I stopped riding mountain bike almost 20 years ago and turned to another sport. Now I'm returning to mountain biking and this is what i see... Wheels are getting bigger, bars are wider, suspensinos are longer, but clipless or flat pedale debate is as active as it was 20 years ago :D
Same here. I’m tuning my Trek950 up to take trailing, and I don’t get all the nay saying about hard tails. I don’t even have a front shock. But the best riding I bet did was when a switched from toe straps on the pedals to PowerGrips. Because the foot went in at an angle, it worked like a clip, but you could still ride with hiking shoes. I could power the stroke on the down and the up of the crank, and my table tops were epic.
I like being clipped in on my 29er hardtail as its more xc focused and I use it on mellower trails and for all day rides. But I like flats on my enduro bike because I think it helps me keep my face nice and symmetrical on gnarly terrain. Which is important to me because I rely on luck rather than skill 😀(90% luck, 9% skill, 1% broken bones!)
Back in the ninety's we all used the old toe clips and straps, you gain all the benefits of clipless pedals without any of the drawbacks. only $20ish bucks and no special shoes required, try it out you won't be sorry, just run them a little loose so you can get your feet out quick and you're good to go.
Hey guys, great hardtail content this last week (and as always) The one thing I feel like you guys fail to mention though is how awesome dropper posts are on a hardtail. With a dropper post you get plenty of ‘rear travel’ from your legs... add that to ‘modern geometry’ and you have a winner.
Exactly what I was after thank you. I constantly get my feet bounced off on rocky or rooty sections. The amount of time I've almost crashed cos I'm to busy trying to get my feet back into place. Great Vid
Awesome video. I think the best part about bikes is that you can experiment and build them up the way you like. Like clipless? Like flats? Cool! Let's go ride! 😀 🚴🚴
I've tryed it I ride xc on hardtail and fully with clips but on my Enduro hardtail I prefer still my flats even though I m used to clippless pedals...it terrefied me so much on ruthstuff that I sponatiusly totally forgot how to ride 🤣🤣🤣 greetings from Germany and I apologize for my horrible English 🤘🏻
I started with flats then went to clips never regretted.Helps you float around your bike without worrying about your feet coming off. For anyone worrying about not being able to put your foot down after a month it becomes muscle memory.
Good points about using clipless on a hardtail! Personally, just more confident/comfortable with flats but I do occasionally throw on the clips, mostly for XC terrain.
SPDs will probably feel less iffy when you're moving your feet around near the limits of the pedal. Crank bros just kind of fall out once you turn them far enough, SPDs get stiffer before the release and need a more forceful twist. The more deliberate release can be a disadvantage at times, too, but at least you're not left questioning if your foot is about to come off.
So the other week I was tempted to buy some clips... Watched your video and bought some... So thanks for two weeks of falling over in boggy sections, toppling over at traffic lights and laying down everytime I fail to unclip! Oh and thanks for convincing me to ride them, they are so much fun. (When I don't accidentally unclip mid rock-garden!?)
Clipless for me. Been that way for ages and Shimano Sandals with cleats are great for summer on easier rides or putting round town. Time to test out my just fitted dropper. First one I have owned and been looking forward to it for a while.
I've been clipped since 2001. Went to flats this year because all the cool kids were doing it. I did one ride and went back to clips. I'll ride my flats on family rides only. Great video.
I have to say this again: Blake's videos are the best!!!! :-) Also love the rad edit, espacially the puncture-repair-part. going with the flow of the music. Well done.
Hey guys. So after riding clipless since 1991 I finally changed to flats 8 weeks ago🙀 I’ve only had hardtail bikes again since 1991. But 8 weeks ago I got a nukeproof mega it came with some very basic flat pedals I tried them and kinda liked how it changed my riding so I’ve upgraded to better flats. And I’m loving them. But my hardtail will always be fitted with clipless pedals. Not putting flat pedals on a hardtail. So the way I see it. I’ve got the best of both worlds. Love the channel guys. Keep up the ace work. Keith👍
Excellent article on whether to ride clipped or not. After 25 years of riding I have stuck with clips- but I don't jump my bike!! I have also adjusted the pedal tension so that the spring pressure holding the clip is as weak as possible. Slight lateral pressure and my foot is free - which means I can easily unclip in a fraction of a second and get my foot down. Saves falling over!! I understand Shimano have now designed clips which can be pulled out - which again makes it super easy to free the foot when you need to get a foot out. So the secret?? Play around with the spring tension in the pedal until you get the balance of the release of the clip with foot security on the pedal -just where you want it! Then go ride with no grazed shins!!
The reason I like flats now after riding clips for 10 years is comfort and ease. It’s easier to stop and start on flats. To me, it’s the same as having a dropper post. Getting on and off the bike is easier. And since I’m not in the best shape anymore, stopping to rest is crucial during long rides.
Loved being clipped in on my road bike... getting back into mountain biking after long time.. will definitely go clipped in.. Much appreciate all you guys .. advice and Vids... Keep rocking that accent.... From a fellow Zimbo.... :-)
Yesto: no I jave been riding tjem for 2 years but have never tested/time trials to see if they have been more efficient on a hardtail but I do enjoy riding clips on hardtails
I recently made the leap to clipless. I went for the Funn Mamba One-sided clipless - can clip in one side, yet the other side is like a conventional flat and even comes with replacement pins. Hasn't taken any time to get used to and everything is feeling easier with them on, for me an awesome pedal for all-round use 👌 For those worried to try them, you can slacken the tension spring so that a) your foot can still move around the pedal whilst connected and b) it's easier to release your foot from the pedal - start on the slackest setting and tighten it up as you get more confident with em.
