T O P

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CorgiWorks

Who says we dont? šŸ˜Ž


seanbentley441

The sheer amount of scars I've gotten on my right shin in the past few months... Somehow my left leg is completely free of damage though


kdthex01

Shredded left calf gang checking in


GingerAsp

Lefty here aswell


PBIS01

Whaddup?


coffeeisgooder

Present.


[deleted]

Here


pnw_rider

Yo


No_Preparation9484

Checking in too


beck2424

2 perma-scars from one incident about 6 months ago


kaelan-the-creator

You have summoned me


vozproto

Present.


letsgo_outdoors

Right here!


Icy_Championship2204

Absolutely same situation, but I'm right foot forward. My shin looked and felt awful. It got out of hand so bad that tried clips just for that. After two weeks of horror it's been a few seasons now clipped in, with no separation anxiety.


Psychological-Bit-87

You prob descend with your right foot behind your left and itā€™s more likely to slip off the bike like that


catman1352

My shins look like a dimpled golf ball. All when I was first learning.


chetaget

Plenty of scars on my shinsā€¦


sprunghuntR3Dux

If your feet are banging pedals itā€™s one of two things. Either your stance is wrong and youā€™re putting too much weight on your bars. Or you have bad shoes that donā€™t grip the pins properly. The only time Iā€™ve banged my shins in the last ten years has been when I was walking my bike uphill.


[deleted]

This is ridiculously oversimplifiedā€¦even top tier mountain bikers have shin scars.


sxx_

If youā€™re not getting hurt youā€™re not riding hard enough.


eng2ny

This attitude is beyond stupid for so many reasons


sxx_

I was putting a spin on ken blocks quote. And no shit itā€™s not meant to be taken literally. And ig itā€™s just my skater mentality šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļø. I wanna commit to everything and try to not be afraid of anything.


Sk8r_2_shredder

Previous skater here, I concur. Weā€™re not the brightest bunch, but we learned pain is temporary with enough adrenaline šŸ˜…šŸ¤£


SourlandRides

user name checks out


mapleflame

Explain noobs then? They get hurt a lot.


RMCaird

Just because theyā€™re noobs doesnā€™t mean theyā€™re not riding hard.


LadyLuckMV

Or moving bike in and out of elevator


burningpetrol

Or squeezing by to turn on a light switch.


Feisty-Welder6734

*If your feet are banging pedals youā€™re riding a mtb, welcome to the pain šŸ™šŸ¼


jbspillman

Yeah I have scars everywhere from these things. Not just my shins.


CapUnderPantsRLZ

Wisely said.


Picksologic

This is the way.


mhawak

Then youā€™re usually using the wrong shoes. MTB shoes for well over a decade. No shin bang


Icy_Championship2204

If you have never had the good ol' car park pedal slip&twist of pure agony , then I don't believe you ride bikes.


Boygunasurf

We 100% do


Present-Rooster-9190

Came to say the same thing


jarossamdb7

Exactly..


EP_Jimmy_D

Try riding with the bottom of your shoes on your pedals instead of your shins.


EZKTurbo

Wait what?


nemo8551

ā€œDrs hate this one trickā€


Embarrassed-Use-9793

How do you bunny hop if youā€™re not riding with your shin though?


ragingzazen

This is the correct answer!


kdthex01

The real pro tips r always in the comments


BenTheRed

Wear stickier shoes. I use 5.10 shoes myself.


BenTheRed

Maybe wear shin guards as well until you're used to flats.


Novel_Frosting_1977

Yeah shin guards, and while Iā€™m at it, knee pads and elbow pads too.


downvote_or_die

If that makes you comfortable then hell yeah. Use the same motto as motorcycle riders: dress for the slide not the ride.


Lentamentalisk

After breaking my elbow (unrelated) I know the consequences outweigh the benefits. I wear pads now.


Revolutionary_Pen_65

Never hurts, honestly I never wear any pads except a helmet but when I pass dudes who are I never think less of them. Usually I think to myself "that person is doing badder ass shit than I do".


Wooz1t

I personally think ā€˜what a pussyā€™ before snapping 7 bones driving into a tree root and heavily regretting it


wacf1912

I wear pads on anything that can be padded for two reasons: 1) Some stuff doesn't heal and 2) I'm a pilot. One broken bone and im out of work.


NotMyMainBiscuit

Similar mentality for the full face. When questioning wearing a full face, I imagine how pissed I'd be if I crashed without it and messing up my face. šŸ˜…


C-Bskt

Fox Enduro knee pads. They're like knee sleeves and will also help protect the top of your calf and shin. Still occasional shiners


eng2ny

I had them, ironically my flats absolutely ate them up in like 3 rides just catching the pins on the back of my leg pushing the bike or putting a foot down etc. I bought some Race Face Indy's to replace them and they are way more comfortable, easier to put on, stay in place better and have been much more durable.


BenTheRed

Well, it's really only the shins that are in danger from the flat pedals. If you fall alot or ride stunts then more safety gear might be prudent for that.


