Downhill what clipless pedals are you using for dh/freeride?

Ive been running flats for a couple years now and they have worked great but now that my skills have progressed im finding its getting harder and harder to keep my feet on them especially in the chunky stuff. I think it might be time to go back to clipless pedals and had a couple questions.

Do the clipless pedals that are platform style feel like you are riding a platform pedal? I always thought the clip mechanism would have to be a little higher than the platform so it easy to slide your shoe into the mechanism which would make the platform kind of useless if you cant feel it under you.

What pedals are you guys using specifically on dh/freeride bikes? I need something super reliable that can take hard rock hits and i prefer something with no bushings.

Thanks

 

Have you tried better shoes?

 

I was going to say the same, what pedal and shoe combo do you use now? if your not using sticky rubber or similar product you should look into em they really grab the pedals

 

I really like the Shimano 647 DX pedals. Their nylon cage looks cheap, but they work really well. I notice most of the WC DH racers are running CB Mallets - probably because of the thinner profile. I haven't tried those. Do they feel like flats? No, but with a flat-soled shoe like a 5-10 made for clips, I think they provide a solid platform if you happen to miss your opportunity to clip in. Maybe more so on the Mallets.



After my last trip to Whistler, I am going to go back to being clipped in as well. I'll still run flats on loose Fontana courses and muddy runs, but I think I will have more confidence in the air with clips.

 

I have tried different shoes but nothing with sticky soles as my friends that have the shoes that ride like i do have reliability issues with them. Im not going to buy a $100 shoe if it only lasts a couple months before there are grooves cut into the sole from the pins.

I think clipping in would suit me best.

Herzalot- so your saying when clipped into the above pedals that you dont feel the platform supporting your foot? So the only reason you run the platform style is because if you cant get clipped in then you can use the platform like a regular flat pedal? Reason i ask is i was thinking of using a small no platform shimano pedal with a pair of stiff soled shoes to cut down on pedal strikes. What you think?

 

I don't know how you feel about Crank Bros, but I have mallets on mine. I like the support of the pedal and I can always use them as flats if I don't want to clip in

 

Im open to try anything kev as long as they are reliable.

 

I haven't had any problems with them so far. I've had them on my bike since 08 but that bike doesn't get as much use as I would have liked. After about 100 miles they still seem ok to me

 

Shimano Trail XT's.

 

+1 on the mallets. Im on those and have tried my freinds candy,( much smaller platform) and it feels really different It almos feels as if the only place of support is where Im cliped in. With the mallets I feel more support as wells as have a bit extra space for those oh shit moments when I couldn't clip in in time or a new trail Ive never tried that I might wana bail fast. I rode all of 5 oaks unclipped my first time and it was fine. Only problem is that you wont be able to ride with the balls of your feet unclipped but rather the middle so that you do not clip in.

 

+2 on the Mallets. As stated above you do feel the little hump when riding w/o cleats, but less than Shim's SPDs.

 

Shimano DX pedal, shoe combo is great. The XT trails are nice too but work best with a stiffer xc style shoe. The bigger platform mostly allows comfort with a more flexible shoe.

Also I wouldn't recommend riding unclipped on a platform clip less pedal regardless the pedal shoe combo. If you come unclipped and have to for the moment that's one thing but on purpose is another.

Also what shoes are yo destroying, I have original 5-10s that have lasted 3-4 years.

 

I DO feel the support with the DX pedals, even in stiff-soled XC shoes. I feel it more when I wear the flat-soled Shimano DX shoes with skate style sole and recessed clip. I would not want to pedal very far or for long on these without getting clipped in, but at least there's something there to pedal if you can't manage to get clipped in quickly enough. For that reason, I would NOT run a standard XC pedal/shoe combo for a FR/DH application - nothing to step on if not clipped in.

My 5.10 shoes have lasted a long time, BTW, and were never worn out by the pins on my flats (Straitlines).

 

Completely agree...A problem I had when running non-platform shimano pedals, the "pedal strikes" can become "shoe strikes" which can quickly unclip you from the pedal and since there's no platform it can be hard to find somewhere to put your foot while probably trying to negotiate more sketchy stuff. Extreme case but I've had it happen, and will take a pedal strike on a platform any day. Now run 535s (and ran 636 for a long time which were much wider platform for big feet or my winter shoes.) Either one give some support on the shoe sole when clipped in.

 

Mr Cock runs DX Pedals, nuff said.

Oaks

[youtube]bFrZbFUsXCw[/youtube]

Fully Loop

[youtube]Hf9CXjiGHVw[/youtube]

 

Mallets if you have to
but 510s are still a better option mine last a year usually before I break the heals

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

How about 510s plus mallets?

 

You need good flats and better shoes
I tried cliped in and felt sketchy as hell ,on XC i have no problem but on DH i use flats

Straightliner pedals and 510 shoes

I have a few buddies that do go cliped in and they run them very loose and they use the
Shimano 647 DX pedals as the nylon takes a better impact against rocks vs metal ones

 

I have DXs if you want to borrow them to see if you like them.

 

i don't think u can go wrong with straitlines and 510's tom.....what size shoe are you....i have a pair you can try ....and some straitlines