Clips... pretty old school actually, but glad to see that they're still appreciated by those who try them. I can't believe that you guys have not always used them if you ride hardtail. I started using them back in the eighties for the great control they offer and the fact that you can often ride inside vehicle ruts on the trails we used to race. They are definitely good for climbing too. That said, long travel suspension is so impressive and must really reduces the chances of an unclipped foot flying off the peddle. Love your ride!
Clipless pedals reminds me of my road bike to much, got into mountain biking to mountain bike, on flats. Riding blind on new trails...you need as much FREEDOM as you can get!
Another fantastic hardtail video from GMBN. Watching Blake shred these tech trails on a hardtail makes me feel sooo much better about my bike. Please keep on making these videos because they are so great and not to mention super entertaining! 🤙
42yo Mtn biker here, been riding since I was 14, had a break from the sport for 10 years but bought a new carbon XC Obea hard tail 7 years ago and started using clip less pedals, I can see with most of your points are correct but if they are dialled in accurately they can be quite effective. Clipping out is not usually a massive issue, although there was that time I lost the front wheel in soft stuff on a fast turn. But clipping back in can sometimes be a distracting thing to do while your dealing with other track obstacles and peddling.
Coming from road I was well sketched out by flats, but everyone said I should start on them, a few months down the road I bought some clips and it's improved my riding loads.
I'm actually in the opposite situation. I'm now running flats to relearn proper technique and to unlearn bad habits running clips for years gave me. I'm gonna go back to running clips once I've had the proper techniques down.
Good vid, I have been thinking the same way. I ride my hardtail a lot and it is a nightmare on rooty techy stuff. And like you Blake I use clipless pedals on my road bike only. So I might stick them on the hardtail.
I just tried clipping in on my trek stache yesterday and I capitulate 100%. Smashed it. For most of us who aren’t doing aerial stunts I think it can really upgrade your ride experience. Here’s a question re: clipless: flat shoe or XC shoe?
yeah good that blake im starting on clips and feeling exactly the same find them great for fitness training and endurance but when im cornering fast or doing jumps im amazed just how much i do move around on my pedals even caught myself using the edges of my pedals sometimes something id never noticed untill i tried clips! cheers bud stay rad!
Thank you very much Blake for the words of wisdom :-) I was debating if i was gona switch clipless .. So now i know i will not do it .. for the last argument that you said "on full suspension my feet stays on my pedals .. Have a great one :-)
Blake is doing great job here, normaly l'd start watching and realize that there is nothing what l didnt know, but l watched it all and enjoyed! Right person in right place h5!
Hey Blake what's shakin bacon.... I've got two things. 1. I'm writing a trek Roscoe 8 and just put htd 1 dual-sided clipless pedals on my bike with specialized Rime mountain biking shoes. I noticed instantly hey the pedaling ability the climbing ability and not to mention the control of the rear of the bike in order to place it where I want to being clipped in. You might try the htd ones super awesome clipless feature easy to adjust easy to get in and out of and tell you ramp up the pressure. You can go almost as tight as you want to to the point where it's extremely uncomfortable to try to get out of them. 2. How about doing a video for hardtail Riders on what the significance of upgrading a fork on a hardtail would be to a better for it cuz it's supposed to say a middle-of-the-road for corn even cheaper for it to come on your bike to see if that difference would be even better if you had a better Fork on there with clipless pedals for more control. Just a thought really dig the videos keep them coming man enjoy your content. And you crack me the hell up you wild man
Since switching to clips after 2 years of flat pedal riding, they have made the full sus feel so much better through chunky stuff. Yes, your feet stay on flats better on a full sus than a hardtail, but man do rock gardens you can blast through, feel so much more butter with clips. But to each his/her own. Great video!
I was a clipless pedal rider back in the early days of MTB, continue to switch between both at times but mostly stick with flats, just more fun for me. One thing to consider is that modern day flat pedals and proper flat shoes, Five Ten etc are just so grippy it is like being clipped in anyway with the freedom to move your foot around to weight and unweight the bike. I never have a problem with my feet bouncing off the pedals however rough the terrain gets, drop those heels! If you are new to MTB or a novice rider start off with flats before progressing to clipless for sure. Happy trails :)
It's all up to one's comfort level and ability. This past Sunday I rode some local technical singletrack with my sons (hardtail action), on trails I’d ridden at least 200 times before... the only difference this time around was that this was the FIRST TIME in over three decades I rode on platforms. Well, when you're used to being clipped in and bombing over waterbars at speed, you get used to bringing the rear of the bike up with your clipped-in feet. I sorta forgot I was NOT clipped in. Holy crap. Cheesegrater effect on the entire left side of my body (gravel over hardpack), whilst my boys looked on. Relying on being clipped in for such a long time I believe has hampered my riding ability. I am (a day later) feeling better now (got open seeping wounds and bruises yet fortunately no broken bones) but now wanting to get some basic platform riding tips for both up and down technical rocky and rooty trails. Any advice greatly appreciated. Cheers! 🍻
Excellent video. I've been riding flats for years on my AM hardtails, but I always get foot arch pain after long, gnarly descents. (lots of old school trails here, narrow, twisty and littered with rock slabs, roots and whatnot). Maybe I will give clipless a try, hoping to get help from the stiffer soled shoes.
