Clips Vs Flats – Which Mountain Bike Pedals Are More Efficient? | GMBN Does Science

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1. I've been thinking a lot about that 'pulling' effect one can imprint with clipless... but that would mean the opposite leg, pushing, has less strength than the one pulling...
   to make it short I don't see how this pulling thing works in a two legs configuration... ;)
   and I guess I'm proven not so wrong... not even talking about having to move on the bike in real life situation...
   flat win!!!!!!!
2. Sounds like you need to redo the test, but push the same gear on both pedal types.
3. Nice vid love them all guys! Just as an idea can u do a series on the best FF helmets as I am looking to buy one. I ride mostly grade 4 and 5 downhill trails. Thx
4. Would love to see a similar video comparing oval with circular chainrings!
5. I rode clips (with no platform) for 8 years and say I didn't even think about them. Clicking out is so easy. With use, could find the clips without looking. I have the new SPDs with platforms now. (Hated the Candys because the clip rotated separately from the platform...just stupid confusing, imho). Now riding Front Range CO, so we will see.
   Also broke my leg and tore my ACL dabbing down my foot, so that could have something to do with my preference. Seems like a no brainer to me that platform-only are more dangerous, but it all comes down to the rider and their experience, I guess. A lot more to get injured on when your foot is dabbing in a mtn environment.
6. flats allow for more proper foot placement and better pedaling...pedaling on the ball of your foot isn't as productive. .
7. Pushing down is just way more efficient for powering a ride than pulling up. Clipless may make the pedalstroke smoother, it also wastes energy that could be used to push down a little bit harder.
8. I'm super old school with my solution after trying clips years ago and hating them.
   i use flats with a cut down cage upfront and no strap.
   i get a small improvement to smooth the spike power between down strokes.
   I'm able to position crank arms to suit technical rougher stuff.
   slip off is greatly reduced.
   and i can move my foot around at any time on longer rides which helps foot ache reduction.
   small price to pay is looking like I've time warped from the early 80's haha
9. Is he using and oval ring?
10. I just find clips put my foot in the right position whereas flats I have to think where they are a bit more. Tried going back to flats but couldn't get on with them. Found on gnarlier, looser trails if I want to get my for down just loosen the clips off a bit which makes it easier to get the foot out and dab down. It's just a few turns of an Allen key which can be done on the trail.
11. I use flats with Classic Vans (I'm 40 years old with a BMX childhood, you take the Vans away and I lose my mojo instantly) and I can do almost the complete spin with them. I made my self a pair of classics Vans clipless and I tried them two runs. Conclusion I went faster uphill, set my record today, but slower on the downhill, I felt awkward, mostly for the pedal positioning closer to the front of the feet. I don't know yet, but I almost positive that I feel more free and get more fun with the flats, but may I have to get used to them.
12. great video
13. i wonder since carbon soles are shown to be more efficient than softer nylon,and flats in a more efficient than clipless..if a platform clipless with a carbon sole would be closer to a flat than a standard clipless. i don't think weight is much issue between platform clipless and standard clipless anymore. xpedo baldwin ti are lighter than xtr.
14. one test you guys could do is biking until failure, that would be interesting to show which pedal causes you to fatigue more quickly
15. I use flat pedals and while my bike is too small for me I do find it easier to pedal uphills while standing up. My back is more straight so oxygen delivery to my lungs is more efficient and I also feel as though I use the weight of my upper body to help push down on the pedals.
16. with clips you can have both legs helping at 360º. That´s a huge advantage.
17. Any MTB rider who has ridden both will tell you that clipless are far less tiresome and smoother
18. My daily rider has flats on it and when I ride I feel more in my quads but my moms bike has clips on it and i feel like I'm doing less work so I'd have to say the clips are better just don't use them if your not very good with balance cause my mom (and me) has fallen many times with them
19. CONCLUSIVE PROOF THAT FLATS ARE BETTER ALERT: There is a point during the pedal cycle where you pull up just before transferring to a push at top dead centre and this has no benefit and actually wastes energy. There you go, conclusive proof that flats are better than clips.
20. That canyon bike is beautiful