platform vs. clipless

[getsometrail]

I know some of us have been through this before but lets get some stats.  I am going to buy flats for when I take my young kids riding but after tearing up my shoulder/upper back practicing a manual while clipped in I am debating spending some coin on a good pair of platforms and five-tens.  At least for when I'm feeling like working on some more techy stuff.

[Doe]

I ride clipless because that's what I have.  But I would like to get some flats and 5-10s.

[jerrywr]

eggbeaters have a platform snapon's that i use with the family rides. other clipless may have the same.

[David Kuehnen]

I know some of us have been through this before but lets get some stats.  I am going to buy flats for when I take my young kids riding but after tearing up my shoulder/upper back practicing a manual while clipped in I am debating spending some coin on a good pair of platforms and five-tens.  At least for when I'm feeling like working on some more techy stuff.

Ask Jason Hilt about shin guards.....


I personally use clipless on all the bikes I ride but I have some old platform pedals that I can but on my beater when I use it for trail work.  Switching pedals out is perhaps the easiest thing to do to a bike.

[jasonhilt]

HEY!! Don't make fun of me!!! 

I ride SPDs on my cross country bike and flats, with 5-10s, on my downhill bike.  My shin was done before I got both the shoes and shin guards.

I tried a lap on flats at Town Run awhile bike.  Got about 1/4 mile in and was like NEVER AGAIN!!!.  Even technical stuff I would rather be clipped in.  I even downhilled one year with SPD pedals before I got my 5-10 boots.


In the end....ride what you are comfortable with.  I would say though that many people that dislike clipless pedals many times didn't try them long enough before giving up on them.  Once you get used to them, it's second nature/thoughtless to unclip when you need to.

[Kswiss]

I just made the switch at the end of the season to clipless from my platform.  I am still learning, and my elbow bursitus can attest there is a steep learning curve. 


 

[PKemppainen]

I've been riding clipless since I started on my MTB. I started with SPDs and moved to Eggbeaters, as I can access them from four sides. I've also ridden on Candy's, which kind of offer the best of both worlds.
Being a road rider before getting into MTB riding more, I was used to getting some power on the upstroke, which I now find can help on the hill climbs.
 
 

[gt ss]

I don't know what a manual is but I'm sure it would be easier for me with my Eggbeaters. I've ridden clipless since I ditched the old Christophe leather toe toeclips back in the 90's. I've decided the only reason for me to ride flats is during adventure races when you're on and off the bike and changing shoes is a huge hassle.

CX, MTB and road, I'm riding Eggbeaters

[davebik]

was all clipless for my first 1.5 seasons riding and then I tried Schooner.  getting clipped back in while starting in the middle of a pile of rocks was too tricky so I got some platforms to avoid walking my bike through sections that I got stuck on.  I ride platforms if I'm hitting schooner and clipless other wise now.  Maybe someday I'll be good enough to ride schooner clipless but for now I like being able to get my foot down quickly and then start riding again without having to clip in.

I do fear for my shins since I recently upgraded my platforms however!

[Raleighguy29]

I switched to candy2s half way through the season and I love them. Now I can't even test ride a bike in a parking lot ant more with out trying to clip in first. The power you can put out and just more secure in the bike. Ad like Jason said its second nature to clip in and out.

[getsometrail]

I don't know what a manual is but I'm sure it would be easier for me with my Eggbeaters.

It's a technique to get the front end of the bike in the air to clear obsticals, show off, or what not. Instead of using torque from the crank or pulling up on the handlebars you thrust the bike forward and shift your weight back while standing on the pedals.  So as you can imagine when I leaned to far back and my feet were attached to the pedals I landed on my elbow and the jolt messed up my shoulder.  It has gotten better day by day so I never went to the doctor but at the time it was one of the most painful injuries I can remember.  I couldn't even ride my bike out, luckily I was right at the SWW trail head.   

[Bentcrank]

It's a wheelie with out pedaling.

I have a sweet pair of Crupi squares I will let go if anyone is interested, but I recommend buying shin guards.

I clip in on my mtb and flats when I rode bmx

either will work if you give it enough time

[Doe]

http://www.bikemag.com/blog/dirty-words-flat-pedals-for-a-round-planet/

[gt ss]

I don't know what a manual is but I'm sure it would be easier for me with my Eggbeaters.

It's a technique to get the front end of the bike in the air to clear obsticals, show off, or what not. Instead of using torque from the crank or pulling up on the handlebars you thrust the bike forward and shift your weight back while standing on the pedals.  So as you can imagine when I leaned to far back and my feet were attached to the pedals I landed on my elbow and the jolt messed up my shoulder.  It has gotten better day by day so I never went to the doctor but at the time it was one of the most painful injuries I can remember.  I couldn't even ride my bike out, luckily I was right at the SWW trail head.

OK, so I do a short manual when I approach obstacles and then engage my clipless pedals to lift the back end over, all in one smooth seamless motion

Some people might call that a bunny hop but I like totally disagree.

[Indiana Dave]

One of my most embarassing moments was doing a manual on the levy at SWW in front of a newbie friend. Went too far back and landed flat on my back. Was laughing too hard to realize how much my azz hurt.
I've ridden SWW and Brown County trails on flats after riding clipped for the last 3 years, and can hoestly say, I felt like my feet were going to fly off my pedals on evrey bump. I've got some grippy pedals, but was only wearing some running shoes.
I'll stay clipped, although a good point was made regarding Schooner. I've stalled on the rock gardens on HP, and it is difficult to get started again on my eggbeaters.