I have a different experience: I come from clipless pedals, but I changed to flat because to me flat pedals work much better than clipped-in especially in technical steep rock-gardens. The fact that I can put my feet on the ground faster makes me more confident, and since my mind is not preoccupied about unclipping I can better focus on line choice and riding the bike. I do not have much problems of bunching off, maybe because I am a 99 kg boy (a lot of pressure on the pedals?) and I use 2.8" tires (more dumping from the tires?). Coming back to clipless pedals vs flat, the only advantage I have experienced being clipped is on being more efficient when pedaling, expecialy on non-technical uphills. Also I do not experience your concern about punctures, because since when I have been going 2.8" tubeless I never had a flat tire (despite being heavy). Once a friend on a full suspension e-bike (not tubeless) was following me on a technical rock-garden, he got a puncture while I did not. I am keeping my clipless pedal in case that one day I will do a long ride which is not technically challenging, but for any fun and technically challenging trail I am now going flat.
During several years in Brazil, we used to challenge our friends to ride from our meet point until the end of the trail at the same meet point without unclipping our shoes, few people were able to do it, that was kinda motivation to keep it up, just for the challenge. I've done many times after a while.
I do trail riding here in Sweden and clipless are so beneficial most of the times. Most trails are narrow with roots and rocks everywhere. Clipless makes you able to pedal through all that. With flats I often have to stop pedaling to keep my feet on the pedals when the trail is just to hairy. But, I still clip out in advance when the trail becomes too difficult. My reflexes to clip out properly when I just have a few tenths of a second to do it just aren't there yet. Taken a few nasty falls. But, eventually I guess the habit of advance declipping will fade away. Edit: yes I ride a hardtail.
I now use the flat pedals, but if I have practiced enough, I will use the click pedals. I think they are more useful in technical parts and climbs, like in the video, but it is also easier for bunny hop to do, just like wheelie and manual. You just have to get your front wheel in the air and then pull your feet and you have a bunny hop. for manual and wheelie you have to get your front wheel in the air and then you can get your frame in the air with your click pedals ... What does Blake think about this? Cyrie
I am in the same boat. I ride a hardtail and have always rode clipped in but I really want to try flats but a good composite pedal is 50 bucks plus say another 100 for some fiveten freeriders. I want to try but don't want to blow 150 bucks then hate the flats. The main trail I ride is alot of climbing but alot of fast down hills with rocks and roots.
I’m WAY more agile and faster on a trail going over obstacles when I’m clipped in. On a steep climb I can switch muscle groups to keep going. I can do trials manoevers in tight spots , - tech sections are easier - big roots, rock gardens, get over big logs with ease. Easier to manipulate you n the trail.
I see the pros & cons of both that's why I run combo pedals. Flats on one side and clip less on the other. That way if I'm riding casually flats or just don't want to ware my cleats' and if I'm riding rough terrain I'll clip in. Don't need to choose!
clips make me feel like i'll go over the bars any time now.. bought them, tried them, sold them. for any trail. even for XC, flats are wayyy more comfy and confidence inspiring.
Or another one you can try is hybrid pedals which is flat on one side clip on the other. are usually what I do is clip on when going uphill and if I absolutely have to I switch over to flat for the downhill
I m the typical guy that says "flats for ever" but now I m thinking about trying clips because where I live is really technichal and rocky and I have a hardtail. What do you think? What do you recommend?
I always was a flat pedals guy. When I tried clips I didn’t like that when pushing trough corners us flat pedals guys put our feet on really angled positions and the clips would unclip. On tech steep climbs if you unclip is super sketchy to clip again. Oh and I broke my collarbone the first day I tried clipless pedals, unlucky. Went otb and couldn’t unclip in the air. I think is you have to try them if they are for you. From now on flats for me.
Well, clips are rather scary in the beginning but the benefit of being able to pedal no matter what the terrain is like makes you go so so much faster.
I know but the thing is that I m scared about falling off the bike and keep clipped with the bike. But if you get used to clipless pedals I think that they can be better than flats
you need to get cushcore to sponsor you. it also depends on flats, i had dmr v8 on old bike, dmr vault on new(trek procal) they are awesome, with more training i will start using clipless, but flats rock too
I’m with you, Blake: technical climbs are way better with clips... but when I get to the top, I want flats! I ride full sus, so even down Porcupine in Moab (part of The Whole Enchilada), I was totally fine on flats. But I had not considered that a hardtail is a much different scenario. I can definitely see the benefit to clips on technical descents on a hardtail. On full sus, I think it’s a wash... whatever you’re more comfortable with is going to work better.
I'm getting back into mountain biking after 25 years and I always used clip pedals. I had more confidence with the clip pedals rather than regular pedals. I felt I could ride harder and faster with the clip pedals. And my new bike I got is the GT aggressor from Dick's Sporting goods. I was riding 1000 to $3000 bikes back in the day, might spend that money later down the road.
I am 15 years old , I do cross country and I prefer clip petals because when I have to get over a very hard and technical trails I feel more comfortable to my bike.But they have I BIG disadvantage, when u fall of in technical trail and u dont clip out your petals u will hurt sooo much becuase u will on your bike wherever it goes
I feel as safe on clips as on flats but I choose which ones I'll ride by just how I'm feeling, sometimes I feel like HELL YEAH FLATS FOR LIFE 🤘🏻 And sometimes I feel like I just want to pedal efficiently and be more in control with the clips.
I used to ride clipless but i swapped for a good pair of flats. i have 2 good reasons why I swapped to flats. reason 1 is that I just think flats are more fun and feel better on the downhills which is what I love to do. reason 2 however is an unusual one. I coach a group of young mountainbikers on my free time. I am the head coach and responsible of the technical side of riding and teaching them different techniques and what to think of when riding to get the most out of their time on the trails. both to get faster but also to save energy so they can go faster for longer. so the other reason why I prefer flats is first to show proper technique cause most of the kids are running flats but also because when riding with the newer riders do I have to stop quite frequently when people either can't get past an obsticle and have to push the bike over it or up a hill they aren't either skilled or strong enough to get up yet. fucking love everything mountainbiking related and to know that i'm teaching the next generation of riders feels amazing. I do now have new people to ride with which either have moved on from the kid/young teen groups to ride on their own, with friends or with the adult group who I ride with fairly frequently on my spare time and many of them are close to as technically skilled as I am, way braver than I am and with far better stamina so I have my work cut out for me when going on a ride with them.
