Are flat pedals a liability?

**daisycutter** · 10-02-2012, 11:58 AM

I love my point 1 flats but this article makes a good case for clips at the highest level.

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/The-Wor...at-Pedals.html

**norbar** · 10-02-2012, 12:13 PM

No it doesn't The main point is people win on clips so clips are better but in the last few years people = Gwin so the point is beyond stupid. Clips help you in some riding styles. If you ride with your feet tilted forward more often than yeah but if you ride like Brendog so way in the back I think it makes a smaller difference. It's also only in the rough.

RC is stupid for calling people theorists about flat pedals pedaling as well when he gives no reasonable argument himself. Especially when they made some good arguments themselves. Though RC is just stupid.

**yd35** · 10-02-2012, 12:18 PM

If someone dominates the world cup circuit next year on toe clips, we will discussing how flats and clips are obsolete.

**Deano** · 10-02-2012, 12:54 PM

and in the heyday of hill a few years ago, it was the opposite argument..

In the end, whatever suits YOU right will make you faster.

personally i tried both, im on flats now, simply cos it feels better for me.

On WC level, its the margins that make things count, what about the other variables in the game ?

Suspension setups, what rubber they use, tire pressure.. there are too many other factors in play for anyone to make the call that clips simply make you faster. or flats.

**OGRipper** · 10-02-2012, 01:09 PM

It's an endless debate, mainly because some people are faster than others regardless of pedal style. But this is an interesting take in that it's the first time I've seen someone try to draw the connection between modern geometry and pedal type. It's something to think about but at the top level, my sense is that pedaling efficiency is a bigger issue.

I recently switched to clips for DH and am pretty stoked on the increased security at speed, especially in the rough stuff.

**Downhillbiker23** · 10-02-2012, 01:13 PM

Its all opinion

**boogenman** · 10-02-2012, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by norbar

rc is stupid though rc is just stupid.

winner

**ebarker9** · 10-02-2012, 01:46 PM

He lost me at "most riders still use a variation of the rearward position that Sam Hill popularized back when he was spanking everyone". Fairclough, sure, but to me Sam Hill popularized a more upright, forward, moto-like riding position.

**NoUseForAName** · 10-02-2012, 01:54 PM

World Cup does not mean you and me; even though we're all WC level internet posters, i doubt many of us have much insight into this.

**bizutch** · 10-02-2012, 01:58 PM

It's all very valid and anybody who has ridden clipped in knows it.

seb to the white courtesy phone. rootsandrain in depth analysis required...to the sebmobile!!!

**mattmatt86** · 10-02-2012, 02:14 PM

I think there's some validity to the article, but a lot of people dislike RC so they'll immediately condemn anything he says. It does seem that in the last few years there are quite a few big name riders that went from flats to clips and found success, Gwin and Smith.(correlation or causation? Who knows) I can't think of anyone that has gone from clips to flat, with the exception of Ratboy who can't seem to make up his mind even though he's thrown away a couple good results because of pedal related incidents.

**IH8Rice** · 10-02-2012, 02:19 PM

Danny Hart introduces the new-school riding technique? lol

**bdamschen** · 10-02-2012, 02:38 PM

This just seems like another article written by someone who doesn't know and is trying to guess why fast people go fast.

Barrel wins worlds- OMG it's low bottom bracket and careful planning and elliptic chainringz!@

Sam wins- it's the flat pedals and crazy riding style and dw suspension!@

Gwin wins- it's teh jesus, juicing vegetables, clips and being nice!

At the end of the day only the riders and the people who help them train know.

**mattmatt86** · 10-02-2012, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by bdamschen

This just seems like another article written by someone who doesn't know and is trying to guess why fast people go fast.

Barrel wins worlds- OMG it's low bottom bracket and careful planning and elliptic chainringz!@

Sam wins- it's the flat pedals and crazy riding style and dw suspension!@

Gwin wins- it's teh jesus, juicing vegetables, clips and being nice!

At the end of the day only the riders and the people who help them train know.

What was Hart? Smoking Marlboros and having a crustache?