One side benefit that I appreciate from exclusively riding flats is that you are forced to really pay attention to what your suspension is doing. If you want to ride really fast in rough terrain on flat pedals - your suspension must be really dialed. Clips allow you to be a bit lazy.
I really have more fun in all situations on flats, but I know I could ride a bit quicker on clips. If I were still racing seriously - I'd likely be on clipless pedals, simply because it's one less thing to worry about as your body is near full exhaustion, hanging on for dear life at the end of a race.
Sept. 13, 2021, 7:33 a.m. - Ryan Walters
One side benefit that I appreciate from exclusively riding flats is that you are forced to really pay attention to what your suspension is doing. If you want to ride really fast in rough terrain on flat pedals - your suspension must be really dialed. Clips allow you to be a bit lazy. I really have more fun in all situations on flats, but I know I could ride a bit quicker on clips. If I were still racing seriously - I'd likely be on clipless pedals, simply because it's one less thing to worry about as your body is near full exhaustion, hanging on for dear life at the end of a race.