I’ve been rising for about 5 years. My buddy swore I needed clips. I used them at first. He insisted that the rising foot help pull a pedal up so the the foot pushing the pedal down wasn’t doing all the work but I still think my pedal pushes my foot up and not the other way around. I wiped out twice and managed to unclip. Once on about a 20 foot drop where my back tire slid over the edge. After that I went to flats. I’m stronger and faster now now he still wears clips. I laugh when we slow down and he doesn’t unclip in time and just falls over. I’ll leave the clips for the road guys trying to get speed. I’m fine with my flat pedals on the trail.
I had the same thing with one of my friends. I almost never came off with flats and then fell off so many times with clips that it ruined my confidence and set me back a lot. Whatever added benefit they might provide I don’t care, I’m not a pro and don’t need to win races. I just want to have fun and it’s not fun worrying about falling off all the time.
Recently I had my first mountainbike trip with my gravel bike. With clips of course. Ended up in the technical climbs with roots and rocks with a hybrid position where one food is clipped in and the other one isnt... xD
I'm a flats only man, but I've gotta admit that watching Blake get more used to them gradually is bringing me round. Just put off by the fact I need to spend more money on not just the pedals but shoes as well!
These trails you show in a lot of GMBN videos are regular trails or are somekind of bikeparks? I’m asking because here in Catalonia you are not allowed to buold all these berms and jumps, you can only rife these kinds of trails in bike parks and one place where it looks like the owner of the mountain or townhall allows to. Love your videos Blake, definetively you’re one of the best onboardings in gmbn.🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻
hell yeah thank you, at the local shop they keep recommending clips and I'm like hell no bc of my riding style. This definitely shows me where it could come in handy, but not for me.
Awesome vid . I went to Afan forest park today a did a trail called penhydd on my hard tail and if I'm honest I was so slow through the ruff stuff as my feet were bouncing off the pedals (scary and horrible) and I thought would I benefit from clip less peddles ? 🤔 well now I know 😃 thanks Blake ...... Brilliant! , right I'm off to get some new pedals oh and shoes 😒💰
GMBN gave me the bug for clips. But the prices were to risky. Went to that car shop that sells bikes, we know the one. Bought a pair of £40 Boardmans XC shoes and Boardmans Hybred Team Pedals. Total £72. Good price before I spend serious money on a serious set. By the way love being clipped in.
I have a road background, and only recently got a hardtail and ventured on to trails. I haven't got clipless mtb pedals or shoes yet, so I'm riding on flats... boy that's scary. It feels so uncomfortable, like my feet could slip off any given time and I could fall cause of that. The more technical the trail gets, the more I miss clipless. And even on relatively easy sections I feel like wasting so much energy not being able to effectively spin... the benefits are so obvious for me, it's clipless all the way
Flats or clipless on a hardtail - which do you choose?
Global Mountain Bike Network Flats
Been clip in since I started riding both Hard Tail and Full Suspension.
Flats any day of the week!
I dont even have a hardtail :( only full sus
Global Mountain Bike Network flats
I stopped riding mountain bike almost 20 years ago and turned to another sport. Now I'm returning to mountain biking and this is what i see... Wheels are getting bigger, bars are wider, suspensinos are longer, but clipless or flat pedale debate is as active as it was 20 years ago :D
Same here. I’m tuning my Trek950 up to take trailing, and I don’t get all the nay saying about hard tails. I don’t even have a front shock. But the best riding I bet did was when a switched from toe straps on the pedals to PowerGrips. Because the foot went in at an angle, it worked like a clip, but you could still ride with hiking shoes. I could power the stroke on the down and the up of the crank, and my table tops were epic.
I like being clipped in on my 29er hardtail as its more xc focused and I use it on mellower trails and for all day rides. But I like flats on my enduro bike because I think it helps me keep my face nice and symmetrical on gnarly terrain. Which is important to me because I rely on luck rather than skill 😀(90% luck, 9% skill, 1% broken bones!)
The ChaosEngine then again you’re an XC rider and not say downhill or in my case trail
Back in the ninety's we all used the old toe clips and straps, you gain all the benefits of clipless pedals without any of the drawbacks. only $20ish bucks and no special shoes required, try it out you won't be sorry, just run them a little loose so you can get your feet out quick and you're good to go.
Awe man, you should try to get that broken bone % down to zero.. Drink more milk... Milk, it does a body good.
Hey guys, great hardtail content this last week (and as always) The one thing I feel like you guys fail to mention though is how awesome dropper posts are on a hardtail. With a dropper post you get plenty of ‘rear travel’ from your legs... add that to ‘modern geometry’ and you have a winner.
Top job Blake. Have to say though... Flats every time regardless of what i'm doing for me!
Thanks dude. MMMMMM me to but for like long distance then clips
I hope to feel the same.. I am in dental school and I am worried about breaking my clavicles.. Flats give me the opportunity to bail imo...
Exactly what I was after thank you. I constantly get my feet bounced off on rocky or rooty sections. The amount of time I've almost crashed cos I'm to busy trying to get my feet back into place. Great Vid
Awesome video. I think the best part about bikes is that you can experiment and build them up the way you like. Like clipless? Like flats? Cool! Let's go ride! 😀
🚴🚴
Clips for me, although flats are good for learning new techniques.👍🏻
Ye it's hard to wheelie manual etc if ur in clipless
I could feel Blake's sorrow when he said he hated jumps on clips
hahahaha mate it sucked
It might have just been that sappy music in the background.
