2 Clip ? or Not 2 Clip ? That is my question.

[surfer_lar]

I am sure I am not ready for hills either way. BUTT !!!! I would like to hear what your experiences have been attached to those dam pedals and trying to stay upright UP hills. I am sure there is a technique to this. I may be old but I am not going to give up.....even if it means changing to standard pedals. HELP!!!!

I just bought a Trek Fuel 80....which has the clip in on one side and a flat side for std pedaling...If I can not handle the clip in's should I replace the pedals?

Thanks in Advance!

 

[triguy98]

Clipless pedals are one of the best things to happen to MTBs since their conception, right up there with suspension.

Get a good system like Times or Crank Bros Candys. Shimanos are death traps, even when set on their lowest tension. Give yourself lots of time before going to technical terrain to get used to the feeling, and you'll be good.

And if you are refering to the plastic toe cages.. DUMP EM. Theyre horrible. Clipless are far better.

 

[AzzaC]

Clipless pedals are one of the best things to happen to MTBs since their conception, right up there with suspension.

Get a good system like Times or Crank Bros Candys. Shimanos are death traps, even when set on their lowest tension. Give yourself lots of time before going to technical terrain to get used to the feeling, and you'll be good.

Shimano Pedals death traps?? I have been using, and have only used, Shimano SPD's for the last 5-6 years, and I haven't had ANY problems with them, even in the mud.

I'm sure Time and Crank Bros pedals are great, but who wants to buy those expensive Crank Bros ones when they don't even last that long. I still have a set of the 535's on the less-used bike and they are going strong. No rebuilds, just good maintenance.

As far as I'm concerned, if you are a newby to the sport and want to try out the clipless system, then Shimano ones are the best bang for your buck! Their ease of use, quality and price make them fantastic.

In regards to staying upright.. it's all about body positioning to get the correct weighting of the front/rear wheel. Practice with different positions on the seat, put more weight on the handlebars if the going is really steep, and try and keep up the momentum.

HTH

 

[big Den]

glad to here someonelse out there calling themselves old. i,m just returning after 1 year off.used to use shimano spd but find them a bit scary at the moment.perservere with your clipins it will come in time

 

[surfer_lar]

Shimano Pedals death traps?? I have been using, and have only used, Shimano SPD's for the last 5-6 years, and I haven't had ANY problems with them, even in the mud.

I'm sure Time and Crank Bros pedals are great, but who wants to buy those expensive Crank Bros ones when they don't even last that long. I still have a set of the 535's on the less-used bike and they are going strong. No rebuilds, just good maintenance.

As far as I'm concerned, if you are a newby to the sport and want to try out the clipless system, then Shimano ones are the best bang for your buck! Their ease of use, quality and price make them fantastic.

In regards to staying upright.. it's all about body positioning to get the correct weighting of the front/rear wheel. Practice with different positions on the seat, put more weight on the handlebars if the going is really steep, and try and keep up the momentum.

HTH

Thank you. Being a newbie, I appreciate your experience shared. I will work on these methods. Being 53 I do not bounce back from injury to quickly and workmans comp is not a way to pay my mortgage. But what can I say.....I really like being in the dirt with my new MTB.

Thanks again,
surfer-lar

 

[todd0973]

I would suggest 2 clip. I have been ridding for a long time and there is no better way to ride than with clipless pedals. First you will get more power from the pull and second you will build muscles you never knew you had.

You can always unclip to ride a tricky section, where you may bail.

 

[surfer_lar]

I would suggest 2 clip. I have been ridding for a long time and there is no better way to ride than with clipless pedals. First you will get more power from the pull and second you will build muscles you never knew you had.

You can always unclip to ride a tricky section, where you may bail.

Thank you! That sounds like a plan. I noticed the difference in power and I think my adjustment was to tight. I am off this morning to give it another try and will give it a try.

Thanks
Larry

 

[MidBunchLurker]

dual-sided clipless is the only way. Any of the pedals in the marketplace are good. As far as release tension goes, most of them are a little tight when they're still new, so don't let the initial stiffness scare you off. To get used to them you just need to go out and ride, and practice clipping in and clipping out. You'll have it taped in no time!

 

[energetix]

I've recently taken the step to clipless pedal & I would never go withiot them. I ended up buying crank bros candy C's, and took a couple of rides to get used to them. Definitely make a huge difference on hills too!

Once you get used to them it comes second nature to clip out when you need to. Except for the firt couple of times, I have never fallen off due to not being able to clip out in time, and I've ridden over some tricky stuff - good thing about having a bit of a platform is being able to clip out in advance if I have big doubts about my ability on some gnarly downhill bit.

I would say stick with them, or get better quality / different brand to try if you think it may suit you better.

 

[Solanog]

My first clipless pedals were for my road bike, everyone told me they were dangerous and eventhough of the comments I bought them, Shimano Ultegra,about 9 years ago, they are still working perfectly, I got used to them very easily and clipless are great by that time I didn't have a MB. But one day I took a ride with my wife's mountain bike with no clipless pedals in a rough trail, when going down I felt awful I had a hard time keeping my feet on the pedals and not loosing the bike. After that when I planned on buying a MB about a week before buying the bicycle I already had bought a pair of SPDs clipless pedals they are great specially when going down rough surfaces.