Touch points - what's your favorite grip, saddle, pedal?

Posted by: thaaad

That's the secret, we do!

I've always assumed you just weren't running a rear mudguard.  Suddenly everything makes sense.

I gave clipless a solid try, running them on my DH for a full season. It's great in the tech chunk chunder for keeping feet on the pedals, but IMO sucks for everything else. Confidence for jumping, corners, woodwork, general jank is much better on flats, especially for the 8 months of the year it's wet and 2 months it's marbly. You need to be mindful of lines and body position to keep feet on pedals, but you should probably be riding like that anyways. Just my opinion though, everyone has one.

I gave them a try as well. Anything downhill where I didn't need to dab, I was WAY faster clipped in. Not having to commit mental cycles to keeping my feet in place was a game changer.

But, I couldn't adjust to climbing anything remotely technical, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it was not a matter of if, but when, I was going to have a big crash that could have been less extreme if I'd not been attached to my bicycle. Not worth it.

Running the ODI Longneck V2.1 Lock On grips and loving them. Way less brutal on my hands.

Re clips vs flats, there are pros and cons to both, both physical and mental. For example, with flats you know you can easily put a foot down to dab if needed so you don't crash twisted up in the bike or fall off a skinny. At the same time though, that source of fear can also be a source of commitment to doing a difficult section because you think there is no option other than cleaning it. A similar thing can happen with climbing in clips. Not only do clips help you pedal, but you can be forced to commit to difficult sections where it may be easy to dab if you're on flats.

What makes mtb'ing confounding in terms of saying a certain setup is better or best is that there is a huge rage of riding conditions to deal with compared to a lot of other activities. So with a number of aspects of bike setup, there may be no clear answer other than what the rider perceives in their mind to be better even if there may be valid biomechanical reasons for a different option.

Posted by: syncro

Re clips vs flats, there are pros and cons to both, both physical and mental. For example, with flats you know you can easily put a foot down to dab if needed so you don't crash twisted up in the bike or fall off a skinny. At the same time though, that source of fear can also be a source of commitment to doing a difficult section because you think there is no option other than cleaning it. A similar thing can happen with climbing in that clips. Not only do clips help you pedal, but you can be forced to commit to difficult sections where it may be easy to dab if you're on flats. 

What makes mtb'ing confounding in terms of saying a certain setup is better or best is that there is a huge rage of riding conditions to deal with compared to a lot of other activities. So with a number of aspects of bike setup, there may be no clear answer other than what the rider perceives in their mind to be better even if there may be valid biomechanical reasons for a different option.

So true.

I started running clips as soon as they came out, up until I moved to BC in the freeride days and found them way too sketchy on skinnies (and there were lots back then!). I have gone back to them a few times but always come back to flats, the shoes are more comfortable, you can hike in them easier and and just less hassle. I will continue to rock flats, even on my gravel bike!

Deathgrip Race Edition Renthal Kevlar slip ons.

Chromag Mood DT

XTR Trail and Saint Clips. NSB flats

Grip - On my trail and DH bikes, Deathgrip in thick and soft with a flange, on my DJ bike ODI Longnecks, on my gravel bike, some gel pads and thicker tape, I think from Pro in petrol blueish, was nice together with the pads on my recent bikepacking trip through Sweden and Denmark.

Saddle - on my DH bike Burgtec, on my DJ bike a Chromag overture, on my trai__lbike a WTB which is nice, on my gravel bike a Brooks C17 made from rubber, I think. Really comfortable once broken in. No need for a chamois on rides shorter than 100km.

Pedals - Trail bike Burgtec composites, DH bike Chromag Dagga (unbelievable! Why did I not buy them earlier????), DJ bike Chromag contact which are awesome as well. Standard Shimano spd pedals PD-M540 on my gravel bike I think.

Since we're talking about pedals can we talk about shoes for a sec? :D

I ended up with a sample of a basically new pair of 5.10 Impacts and scrounged a really clean used pair of DMR Vault pedals so I'm going to spend the winter on flats again and see how it goes. Been on Shimano clipless pedals for 20 odd years on pretty much every bike. Took a quick few laps with the kiddo and felt ok on the pedals, these shoes are pretty bulky and hot though so I'm not sure I'll stick with them for long. Heavy as heck too.

Skimmed the thread and didn't see any mention, but anyone have any experience with the Ride Concept shoes? I like the look of the Accomplice and Wildcat but I don't know anyone who has them.

I've heard only negative things about ride concepts shoes. If the impacts are too bulky just go with the freeriders.

Posted by: Kever

I've heard only negative things about ride concepts shoes. If the impacts are too bulky just go with the freeriders.

I really like my RC shoes. The grip from the flat pedal shoes is a little less than Freerider Pros but I like that. But I am not a good flat pedal rider. The two sets of clipless are also excellent. Good stiffness on par with ME7 but a bit more flex at the toe.

Posted by: andy-eunson

Posted by: Kever

I've heard only negative things about ride concepts shoes. If the impacts are too bulky just go with the freeriders.

I really like my RC shoes. The grip from the flat pedal shoes is a little less than Freerider Pros but I like that. But I am not a good flat pedal rider. The two sets of clipless are also excellent. Good stiffness on par with ME7 but a bit more flex at the toe.

I agree. I like them, even though they are a little on the soft side and not as stiff as the 5.10 Impact for example.

Other shoes I really like are the BMX-specific Vans, nice grip (a little more than RC but a little less than 5.10) plus the insole is quite nice and firm. Currently I run the Vans Dakota Roche in green

Posted by: thaaad

Since we're talking about pedals can we talk about shoes for a sec? :D

I ended up with a sample of a basically new pair of 5.10 Impacts and scrounged a really clean used pair of DMR Vault pedals so I'm going to spend the winter on flats again and see how it goes. Been on Shimano clipless pedals for 20 odd years on pretty much every bike. Took a quick few laps with the kiddo and felt ok on the pedals, these shoes are pretty bulky and hot though so I'm not sure I'll stick with them for long. Heavy as heck too.

Skimmed the thread and didn't see any mention, but anyone have any experience with the Ride Concept shoes? I like the look of the Accomplice and Wildcat but I don't know anyone who has them.

I really like the Hellion Elites I have had, significantly grippier than the Leatt shoes I've tried.  My feet aren't 5.10 shaped so can't comment on RC vs 5.10.

The RC shoes I have used have the Max Grip soles which is significantly gripper than their High grip rubber.

I don't find them overly sweaty.