downhill/jumps with clipless??

Is this just stupid? I came out OK on my first round through and had a blast but can see this getting ugly.

Upside. When I realized I had no choice but to air, (definately wasn't planning it when I headed out), I felt solid and stomped it.

Downside. Some of the steepst rooty rutty sections almost tossed me. Would have rather not been locked in.

Conclusion. FUN. 3" front and back suspension bottoms out quick. Need to cut seat post shorter.

Are you supposed to use those half/half pedals and bring a second pair of shoes for the downhill sections? What do you do? I don't want to seriously wreck myself as I can see I'm going to be going back for more on a regular basis.

Just don't fall ;) Wrecking while attached to your bike can be painful if you're moving. I ride clipless platforms, so I can unclip and ride if I want. Downside is clipless shoes are slippery as hell and can lead to unpleasant top tube bashing.

Stay clipped in and don't fall.

If you're bottoming out easily, increase the resistance (if you can).

I'm riding 3 inches of travel too and rarely bottom out (but I ride the air pressure in the rear shock a bit higher than recommended for my weight)

Mr.AG raced DH on clipless last weekend. I've been thinking about it, but I'll probably swap pedals in and out course to course. Clipless does add to bike control and helps keep your feet in place when you're being bounced around.

I think my Mallet C's are perfect for that kind of stuff - they're super easy to get in and out of and I can ride them unclipped easily and they're grippy enough to work well. (You do have to have clipless shoes with a rubbery sole or it wouldn't do you any good, though.) And honestly, the platforms I have on my DH bike have such aggresive pins that if I put my foot down and it's not straight or exactly where I want it, it's hard to shift it around (especially when I'm focused on not killing myself). I honestly can't decide which I prefer sometimes for DH courses, but I'd definitely want the Mallet C's for anything that involved a climb.

I ride clipless everywhere. Doing DH, I could never get used to flat pedals...I never felt totally in control and my feet were all over the place. Also, once you get used to clipless, getting out becomes second nature and is honestly never a problem.

The only places I feel uncomfortable are skinnies and dirt jumps. But, I rarely ever get near jump parks and I've gotten pretty good at getting out and away from the bike on skinnies, so I never swap anymore.

I broke my big toe last week pre-running a local DH course on my flat pedals. I swithed back to clipless for the race and felt much better. I really think that the only time you would want flat pedals is on a VERY techie downhill with a lot of get-offs and dirt jumping. Any other time, I want the bike control.

You're real problem is the 3" of travel thing. My trail bike has 7" front and rear; my new minimum. Get squishy, you'll never go back.

Clipless make you commit and keeps you from killing your shins

Get clipless, don't look back. As already stated, getting out becomes second nature and is probably easier than riding pedals with cages.

Also, falling while on clipless is really probably no worse than falling while not attached, IMHO. I have fallen plenty both ways and don't think it matters.

I rode platforms with screws for the first time this weekend and hated it. couldn't feel the control, couldn't get my foot perfect on the pedal. If i do eventually get a FR bike, i will go clipless.

MD, did one of my favorite rides in tahoe tonite with hardrider, it is in perfect condition. plan on doing my other favorite tomorrow, i will let you know if it is good to go as well.

I ride clipless platforms everywhere. I have VP pedals, which have a serrated edges on them so if you want to unclip on a log or ladder or something you can and still have a decent grip. I have tried flat pedals with the spikes and hate them. I still have a scar in my shin where one of them barked me when I had to bail.

3" is not enough travel for any serious downhilling, I have 5 and 5 and still bottom out alot on the knarly downhills. Go bigger.

I haven't ridden clipless in a while, I just like the feel of platforms, except for climbing, when I tend to curse their existence. But really, in time, as has been stated, clipping out will become second nature. And wrecking is wrecking, whether you are clipped in or not. Oh, but you can't do no footers with clipless.

And look into that bottoming thing, if it's really harsh, have it checked out, if not, it's probably not a big deal since it just means you're using all your travel. And 3" is an XC bike. Like Mr AG said, get a big squishy and be a happy man.

