Thread: MTB Etiquette

Originally Posted by bell1975

There's a good reason why my bikes are either in pieces in the shed or on a static trainer...there's not a road or track around Murgon that I've found worth riding unfortunately.

Ah yes, but around Murgon you should have enough land and the means (ie ready supply of tractors and timber) to create your own trails and Northshore!

Bike shop rang to tell me it's coming in tomorrow for the build. They are also going to do a fit. I was a bit surprised about that, as I know a professional fit is standard when setting up a road bike, but I was unaware the same applied to MTBs - they didn't do a fit when I bought the Cake a few years back...

Now to pedals....I thought I still had my old egg beaters, but they're not here....so the shop is doing a deal on a set of XT pedals - $50.00. I ride Times on my Madone - do the XT's have any float?

Anyhow, I'm as excited as a 4 year old on Christmas morning - I'll post up some pics once the beast is safely home.

Thanks for all the advice guys - might need to freak out JR and co for just a bit in my lycra before I find some kit....

XT pedals are a good solid choice. The eggbeaters are a bit lighter but they tend to get bashed about quite easily. And yes, there is float, and probably a lot more than you are used to on a roadie, but you kind of need it. I can't remember if you can get cleats with different amounts of float for MTB, but your pedals will probably come with the standard SH51 cleats anyway, which is what nearly everyone uses.

Fitting for a mountain bike is far less common because you're always standing, sitting, and moving about; not sitting in the one place for extended periods like on a road bike. For such a rigid purposeful machine as your's it's probably a good idea, and the bike shop should be offering it anyway seeing as you're forking out a fair amount of $$$$.

Originally Posted by Scallops

Now to pedals....I thought I still had my old egg beaters, but they're not here....so the shop is doing a deal on a set of XT pedals - $50.00.

I assume you mean the M770?

Personally, I like the stability of a semi-platform pedal ( M647 ) over drops/jumps/downhill.

If you don't want a platform, you may be better off sticking with the times as you are used to them.

[Edit - your road times are probably completely different to XC times?)

good advice that no Lycra....

Like people here have suggested i wear knicks under light bike short. Camelback.

I also use fingerless gloves on longer ride (office hands )


I run crank brothers mallet pedals cause i can still take the bike up to the shops without having to change shoes and prefer stability for jumps/drops too

Originally Posted by isuzurover

I assume you mean the M770?

Personally, I like the stability of a semi-platform pedal ( M647 ) over drops/jumps/downhill.

If you don't want a platform, you may be better off sticking with the times as you are used to them.

[Edit - your road times are probably completely different to XC times?)

Not sure what the model code is - they just said someone ordered XTR pedals, these came in, he didn't want them - insisted on XTR, so they're doing me a deal...they'll be 2011 XT pedals though...

...I kind of regard the rigid sole of my shoe as a platform itself, so not sure if I'd prefer a bigger pedal surface; guess I'll try the XT out and see - glad to hear they have plenty of float, It'll save my knees...and yes - my road Times are completely different to XC Time pedals!

Originally Posted by brend0n

good advice that no Lycra....

This advice is completely understood and taken onboard!

Like people here have suggested i wear knicks under light bike short. Camelback.

Thanks....I'll likely do the same as my days of racing are well and truly over (and never started on a MTB

I also use fingerless gloves on longer ride (office hands )

Yep - I always wear fingerless gloves too - thanks for your advice.

I run crank brothers mallet pedals cause i can still take the bike up to the shops without having to change shoes and prefer stability for jumps/drops too

M647s on a 9.9 SSL . That would be like a gymnast in army boots...... umm, yeah, I guess that could be a good thing ....... No! I'm suggesting this would be a bad thing.

Hmmm, I'd better stop (think unsexy thoughts, think unsexy thoughts, JR in lycra).......

Originally Posted by rainman

M647s on a 9.9 SSL . That would be like a gymnast in army boots...... umm, yeah, I guess that could be a good thing ....... No! I'm suggesting this would be a bad thing.

Hmmm, I'd better stop (think unsexy thoughts, think unsexy thoughts, JR in lycra).......