in Beginners, Newbies, Noobz, etc (Moderators: imwjl, TheMayor1)

Haha nah see when youre clipped in you dont have to learn to stay on your bike

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Haha nah see when youre clipped in you dont have to learn to stay on your bike

Maybe they're some sort of an anti-theft mechanism?

I ride to have fun. None of this looks fun to me.

  I slammed on my brakes just before the ditch grabbed my front tire, the bike flew backwards between my legs and the next thing I know I'm jogging down the trail instead of biking it.  I don't really know how I managed that maneuver, but I can definitely say being clipped in did not slow me down any.

All jokes aside, you are absolutely right Bin. I have went over the bars and ended up walking/running down the trail. No idea how I got out of the clips. After using them awhile, it just happens. I don't really see it as a detriment or issue at all really to be clipped in. If I need to get unclipped, I do. It just happens.

I liken it to alpine skiing. When you need your skis they are on your feet. When they need to come off, they come off. Again, comes to preference of the rider. Neither is better in my opinion. Clips are more efficient pedaling, yet I have gotten my but kicked by riders on flats on XC trails. Does that mean flats are the better tool in this situation? No. It means that rider was enough better than me to more than compensate for the less efficient pedal set up. I have also seen clipped in riders on the most gnarly technical features around, and use the clipped pedals to maneuver the bike around. Doesn't make it better, just what that rider is used to doing.

The real advantage I see in flats is if you prefer to take your feet off the pedals for your fun. As in you like to get your feet off the pedals while in the air. Or you like to put a foot down on corners to balance rather than use your bike. Stuff like that.

And it is fun to pick on others choices as long as it is good natured Like the goofy guys with mustache bars, or 26" bikes, or dinglespeeds, or full rigid, or full susser, fat bikes. Oh wait, I might fit into a couple of those categories If it is biking, I think it is all good. I love it all :D

Haha nah see when youre clipped in you dont have to learn to stay on your bike

Maybe they're some sort of an anti-theft mechanism?

I ride to have fun. None of this looks fun to me.

Not sure your point. I don't think it makes a point against or for riding clipped. I don't think anyone is having fun when they are going over the bars. You notice at least half of those pics the rider has already unclipped.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10146071@N02/1029803704/#lightbox/

I'm a beginner myself and find the same sections that you posted challenging.

#1: I can manage to clear this rock garden about 50% of the time now.  Speed helps a lot.  I just go into it as fast as possible and down shift right before I hit it.
#2: I'm having the same problem as you here.  I am trying to remember to shift my weight over my back tire more.  Still, I have yet to climb this without having to walk my bike for part of it.
#3: Same as above.
#4: Once you're on top of the Quarry, I actually think that instead of going straight into the intermediate section, turning right onto the expert section is actually easier.  For me at least.  I completely wiped out the first time I tried the steep section you are referencing.  Get waayyyyy the hell back on your seat so your butt is over your rear tire and ride your breaks.

Maybe I'll give clipping in another shot this summer while doing xc, I have the shoes and the pedals, last time I did it I fell like way more than I care to remember, I was falling all over the place.

Do you just have to fall a bunch to get used to them?
Do they come out a lot when you do fall just because of the fall?

From personal experience though I have seen way more and worse crashes out of riders that are clipped in, and when I've been clipped in as well.  I like your comparison to skis as I can relate to it.  Unfortunately after a pre release last winter that landed me a seperated shoulder I cranked my din way up so they won't come off now though!! 

Why there hard for me is that I have a hard time reserving that last half second to unclip, at that point I'm already going down.   

Haha nah see when youre clipped in you dont have to learn to stay on your bike

Maybe they're some sort of an anti-theft mechanism?

I ride to have fun. None of this looks fun to me.

Not sure your point. I don't think it makes a point against or for riding clipped. I don't think anyone is having fun when they are going over the bars. You notice at least half of those pics the rider has already unclipped.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10146071@N02/1029803704/#lightbox/

I'm being silly, and I use both types of pedals. I just hurt myself less with flats taking the time to be comfortable with them helped my riding skills.

Those riders are not fully unclipped and that sort of fall can bad stuff.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to make it a point to spend some time on flat pedals, even though it seems unnatural to this mediocer road biker / low-skilled but ambitious off-road biker.
I think my biggest problem is fear. And if I can eliminate one little thing to be afraid of (failing to unclip when necessary), that should open an opportunity to imrove.
If you're enjoying the clip v flat discussion, you might want to check some of the recent blog entries on leelikesbikes.com. This guy has been writing about his experiments switching between the two.

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I couldn't find it but last year I saw a video of a bunch of pro riders and they pretty much unanimously said the only time they ride clipped in is during races and it it's really muddy.

I couldn't find it but last year I saw a video of a bunch of pro riders and they pretty much unanimously said the only time they ride clipped in is during races and it it's really muddy.

What type of pros?  Freeriders?  I'd wager xc pros spend wayyyyyy more riding hours clipped in than on flats.

I couldn't find it but last year I saw a video of a bunch of pro riders and they pretty much unanimously said the only time they ride clipped in is during races and it it's really muddy.

What type of pros?  Freeriders?  I'd wager xc pros spend wayyyyyy more riding hours clipped in than on flats.

There is no debate on that.  xc racers are clipped unless they are biking to the beach.

Haha that would be downhill racers. That shift also only happened in the last few years

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I was just out at QR today, and I took the "expert" path down from the top instead of the standard blue line for the first time. Everything seemed to be within my limited abilities (I'm sure many would disagree if they were watching) and I kept the rubber side down. However, I chickened out hard when I came to that beautiful new giant wooden berm. Any tips for riding that thing? I really want to, because it looks like a blast. I am guessing I just have to hit it with some speed and lean into it like I (try to) do on the little dirt berms. Maybe I just need to work up the guts.

If it matters, I ride a hardtail 29er with the seat up near the XC racing position.

You really dont have to do anything, it's super easy

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Scott, it was freeriders of course.  xc racers not clipping in, yeah right, they prob don't even own a pair of pedals!