When should a novice go clipless?

March 20th, 2007 by Tim Grahl

Over the weekend my brother-in-law came by the house to pick up a bike he’s borrowing. I mentioned to him that he’d have to drop by a bike shop to pick up some flat pedals since all I currently have is a couple sets of Shimano clipless. He looked at me kinda weird and asked the question I often hear… “You actually attach your foot to the pedal? Why?”

I proceeded to explain the benefits such as increased balance, more pedaling power, etc. And I also explained some of the potential dangers and how he should start off with flats for safety and ease of riding. But then this question entered my mind…

When should a novice move off flat pedals and onto clipless?

clipless pedals Here’s a few things I think should be considered:

Balance - Riding singletrack can seem especially daunting at first. I still remember certain parts of our local “easy” trail that I thought were crazy when I first started. The idea of riding many of these sections without the option to put a foot down would have been enough for me not to try it at all. A rider must have enough balance to ride singletrack without fear and without putting a foot down in the rougher sections.
Strength - Mountain biking uses different muscle groups than other sports. I think gaining a certain level of strength in the muscles used for mtb should be achieved before moving from flats. Being clipped in often lends itself to not stopping as often, especially early on when it’s a big annoyance to get in and out of the pedals. Novice riders stop often for rest and flats make this easier.
Comfort with Bike Mechanisms - When a novice is placed on a modern mountain bike there is a whole lot to take in. Learning how and when to shift and apply brakes. Getting used to “fiddling” with the controls while simultaneously descending or climbing. Adding the need to clip in and out of pedals is something that will only add more confusion and frustration if introduced before a rider is comfortable with the other mechanics of the bike.

What’s your take on this?

20 Responses to “When should a novice go clipless?”

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1 Drew on Mar 20th, 2007 at 12:52 pm

I just got a mountain bike a couple of months ago. When I purchased my road bike two years ago, I put spd pedals on it in anticipation of getting mt bike, and then I could save money. Didnt work as now I have road specific on that bike, but I did put the spd’s on my Trek 6700 when I bought it.

I am comfortable with the mechanics of clipping in and out, but I have fallen several times in soft sand on my first couple of rides. Now I have backed the tension off quite a bit.

It has made me stop a few times and think about parts of the trail I am sure I would just fly down with flat pedals, but mostly I am ok.

But if you are new to both trails AND clipless pedals then you should become an acomplished rider first.

And honestly from experience, road time does not make you a trail rider. Luckily for me in southern NJ there are no hardcore trails to get killed on, so I can have plenty of easy practice before traveling to some of the more technical trails.
2 Drew on Mar 20th, 2007 at 12:54 pm

Speaking of falling, can anyone explain to me WHY whenever I fall in sand, it is always ALWAYS on the right side? I am tired of getting so much sand in my drive train!!!!!!!!
3 Ben L on Mar 20th, 2007 at 2:42 pm

I hadn’t given enough thought to the balance part. I glad I read this.

I thought I was ready to graduate to clipless pedals (at least on this easier trail my friends and I hit often) when I realized I could really benefit from more power on climbs. After reading this, I think I might wait a couple of weeks, or at least until I’m able to go over this double log obstacle every time without throwing a foot down.

What do you guys think of the clipless pedals with the guards around them so you can ride them using normal shoes? It looks like Shimano makes some cool ones. I just don’t want to swap out my pedals every time I want to try a trail that challenges my ability.
4 Rainman on Mar 20th, 2007 at 6:32 pm

There is no real need to go to clipless pedals if you don’t feel comfortable with them.

I use clipless on the road, but never on the trails. I ride platform pedals with nice big traction pins and use 5-10 impact shoes that stick to the platforms like glue.

Clipless give you a bit more power on the upstroke, but can be a pita in tight techy singletrack like where I ride.

Fast downhills, skinnies and jumps … I would rather not be clipped in.

Platform pedals are still my favourite.

R.
5 Christopher Martin on Mar 20th, 2007 at 8:44 pm

To me clipless is something I graduated to as soon as I could after starting to ride.

