The Science Behind Clips | Are They Really More Efficient?
Vložit
- čas přidán 14. 06. 2024
- Clipless or Flat?! It's a debate as old as time... well maybe as old as the first set of clips! Regardless of how long the argument has been going on, the answer still manages to elude most. So Neil Donoghue sets out to put a stop to the bickering and decide once and for all. Neil swaps out a controlled environment for the trail to see which one is better. He will be basing his conclusion on the feeling of the pedals as well as the sciency results.
⏱ Timestamps ⏱
0:00 - Intro
0:17 - Why might some people choose clips over flats
2:29 - Flat pedals | Climbing & Descending
4:41 - Clipless pedals | Climbing & Descending
6:50 - The Results
9:27 - What does Neil think?
Useful Links:
🛍 GMBN Merch Store 👉 gmbn.eu/gmbnshop
Racing Highlights & More On GMBN Racing 👉 gmbn.eu/GMBNracing
Watch Shorts on GMBN 👉 gmbn.eu/GMBNshorts
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 upload.gmbn.com/
Sign-up to our newsletter 👉 gmbn.eu/newsletter
Do you ride clipped-in or on flats? Should we stop calling it clipless? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 👇
Watch more on GMBN...
📹 Women's Specific Mountain Bikes | Do We Really Need Them?! 👉 • Women's Specific Mount...
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 gmbn.eu/EditorsChoice
📹 Watch our weekly show, The Dirt Shed Show 👉 gmbn.eu/dirtshedplaylist
🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Around Me - Swif7
Neon Nostalgia - Rebecca Mardal
Through the Prism - Ava Low
aveknew - shamgang
Mosaic Mist - Dusty Decks
#GMBN #GlobalMountainBikeNetwork #MTB #MountainBiking
The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community - and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.
GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond.
Our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:
Adventurous and entertaining features
Mountain bike skills coaching
Technical advice and guidance
Mechanical know-how to keep you rolling
A place for the riding community with our weekly Dirt Shed Show
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon Bikes: gmbn.eu/Canyon
Propain Bikes: gmbn.eu/Propain
Orbea Bikes: gmbn.eu/Orbea
Park Tool: gmbn.eu/ParkTool
Smith Helmets & Eyewear: gmbn.eu/Smith
Crankbrothers Pedals: gmbn.eu/crankbros
Shimano Footwear: gmbn.eu/ShimanoShoes
Ergon: gmbn.eu/ergon
Vittoria Tires: gmbn.eu/Vittoria
Reynolds wheels: gmbn.eu/Reynolds
FSA: gmbn.eu/fsa
Topeak: gmbn.eu/topeak
Garmin: gmbn.eu/Garmin
Peaty's Products: gmbn.eu/Peatys
Worx Power Tools: gmbn.eu/Worx
CamelBak: gmbn.eu/CamelBak
Watch our sister channels:
GMBN Tech - / gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network - / embn
GMBN Racing - gmbn.eu/GMBNracing
Global Cycling Network - / gcn
GCN Tech - / gcntech
GCN Racing - / gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network - / gtn
GCN Italia - / gcnitalia
GCN en Espanol - / gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch - / gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Francais - / gcnenfrancais
GCN Training - / gcntraining - Sport
Do you ride clipped-in or on flats? Should we stop calling it clipless? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 👇
I ride clips for (long distance) XC laps. If I ride bike park or very technical trails I ride flat pedals, because then I want to be able to move around my feet a bit more easily
Yes please, loved that you called them clips.
Clipped in, and yes we should just stop with the bizarre “clipless” terminology
The other sort of issue for talking about efficiency and feel is the thing touching the pedal, the shoes. I would have to believe a set of xc shoes vs a set of dh shoes would make a huge difference too. 😢❤
Keep calling them clipless, and for added confusion, I recommend renaming flat pedals to "clips."
I'm a mountain bike skills coach, and my maxim is "Clipless makes you faster, flats make you better"
Mountain bike skills coach and still calling them "clipless"?
because they will always be clipless to those of us who also rode road with clips.
@@SprSonik13 I mean, they were more like straps rather than clips back then anyway. I think it just causes confusion especially with newer people to the sport.
