

[tattiefritter]

Pebble,

I've wondered about that myself as I am debating whether or not to buy some for my biking holiday in September as things have the potential to get quite tricky (body armour compulsory - gulp). Riding unclipped on the Candys for any length of time feels very very bad. I'm not sure the Mallets are designed to be ridden with flat soled shoes like Vans as I would have thought the eggbeater mechanism would stick up too much too allow good grip ?

I've not really looked really closely at them in the flesh so to speak but I will do next time I'm in the LBS, they were selling the Mallet Cs quite cheap last time I was in, probably full price now though.

[Pebble]

At least the full body armour will give you a bit of security and probably a tad more confidence. I wouldn't know though, never worn it.

I've pretty much decided to stick with what I've got and just work on my confidince / skills.

I can see the mallets would be useful - people have said that larger platforms get caught on rocks more etc.

But yes if you're used to the candy's probably be a bad idea to look at say shimano alternatives just for the holiday, can't imagine it would be too great getting used to a different type of clip in mechanism at the same time as doing the "tricky" riding

So anyone Candy's vs Mallets?

If you post on the mtbr forum you should get your question answered pretty quick there. (www.mtbr.com)

[mtnbikenmama]

Didn't really care for them, found them hard to clip in and out of-just my 2 cents.

d