How To Ride Faster On Flat Pedals | MTB Skills

[@Gritts56]

I'm.just recovering from a bad accident on the 7th October. I have sold all my clip in pedals (after 27 years) and bought my first set of flats. This video couldn't have come at a better time. I go out on Saturday for the first time... Really looking forward to it... Thanks guys you motivated me..

[@janousek314]

Just don’t forget to put on shin guards, if you’re starting with flats. They will save you from lots of stitches 😁

[@mitch_smith]

Perfect timing on this one. Just switched to flats from clips yesterday. 1 ride down and I'm loving the swap!

[@winklertribe5268]

Thanks Rich! I LOVED this episode- I don’t know if I’ll be any faster, but I know I’ll be more confident on my flats!

[@bjornfongern4850]

I prefer to drop the heel of the leading foot only and the rear foot is actually toes down so your feet end up in a V like shape. I find that generates more grip than both heels down as you can kind of brace your feet inbetween the pedals. Also your body position stays more neutral on the bike like this I find. Pretty sure I have seen some pros ride like that, too.

[@_Diggery]

I dropped down to the comments to say the same thing. The 'V' generates pressure, giving far more grip and keeps feet locked in place. Dropping the trailing heel can also rotate the hips and looses mobility in the trailing leg. There's a great video by Roxy that goes into more details.

[@Incorruptus1]

Great elaboration, absolutely recognisable, great knowledge to put out there. Thanks!

[@metalheadfarmerrugbypunk2698]

I used to used cheap light hiking runners that have good grip when I raced. Also for a cheap alternative for shoes, here in the USA most cheap restaurant kitchen non-slip shoes have pretty much the same grip pattern on the bottom for about $15 to $30 at some places, just just may not last as long and not made for the same purpose, but the grip would work for some people who need that alternative.

[@ish474]

I will buy Rich's coffee for the rest of his life if you can show me a broken composite nylon pedal! They also are the same color all the way through so when they get banged on rocks they still look fine.

[@powerkraut007]

Never destroyed an alu pedal but a lot of axles and bearings. Some axles broke after a few hours. Never had problems with Shimano DX BMX Flats and Time ATAC clickies.

[@ish474]

@@powerkraut007 I love both but This nylon pedal slander will not stand!😂

[@garthflint]

Yup. I ride nylon pedals because wacking a pedal on a rock is not so nasty. My alloy pedals felt like my foot got hit by a hammer. Painful. The nylons soak up the hit softly.

[@hil3007]

@@garthflint Nylon pedals tend to slide easier over rocks and not get caught up compared to metal is why I also like them more.

[@maxkopfraum]

I recommend wearing shin protection when you're doing jumps with flat pedals. From painful experience as a beginner.

[@bchearne]

I still have a scar from gashing my shin on a pedal stud. Down to the bone, son. Pretty dangerous for beginners

[@dadventuretv2538]

Nah, they’re like a tattoos- show ‘em with pride! 😂

[@saml8119]

My cranks always have the paint completely rubbed off from clamping against them. I finally started putting some clear film over them on these new pricey bikes

[@jameshowe2074]

Great tip re pin length and depth of shoe tread, hadn’t heard that before.

[@Trikk57]

That's because its bs lol

[@japanunfound]

Very useful tips. Thank you so much Rich. Will experiment with this.

[@rethridermtb3262]

I ride metal flats for the most part, but use composite pedals on the 2 bikes that I ride in cold weather. When the winter temperatures dip below 0 degrees F, I prefer to avoid cold metal pedals!

[@Antjan46]

Nice tips, thanks Rich! I love my Specialized Boomslang flats!

[@bermroller]

How to equalize volume in your video 1. Expand the audio tracks for all your clips and transitions so the waveforms are easy to see. 2. Adjust the volume of any audio tracks that are quiet or loud so that they are all roughly even. 3. Now your viewers eardrums wont bleed after watching your video.

[@manitolas]

For my xc rides i use a hike shoe with hard sole, because most of the ride is uphill and smooth gravel, and need the efficiency of pedaling, like the road shoes, also is waterproof 😀🤟

[@Narcis.N]

Did you try flat pedal specific shoes? I wonder if they are stiffer than hiking shoes, that would mean even more efficiency🤔

[@matess3655]

@@Narcis.N as an owner of hiking and flat pedal specific shoes I can confirm that the soles of the flat shoes are a little bit stiffer

[@augmented2nd666]

Depending on conditions I wear my BMX Vans shoes, best grip ever. I got the goretex 510s for winter and they're great, but I still prefer the Vans grip, just not into getting them absolutely muddy and soaked or having frozen feets. As for crank clamping, thats again something I did riding BMX in skateparks, gives better control.