I think this statement is true but I’ll submit that if flats make you better and flats give you more confidence in tech situations then end result is flats make you faster. Speaking for myself there is always tech that I won’t ride clipped in but I’ll most definitely ride and clean when on flats
@@teamdoa don't you think "we used to ride strap ons" sounds a bit weird? 😅
I have nothing against flats. I ride clipped-in on all my rigs from road, trail, DH park, manly to have my feet in the same pedal location every time and it's a feeling of security and connection. After riding clipped-in for so long, I have a natural instinct to quickly un-clip without hesitation or isaue.
I'm the same way. I just prefer the extra security of being clipped in. I started riding clipless on the road when I was pretty young. I think it's pretty easy to get a foot down quick if I need to.
Same here. I think the only downside is the learning curve. Once that becomes muscle memory then it's all benefits.
Agree. I’d I’m about to crash my foot just seems to come out of the pedal like magic!😂
Now try the test on a full rigid with 26x1.9 Panaracer smokes like what we rode in the early 90s, and it will explain why us oldies stick to clipped-in for that feel of safety.
I have been riding since the 80’s, clipless since they came out for mtb’s. Switched to flats last summer and felt less secure, especially on the rougher stuff and punchy climbs. Riding a hardtail so thinking that probably is partly due to it but even in the gnarlier stuff I ride, I think I prefer clipless.
this 💯
Rough descents and my feet would come flying out of the toe clips! I’m getting back into mtb again and have been running flats so far
I never tried clipless and I have been riding since the 80's. Everybody was using clips me I had my GT flat bmx pedals and Odyssey pedals very grippy. Once my foot got stuck to the Odyssey pedals. I ride very hard most people cannot keep up with me specially when going down. I passed many people who use clipless climbing hills too. Motivation is a big factor when it comes to performance. They should test on very technical climbs like a huge root nest. Also the type of pedals is very important and the shoes. Bike specific shoes make such a difference on flat pedals
Smoke/Dart combo surely ;-) I bought my first set of spuds at an MTB event at Eastnor Castle in the early 90's. Riding clipped in ever since.
Funny thing about the confidence thing. Most people I know (who've actually switch FROM clipless to flats), have felt more confident on flats, more willing to push through that extra tricky climb, or a feature going downhill; the ability to bail by putting a foot down, or getting away from the bike means a lot... So I'd say most people are faster actually doing, or trying, a tricky section than not at all.
It's always fun when we get the ultra muddy Downhill World Cup races, where everyone goes from clipless to flats 😉
Also, not a efficiency thing, but most crashes (if not all?) get worse or are compounded by being clipped in. I've seen some low speed crashes turn pretty horrific simply by being clipped in. Now you could argue that, that's just technique issue, and maybe it is. But crashes happen, and they pretty obviously get worse when clipped in. 🤷♂
Great video...! I ride flats, so much more convenient when I stop at the local pub on the way back from trails. 😎
I switched to flats when I got tired of wearing special shoes just to ride to parks with the kids. But I found I was just as fast if not a little more so on my local trails with them and I became a better rider due to the confidence they gave me being able to dab a foot here and there. On pure XC and long distance riding I'm sure clipless would be a better choice. But frankly I don't find that kind of riding to be all that fun to begin with anymore.
I personally never found XC to be fun nor a skill full challenge. It is straight up boring. Not to mention I got knee problems, so clipped in is painful and a no-go for me.
To be honest, just watching to enjoy Neil’s smooth riding, a little vicarious living with the morning coffee.
I ride flat pedals on my carbon hardtail, prefer to easily remove a foot if needed. Think the 'clipless' should be called CLIP-IN pedals ;)
You don't need toe-clips with them so they are 'clipless'
flat pedals are also very good when uphill you're missing grip in the rear wheel, for that reason with clips i've landed on my left shoulder last summer, but usually i'm into clip pedals, downhill they are just the best of the best IMHO the feeling to be all in one with your bike is something flat pedals can't give.
I've been riding seriously for 25 years. always on flat pedals, for ALL of my bikes. The one time I tried clipping in on my road bike I couldn't stand it.
