[fat_billy offline]

Right handed riders should ride with SPDs on the right side with flats on the left. Lefties do the otherway around unless on a high end Cannondale with the leftie fork have to wear flat shoes and clipless handgrips. This should settle the clipless-flat discussion. Later,

[Jared13 offline]

i thought about this thread twice Monday. 2 seperate times i was travelling at a high speed through FATS and my SPD pedal dug into the groove as i was riding a narrow kind of washed out part of trail. Had I been on flats, that pedal would have dug, foot would have kicked off, and the boys would have been smooshed by the bar, before i did some acrobatic maneuver just to end up on my face.

I have a similar story but with flats instead of clipless.

Riding my local trail for the first time in 3+ months (damn broken collarbones) and I'm on top the ridgeline that's slightly downhill and a BLAST to open up on.

So I do.

Next thing I know I'm cutting it very close to the right side of the trail as the trail doglegs to the left. NOT GOOD. I shove my left foot straight out to the side (think Danny MacAskill with a lot less grace and a huge OH *BEEP* look on my face) and I'm able to hold the line instead of plunging down the hillside at 20 MPH.

Had I been clipped in, I probably wouldn't have had time to unclip. The moving of my foot was instantaneous and straight out with a slight bit of forward movement to it.

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

[stumpyfsr offline]

Right handed riders should ride with SPDs on the right side with flats on the left. Lefties do the otherway around unless on a high end Cannondale with the leftie fork have to wear flat shoes and clipless handgrips. This should settle the clipless-flat discussion. Later,

Ha-ha-ha!!! That's the way to go Clipless handgrips... You should patent this idea before someone else did

[bassfever2819 offline]

Me I use inexpensive strapless toe clips. I found some on Amazon and attached them to my standard pedals. Today was my first ride at GIHP and the strapless toe clips helped me avoid standing up while pedaling uphill. I know the clipless pedals are far lighter and stronger, but when it comes to quickly taking one's foot off the pedal the strapless toe clips are far safer. I made this purchase decision before making a choice between clipless spd pedals vs flat pedals AND using strapless toe clips. I will return on my next day off to better my time on the steeple chase track at GIHP.

[mtbgreg1 offline]

Me I use inexpensive strapless toe clips. I found some on Amazon and attached them to my standard pedals. Today was my first ride at GIHP and the strapless toe clips helped me avoid standing up while pedaling uphill. I know the clipless pedals are far lighter and stronger, but when it comes to quickly taking one's foot off the pedal the strapless toe clips are far safer. I made this purchase decision before making a choice between clipless spd pedals vs flat pedals AND using strapless toe clips. I will return on my next day off to better my time on the steeple chase track at GIHP.

What exactly is a strapless toe clip? Can you post a picture?

If it is what I'm thinking of, it doesn't have any of the power transfer advantages of a clipless pedal... but I could be thinking of the wrong thing.

[MTI offline]

I never thought I would be on this thread. On April 25 I dropped a rock on my right big toe at work and broke it. Ouch I rode the next day (with Schwim at Tanasi, than the next day at my failed attempt at the Cohutta (It was the mud, rain and crappy weather not the toe). I took two weeks off from riding but now my foot is swollen up and barely fits into my shoe. I tried a regular pair of tennis type shoe with flats but the power transfer is aweful and all the bending of the shoe hurt the foot more. I stuffed my foot in my regular riding shoes today and after 30 miles it was killing me. Any suggestions on a stiff riding shoe w/out cleats for flats? I'll buy it a size larger for my screwed up foot. And taking time off from riding is not an option. I am still pissed about my DNF at the Cohutta and am gearing up for a 90 mile gravel grinder. Haven't told the wife and kids about the toe/foot or they will take my bike away!

[JSatch offline]

I never thought I would be on this thread. On April 25 I dropped a rock on my right big toe at work and broke it. Ouch I rode the next day (with Schwim at Tanasi, than the next day at my failed attempt at the Cohutta (It was the mud, rain and crappy weather not the toe). I took two weeks off from riding but now my foot is swollen up and barely fits into my shoe. I tried a regular pair of tennis type shoe with flats but the power transfer is aweful and all the bending of the shoe hurt the foot more. I stuffed my foot in my regular riding shoes today and after 30 miles it was killing me. Any suggestions on a stiff riding shoe w/out cleats for flats? I'll buy it a size larger for my screwed up foot. And taking time off from riding is not an option. I am still pissed about my DNF at the Cohutta and am gearing up for a 90 mile gravel grinder. Haven't told the wife and kids about the toe/foot or they will take my bike away!

my take on shoes for flats: 5.10 impacts are stiffer than the freerides or spitfires. all are stiffer than skate shoes. none are as stiff as traditional spd shoes. i don't know about the gravity-spd's (probably on par with the impacts), but that might be something to consider as you have spd pedals. 5.10 has pretty good online customer service. good luck with the toe.

[cynergy68 offline]

Here we go again! Later,

Yep, seems vaguely familiar

[MTI offline]

Now that I got an answer why don't we put it up to a vote if this thread should be removed permanently!

[mtbgreg1 offline]

Now that I got an answer why don't we put it up to a vote if this thread should be removed permanently!

How about just never starting another thread about spd vs flats? Because this DEFINITELY isn't the only one...

[MTI offline]

Hey dude give me credit for not starting a thread on this topic! By the way I decided to heck with flats I can't keep my feet on the pedals. I am just stuffing my swollen foot in my Pearl Izumi's!

[mtbgreg1 offline]

Hey dude give me credit for not starting a thread on this topic! By the way I decided to heck with flats I can't keep my feet on the pedals. I am just stuffing my swollen foot in my Pearl Izumi's!

Haha for sure man!

But be careful you don't hurt yourself more. Sometimes taking some time off the bike in the short term ensures more time on the bike in the long term.