[@dadventuretv2538]

Take a look at Ride Concepts Vice. I love Vans too and have ridden in them The Ride Concepts have the waffle grip like Vans which is best I have found at allowing pins to dig in, but are a stiffer sole for better peddling efficiency, without being too stiff that you lose the pedal feel. I now only wear Vans when I’m riding around in my street clothes- serious trail riding gets the Ride Concepts.

[@gusvietnam5086]

Great video! Informative and interesting. Thank you! 👍

[@ddsgardening7437]

Been riding for eons always clipsless tried flats but just couldn't nail it ,but that's the best explanation I've seen 🙏🙏🇦🇺 think I'll have another go cheers mate

[@DittersGustav]

@@ddsgardening7437 Tried flat pedals today, with proper flat pedal shoes, and couldn't figure out foot position. Seemed to "lose it" often and have to readjust.

[@SimonBauer7]

5:08 this times 10. i rode bicycles like this since i first learned to do it, turns out there is some merrit to that. middle foot riding. my position is even a tad further back to the one shown here, reduces stress on the legs.

[@ADI121195]

Threaded pins nice platform and good pin position I love Sam hills peddles for the threaded pin length the positioning and spacing on them and main thing of all is the shoe that sits on them you can get rubber that will lock you in like almost been clipped in all depending on rubber as well as the pin layout and type of pin I love hope but I hate there pedals

[@mattwilson5092]

Nylon flats are the only way to go IMO. Way cheaper and I've not had one ever break, even with hard rock impacts during crashes. And if that were to happen, the cost isn't ridiculous to replace them. Good shoes and pins make all the difference.

[@ondrejmanych5688]

Flat pedals are awesome. I tried circular pedals, triangular pedals, round pedals....but flat ones definitely work the best!

[@bchearne]

Lol, nice dad joke

[@SidiNic]

Well i can tell you the DMR vault in combo with my Five ten are really grippy

[@hanstubben]

I would not be to concerned about using composite pedals, just choose the right ones. Race Face Chesters or Crank Brother Stamp 1 are great and durable pedals, maybe not for heavy enduro or triple blackdiamond trails, but for 96,432% of riders (more or less), it will do everything without a problem.

[@glynnbrewster2801]

Great vid 👍What jacket is that?

[@MarkMcLenaghan]

I had a big fall with my clipless pedals so bought duel sided so one side is clips and the other is flat. Intend to use the flats more still not sure about the clip less.

[@DittersGustav]

That perferct middle foot position is at 2/3 to the front of the foot.

[@garthflint]

I have flats on my emtb and clips on my regular. On the regular I like to be able to pull up to get just that tiny added power when needed. I also like the control being attached to the bike gives me. The ebike does not need the power and I do not flick it around like the lighter regular bike. I have been riding clips for 30 years so there is no way I can switch on the regular bike.

[@zekecowans7792]

"Emtb" 😂😂😂

[@19jaan]

Thanks for the episode. 🫡 Just one more question: I got shoe size UK 16 and the usual flat pedals do not fit my shoesize. Is there by any means a custom flat pedal produces somewhere in Europe? I know the "pedal innovations" from the US but they are a little bit over the top. Cheers.

[@gernottoventile_mtb]

Cool vid, but screen transtitions sound effects are way too loud imho.

[@alcapone4242]

adidas terrex swift solo 2 are great shoes for flats

[@TrollHunterxXx]

When I first started mtbing I used clipless and the shoes were uncomfortable and being clipped in making me nervous all the time I couldn’t enjoy myself. I vowed to never use them again … but I can understand why people would use them … I could have just had a poor experience so I’m not knocking it

[@TheScramble8]

Wellies. Lock that heal in 😊

[@chrisbraun72]

What about staying attached to your flat pedals when getting air? I always feel like the bike is falling away from me, either at the peak of an arc, as I come off a drop OR as I'm coming in to land and I need to extend my legs to brace for the landing. The bike always feels like it's dropping away from beneath my feet and I'm loosing pedal contact. I've never seen a video covering this. Would love to see a detailed explanation covering this. Thanks.

[@kingflynxi9420]

You need to angle your toes down and push back into the pedals, it can feel weird because your body tells you that you're pushing the bike away from you, but it works.

[@1riwa]

This is right but be warned if you have gnarley jumps with a gap. I cased one and pinched my big toe on a rock.

[@kingflynxi9420]

@1riwa and if you go OTB you end up kicking the floor and breaking your big toe lol

[@noredcr]

learn to bunny hop on flat ground, learning the technique will fix this.

[@Sunspot-19]

I say, run what you like. I choose platform pedals. My bike doesn't take kindly to anything called flats... In to the SPD, use em and ride. In to platforms, use em and ride. News flash, we are mountain bikers, on the same team... Run whatcha brung and make it an adventure only a kid could make it!

[@kodithebear]

I love my vans for riding.