I’ll stay with flats
No worries, it's all a personal preference 👍
Clipless, period. At 62 years old, I spent the 1st 50 years of my life on flats. I always knew clipless had it's advantages, but held off because of laziness to make (train for) the change. For me clipless is a no brainer. The more technical, rocky, rooty and steep the trail, the more I must be clipped in. I no longer worry about my feet loosing contact with the pedals. I can unclip, dab and clip back in without thinking about it, it's 2nd nature. An no, have NEVER been stuck to my pedals.
I feel more secure with clips, perhaps because my poor technique. Thank you very much
Same. It also allows me to keep my feet at the right spot
This is what BMX racers have found. They race exclusively with clipless but also train on flats. Sprinting with flats shows pedaling stroke flaws that clipless may hide
I ride borh at times. But flat is preferred.
Years ago, they did a deep dive on this as well. Most riders aren't able to take advantage of clipless properly.
But for me, it's just preference.
I use clipped when on super long rides for a little less fatigue.
I came from a BMX background in the 80s and mid 90's and started XC in about late 90s all on flats and absolutely hated clipless, Untill 2013 I decided to give clipless a serious go on my Giant XTC and was blown away.
So I've completely switched, on BMX I was a "flat lander" all about tricks, so you obviously can't run clipless. But even starting in XC in the 90's the clipless pedals where horrible lol.
Fast forward today, when your exhausted and spend, the confidence and control you get with clipless is so much better, I'm talking when your all most at the point of collapsing and muscle memory takes over lol. I'm 50 now and love them. My go to Pedals are the Shimano XT cage clipless. They last forever no matter how hard you are on them! Great episode!
I’ve just bought the shimano clipless one side and flat the other.
Rode a tough Peak District XC loop last week in a combination of rocky and muddy conditions. Clipped in was great on most descents and the rocks and generally felt more in control
But, also doing lots of slow speed muddy sections and clipped in I just wasn’t as confident in the mud or the really steep technical stuff where getting going is made harder when clipped in.
Like many things in life there's pros and cons to both. Most of the times my trail bike is clipless, enduro is 50/50, DH and DJ bikes are flats. I do feel there's benefits to switching back and forth with different skill improvements to be learned on both. --- Your results is what I was expecting. I do feel on clipless I'm in one gear harder when climbing so less strokes
After almost 10 years clipped (Time Atac DH), I'm back to flat pedals (Nukeproof Sam Hill edition) for 2 years and so far so good. Best decision I took.
Even on my hardtail (Stanton Switchback), going back to flats gives me more fun and mainly: I found back the good reflexes I lost with clipless pedals.
I've gained much more confidence and flow state with flats... and I commit more because I feel much more free in case of excess. Fun is bigger with flats :)
I've been riding flats on both my gravel and mtb bikes. However, I'm in the middle of making the switch now to clipless (waiting for the shoes) for the gravel bike and sticking with flats for the mtb bike. I ride longer and less technical flat trails with the gravel bike, which is the reason I want to try clipless for efficiency and watt savings. I just don't feel comfortable doing technical trails on my mtb with clipless, if I stall... I fall... lol.
I ride clipless on XC, trail, and downhill on some seriously technical terrain in the Southwestern US. I get the most benefit when the terrain gets more technical - for both climbing and descending. I think like anything, it's just a matter of practice. Pretty sure the more you do it, the more comfortable you will become on technical trails.
Curious. On smooth surfaces outdoor tests show no difference in efficiency except in all-out sprints. There is, however, a long-distance effect where flats are more fatiguing because you regularly change your foot position, which uses energy. With clipless pedal systems you are mostly fixed but the system does have an element of float which means you can rotate your feet slightly with very little input.
I expected that for such a short test with no hard effort that the climb would be equivalent in times but that the terrain on the downhill would dictate which is faster - whether you needed the back end to be light, as it is easier to unweight the rear in clipless pedals. I guess power smoothness and the use of the upstroke is more critical when climbing off road on technical terrain.