I've tryed it I ride xc on hardtail and fully with clips but on my Enduro hardtail I prefer still my flats even though I m used to clippless pedals...it terrefied me so much on ruthstuff that I sponatiusly totally forgot how to ride 🤣🤣🤣 greetings from Germany and I apologize for my horrible English 🤘🏻
@@Zimblake
Damn you looked like a stiff stick in the fist frames of the vid... So not normal for you
I started with flats then went to clips never regretted.Helps you float around your bike without worrying about your feet coming off. For anyone worrying about not being able to put your foot down after a month it becomes muscle memory.
Hell, I do track stands clipped in.
If I need to dab, I clip out and dab. Easy.
@@stinkyfungus ohhh a Demi god
Good points about using clipless on a hardtail! Personally, just more confident/comfortable with flats but I do occasionally throw on the clips, mostly for XC terrain.
Blake. The best mtb reviewer ever. And hard tails rule. I've got 3 hardtails.
WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH BLAKE?!?!?
This is true Sam hahaha. XC when ever I do it clips for sure
SPDs will probably feel less iffy when you're moving your feet around near the limits of the pedal. Crank bros just kind of fall out once you turn them far enough, SPDs get stiffer before the release and need a more forceful twist. The more deliberate release can be a disadvantage at times, too, but at least you're not left questioning if your foot is about to come off.
I used to ride flat pedals, but since I tried cips I love them. Especially for jumps!
So the other week I was tempted to buy some clips... Watched your video and bought some... So thanks for two weeks of falling over in boggy sections, toppling over at traffic lights and laying down everytime I fail to unclip!
Oh and thanks for convincing me to ride them, they are so much fun. (When I don't accidentally unclip mid rock-garden!?)
Clipless for me. Been that way for ages and Shimano Sandals with cleats are great for summer on easier rides or putting round town.
Time to test out my just fitted dropper. First one I have owned and been looking forward to it for a while.
I started using clips after 20 plus years on flats and after some scary runs and some embarrassing falls I love um
Clips on ALL my bikes! Road, Trail, DH.
I've been clipped since 2001. Went to flats this year because all the cool kids were doing it. I did one ride and went back to clips. I'll ride my flats on family rides only. Great video.
I don't have the balls to go to clips.
I have to say this again: Blake's videos are the best!!!! :-) Also love the rad edit, espacially the puncture-repair-part. going with the flow of the music. Well done.
Oh, and listen to 8:10-8:30 a few times! Blake is rapping perfectly in time with the music!
The music during Blakes rant on jumps with clips was epic!
Hey guys. So after riding clipless since 1991 I finally changed to flats 8 weeks ago🙀 I’ve only had hardtail bikes again since 1991. But 8 weeks ago I got a nukeproof mega it came with some very basic flat pedals I tried them and kinda liked how it changed my riding so I’ve upgraded to better flats. And I’m loving them. But my hardtail will always be fitted with clipless pedals. Not putting flat pedals on a hardtail. So the way I see it. I’ve got the best of both worlds.
Love the channel guys. Keep up the ace work. Keith👍
Blake? ☑️
Blake's hardtail? ☑️
Click video? ☑️
Excellent article on whether to ride clipped or not. After 25 years of riding I have stuck with clips- but I don't jump my bike!! I have also adjusted the pedal tension so that the spring pressure holding the clip is as weak as possible. Slight lateral pressure and my foot is free - which means I can easily unclip in a fraction of a second and get my foot down. Saves falling over!! I understand Shimano have now designed clips which can be pulled out - which again makes it super easy to free the foot when you need to get a foot out. So the secret?? Play around with the spring tension in the pedal until you get the balance of the release of the clip with foot security on the pedal -just where you want it! Then go ride with no grazed shins!!
Wow!..makes sense, now you got me thinking, I will give it a go. Thanks Blake. Great Vid, as always.
The reason I like flats now after riding clips for 10 years is comfort and ease. It’s easier to stop and start on flats. To me, it’s the same as having a dropper post. Getting on and off the bike is easier. And since I’m not in the best shape anymore, stopping to rest is crucial during long rides.
Exactly the video and advice I needed. Get point about OTB with the clip less. Thanks for another great video.
Loved being clipped in on my road bike... getting back into mountain biking after long time.. will definitely go clipped in..
Much appreciate all you guys .. advice and Vids... Keep rocking that accent....
From a fellow Zimbo.... :-)
This is the exact question I have been asking for about 2 years
MTB Shredder you have been thinking about it for 2 years but didnt bother trying them?
Yesto: no I jave been riding tjem for 2 years but have never tested/time trials to see if they have been more efficient on a hardtail but I do enjoy riding clips on hardtails
I recently made the leap to clipless. I went for the Funn Mamba One-sided clipless - can clip in one side, yet the other side is like a conventional flat and even comes with replacement pins. Hasn't taken any time to get used to and everything is feeling easier with them on, for me an awesome pedal for all-round use 👌 For those worried to try them, you can slacken the tension spring so that a) your foot can still move around the pedal whilst connected and b) it's easier to release your foot from the pedal - start on the slackest setting and tighten it up as you get more confident with em.
Clips... pretty old school actually, but glad to see that they're still appreciated by those who try them. I can't believe that you guys have not always used them if you ride hardtail. I started using them back in the eighties for the great control they offer and the fact that you can often ride inside vehicle ruts on the trails we used to race. They are definitely good for climbing too. That said, long travel suspension is so impressive and must really reduces the chances of an unclipped foot flying off the peddle. Love your ride!
Clipless pedals reminds me of my road bike to much, got into mountain biking to mountain bike, on flats. Riding blind on new trails...you need as much FREEDOM as you can get!
