I have a similar experience, but I've been migrating back and forth between clips and flats quite a bit this year... there are some reasons for that. Last year I was on a bigger bike (160mm in the rear) and this year I'm on a smaller bike (138). last year I ended up riding flats most of the time and I now realize that my bigger bike probably let me get away with a little more poor positioning because right away, on my smaller bike, I felt like I needed to switch back to clips to keep my feet on the pedals and ride more light, over and around things vs straight through them.
I also went to jump school this year which forced me to use my flats.
But as I rode more and became more comfortable on my smaller bike while working on improving form, I realized I could essentially ride the same terrain and speed as long as I was on point with my form... clips or flats. This showed me that I also ride with better form... or maybe it's easier to ride with better form while I'm on flats. I can descend with a more mid foot position which allows me to more easily keep my heels down, forces me to think about a more legs tall, hips hinged centered body position. My clips, while the cleats are as forward as I can get them (Giro Chamber II), I can't get them to the same position as my flats. I've noticed that I now have more confidence riding steep gnarly and fast chunky terrain on my flats vs my clips. My bike does have a long reach (491) and I'm 5'11... on OneUp comps, my flats are Crank Brothers Stamps.
Now... my other issue with clips... is that I've found I really enjoy the freedom of flats and being able to move my foot positioning around. I like to climb closer to a more ball over axle position while I like to descend with a more arch over axle. I could modify my clips to give me a better descending position, but I don't think I could handle long climbs in that position... or maybe I could?
Aug. 31, 2022, 8:48 a.m. - IslandLife
I have a similar experience, but I've been migrating back and forth between clips and flats quite a bit this year... there are some reasons for that. Last year I was on a bigger bike (160mm in the rear) and this year I'm on a smaller bike (138). last year I ended up riding flats most of the time and I now realize that my bigger bike probably let me get away with a little more poor positioning because right away, on my smaller bike, I felt like I needed to switch back to clips to keep my feet on the pedals and ride more light, over and around things vs straight through them. I also went to jump school this year which forced me to use my flats. But as I rode more and became more comfortable on my smaller bike while working on improving form, I realized I could essentially ride the same terrain and speed as long as I was on point with my form... clips or flats. This showed me that I also ride with better form... or maybe it's easier to ride with better form while I'm on flats. I can descend with a more mid foot position which allows me to more easily keep my heels down, forces me to think about a more legs tall, hips hinged centered body position. My clips, while the cleats are as forward as I can get them (Giro Chamber II), I can't get them to the same position as my flats. I've noticed that I now have more confidence riding steep gnarly and fast chunky terrain on my flats vs my clips. My bike does have a long reach (491) and I'm 5'11... on OneUp comps, my flats are Crank Brothers Stamps. Now... my other issue with clips... is that I've found I really enjoy the freedom of flats and being able to move my foot positioning around. I like to climb closer to a more ball over axle position while I like to descend with a more arch over axle. I could modify my clips to give me a better descending position, but I don't think I could handle long climbs in that position... or maybe I could?