Flat versus clipless pedals — an older mountain biker's experience — Chromag Scarab flat pedals — a short review

© 2016 Peter Free

 

17 September 2016

 

 

Theme

 

Three points:

 

 

What follows is an elderly, lifelong cyclist's account of his change from clipless to flat mountain bike pedals.

 

It includes a mini review of Chromag Scarab flats.

 

I tentatively conclude that, for people with physical limitations similar to mine, flat pedals probably lower the potential for more injuries.

 

 

Keep in mind that

 

Younger and capable riders would not consider the terrain that I ride challenging.  What follows is directed only at people in the same boat that I am.

 

 

Aging requires occasional adjustments

 

I'm about to turn 70, have been riding regularly for almost that long. I hardtail mountain bike most days.

 

The terrain is not technical. But it is occasionally steep, slippery and staccato-rough. I have twice had a (skewer-secured) wheel come off the bike. Though I fixed this by replacing the original equipment skewers — on a 2015 Orbea MX 10 — with Shimano XTRs, I still occasionally lose control on these patches.

 

As a result of these falls, and after decades of riding clipless, the physical limitations associated with age encouraged me to try flat pedals.

 

 

The main clipless problem for me — no time to unclip

 

In the last two years, I notice that I almost never get completely unclipped. In the time before impact, I seem to be calculating how to protect 3 permanently injured body parts. These include a cobbled-together left shoulder, a traumatic brain injured head (TBI) and a right side (metal on metal) replacement hip.

 

Evidently, mental and position processing to protect these previous injuries takes too long. I never get as far as actually twisting out of both SPD pedals. As a result, I have experienced some probably unnecessary further mishaps.

 

The route I ride has a couple of rough (for me) sections. Sudden falls on these patches persuaded me that staying clipped in on them is a bad idea. I first tried switching from Shimano's high end SPD pedals to their dual purpose M324 model.

 

The M324 allowed me to unclip on more difficult sections and still have a platform to push against. The dual purpose Shimano pedal is, however, not really designed for mountain biking on its flat side. The platform has no pins and no way to keep hard soled SPD shoes in secure position across rough ground. Even trying to find the side of the pedal that one wants to use is challenging along bouncy ground.

 

As an experiment, I bought a pair of Chromag Scarab flat pedals.

 

 

Review — Chromag Scarab flat pedals

 

 

Wider than most

 

Chromag Scarab mountain bike flat pedals are large at 110 x 105mm. This is nice, especially going up steep hills. The pedals are slightly wider than the width of size 10.5 D (US) shoes. Foot support is excellent.

 

 

I have the impression that I can generate more power with these flat pedals than with the XTR-equivalent Shimano SPD pedals that I used before. If I am not careful to modulate pedaling power, the rear wheel often spins going uphill. This happened less often with SPDs. On the other hand, I seem to make it up the steepest hills on my route a bit faster than before.

 

 

Flat pedal shoes

 

I have been using Five Ten Freerider shoes with the Scarabs. The Freeriders are not very good for my purposes. See my review, here.

 

 

One hypothetical drawback to the Scarabs

 

The Chromags do not revolve as easily as most. There is more resistance to spinning the platform (by hand) than I have experienced with any other pedal.

 

However, the Scarabs always stop in a good position to get one's feet back onto them. That may have been Chromag's intent in designing a bit of resistance into them.

 

 

Durability — not tested

 

I do not often bash into rocks, so I cannot comment about the pedals' longevity under those conditions.

 

 

Pretty darn nice

 

Chromag Scarabs are excellent for my purposes. I like their bright colors. Anything that makes me more visible, while riding paved roads to mountain biking trails is a plus.

 

 

Differences between riding flats and clipless

 

My first two rides on the Scarabs demonstrated some performance differences between flats and clipless pedals. Certainly they feel is different. My experience with Five Ten's Freerider shoes indicated that one has to pay some attention to pin-created hot spots in flat pedal shoes.

 

 

On the positive side

 

Being able to instantly swing a foot off the pedal for balance has helped. As an experiment, I tried riding down one of the rock-strewn, wet ruts that usually bucks me off. I got carried away and went too fast.

 

I tried to divert the front wheel up the rut "wall" to get off the stream-bed rocks. But by then, the edge of the rut was just high and wet enough to make the front wheel to slip back down onto the bronco-replicating rocks and mud.

 

I began falling to the left. Instinctively, my left foot swung wide in the same direction. This adjustment to center of gravity allowed me to pull the front bike wheel upright and recover. Clipped in, I would certainly have gone down.

 

Additionally, I think there is no question that it is easier to fall properly without a bicycle attached to one's feet.

 

 

On the negative side

 

With the Scarab's broad surface, I occasionally apply way too much power going uphill. The rear wheel spins half a pedal revolution. One foot flies off. As a result, I experience a disconcerting change in balance.

 

Though the rear wheel sometimes breaks loose with SPDs, my foot (naturally) does not come off.

 

Overall, this particular difference between pedal types is not a big deal. SPDs keep me from making the mistake, and flats allow me to easily correct it by touching a foot down if necessary. With more experience, I will better modulate the power that I deliver.

 

For what it is worth, I am now certain that I pull on the upstroke with clipless pedals. I had not been certain about this, before making the switch to flats.

 

 

Time saving

 

I like not having to clip and unclip depending on which part of my route I am on. The time-saving is noticeable. Like a kid, I can just get on the bike and go.

 

The flat pedals have certainly not been slower for me. In fact, I think, the reverse.

 

 

Another flat pedal virtue — for me and a few other people

 

When I am tired, TBI after effects allow my attention to wander. When this happens on clipless pedals, going up very steep hills, I sometimes lose momentum and begin to topple over. Though I haven't fallen this way yet, the resulting adrenalin kick-ins are not pleasant. Flat pedals avoid the topple problem. I could easily touch a foot down.

 

Though this sounds like a trivial positive, it is surprisingly reassuring.

 

 

Another concern—  which experience with flat pedals set aside

 

I had anticipated that I might dislike not being able to get my feet perfectly positioned on flat pedals. This has not been much of a problem. Though I do find myself in different positions on the pedals, changing to a better position has not been that difficult — even with the supposedly sticky rubber Five Ten Freerider shoes.

 

I also like being able to change positions on flat pedals. I can adjust a complaining foot, ankle and knee. Arthritic folk will understand the benefit.

 

 

The moral? — Flats or clipless?

 

If I can find less hotspot-generating shoes, the Scarabs will stay on my bike. Given my physical limitations, being able to bail (without unclipping first) is helpful.

 

However, I repeat that younger and capable riders would not consider the terrain that I ride challenging. It is my aging person's physical limitations that find benefit in flat pedals.