Another fantastic hardtail video from GMBN. Watching Blake shred these tech trails on a hardtail makes me feel sooo much better about my bike. Please keep on making these videos because they are so great and not to mention super entertaining! 🤙
42yo Mtn biker here, been riding since I was 14, had a break from the sport for 10 years but bought a new carbon XC Obea hard tail 7 years ago and started using clip less pedals, I can see with most of your points are correct but if they are dialled in accurately they can be quite effective. Clipping out is not usually a massive issue, although there was that time I lost the front wheel in soft stuff on a fast turn. But clipping back in can sometimes be a distracting thing to do while your dealing with other track obstacles and peddling.
Coming from road I was well sketched out by flats, but everyone said I should start on them, a few months down the road I bought some clips and it's improved my riding loads.
I'm actually in the opposite situation. I'm now running flats to relearn proper technique and to unlearn bad habits running clips for years gave me.
I'm gonna go back to running clips once I've had the proper techniques down.
That's a honest review from Blakey I think. Thats good
Clips for super tech/XC, flats for high speed and jumps 👌
You toppling over in the beginning had me in stitches
The more i see Blake ridin, the more i want his Hardtail!!!
TimK82ausM
Nukeproof Scout is quite affordable.
is it 27.5 plus?
How much does his bike cost?
Jack Spry 850 for the cheaper one 1700 for the good spec.
TimK82ausM says that to all of the boys.
Nice to see some love for the hardtail! yeah. So much benefit to clipless on a hardtail - different than flats for sure!
Good vid, I have been thinking the same way. I ride my hardtail a lot and it is a nightmare on rooty techy stuff. And like you Blake I use clipless pedals on my road bike only. So I might stick them on the hardtail.
I just tried clipping in on my trek stache yesterday and I capitulate 100%. Smashed it. For most of us who aren’t doing aerial stunts I think it can really upgrade your ride experience. Here’s a question re: clipless: flat shoe or XC shoe?
yeah good that blake im starting on clips and feeling exactly the same find them great for fitness training and endurance but when im cornering fast or doing jumps im amazed just how much i do move around on my pedals even caught myself using the edges of my pedals sometimes something id never noticed untill i tried clips! cheers bud stay rad!
Thank you very much Blake for the words of wisdom :-)
I was debating if i was gona switch clipless .. So now i know i will not do it .. for the last argument that you said "on full suspension my feet stays on my pedals ..
Have a great one :-)
Now all we have to do is a replay but this time in the wet especially that root section cheers 🍻
Blake is doing great job here, normaly l'd start watching and realize that there is nothing what l didnt know, but l watched it all and enjoyed! Right person in right place h5!
Hey Blake what's shakin bacon.... I've got two things. 1. I'm writing a trek Roscoe 8 and just put htd 1 dual-sided clipless pedals on my bike with specialized Rime mountain biking shoes. I noticed instantly hey the pedaling ability the climbing ability and not to mention the control of the rear of the bike in order to place it where I want to being clipped in. You might try the htd ones super awesome clipless feature easy to adjust easy to get in and out of and tell you ramp up the pressure. You can go almost as tight as you want to to the point where it's extremely uncomfortable to try to get out of them. 2. How about doing a video for hardtail Riders on what the significance of upgrading a fork on a hardtail would be to a better for it cuz it's supposed to say a middle-of-the-road for corn even cheaper for it to come on your bike to see if that difference would be even better if you had a better Fork on there with clipless pedals for more control. Just a thought really dig the videos keep them coming man enjoy your content. And you crack me the hell up you wild man
Since switching to clips after 2 years of flat pedal riding, they have made the full sus feel so much better through chunky stuff. Yes, your feet stay on flats better on a full sus than a hardtail, but man do rock gardens you can blast through, feel so much more butter with clips. But to each his/her own. Great video!
Cheers for sharing!
The soundtrack on this video is amazing
I was a clipless pedal rider back in the early days of MTB, continue to switch between both at times but mostly stick with flats, just more fun for me. One thing to consider is that modern day flat pedals and proper flat shoes, Five Ten etc are just so grippy it is like being clipped in anyway with the freedom to move your foot around to weight and unweight the bike. I never have a problem with my feet bouncing off the pedals however rough the terrain gets, drop those heels! If you are new to MTB or a novice rider start off with flats before progressing to clipless for sure. Happy trails :)
It's all up to one's comfort level and ability. This past Sunday I rode some local technical singletrack with my sons (hardtail action), on trails I’d ridden at least 200 times before... the only difference this time around was that this was the FIRST TIME in over three decades I rode on platforms. Well, when you're used to being clipped in and bombing over waterbars at speed, you get used to bringing the rear of the bike up with your clipped-in feet. I sorta forgot I was NOT clipped in. Holy crap. Cheesegrater effect on the entire left side of my body (gravel over hardpack), whilst my boys looked on. Relying on being clipped in for such a long time I believe has hampered my riding ability. I am (a day later) feeling better now (got open seeping wounds and bruises yet fortunately no broken bones) but now wanting to get some basic platform riding tips for both up and down technical rocky and rooty trails. Any advice greatly appreciated. Cheers! 🍻
Well done, another prove that there is no single answer for clipless or flats.
Greetings from the Galilee.
The music in this video is spot on. :D
Excellent video. I've been riding flats for years on my AM hardtails, but I always get foot arch pain after long, gnarly descents. (lots of old school trails here, narrow, twisty and littered with rock slabs, roots and whatnot). Maybe I will give clipless a try, hoping to get help from the stiffer soled shoes.