I’ve always loved being clipped in. Especially in tech, found myself more committed. But still put flats on if I were joining on a pedal at the playground. Forgot my shoes a couple months ago but I had my flats in the trunk. Rode the flats and haven’t gone back to clipless yet, just enjoying the freedom. For now 😊
The zero - cadence parts of the tests remain unexplained without time elapse graphs .
been riding clipped in for over 30 yrs, and honestly, I feel it depends on the types of trails you ride. I ride a lot of technical rooty, rocky singletrack and being able to literally pull up on my pedals to keep me moving forward through the chunk makes an enormous difference between making a climb or dabbing. i dig riding flats on flowy less technical trails and the flats these days have some pretty good grip that keeps your feet "glued" to the pedals. all personal pref. i do def feel learning proper technique should be done with flats. cheers!!
Neil great revue on the 2 setups and really interesting how much data you get from the Garmin,think its time to get one.
Were you in the exact same gears at the exact same time on the climbs? Did you even switch gears? These are all factors that would and could change the results and we have not been informed of.
For me, being an amputee below my left knee, I have a hard time using flat pedals - even the magnetic ones from Magped. Without good sensory feedback, I cannot tell were the prosthetic foot is on the pedal and it is hard to relocate precisely. Clips have their own issues as un-clipping can be challenging due to your leg spinning inside the prosthetic socket for some distance before that motion is transferred to the pedal. Please let me know if anyone knows a better solution.
I ride clips as i have too. I got no feeling in my foot so can never be sure of foot placement on flats. With clips, its always in the right place.
What about crashing while clipped in?🧐
@@Sun_Wukong01 clips are designed to be similar to skies so that when you crash you simply fly out. Yes this does not allow you to dismount faster in certain situations but if you are really going down you will separate from the bike. I have had this happen to me before when crashing at high speeds. Hope that helps
@@Jack-zi6tl
Yes it does thank you.
How do you tackle situations when you’re not bombing down a hill and weaker forces apply? Will I have to have a few crashes until I learn how to separate for the clip immediately?
This is the only thing that’s holding me back from swapping.
@Sun_Wukong01 you just unclip automatically. Ive got my clips set very loose so i always become unclipped if i fall over. If it gets rough you can just adjust the tension on the pedal to suit. I was always scared about trying clips as ive a dodgey ankle. Once you get used to them, i think their just as easy to use as flats
@@therybes That’s very encouraging, thanks a lot😊
I raced on flat pedals because I was afraid of getting wrapped up with the bike, but if I was climbing hills I'd want to clipped in
Mountain biking I use flats. Gravel bike on green MTB single track. Flats. I think modern pedals and proper shoes have come a very long way in terms of foot / pedal control. It took me about a year to learn riding flats but now I feel it’s so much more comfortable, fun and confidence inspiring. Even a gravel bike on single track with flats is so much fun. Road cycling or gravel cycling I still clip in of course
I've been riding clipless since the mid 90's. I found people who don't like them never learned to ride with them and have a fear of them. I have flats on bikes where I feel I need to bail often, and clipless on bikes where I want control and efficiency. I hate falling off pedals and tearing up my legs with flats. That never happens on clipless. I also have been riding clipless since I was 15. It's second nature to me.
I think the efficiency on the climbs comes from the fact, that the rider can at each moment of crank rotation modulate the power/speed of the rotation at will and move their weight around at any given time, that way optimizing for grip of the rear wheel and dealing with obstacles. On flats one has to me more mindful about changing the pressure on the pedals (which happens when changing power and moving your weight around) because otherwise your feet will slip off.
On descends when not pedaling clips also help keeping your feet on the pedals although it's probably not a good idea to rely on that, since that just means bad technique. None the less - it has saved me a few times especially when fatigue kicked in on the last descents of longer rides.
As an XCM/Endurance rider, switched to clipless around 2000, primarily because all my soles on otherwise perfect shoes got damaged from the chew of the pedals. Of course, the primary reason is efficiency and being able to extend my legs.
I've ridden clips for years and, for the first two years after buying a new mountain bike, I used clips. However, last year, I switched to flats on that bike and, after a little adjustment period, I found that I really liked them. It's a better, more enjoyable workout, with no loss of control or even better control. I also appreciated that, in various circumstances (e.g., skinnies), it was also safer because I could hop off more quickly and avoid a fall. At least, that's the theory.