I find that even in the tight track they are helpful when one wishes to flick the bike around.

Depending on how tight a DH run is, clipless are better. If you are about going faster, than often the only way to achieve it is through clipless pedals.

On most jumps I encounter, step-downs and the like, clipless pedals can be more confidence inspiring, as the novice may have no problems with their feet coming away from the pedals and the nasty feelings as they touchdown on teh saddle.
6 Tim Rowe on Mar 20th, 2007 at 11:18 pm

I went clipless in December after >10 years of riding BMX and MTB on flats. The difference in the muscle groups you use is incredible.
It really does take some getting used to changing your stride, and unfortunately any long length of time without using them will put you into really bad habits, and you’ll sometimes (okay, frequently) miss having that ability to easily get your foot down around tight corners, but otherwise it’s well worth it.

Especially when it comes to lightweight bikes and BMX, you want to be able to learn to lift the bike without cheating and using clipless pedals before going onto them.
7 Dave in MI on Mar 21st, 2007 at 9:15 am

I went clipless a few years ago and will never go back. Love the control. Power on the up. More control on obstacles. Keeps the feet planted when totally gassed and strokes are lazy.

I only seem to fall when I’m in the parking lot. Technical trails and obstacles are no problem.
8 Chip on Mar 21st, 2007 at 3:07 pm

Right away. Learn to ride clipped in! Like skiing. How many beginner skiers start off without bindings. I don’t think there is any reason to do the same on biking. Start with the pedal set to pop out easy, but start and learn that way form day one. I have started MANY rookies, all pleased to say they wouldn’t start over differently if giving a choice.
9 James on Mar 21st, 2007 at 3:16 pm

I started mountain biking in about 1987 with toeclips and straps and road shoes with slotted cleats. Compared to those, all clipless pedals on the market today are pretty user friendly (not to mention a lot safer and easier on the knees). For beginners, pedals that allow tension adjustment are good, because you can set them on low tension and crank it up as you gain the comfort level. I wouldn’t encourage anyone to ride with clipless pedals if they don’t feel comfortable with them, but they really are pretty easy to get used to. Anyone who is on the fence should at least give them a try before deciding against them.
10 Ben L on Mar 21st, 2007 at 4:11 pm

I’m going to give them a try. I didn’t realize that the tension could be adjusted.

Would you guys recommend any clipless pedals that also work with shoes (such as the 5-10 impact shoes Rainman mentioned) so I can ride either way?
11 Deranged on Mar 22nd, 2007 at 11:08 am

I have some Time ATAC Z pedals, they are clipless with a cage around them. I can use them with regular shoes, but not for long rides, I have found its just easier to switch pedals if I know I am going to be riding somewhere that I would prefer flats. But I do like having the cage around them for when I am clipped in on a ride, and I want to take one foot out for some reason and leave it unclipped for a while I can no problem.
12 T. Ryan Arnold on Mar 26th, 2007 at 8:01 pm

I started riding my mountain bike pretty seriously (about 12 miles per day) about a year ago. My bike’s not that flash…but its got some nice parts on it. Everytime I went to upgrade some little bit or piece at my LBS they were all harassing me about upgrading to clip pedals. They pretty much gave me the impression that if you used flats…then you weren’t serious about Mountain Biking. It was kind of similar to the reaction you might get if you wanted to enter a marathon wearing Converse All STars.

So anyway, I upgraded to some Shimano clip pedals and some nice mountain bike clip shoes. And promptly fell on my ass, face, hands, and arms for the next month. Everyone assured me that I’d get “used” to it…but I never did. It could be that my balance needs work…but I also tend to ride through some city streets to get to my trails. My biggest problem was with abrupt unforseen stops on the roads leading to my main rides. Finally I was like, “F this. I guess I”m just not hard core enough” and went back to flats. It’s been about six months and I still don’t feel compelled to try them again. I did notice an improvement in pedal power…but I just didn’t feel safe wearing them.
13 Ornery Chick on Apr 3rd, 2007 at 3:45 pm

I don’t use clipless pedals with anything. I never saw the need, and I manage well enough. I can get over decent sized rocks, roots, and small logs by bringing the front end of the bike up (hard pedal downstroke, pull back on the bars, pedal on through) the majority of the time. Not being “clipped in,” hasn’t ever held me back on the climbs, nor hurt my descents. I spend most of my time on the trail off the saddle, and seem to be sufficiently rooted to the pedals. And I like the ability to bail with alacrity. When the inevitability of a crash comes upon me, I generally kind of like to be quite a ways from the machine when we all come to a stop.