I have a different experience: I come from clipless pedals, but I changed to flat because to me flat pedals work much better than clipped-in especially in technical steep rock-gardens. The fact that I can put my feet on the ground faster makes me more confident, and since my mind is not preoccupied about unclipping I can better focus on line choice and riding the bike. I do not have much problems of bunching off, maybe because I am a 99 kg boy (a lot of pressure on the pedals?) and I use 2.8" tires (more dumping from the tires?). Coming back to clipless pedals vs flat, the only advantage I have experienced being clipped is on being more efficient when pedaling, expecialy on non-technical uphills. Also I do not experience your concern about punctures, because since when I have been going 2.8" tubeless I never had a flat tire (despite being heavy). Once a friend on a full suspension e-bike (not tubeless) was following me on a technical rock-garden, he got a puncture while I did not. I am keeping my clipless pedal in case that one day I will do a long ride which is not technically challenging, but for any fun and technically challenging trail I am now going flat.
I don't care! Flats Forever! 🤘
Leinad G yeah men🤘🏻🤘🏻!!!
Leinad G yes
Hell noo
hahahaha
Leinad G as someone who has rode flats for 30 some years have to agree.
Very useful vid. In fact, being clipped is not the best option for bike jumping.
Very interesting vid.
Regards from Basque Country
During several years in Brazil, we used to challenge our friends to ride from our meet point until the end of the trail at the same meet point without unclipping our shoes, few people were able to do it, that was kinda motivation to keep it up, just for the challenge. I've done many times after a while.
I’m new to mtn biking with a new Trek Procaliber hardtail and have been wondering if I need clip ins. Just the video I needed!
Today was my second day with clips and it’s amazing for techie area
There are soooo many #supernice videos in the last time, awesome editing and interesting content 👌👌👌👍🏻!!
100% agree. Basically, I’m a clipless rider. But if I’m somewhere and it’s jumps all day, I put the flats on. Just feels right
I do trail riding here in Sweden and clipless are so beneficial most of the times. Most trails are narrow with roots and rocks everywhere. Clipless makes you able to pedal through all that. With flats I often have to stop pedaling to keep my feet on the pedals when the trail is just to hairy.
But, I still clip out in advance when the trail becomes too difficult. My reflexes to clip out properly when I just have a few tenths of a second to do it just aren't there yet. Taken a few nasty falls. But, eventually I guess the habit of advance declipping will fade away.
Edit: yes I ride a hardtail.
Thank you Blake, you answered all my questions :)
I now use the flat pedals, but if I have practiced enough, I will use the click pedals. I think they are more useful in technical parts and climbs, like in the video, but it is also easier for bunny hop to do, just like wheelie and manual. You just have to get your front wheel in the air and then pull your feet and you have a bunny hop. for manual and wheelie you have to get your front wheel in the air and then you can get your frame in the air with your click pedals ...
What does Blake think about this?
Cyrie
I ride clipped in on my hardtail, it makes the bike feel like an extension of my body. I want to try flats though
I am in the same boat. I ride a hardtail and have always rode clipped in but I really want to try flats but a good composite pedal is 50 bucks plus say another 100 for some fiveten freeriders. I want to try but don't want to blow 150 bucks then hate the flats. The main trail I ride is alot of climbing but alot of fast down hills with rocks and roots.
I’m WAY more agile and faster on a trail going over obstacles when I’m clipped in. On a steep climb I can switch muscle groups to keep going. I can do trials manoevers in tight spots , - tech sections are easier - big roots, rock gardens, get over big logs with ease. Easier to manipulate you n the trail.
I see the pros & cons of both that's why I run combo pedals. Flats on one side and clip less on the other. That way if I'm riding casually flats or just don't want to ware my cleats' and if I'm riding rough terrain I'll clip in. Don't need to choose!
clips make me feel like i'll go over the bars any time now.. bought them, tried them, sold them. for any trail. even for XC, flats are wayyy more comfy and confidence inspiring.
Alex Nicolaou I only use clips for my Road bike. I agree with it being more comfy and confidence inspiring for MTB though.
favorite presenter to do this kind of stuff!
Or another one you can try is hybrid pedals which is flat on one side clip on the other. are usually what I do is clip on when going uphill and if I absolutely have to I switch over to flat for the downhill
I m the typical guy that says "flats for ever" but now I m thinking about trying clips because where I live is really technichal and rocky and I have a hardtail. What do you think? What do you recommend?
If someone can give me some advice It will be useful hahaha
I always was a flat pedals guy. When I tried clips I didn’t like that when pushing trough corners us flat pedals guys put our feet on really angled positions and the clips would unclip. On tech steep climbs if you unclip is super sketchy to clip again. Oh and I broke my collarbone the first day I tried clipless pedals, unlucky. Went otb and couldn’t unclip in the air. I think is you have to try them if they are for you. From now on flats for me.
fernandorat oh my god.thank you man. I would try them but I think that I would keep my flats
Well, clips are rather scary in the beginning but the benefit of being able to pedal no matter what the terrain is like makes you go so so much faster.
I know but the thing is that I m scared about falling off the bike and keep clipped with the bike. But if you get used to clipless pedals I think that they can be better than flats
There are many "dual" pedals, clipless one side and platform the other..... Like CrankBros Doubleshot. Try them and have both anytime, anywhere,
you need to get cushcore to sponsor you. it also depends on flats, i had dmr v8 on old bike, dmr vault on new(trek procal) they are awesome, with more training i will start using clipless, but flats rock too
I’m with you, Blake: technical climbs are way better with clips... but when I get to the top, I want flats! I ride full sus, so even down Porcupine in Moab (part of The Whole Enchilada), I was totally fine on flats. But I had not considered that a hardtail is a much different scenario. I can definitely see the benefit to clips on technical descents on a hardtail. On full sus, I think it’s a wash... whatever you’re more comfortable with is going to work better.
