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Home / Culture / Downhill

Would you Rather Ride a Sketchy Downhill Trail… [Survey]

Hands on the grips, feet on the pedals. Both are important to being in control of your mountain bike, especially on a challenging descent.

By Jeff Barber
May 3, 2020

12 comments

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Hands on the grips, feet on the pedals. Both are important to feeling — and being — in control of your mountain bike, especially on a challenging descent. Depending on your style of riding, one could be slightly more important than the other.

Tell us why you chose the answer you did in the comments below.

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Jeff Barber

Jeff Barber has been mountain biking since 1992 and has tested hundreds of mountain bikes and components. He is the co-founder of Singletracks and serves as Editor in Chief. Contact him at [email protected].

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12 Comments

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paulnshawn Georgia // 2012
May 3, 2020

I always ride platforms. While I wouldn't want to ride on clipless pedals, if I had to I still wouldn't want to be clipped in, especially on a sketchy downhill. I jump, drop, ride skinnies, washouts, and rock gardens on my platforms. The only place I might be comfortable clipped in would be a paved Greenway.

0 reply

atbscott 2016
May 10, 2020

I chose no grips. If it's a sketchy trail I am probably not going that fast, and can deal with no grips better.... Esp if I am wearing gloves. If not, I can easily wipe my hands off on my shorts or shirt! Losing footing on a section can hurt more and "been there done that" with early clipless pedals that un-clipped unexpectedly at speed.

0 reply

Bill_sci Florida // 2018
May 7, 2020

I guess most people ride flats. I expected more tuxedo shoe people!

0 reply

25psi Pennsylvania // 2017
May 7, 2020

I may as well wear swim fins and a full body cast, because either way I'm going down hard.

0 reply

ZipHead South Carolina // 2015
May 3, 2020

I once rode a downhill section, that I knew really well, blindfolded. On a dare. It didn't end well, if memory serves.
I know trails are still closed in lots of places, but this is one of those polls I never thought I'd see.

0 reply

m.krupp Kentucky // 2018
May 4, 2020

I ride flats and when I finally upgraded to good pedals and then a grippy shoe changed my riding. Doesn't matter what type of grip I don't notice a big difference. I can death grip the bars but can't grip pedals.

0 reply

AUTHOR

Jeff Barber Georgia // 1998
May 3, 2020

I said tuxedo shoes on clipless pedals. Over the years I've gotten pretty good at riding on clipless pedals in all kinds of shoes while commuting to work. Never dress shoes mind you, but still... No grips would hurt, and I sweat a lot so that wouldn't end well.

0 reply

Matt Miller Colorado // 2012
May 4, 2020

I think I'd have to go no grips...still a chance to keep the hands on the bars, even though my knuckles hurt thinking about it. I don't think my feet would stay on at all with the tuxedo shoe situation.

0 reply

rjjg11 North Carolina // 2020
May 4, 2020

Not all clipless pedals are created equal. I have Crankbrothers Mallet Es on my bike and they almost feel like flat pedals if you wore flat shoes. Seems like a much better option with tuxedo shoes than to go without grips. I also have the sweatiest palms. I suppose it could be bearable with overly padded gloves.

0 reply

jsrides Utah // 2018
May 7, 2020

This was a tough "would you rather." I chose tuxedo shoes. I thought my hands would be too sweaty on the handlebars without grips. But if it's a cool day, then maybe that's not a problem and I go with no grips so I can have some shoe grip. Definitely overthinking this... :)

0 reply

Dpratt23 United States // 2019
May 4, 2020

Well if you have a mighty grip and beefy hands, a set of 5 10s would get you a ton more benefits than grips. Not knocking grips, but pedals are more important. Having your skull crushers on the handlebars and some sweet stickys to grab the pedals. You would win the day on that hill...

0 reply

Dpratt23 United States // 2019
May 4, 2020

Wait, can we make custom tux shoes with sticky ass rubber soles? Is that cheating?

0 reply

Tagged: descending, dh, downhill, grip, hands, opinion, pedal, survey, culture

First published May 3, 2020 @ 1:30:00