Cleats idea. What do you think?

[Flowrider]

I don't wear cleats, but my mate does. We only mountain bike, and he has his right foot with a cleat and his left WITHOUT cleats.

He says it's a safety thing because when you mountain bike, a fraction of a second can be the difference between wiping out and being able to get your foot on the ground to save you.

Any thoughts? Is this something you'd do?

[Painkiller]

most ridiculous thing I ever heard, what is his pedal setup? I use nice platform pedals pinned for my type of grip that I prefer. not a cleat fan but I would use both if I did

[GirishH]

My friends have tried to convert me to cleats, but I’m a firm believer in riding without them, despite all their benefits. And I do believe in those benefits because I understand them. But I want those few extra seconds of safety when I need to get off the bike in a fraction of a second.

In my personal, non-user opinion, cleats make more sense on the road than on mountains or trails — but again, I’m not a user. :-)

I can see your mate is at least trying to get half the benefit of being cleated in. :-)

[enkei]

I feel 'naked' without cleats, but I can definitely see the benefits of being able to get a foot down (or out to the side for balance) in aggressive terrain.

[SPINMAN]

(06-26-2025, 11:20 PM)Flowrider Wrote:  I don't wear cleats, but my mate does. We only mountain bike, and he has his right foot with a cleat and his left WITHOUT cleats.

He says it's a safety thing because when you mountain bike, a fraction of a second can be the difference between wiping out and being able to get your foot on the ground to save you.

Any thoughts? Is this something you'd do?

When I did more MTB years ago I was doing lots of single track and steep hills sometimes sand sometimes slippery with leaves and pine needles. I wore speed play (now bought by Wahoo.) those are the best! Self cleaning, easy in and out on both sides. Must wear two clips-balance-in my opinion.

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(06-27-2025, 10:51 AM)GirishH Wrote:  My friends have tried to convert me to cleats, but I’m a firm believer in riding without them, despite all their benefits. And I do believe in those benefits because I understand them. But I want those few extra seconds of safety when I need to get off the bike in a fraction of a second.

In my personal, non-user opinion, cleats make more sense on the road than on mountains or trails — but again, I’m not a user. :-)

I can see your mate is at least trying to get half the benefit of being cleated in. :-)

First of all, riding with one clip is so wrong in so many ways and I can explain more in a physiological/neuromuscular way - But when I did more MTB years ago I was doing lots of single track and steep hills sometimes sand sometimes slippery with leaves and pine needles. I wore speed play (now bought by Wahoo.) those are the best! Self cleaning, easy in and out on both sides. Fever has an issue. Check them out. Must wear two clips-balance-in my opinion.

[Flowrider]

I guess each to their own. He's been riding one on, one off for 6 years so used to and comfortable with it. He knows by now what works best for him. He feels safer doing this oway

He was predominately a road cyclist for 15+years with cleats on both and now finds one cleat on works for him as he mainly only mountain bikes.

It is something I'd never heard of till he told me.

[GirishH]

My first cycling friend who tried to convince me to switch to cleats—almost 15 years ago—mentioned that they make a cyclist about 10–15% more efficient.

That’s a great reason to switch if speed and efficiency are your priorities.

This was in Boston, where it’s pretty flat. I never even learned to change gears there because it was so boringly flat! So I figured putting in a bit more effort was better for training and exercise anyway.

Like @enkei, I am sure he, my “bike dad,” and others would feel "naked" without cleats, while we “non-converts” feel so out of place with them.

That’s why I thought maybe @Flowrider’s mate took the middle path..

(06-29-2025, 10:17 AM)enkei Wrote:  I feel 'naked' without cleats, but I can definitely see the benefits of being able to get a foot down (or out to the side for balance) in aggressive terrain.

[enkei]

(06-30-2025, 06:59 AM)GirishH Wrote:  My first cycling friend who tried to convince me to switch to cleats—almost 15 years ago—mentioned that they make a cyclist about 10–15% more efficient.

That’s a great reason to switch if speed and efficiency are your priorities.

This was in Boston, where it’s pretty flat. I never even learned to change gears there because it was so boringly flat! So I figured putting in a bit more effort was better for training and exercise anyway.

Like @enkei, I am sure he, my “bike dad,” and others would feel "naked" without cleats, while we “non-converts” feel so out of place with them.

That’s why I thought maybe @Flowrider’s mate took the middle path..

(06-29-2025, 10:17 AM)enkei Wrote:  I feel 'naked' without cleats, but I can definitely see the benefits of being able to get a foot down (or out to the side for balance) in aggressive terrain.

Honestly, I don't think it matters so much for most people. Just ride what feels right for you. I'm not so concerned with efficiency. For me, it's simply what I 'grew up' riding. In the 1980s, it was cages and straps, now it's cleats. I have Shimano PD-EH500 pedals on my gravel bike, so I can easily use regular shoes or simply pedal on the platform side if I want or need to.