Why are my SPDs so markerish?

[marshalolson]

How would you describe the motion of pulling your bike up on something (maybe 2 feet high) without using the clipless to pull up? Something that you would smash with your bashgaurd otherwise...

1. front wheel first, then rear. try not to "pogo"

2. point your toes down for better grip on a flat pedal

3. use your arms to help pick the rear wheel up by fpushing the handlebars forward when the front wheel is in the air.

4. once you have those 3 steps, make it all one smooth motion

5. you can practice this motion while still on training pedals

[Rontele]

I am here to post on this important thread.

[Greguar]

Anybody ever try the Atomlab quickstep pedals? They are heavy, but could be fun.

I have used Time ATACs for a long time now. They are good for XC and take a beating pretty well. The only other pedals I used before that was shimano and Onza. Didn't like either.

[CantDog]

Z PM me your address and I'll mail the pedals on monday.

What helped me when I learned to bunnyhop was to exaggerate the motion as if I was wiping my feet on a doormat...so pointed toes and pulling them back and up.

and rideit...if you pay my gas money or plane ticket, I'd be happy to do it. Id be running a lot though, which might not be as entertaining for you.

[Arty50]

I've used SPDs for the last 3-4 years and absolutely love them. I'm 225 lbs., have the tension set on the second lowest setting, and don't have prerelease problems. I also ride like a linebacker, so I'm bouncing around more that filthy whore at a bullrider's convention.

That said, I've always had pedals with the 959 mechanism. I've never used the older SPD mechanism (520/545), so maybe that's your problem. Currently I have a set of 647s which have a platform also. The regular 959s don't like bouncing off of rocks. They won't release, but the back clip on the exposed side of the pedal can get knocked off the spring. Most people don't have this problem, but I do a lot of technical climbing and bash my pedals on a lot of rocks. A cheaper version of the 959 exists too, the 540s. I think Wellgo and Xpedo make some with a similar mechanism too, not sure.

[bagtagley]

SPDs != Marker

I've owned both XC and platform Times and Eggbeaters, and they're great XC pedals, but I don't like them for DH, and I REALLY don't like them for urban or tech "trials" type stuff. Both styles of pedals don't release well in certain unusual positions. For example, you've got your front wheel up on something and poon out on the rear pull up (picnic table for instance), both of the spring/bar type pedals are hard as hell to get out of, where the SPDs will let you release. Certainly a pretty specific situation, but an issue nonetheless.

I've been running the older Shimano platform-style (M-646) pedals for over 3 seasons, and have tried to go back to other pedals in between. I always end up back on Shimano. They don't have the solid "pop" when you click in, but they slide right into place and I may come out of them once in a season and always come out when I want to. If you keep them lubed, you can run them 1-2 ticks tighter than you normally would.

Edit: In the long run, I agree that you should be working towards flats, but it's nice to have the clipless as an option when things get frustrating.

[mtnbikerskierchick]

1. front wheel first, then rear. try not to "pogo"

2. point your toes down for better grip on a flat pedal

3. use your arms to help pick the rear wheel up by fpushing the handlebars forward when the front wheel is in the air.

4. once you have those 3 steps, make it all one smooth motion

5. you can practice this motion while still on training pedals

I think marshall should come back from Chicago and teach Z how to ride

[kidwoo]

Buy a 20 inch. Not only will you learn to ride flats, but you'll immediately progress because you'll instantly suck worse than everyone else on a bmx bike manualing around campus throwing barspins.

Oh yeah.....you can get a complete 20 inch for the cost of a good set of mtb pedals. So you develop skills, which will then carry over to you riding with beatdown shimano pedals .......which will eradicate your lack of technique and desire to buy new pedals. Plus you end up with more toys which is truly the secret to happiness.

I'm a genius.

[Squatch]

what i'm curious to know is how that instigator is 35 lbs.

[Z]

what i'm curious to know is how that instigator is 35 lbs.

Your welcome to give her a ride whenever you want. Would probably fit you as a freerideish bike with a longer stem and seatpost....

[Z]

Z PM me your address and I'll mail the pedals on monday.

What helped me when I learned to bunnyhop was to exaggerate the motion as if I was wiping my feet on a doormat...so pointed toes and pulling them back and up.

and rideit...if you pay my gas money or plane ticket, I'd be happy to do it. Id be running a lot though, which might not be as entertaining for you.

I really am starting to realize that it's ME, not the pedals. Might take you up on this...