I wouldn’t have really cared what the outcome of this video was. Because clips work better for me and to me that’s all that matters. There is a 4.8 mile section of local trail that I use as my personal performance meter. 50+ efforts on flats. Was absolutely destroyed with my first time ever on clips when I converted in 2021. And then beat again 2 more times following that. By in the end a total of 1 min 34 seconds. And it wasn’t the result of just muscle or endurance progression of myself. It was literally a Saturday on flats, a Tuesday, Thursday and the next Saturday on clips, after 2 years of setting my personal best prior on flats. My biggest gains were definitely in the climb but also more confidence in the descent. I was using Stamp 7 pedals and five ten flat shoes.
I have a similar conclusion I did ride clips exclusively for years and when I switched to flats I loved the extra float 😂 I also realised the main advantage for me was convenience; my local trails aren't all well maintained so I often have to hike over trees, overflowing streams, landslides etc
I didn't find any clipless shoes that's comfortable to walk that nasty terrain they all suck when it comes to climbing or walking.
There are dozens of clipless offerings on the market that are excellent for hike a bike. Not sure where you looked, but a quick Google search is all it takes.
Trying to benefit from both worlds, clips on my Oiz for longer distances and flats on my Merida trailbike.. it’s not either.. or..
Is it possible that the effort on the upstroke is being deducted from the efforts on the downstream? How could you be 20 sec faster uphill with clips with less power?
Which trail is this? Looks amazing!
I do prefere, and use therefore, flats. 5/10 Trailcross with DMR Vault, very nice combo.
Dude! Your software downloads to us, via CZcams , is something really special.
As a life long Silat Perisai Diri exponent , I'm really into your martial arts based breakdowns of human movement patterns.
Thank you 🙏.
You make the world a better place...
I ride both. Flats mostly on the off-season when I'm not racing mostly to work on technique. Clips if I'm racing or just in general going fast because they allow you to be sloppier when you're tired and just focus on putting the power down and are more forgiving of mistakes.
I have moved to clips on all my MTB’s, not for any data driven reason, but I find I prefer them for the climbing and trail riding I do here in Colorado. I still run flats on the fat bikes though, especially for the winter/snow riding.
Yeah, clips suck in snow because ice gets packed in around everything and they stop working entirely
@@bchearne Yep I agree, and I also prefer my good North Face boots for warmth, comfort and hike a bike in the snow vs the options necessary to run clipped, which are far more expensive!
Clipped in are more efficient but most people don't know how to use them properly, not pulling up, just pressing down.
I would advise anyone to try pedaling with only one leg on pedal at the time (do it on flat terrain for start). When you learn how to do it try doing full circle with both pedals, you will notice increase in power surely.
I ran flats for downhill racing and I used to shift to the center of the shoe on the pedals for super rough descents and it improved my riding. Always having your toes taking the big hits feels much less stable to me.
My buddies keep trying to get me back on flats, but I just can’t stand it. It feels dangerous, and last time I rode flat pedals I tore a large, deep gash in my shin. Those cleats are nasty
You should try the Pedalling Innovations “Catalyst” pedal
For mtn bikers the biggest difference is safety and fun. I would think that for endurance rides you can rest some muscles for a bit when clipped in (please throw out the word "clipless").
What I understand is no clips are more aggressive, guys wear clips in order to stay consistent. Also when wearing clips they should be all the way back it seems to be the best position for consistent control.
I ride flats and LOVE IT! I’m like Neil, my priority is fun/enjoyment over speed/efficiency.
Flats are so fun and not necessarily slower on the downhills! Some racers are still riding with flats, 'flat pedals win medals' 🏅
Been riding clipped since 2010, and recently switched back to flats. It has definitely exposed some skill gaps that have developed over the past 14 years or so. I find my feet coming off the pedals when I don’t want them too. I may switch back to my mallets in the future, but for now I feel like I need to re-learn to ride a bike on flats.
