Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

Boring answer - they both work :-)

Flats tend to be preferable if you intend on getting airborne..

No. Clipless all the way. Unless you're a super-rad dirt park jump monkey.

Forgot to post a picture of Gary, he dealt very well with Hebden bridge.
#callingbikeshe

1 Attachment

Depends on what you ride. I used to alternate between SPDs and flats as being clipped in can promote bad technique, especially for jumps. But these days I ride flats all the time. Just prefer not being connected to the bike when riding steeps, as crashing is a certainty.

Interesting; thanks all.

I've got SPDs on at the moment which I guess are suitable for the tame kind of riding I have in mind.

Think I will get some flats as well so I can practice some rads (probably only in my mind but anyhoo).

Flat pedal recommendations?

Burgtec Penthouse Mk IV are the best. Evar.

Nice! Both bike and picture.

Watched Ben Cathro's video of outtakes from the Scottish contribution to A Bigger Slice of British Pie on YouTube last night.

There's a bit where Ben jumps but forgets he's not on his race bike and isn't clipped in. Feet float off flat pedals, miss pedals on landing, bawbag thumps against toptube, faceplant.

Ouch...

Flats V SPD's is a pointless debate, pro's and con's to both systems.

Back in the olden days........ (last century) the Sunn race team would actually data log test runs for world cup downhill, they would test tracks on Flat's and SPD's, which ever pedal gave the edge was used on that track. Era of Nico Vouilloz and Ann Carro Chauson, they just won everything with the teams formula one approach to test all the things, use what ever gives a fraction of second time gain.

Try both see what you prefer, flats do have a better bail out eject the bike response time :)

I'm a complete flat convert, ride much better since making the switch. Nukeproof Electron Evos (the plastic ones) are unbelievably sticky for the money, and light to boot. DMR V12s are also a classic choice.

Hot tip: approach shoes and skate shoes are just as grippy as overpriced mtb slippers

Treated myself and took a trip down to Glentress yesterday from Edinburgh and rented out a Remedy. What an amazing place. Steep, scary, slippy, stony chutes galore, lovely fast natural trails, loads of link roads. Even cleared some gaps and tables. So fucked after that, over 1400m climbing and almost 3l of water

Route I took:

https://www.trailforks.com/ridelog/planner/view/18139/

as being clipped in can promote bad technique

I'll be fitting some flats after Torq, for this very reason. Want to learn how to bunny hop properly, and get out of the habit of pulling up on the pedals.

I'm a complete flat convert, ride much better since making the switch

Can confirm that @TomvanHalen is slightly less shit since switching to flats.

Too kind

Too kind

Must work on that...

Anyone fancy some Penshurst action on Saturday?

My technique is still pretty shit but, yeah, with spuds on jumps I would tend to pull up with the feet. Had a few heart stopping moments where I started lifting the rear of the bike and lurching forward.

@Jaap has kindly informed me that I need to get a 'clutch' derailleur for my 1x10 build to stop chain jumping off. Which is the go to shimano mech? Anyone want to sell me one?

Any of them with "Shadow+" in the description should work. I've found SLX to be a good balance of price, durability and weight.

or chain guide like this:

or this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-RD-M615-Deore-10-Speed-Shadow-Rear-Derailleur-Black-Long-Cage-/332352029736?hash=item4d61b98428:g:foUAAOSwWLFZmr5K

I used an xt shadow without clutch for a year in 1x10 and never dropped a chain. Just shortened the chain as much as possible and wound the b screw all the way in.

Ok, defo trying that first. Thanks for suggestions @Jon @Jaap