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Originally posted by lph

Also, falling while on clipless is really probably no worse than falling while not attached, IMHO. I have fallen plenty both ways and don't think it matters.

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case in point - I took a nasty fall on a slippery right turn early last year while on clipless pedals that were tight and you stayed clipped in solidly - stayed clipped in and smashed the hell out of my thigh but walked away with just a massive bruise. Just about 3 months later, on my new clipless pedals that were much looser and I released very easily, took a very similar high speed right turn, practically the exact same fall, but this time released and supermanned off and thus the dislocated shoulder.

I wouldn't jump with clipless unless you are really dialed on the jumps. trying to unclip while going over the back is really difficult and hurts like hell when you land on your ass. for this same reason don't try and learn to wheelie with clipless.

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Originally posted by hev
for this same reason don't try and learn to wheelie with clipless.

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:cool: two miles an hour in the granny gear, my only fall last week. learned that one the hard way and my friend laughed his ass off.

I'd agree with the once you get used to it getting out of them is no problem. I've done plenty of trials in my clipless too, and have no problem lifting a foot for balance. If you are worried about it, just set em REEEEAL loose.

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Originally posted by monster dump.
:cool: two miles an hour in the granny gear, my only fall last week. learned that one the hard way and my friend laughed his ass off.

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Yeah, well at least you didn't fall on your ass in front of 10 people in the Skeggs parking lot...less than a week after nearly breaking said ass 100 yards away.

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Originally posted by Arty50
Yeah, well at least you didn't fall on your ass in front of 10 people in the Skeggs parking lot...less than a week after nearly breaking said ass 100 yards away.

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:D :D :D

I'm totally addicted to clipless. I've got Mallet C's like Altagirl and freakin love 'em...enough platform to ride on if you can't get clipped back in during a techie section, and easy in-out operation.

I think there is merit in learning how to ride platforms though. I really liked learning how to dirt jump and bunny hop and just maneuver my bike with platforms--it's kinda like skateboarding. You're no longer attached to the bike so you can't just pull up with your legs when you want to jump something. It's way more finesse and feel oriented.

That said, I never figured out how to ride fast techie DH's on platforms--even with long travel my feet would always get kicked around and I'd feel on the verge of disaster all the time.

Maybe it's just the skier in me that likes being firmly attached to my gear :D

I guess I'm in the minority here, but clipless are totally sketching me on anything technical.

Maybe it's because of motorcycling, where I'm used to leading with my inside foot on hard turns. Or maybe it's because my back is still a little bit sore from falling off that teeter.

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Originally posted by Spats
I guess I'm in the minority here, but clipless are totally sketching me on anything technical.

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another vote for the minority. it's been 5 years since i used them, but those things scare me.

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Originally posted by Spats
Maybe it's because of motorcycling, where I'm used to leading with my inside foot on hard turns.

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I do that sometimes. Once you're used to clipless, it doesn't take any effort to clip in and out for corners like that.

I'm in the platform minority too... I've had some insane almost-wipeouts that were saved just because I was able to stick out my foot

I am strictly clipless and am usually unfortunately lucky enough to some how unclip during a nasty fall.
I have landed on my feet a couple times from an endo (how? I am not sure).
Being clipless makes me want to put alot more effort and skill into not falling, you start pulling through some interesting stuff clean and surprising yourself.

I suck with my new clipless. Ive taken some of the nastiest falls this year on them. Most have been ones that have a nice big dead tree to land on with nice pointy branches to spear myself with.


Ya, i need to learn to ride better.

I have to toss my vote in for the platform crowd. I run platforms on everything but my road bike.

Leard to bunny hop and J hop on platforms. You will increase your riding skills WAY more than "cheating" by using clipless. Practicing these two things on platforms will force you to learn proper technique.

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Originally posted by Mountainman
I Most have been ones that have a nice big dead tree to land on with nice pointy branches to spear myself with.

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Ooh, I did that earlier this year, I thought I broke some ribs for a while, but, I don't think so.