[bio-smear]

To add to the bunny hop technique on flats:

Like MArsh said, the "J" hop starts with the thrusting of the pelvis backward, arms straight, pull up the front wheel. The motion of pulling up the rear wheel is strange and mystical, but it basically is your toes pointing down and your feet pushing backwards on the pedal...it translates into an upward motion for the rear wheel. I never thought about rotation of the wrists, as it feels more like my body "popping" up a little bit and the simultaneous motion of...ahhh fuck I can't explain it. Get a bmx bike. After you learn on that, it will translate to the 26". It's kinda hard to learn the other way around.

If you don't already, make sure you're running your seat fairly low so you can get down and pop up after you've manualed the front wheel up.

[Dromond]

Buy a 20 inch. Not only will you learn to ride flats, but you'll immediately progress because you'll instantly suck worse than everyone else on a bmx bike manualing around campus throwing barspins.

Oh yeah.....you can get a complete 20 inch for the cost of a good set of mtb pedals. So you develop skills, which will then carry over to you riding with beatdown shimano pedals .......which will eradicate your lack of technique and desire to buy new pedals. Plus you end up with more toys which is truly the secret to happiness.

I'm a genius.

I second this motion. A 20" has helped my riding immensely.

[Choke Slam]

Zach here's the deal-Nobody starts out with any skills on platforms. You just have to commit to using platforms and feeling like a jong for a while. Get a decent set of platforms(Not Rob's old beat "Primo's"), some good bike shoes made for platforms with a good grippy tread pattern and a stiff sole, and most importantly some quality knee/shin pads. Then after a month or so of riding platforms you won't ever ride Marker pedals again.

[Choke Slam]

Zach here's the deal-Nobody starts out with any skills on platforms. You just have to commit to using platforms and feeling like a jong for a while. Get a decent set of platforms(Not Rob's old beat "Primo's"), some good bike shoes made for platforms with a good grippy tread pattern and a stiff sole, and most importantly some quality knee/shin pads. Then after a month or so of riding platforms you won't ever ride Marker pedals again.

[Choke Slam]

Zach here's the deal-Nobody starts out with any skills on platforms. You just have to commit to using platforms and feeling like a jong for a while. Get a decent set of platforms(Not Rob's old beat "Primo's"), some good bike shoes made for platforms with a good grippy tread pattern and a stiff sole, and most importantly some quality knee/shin pads. Then after a month or so of riding platforms you won't ever ride Marker pedals again.

[Choke Slam]

Zach here's the deal-Nobody starts out with any skills on platforms. You just have to commit to using platforms and feeling like a jong for a while. Get a decent set of platforms(Not Rob's old beat "Primo's"), some good bike shoes made for platforms with a good grippy tread pattern and a stiff sole, and most importantly some quality knee/shin pads. Then after a month or so of riding platforms you won't ever ride Marker pedals again!

[Choke Slam]

Zach here's the deal-Nobody starts out with any skills on platforms. You just have to commit to using platforms and feeling like a jong for a while. Get a decent set of platforms(Not Rob's old beat "Primo's"), some good bike shoes made for platforms with a good grippy tread pattern and a stiff sole, and most importantly some quality knee/shin pads. Then after a month or so of riding platforms you won't ever ride Marker pedals again!

[Choke Slam]

Zach here's the deal-Nobody starts out with any skills on platforms. You just have to commit to using platforms and feeling like a jong for a while. Get a decent set of platforms(Not Rob's old beat "Primo's"), some good bike shoes made for platforms with a good grippy tread pattern and a stiff sole, and most importantly some quality knee/shin pads. Then after a month or so of riding platforms you won't ever ride Marker pedals again!

[Choke Slam]

Zach here's the deal-Nobody starts out with any skills on platforms. You just have to commit to using platforms and feeling like a jong for a while. Get a decent set of platforms(Not Rob's old beat "Primo's"), some good bike shoes made for platforms with a good grippy tread pattern and a stiff sole, and most importantly some quality knee/shin pads. Then after a month or so of riding platforms you won't ever ride Marker pedals again!

[beaterdit]

[beaterdit]

Whoa, a 7X post, that may be a first.

And yeah, for urban you just really need to learn the platform steeze.

For clipless, the above can't be beat.

[Squatch]

Your welcome to give her a ride whenever you want. Would probably fit you as a freerideish bike with a longer stem and seatpost....

Might take up on that offer. But I thought the only person who built up 35+ lb hardtails was schral.

[Z]

Might take up on that offer. But I thought the only person who built up 35+ lb hardtails was schral.

Well, he was an influence obviously. I could easily get it under 35, but I like my tires.

[marshalolson]

Well, he was an influence obviously. I could easily get it under 35, but I like my tires.

still on those maxxiS?