I'm getting back into mountain biking after 25 years and I always used clip pedals. I had more confidence with the clip pedals rather than regular pedals. I felt I could ride harder and faster with the clip pedals. And my new bike I got is the GT aggressor from Dick's Sporting goods. I was riding 1000 to $3000 bikes back in the day, might spend that money later down the road.
Just what I needed! Thanks!
I am 15 years old , I do cross country and I prefer clip petals because when I have to get over a very hard and technical trails I feel more comfortable to my bike.But they have I BIG disadvantage, when u fall of in technical trail and u dont clip out your petals u will hurt sooo much becuase u will on your bike wherever it goes
jack wisper I’ve never tried clips, but then again I’m trail discipline, but I think I may give it a shot
I feel as safe on clips as on flats but I choose which ones I'll ride by just how I'm feeling, sometimes I feel like HELL YEAH FLATS FOR LIFE 🤘🏻 And sometimes I feel like I just want to pedal efficiently and be more in control with the clips.
I used to ride clipless but i swapped for a good pair of flats.
i have 2 good reasons why I swapped to flats.
reason 1 is that I just think flats are more fun and feel better on the downhills which is what I love to do.
reason 2 however is an unusual one. I coach a group of young mountainbikers on my free time. I am the head coach and responsible of the technical side of riding and teaching them different techniques and what to think of when riding to get the most out of their time on the trails. both to get faster but also to save energy so they can go faster for longer. so the other reason why I prefer flats is first to show proper technique cause most of the kids are running flats but also because when riding with the newer riders do I have to stop quite frequently when people either can't get past an obsticle and have to push the bike over it or up a hill they aren't either skilled or strong enough to get up yet.
fucking love everything mountainbiking related and to know that i'm teaching the next generation of riders feels amazing. I do now have new people to ride with which either have moved on from the kid/young teen groups to ride on their own, with friends or with the adult group who I ride with fairly frequently on my spare time and many of them are close to as technically skilled as I am, way braver than I am and with far better stamina so I have my work cut out for me when going on a ride with them.
I’ve been rising for about 5 years. My buddy swore I needed clips. I used them at first. He insisted that the rising foot help pull a pedal up so the the foot pushing the pedal down wasn’t doing all the work but I still think my pedal pushes my foot up and not the other way around. I wiped out twice and managed to unclip. Once on about a 20 foot drop where my back tire slid over the edge. After that I went to flats. I’m stronger and faster now now he still wears clips. I laugh when we slow down and he doesn’t unclip in time and just falls over. I’ll leave the clips for the road guys trying to get speed. I’m fine with my flat pedals on the trail.
I had the same thing with one of my friends. I almost never came off with flats and then fell off so many times with clips that it ruined my confidence and set me back a lot. Whatever added benefit they might provide I don’t care, I’m not a pro and don’t need to win races. I just want to have fun and it’s not fun worrying about falling off all the time.
Great vis might try clips again
Helped me for sure!
Recently I had my first mountainbike trip with my gravel bike. With clips of course. Ended up in the technical climbs with roots and rocks with a hybrid position where one food is clipped in and the other one isnt... xD
I was on a fast downhill section of a trail about 2 weeks ago and out of the ordinary my left foot came unclipped. I about shit.
I'm a flats only man, but I've gotta admit that watching Blake get more used to them gradually is bringing me round. Just put off by the fact I need to spend more money on not just the pedals but shoes as well!
I’d always use clipless on XC or anywhere where the climbing outweighs the downhill. I use clipless on my XC and platforms on my ebike
Awesome vid GMBN!
my carver strict 150 is built like that nukeproof... tough bikes style 😁
These trails you show in a lot of GMBN videos are regular trails or are somekind of bikeparks? I’m asking because here in Catalonia you are not allowed to buold all these berms and jumps, you can only rife these kinds of trails in bike parks and one place where it looks like the owner of the mountain or townhall allows to.
Love your videos Blake, definetively you’re one of the best onboardings in gmbn.🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻
I've found clipless to be helpful on climbs. I bought pedals that have SPD on one side and flat on the other so I can use them on the way down.
Thats... thats genius!
I currently have flats for my mountain bike because I don't have a hardcore mountain bike. I ride a Specialized Pitch which is more for trails.
So convenient this is the exact question I've been asking myself
Awesome job. Thanks.
6:00 that sad tune :D
You're in llandegla aren't you? How much I miss that place, which was on my doorstep...
hell yeah thank you, at the local shop they keep recommending clips and I'm like hell no bc of my riding style. This definitely shows me where it could come in handy, but not for me.
Awesome vid . I went to Afan forest park today a did a trail called penhydd on my hard tail and if I'm honest I was so slow through the ruff stuff as my feet were bouncing off the pedals (scary and horrible) and I thought would I benefit from clip less peddles ? 🤔 well now I know 😃 thanks Blake ...... Brilliant! , right I'm off to get some new pedals oh and shoes 😒💰
GMBN gave me the bug for clips. But the prices were to risky. Went to that car shop that sells bikes, we know the one. Bought a pair of £40 Boardmans XC shoes and Boardmans Hybred Team Pedals. Total £72. Good price before I spend serious money on a serious set. By the way love being clipped in.
I have a road background, and only recently got a hardtail and ventured on to trails. I haven't got clipless mtb pedals or shoes yet, so I'm riding on flats... boy that's scary. It feels so uncomfortable, like my feet could slip off any given time and I could fall cause of that. The more technical the trail gets, the more I miss clipless. And even on relatively easy sections I feel like wasting so much energy not being able to effectively spin... the benefits are so obvious for me, it's clipless all the way