Clips can teach all sorts of bad habits for flat riding, but there's nothing wrong with that if you're just riding clipless. Good on you for giving flats a go again, let us know how it goes! 🤘
Clipped in. If you''re not you're just pushing pedals. Pedal in circles, it makes all the difference.
I ride flats most of the time now, used to ride clipless most of the time. I broke the boa off on one of my clipless shoes accidentally during a ride, and haven't bothered to go back. I feel more confident and safer for jumping with flats and I don't race.
After 30 good years went back to flats. With shoe and pedal technology being so good and I think safer dropping a foot down at speed ain’t such a bad move. Tracks these days are a bit more moto than the old days
so training on flat pedals and racing on clips
you should do a vid on magpeds pedals
I'm not sure if they are the same... I've always riden road clipped in and MTB on flats (for ever). But after my MTB laps today I'm about ready clip in. Nothing wrong with the pins on my flats but I was bouncing and slipping all over them today (dry). So, ride what you like but I'm ready to change to clipless ❤
I prefer flats for "playing" on the bike and clips for rides
I race XC marathons on flats and love them. If you do it because of the fun and for the win, then there's nothing wrong with flats.
I run Shimano Saint Clipless pedal with multi release cleats (SH-56) and very low tension on the spring. It gives me the feeling of a Clipless pedal on a climb and technical trail's and it stays almost like a flat when I want to take the foot of the pedal due to the low tension on the spring
The best of both worlds 🤘
"The differences were so small its hard to come to any conclusions" only if you are unable to just admit there isn't a difference!
If your feet come off the pedals in the chunk.. check Ryan Leech Bowl theory.
Flat pedals and shoes have come such a long way in recent times. The fact that they are so grippy now probably has a tonne to do with how close the numbers were I reckon. So I guess it now just comes down to preference really, which is great!
When I used to drive a forklift and sit on my butt a lot I used clips
When I spent the last twenty years standing and walking at my job I ended up using just regular pedals with solid shoes that were quite stiff.
Now that I can't ride a bike I use an exercise bike with toe straps (lol)
i use flat pedals but recently i bought a cheap full suspension and i kinda wanna know, is it me or is the rear suspension making my feet lifting from jumps ? is lack of technique or is the rear suspension lifting my feet out of the pedals?
Tried angling your feet a bit? That way they'd grip straight upwards too.
@@gur262 hmm... Like a "V" Shape?
if the angle you said is the V shape its the way i use to stand on =)
@@gur262 okay i managed to do a downstairs without feet going off the pedals nor dancing... i was not doing the poiting upwards enough ... thought i would slip the shoe while doing that but NOPE that was my problem and now i kinda understand the problem which with your help made my try diferent positions and yeah im not backstiting enough to point my toes upward enough so was kinda wierd but i managed to find the solution ... was too much upfront on the bike pretty much =P
After 30 years of riding clipless pedals (21 of those being DH), I can honestly say flat pedals are a death trap for me. 😂
I enjoy clipless pedals on my gravel bike, when riding on tarmac, forest fire roads or field roads. But on more technical trails, I would probably prefer flat pedals for safety's sake. Using clipless pedals I find it really difficult to remember to clip out when surprised by dangerous situations or accidents. Automatically one wants to simply move one's feet out of the pedal to prevent falling, but it stays stuck to the pedal. Maybe not a problem for pros, but definitely a problem for me.
I rode clipless BUT I changed back to flats.. reason being when I'm on new unknown/sketchy terrain and need a quick bail then I want to get away from the bike. If the trail is very familiar then clipless is fine
what are the differences between "clipless" and "clipin" pedal?
Of course they are,pulling up the pedal as well as pushing down has to be...But I'll still stick with my DMR Flats thanks..Ha!
Seen too many folk tipping into bushes at stall speeds to be bothered trying clips. And the shoes are funny.
That might happen to you once you’re twice while learning, but I haven’t done that in over 14 years shortly after switching over. Lots of shoe options that look (and more importantly, walk) identical to their flat pedal counterparts. Look at fiveten and crank brothers. The metal cleat doesn’t even touch the ground as you walk. XC is obviously a different story than DH/ enduro though
Who and when did the term Clipless come around. Before youtube we used to call in clips nearly everywhere I traveled prior to 2010.
you must be young. In the 80s/90s they were clipless. It stuck for many of us who’ve been riding since before mtbs were commercially available.
