gotdurt

Personally, I couldn't care less what people use. I was just correcting some bold, meritless claims so that those contemplating can make an educated decision based on their own needs. As for data, there have been lots of studies, tests, etc over the past decade; it's all there for the finding. A quick search yielded the links that I posted ealier, some by coaches, and a GMBN video that was actually scientific; start with those and I'm sure you'll find some interesting info.

Just like clipless, it takes time to work out the techniques and commit to muscle memory, but once it "clicks", it's fun. At first, it'll seem that way, because you'll be expecting it to work the same as clipless, but once you master it, there'll be no difference, other than you'll be able to do it without "help".

I can see by the speed with which you replied (I immediately removed the space at the bottom after posting, but it's in your quote) that you didn't even look at my post... you should actually read it first.

Then you are doing it wrong. These are all arguments from the 90's (I know, I was one of those guys arguing it), by those who haven't had sufficient experience on flats. climbing efficiency sucks It has since been proven that clipless actually has no real advantage in efficiency. All kinds of stuff about this online. they destroy your legs There has never been evidence of flats destroying legs, in fact, some clipless pedal designs *are* known to damage knees... unless you are talking about pin-shins, but you should see what spd's do to shins (I speak from experience)! Shin protection is an easy fix though, if that scares you. your feet can slip/bounce off the pedals Nah, not if you are doing it right. If your weight is properly distributed, pedals weighted, heels down, your feet will stay put. In fact, my feet leave the pedals less now than when I rode clipless. When I first experimented with flats on my squish, I thought there was no way they would work on a hardtail, especially on our rough trails. But, after a few months of riding them, my riding technique naturally changed and these things became 2nd nature (just like learning to ride clipless), so I decided to give them a try on the hardtail... after a few rides, no bouncing, lifting, etc.. Rugger and I went to some popular "unmentionable" trails yesterday, and I took the hardtail since my shock is at Fox. We hit some of the "rowdiest" (gah, I hate that term) descents (and climbs), with not a single bounce or slip. more unnecessary effort/technique to bunny hop or control the rear end of the bike Not at all, it's all relative; there is no extra technique, in comparison. Just as one has to learn to ride clipless and develop 2nd nature techniques, you do the same for flats. Bunny hopping wasn't a big deal for me, as I was bunny-hopping on flats as a kid, and controlling the rear is a learned technique, whether on flats or clipless; once it becomes 2nd nature, you don't have to apply any thought or extra effort. After riding flats for a few years, I actually look back on clipless as a cruch that kept me from improving... After 25 years on clipless and about 5 years on flats, I can do anything on flats that I could "clipped in", and just as well, if not better. Experience, grasshoppah! I did a quick search, and these came on the 1st page: https://www.bikejames.com/strength/top-3-clipless-pedal-myths/ http://ipmba.org/blog/comments/should-you-be-riding-flat-pedals Good article, skip past the first photo if you don't want to read the intro and history on clipless, etc: https://shouldersofgiants.com/2016/03/01/flat-pedals-vs-clips/ Science! https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=395&v=CNedIJBZpgM From Betterride: http://betterride.net/blog/2016/mountain-bike-pedals-flat-or-clipped-in/ Same argument applies to flats, see above. Hmm, this is truth, but I would argue that most are much less likely to hesitate if they aren't clipped in... in my experience with both. I agree here; I've ridden about every system made since 1990 (I rode real clips, with straps, before then ), and settled on spd, until I discovered Time in '02... IMO, it's the only way to go for clipless. I'm not arguing that everyone should be riding flats, but to say that flats suck with those arguments is, well, a touch ignorant.

I rode muddy, sloppy, splashy trails today. In full disclosure though, I rode them with the principle trail builder, so I guess I shouldn't feel too guilty.

Honestly? Not much, usually... but today, I bought overhaul parts to fix our master toilet that started leaking last night, went to the post office to see if any of my slacker clients decided to pay me yet, I chased a dog out of our yard that broke our fence (again) and attacked/injured our chicken, set up a home veterinary clinic in our kitchen... and now I still need to repair the fence, fix the toilet and somehow fit in a site plan that I told one client I'd have done today. Meanwhile, my shoulders were starting to feel pretty good after doing nothing over the holidays... that was until I started swinging a 2x4 at my neighbor's husky...

I cleanse my palate with circus music; it'll overwrite anything. Honestly, it's probably the most suitable soundtrack for my ride/life anyway.

I wear headphones when I ride... ...with all of the 90's grunge bands on shuffle.

Hans and Missy on e-bikes?! The end of the world is nigh; no stopping e-bikes now, lol. That first trail was sweet... I have an old MTB buddy in LA, looks like I need to pay him a visit. All these years, I don't think I've ever heard Missy's voice... she needs to lay off the smokes.

As long as it isn't an e-kayak.

Non-e is doable, but you'll definitely want an ebike for muddy days.

Good to meet ya Patrick, BTW, that cloud of pollen finally had me switch from contacts to glasses today... Soooo gtg. Sorry, I cheated today 😁 Just have too much to do tomorrow to get ready for our Xmas trip, knew it was today or nothing...

Cool, how'd you do it? I stopped and pondered possible solutions, but didn't really see anywhere to easily drain to since it's so flat... I was actually thinking like a small retention pond-like area between tracks for each set of rollers that would be dug deeper than the roller troughs, and drain to that...

Recon there's fish in that pond? First time on Peddlers in a few months, figured it should be dry by now... can only imagine what it looked like a week ago.

Meh, maybe 3/8 notch above Walnut. (<- Brushy joke) Wonder how long he spent getting his bars square again each time he turned his stem? Just one of those would have killed the rest of the day for me. Seriously though, while this is a pretty extreme example, and maybe I'd see it differently when I'm actually at the edge of that exposure... but I'm afraid of heights, and there have been times when I was home editing videos from trips where I was suddenly like "OH S@#%!, I don't remember that!"... sometimes you get so focused and involved in the ride and the trail ahead that these exposures just don't register... anyway, I wonder if that factored in here some. On another note, that was some fantastic videography... definitely going in my fav's.

D proper is primo... as of around noon there were still some slick rocks and a few splashy places, but with the sun high and the wind blowing, that should improve quickly. Gittit before snowmageddon tonight. Rim was still a little slippery, but not sloppy. Picnic is borderline in spots, mainly at the upper east drainage crossing PX is a mess at both ends.

+1 Just got back from "riding" (read: walking) parts of 1/4 and DD... turned into more of a spot check than a ride; still too wet in most places, lots of sticky, yucky, splashiness. I don't see it being ready tomorrow, especially with the humidity and clouds in the forecast, then comes more rain...

That's the kind of nostalgic story telling Brian was looking for this morning... Eric could only tell his side, then talk crap about you to balance it out, haha 😆 I tried to defend you, but I wasn't part of the interview...

I went out yesterday, same situation... it didn't go as well as I had envisioned, lol. I cut the short ride I had planned... well, shorter. It also seems I haven't healed as much as I thought had. Text me, maybe I'll try again tomorrow, if I don't have to leave town.

Yep, thaz them.

I saw it today; I say engineer that bad boy with some big rocks and make it a feature... As for the trail, it's mostly decent, enough to lure you into a false sense of security before throwing you off with some snot-slick spots in the worst places...

I kinda want an e-bike...

There is, it's just kept a secret and they want everything hidden from view.

I really have to get back out there soon, haven't really ridden RPR since the 2014 enduro... I say "really" because I went once to photograph the 2015 enduro (I was injured) and once this year but damaged a tire and had to cut it short. This needs to change! Morris, which Hero 7 are you using?