I kind of ride my bike like a dirt-track auto racer drives…I’ll slide the rear end through downhill switchback curves with strategic braking. I’ve also discovered leaning a thigh against the top-tube or nose of the seat to lever the bike over more, too, in executing a hard turn at speed.

I think it all comes down to riding style, and I find that simplicity is the biggest equipment aim for me, hence a singlespeed approach to drivetrain and a no-frills approach to components and accessories. I don’t have the attention span for shifting, unclipping, or locking out forks, so I don’t shift, use clipless, or run a suspension fork. I just pick a line and ride it, hop off and hike when I must, and generally have a fine old time.
14 Ben L on Jun 13th, 2007 at 4:31 pm

I tried on shoes today (I think I’m going clipless soon) and Shimano is too narrow for me. Typically Nike running shoes are too narrow so I have to wear Adidas.

I know nothing about MTB shoes. What shoes would you guys recommend?
15 deranged on Jun 13th, 2007 at 4:56 pm

I have wide feet, 11 EEE to be exact, and I have specialized shoes that are very comfortable for me. Nice roomy toe box. So you might look into those. Also, adidas makes mtb shoes if you know they fit. I’d say go to some shops and try on as many different ones as you can.
16 Seaducer on Jun 13th, 2007 at 8:47 pm

My mtb shoes are by Specialized, the ones with the ratchet buckle on top, pretty comfy, and I have 12 1/2 or 13 depending on brand.

I also for my road bike have a pair of Forte shoes from Performance. They are plastic and cost about 30$, and I like them better than the 130$ Nike carbon fiber shoes I have. Maybe worth looking into…
17 cj on Jul 31st, 2007 at 9:56 pm

I started riding a ‘06 GT Zaskar Expert about 6 months ago, first bike i had been on since my college days. Had the bike shop wwitch out the clipless pedals for falts, so I could get used to riding a bike again. Less than 200 miles later, I put the clipless back on and bought a good pair of shoes. The difference is amazing, I imediately picked up 2 mph/ avg speed on my regular ride. It was a little awkward first couple of times out, but no problem as of yet, and I am absolutely glad I made the switch.
18 oki on Oct 15th, 2007 at 5:17 pm

Drew, if your right handed, your brains response will be to preferably land you on your right hand side as this will offer you the best defence during a fall.
—have you let your subconcious get the better of you i wonder?!!!

if so….slap it upside t’ head! and let it know who the bossman is.
19 kerbouchaud on Jul 18th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

Old ass post but I had to check in anyway.
I started out riding platforms but gave it up after loosing too much blood from the lugs on the pedals. Switched to Crank bros mallets which combine platform and clipless. For the first few months I would clip out and ride platform over the sketchy stuff, now I never clip out unless I’m falling. I did make a switch to platforms when traveling to a park that had some really sketchy rock gardens and downhills and was thinking that I’d do better that way. I still have the scars and my riding socks and shoes are permanantly blood stained. I will never go back to platforms again. The control that you have over the bike, the ability to apply sheer muscle when climbing long steep hills, not having to worry about bouncing off on sketchy decents or slipping your pedal during a climb make the clipless pedals totally worth it.
As for unclipping for a dab or fall? I don’t even think about it, it has become instinctive. I don’t know about the Shimano’s but the crank bros always unclip easily and more importantly always clip back in easily too regardless of how much mud you have on your shoes or pedals!

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When should a novice go clipless?

20 Responses to “When should a novice go clipless?”

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