[@seanhammond4527]

Hey I run burtec pedals on me trek roescoe 8

[@jrclark222]

The segment at the 7:00 mark is about keeping your feet from jumping around on the pedals. Umm, easy solution, clipless…. I don’t understand this obsession with flats. Properly set clipless, with some experience, have no downsides. I’ve been riding (and sometimes racing) mtb for 30 years on clipless and see zero reason to go the flats and worry about my feet coming off on gnarly arizona trails. My feet are always in the optimal position to apply power, and won’t come off unless I need them to. Ride flats if they make you feel good, but they are not inherently superior, especially for an experienced rider.

[@mobilewintercamp7515]

Anyone try the magnetic pedals? They seem interesting

[@ExplosiveNotes]

Bike industry still doesn't understand how shoes / boots with little bit of heel fit with flat pedals. 🖐🤛

[@brucehamilton6019]

Not much pedalling going on in DH races, and not the bike's strength. So, kinda A's & O's for most trail/mtn riding. But, I get it mate, simple and better learning curve, less injury potential for the novice. For my riding it's clipped-in, ATW, anywhere... You're more upright on a dually, and for good impacts it makes sense to be centered on the pedal. But, I don't know how you guys are spinning those shorter cranks with much gusto. I like being on the front and heel up tho, so...PS I'd imagine that some gravel bike racers use 'flats' in some races? Or you can see the cross training on a road bike, for conditioning in general. I view my hardtail the same way; with the training to take it to dirt. Ok, I've been watching some Enduro racing. And flats are the way to go. I get more power from hard soles clip'd in, tho

[@ullscarf]

I've just read that you should put the ball of your foot on the pedal, not the middle.

[@hectorcook-monro1521]

I have tiny feet but my cranks and shoes are so baddly rubbed.... the shoes are destroyed

[@scktdg]

Why does clipless mean clipled in?

[@ullscarf]

Because before the modern system, you put your feet into a kind of cage called a toe-clip. Therefore when SPDs started, you didn't need toe-clips - clipless!

[@richardburns5925]

Why people need clipping in off road beats me, I ride DMR Brendog flats, I don't want clipping in off road, I'll go straight over in minutes clipped in, I need to be able to dab a foot down fast if my back end spins out. I've rode DMR flats for 30 years with trainers, never slipped off a pedal 👍

[@eboo8684]

Look at me im first here

[@BushcraftAI]

And Dan Booker

[@Trikk57]

Pins will not push your shoe up if they're too long.. Not a chance lol.... With half your weight concentrated on the arch/ball of your foot, the psi of downward force would far exceed the strength of any shoe sole rubber.. Unless you're riding in clogs. That's such a ridiculous comment, no pedal on the market has pins where this would apply lol.. I've ridden flats since 2004, Currently on Hope F22 with some of the longest pins on the market and 510's..insane combo, in attack pos the pins and shoe are fully engaged.

[@fusion01wp]

Clipped for many years but after going flats I never went back.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

I hate flats with long and numerous pins, 6 to 8 is really what you need or probably don't have the right sole ...

[@juanhernandez-ve5gb]

Love flats. 🫡🫡🫡🫡👍

[@POVMTB1]

this video audio levels are like his pedals pins all over the place

[@antonioilinovic2101]

Voice sound too low compared to music

[@doubleL_S]

Why is it always about going faster ? Is this what the mtb industry rely on.. because i just want to go out and have fun. I really really do not care if i can do 1mph more. Really is a silly thing to focus on "is it faster" who cares.. these aren't cars.

[@RicardoPetrazzi]

I mostly agree with you...99% of us are not racing our MTBs - but going as fast as you are comfortable with is what matters to most.

[@yoavmiller216]

Thank you. This race/adrenaline based focus is quite tiring and predictable. It also has a dark side you can actually see in the "wild": people treating everything like a bike park, disregarding an abusing bits of nature for speed. The sense of exploration where a flat pedal is quite useful, the connection to your surroundings, is understood as a different sport. It's not, except in the marketing department's mind.

[@lolomelon528]

it looks and feels amazing. it’s always gonna be the focus. also i think the heel tuck was a game changer bit of info, and that is less about speed and more about bike control, importantly during turbulence. so you you’re actually just wrong in a few ways dude

[@GTChucker86]

Its not about going faster, its about being comfortable on the bike. How to be faster is just a more eye catching title for a video

[@Hipp0campus_1]

The title is probably a bit clickbait-y. Most of those tips won't matter much in accelerating your bike, but it's about giving you a safer position on the pedals and giving you a better feel. Which in turn gives you the confidence to ride faster in risky situations. But the safety will be there at any pace. "How to be more confident on your flat pedals" would've been a better title!

[@qualm43]

I use flat pedals because I identify as Sam Hill.

[@Raiden-Ooi]

Bello

[@alexh.4068]

That's not equidistant. Nor do you want it to be lol. Maybe used the wrong word.

[@RicardoPetrazzi]

🥇

[@Nugemart]

Some people love horses, but technology gave us cars.