Supreme Mini: SPD's or Flats ?

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May 24, 2012, 04:10:48 AM

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Total Voters: 287

[Rich1978]

Got my Supreme  Mini at the Weekend and took it out for a spin...all good.

A number of my mates suggest that with DH I would be better of in flats rather than the clipless pedals I'm running at the moment.  I've never used flats so would need to learn...

What the CoC opinion 

[100mphplus]

It's all down to personal preference, it's what suits YOU best no matter what other people say is the best!

You need to try them both and then decide, problem is to get a decent flat pedal set up you need to buy some Five Tens and decent pedals which is going to cost you £120+, so you need to try and blag a go with someone elses pedals and shoes fitted on your bike.

I seem to be a bit unusual as I can use both without any trouble, I use clips on fast, pedally or rocky courses and flats on wet or technical courses.  Most other riders are firmly in one camp and can't adapt between the two.  I have elite friends who have tried flats because 'everyone says they are better' and they hated them and were actually slower on timed sections.

Also if you've been clipped in for years and have learnt to jump clipped in you'll terrify yourself the first time you do it on flats as you've probably got a tendancy to 'pull' the bike up with your feet.  I had to re-learn how to jump on flats to stop my feet coming off the pedals.

[Rich1978]

If you've been clipped in for years and have learnt to jump clipped in you'll terrify yourself the first time you do it on flats as you've probably got a tendancy to 'pull' the bike up with your feet.  I had to re-learn how to jump on flats to stop my feet coming off the pedals.

This is pretty much the case....

[Ant]

If you're happy on spds, then spds are what's best on the mini.

If you're happy on flats, then flats are what's best on the mini.

It's honestly personal preferance. I'm rocking flats as i've snapped chains on all 3 bikes that i've ridden with spds straight away. About 5-6 cranks, and every bike i've ridden has sent me off with a massive crack of th chain snapping.

BTW, better off with flats for DH?

99pc of the pros use clips.. (Bar spadeface and sam hill from the specialized DH team)

[Rich1978]

99pc of the pros use clips.. (Bar spadeface and sam hill from the specialized DH team)

ok well if its good enough for them its good enough for me...

[grgos]

i use SPDs 8 years ,now i have flats 2 years and i dont nead SPDs any more ... maybe SPDs are  better for Dh but for freeriding and tech. trails flats are best choice ...

[Rich1978]

i use SPDs 8 years ,now i have flats 2 years and i dont nead SPDs any more ... maybe SPDs are  better for Dh but for freeriding and tech. trails flats are best choice ...

Not sure its a case of 'need'....more whats most suitable.  Personal appears to rule at the moment it would seem...

[Affe]

I'm an SPD guy. been only little over a year now but nowadays I don't notice it anymore. Just feel at home. I still like to try my flats every now and then to remind me of how to keep the bike in control and jump. It's fun too. If I think about it the biggest difference for me is that clipped in you got you foot in right position always. If I place my foot badly on flats it's hard to adjust it when at speed. But probably it's just that I'm not used to flats.

[bong69uk]

I'm just gonna 2nd what Ant and 100mph said, its all down to personal pref, there is no right or wrong choice, (there is the gay choice  which be spd's  ) i personally am a hardcore flat pedal rider and i very much doubt that will ever change. If u have learnt with spd's stick with em, but there is no harm in trying out flats to satisfy that curiosity u have there! 

[iain1775]

i have and use both
was spd's for about 8 years (and before that toe clips) until I broke ankle a few years ago, when recovering I found it hurt to twist out of spds so I switched to DX platform SPD's with multi release cleats and the tension wound off
As Ankle strengthened I went back to SPD's but I had lost that confidence of being cluipped in on rocky sections so got some V12's
Depends on where Im going and what riding Im doing now what pedals I will use - either SPD's, SPD with platform, or platforms.
Flats good this time of year as no worries about the cleats clogging up with mud so now might be a good time to try them out and experiment - whilst 5:10's are good shoes If you already have some then you can get a similar feeling of grip with some walking trainers with a Vibram sole for less money (Merrills or something) - at least to see how you feel on the flats, before taking the full plunge

[bong69uk]

Or simply a decent pair of skate shoes works enough to let you know if u like flats without having to fork out for 5.10's etc, you can pick up airwalk trainers for around 20bucks online or at big sports shops and they work pretty decent for a few months or so.

[Rich1978]

ok cool - I have got the pedals with the pins (think they are Welgo something or otehr) that came with the bike. I also have some flat trainers so might give them a go in the forest on the Meta instead of DH right away.

Cheers

[Ant]

Got some knee/shin guards though? i'd highliy recommend it.

[bong69uk]

Cool, the wellgo ones that come with the bike aint that bad actually. Have fun 

[big_tex_uk]

SPD's for the last 19yrs and counting. Flat pedals are for kids