I feel slower and more cautious when clipped in but also smoother and more precise. With flats, I'm more willing to plow through.
I ride both. But when it comes to hanging it out in party mode, flats for sure.
I’ve always felt more efficient in clips i can tell the difference in my legs they feel so much more tired riding flats.
idem
I ride clips purely for the reason i know my foot is going to be where it needs to be when I need it to be there.
Great reason! How long did it take to figure out the best foot position for you?
What’s efficient got to do with it. On road bikes maybe, but unless your BK in downhill the test of us need to take a dab every now and then. Or topple off or worse. Appreciate feet can get blown off now and then as well, but I’ve only had that happen a couple of times and it was far less likely to led to a crash
Clips for me since’93, Onza pedals with the elastomer pad. Clips forgive poor technique or if you get out of shape while riding. Use shimano on all my bikes these days.
Onza elastomer are the best ever, imo, rip. Riding shimano xt and mallet E now.
I love both clips and flats, just depends on the trail and vibe 🤟
Best thing would be to do Fort William World Cup in flats and in clips, so will see on the extreme end the times
Not another clips vs flats video 😅
Flats on my trail bike, clip-ins on my gravel bike.
I don’t know but Spain looks amazing
I guess with clipless the applied power is more constant than with flat pedals where one can only push.
If you can get the push/pull timing perfect the benefits are out of this world 🌍
Ahh, clips are considerably more efficient if used as designed. They allow your pedal stroke to create torque throughout the entire 360 degree stroke. Can someone please explain to me how a rider can add torque to the rear wheel on a flat when their foot is at the 9 oclock position on the crank stroke (lifting the pedal)! Only possible with clipless.
How does it measure power? Those numbers make no sense to me. Sure, on flats you need to push more, but on clips you also pull with the other leg and I have suspicion that it can measure it correctly.
I haven't yet seen a trial biker on clipless, why not test them on hard technique? I mean even roadies sometimes prefer racing flats 😬
I ride clipped in. But I ride rigid MTB so it is definitely faster on downhill. Without being clipped in I would get bucked off the pedals on anything technically. Also on climbs if I'm seated then there's no difference between flat and clips but on steep grades where I need to get out of the saddle clipped in is also faster. Out of the saddle I can yank the pedal on the upstroke. Can't do that on flats
Was it sped up at 3:36 or does Neil just go that fast?
Never tried clips, I just like being on flats so if my balance is off, I can get my feet down quickly.
70rpm at 14 mins Vs 15 mins will always mean more pedal strokes because you're riding for longer
Every single time I click on a GMBN video I think to myself 'I really hope that Neil does this video." To be perfectly honest when I see that Blake is doing a video I close the video as just cannot handle his accent and manner of speaking.
I cant imagine riding clipped in. Seems like if you know how to ride your feet will stay on the flats especially with good shoes and pedals.
GMBN still having this debate, Really? If you're a competitive XCO rider, there isn't even a discussion. If you're a downhill or enduro rider the debate starts. So how many GMBN viewers actually ride downhill or enduro? I'd suggest the majority never do anything worse than an XCO course...
Ski bindings stand no chance vs slip-on vans and aggressive flats
When i raced 20yrs C.C and used flats and if i was to race today i still would run flats.
8:12 nie dość że niższa moc to jeszcze szybciej 7:08, platformy bez szans
Data suggests better traction with the clips.
I can imagine, that sprinting is a big plus for clipless? But since I dont race, idc :P
Yeah they are great if you're planning on sprinting through roots/rock gardens but for the average rider speed isn't the priority! It's all about personal preference 🤘
I switched to clips a few months ago and much prefer them.
What pedal and shoes are you using?
@@gmbn Leatt 5.0 shoes (2023) and Nukeproof Horizon CL pedals, was on an extremely good deal at CRC so had it try it 😅
Nice, many good deals were on CRC 🔥 Glad they're working for you!
There is a reason why XC racers are all clipped in. Efficiency is critical in XC racing.