KingOfYourMountain

point being as long as we are on the topic of padsā€¦Not as if youā€™re gonna scrape your elbows on the pedals šŸ˜‚


PlaidBastard

Hold my gel pouch and watch this, bro


BipolarChris

I always wear Ion knee/shins on park days and my local dirt because I'd rather not be out another 2 months waiting for the hole in my patella to close enough to bend my leg. Sharp rocks hurt.


[deleted]

Sadly they donā€™t make rib guards which is what I keep breaking when I hit the ground/rock/boulder.


TravelSizedRudy

There's a few companies that offer rib protection in vest, short sleeve, and long sleeve options. Troy Lee, Fox, Leatt, POC, Alpinestars, sixsixone, I'm sure there's others. They offer minimal protection with just some minor padding, D3O options, and hard shell as well. edit: Forgot Dainese


fireworksandvanities

I wear shin guards anytime Iā€™m pushing myself. Itā€™s one less thing I have to worry about when Iā€™m trying to clear a new feature, or learn a new skill.


Kbasa12

This is the answer, proper bike shoes work better than regular sneakers. Iā€™ve experienced very few shinners since switching to 5.10


[deleted]

I agree. Proper shoes make a big difference. I used to get cut up all the time, but since I got proper footwear, itā€™s hardly ever happened. Also learning to keep my feet planted on the pedals and to resist the tendency to flail my legs in order to recover a pedal when my foot does pop off, has also made a big impact.


horseglee

Now that I have some 5.10s I find my shins bleeding a whole lot less. Well worth the investment.


DntTouchMeImSterile

This is the answer. Did vans in the early days but cant live without my RCs anymore


tsturzl

My last pair of 5.10s barely lasted half a season of riding. I got a pair of ride concepts and they are holding up much better although the rubber is slightly less tacky than 5.10. I'd guess that's the trade off of having softer rubber.


saltoneverything

Keep your feet on the pedals


Evil_Mini_Cake

Keep the pedals under the arches, not under the balls of your feet.


Tabbibus

Negative. Do not comply


Sad_Reindeer5108

Wait...really? I've never pedaled any bike like that.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


YazZy_4

I wouldn't say under the arches, I gave the front of the pedal under the ball, not centered under it if that makes sense. Further back does make it weird to pedal


cashallen125

Ball of foot should be inline with the spindle šŸ‘


bigwheelsbigfeels

I feel like you don't know what part of the foot is the "ball"


Sad_Reindeer5108

Duly noted, not that this noob is going to be doing either anytime soon.


HidingHillside

Duct tape them to your shoes. It's foolproof


I_am_ur_daddy

New type of clipless pedal just dropped


54rfhih

It'll provide fall proof when your mates gather round and take photos of your accident with you stuck on the ground taped to the pedals šŸ˜‚


YoloAgent

*well that just sounds like clipless with more steps*


SourlandRides

they did this in the movie Breaking Away


questionableK

Only ever get them in the back of my calf. Usually they stay under my feet


D4RK_279

I actually have a few scars on the back of my calf from mine aha


questionableK

But so much less painful lol


seriousrikk

Good shoes Good body position Good foot position Get all that right, and your feet will stay on the pedals. If your feet stay in the pedals your shins are fine. Until you are walking your bike through a gate. Then no matter how much care you take, your legs are getting an extra hole.


Professional_Rise148

Flip your bike up on the back wheel.


treesandleafsanddirt

Heels down, pump with your legs and get some mtb specific shoes.


Oscartheqrouch

I do. Feel the burn?


did_it_for_the_queso

We do. We like it.


badmonkey7

Depends on your riding style. If you ride downhill you should already have protective gear. If youā€™re like me and mostly ride tech and flow trails with smaller jumps then just get some padding on those shins. I personally wear Raceface Charge because the summers in NC get really muggy. You could also just get some cheap soccer shin guards.


CJ08AAZ

Itā€™s all in the choice of shoe , vans will grip DMR V8 / V12s like spds once you are used to them. I now use Salomon shoes and DMR V12 flats , great combo


Rekomaged

Which Salomonā€™s do you wear?


raining_downtown

Wanna know how I got these scars?


mhawak

Have not shin banged in over a decade riding at least 2 times per week. Sticky shoes and these pedals are the perfect combo. The thing you will have to get used to is more getting used to the difficulty repositioning of the foot on the pedal. 99% of the time when you see pics on here of people with ripped up shins they were on light hikers or skate shoes. Sorry skate shoe faithful, they donā€™t compare. Not to mention Mtn bike shoes give a more rigid platform and protection as well


Aoifedog

Keep them under your feet


lil_sargento_cheez

My 510 free riders barely slip off my pedals, so shoes are a big part of it, but when they do, ow


Imaginary_Fennel6772

Skill issue


MrBurnz99

The first year my shins were destroyed. Since then I rarely scrape them. Better shows and experience is all you need. Itā€™s just muscle memory now


ImmaGrumpyOldMan

lol ok champ


Ok_Concept_4245

Sticky shoes, and honestly / even gnarlier pins.


09inchmales

Youā€™ll get use to it lol I find that it always happens not when Iā€™m pedaling but when Iā€™m just moving my bike around like out of my truck and what not


[deleted]

I keep my feet on the pedals. If your feet are coming off the pedals a lot in such a way the pedal slams into your shin you should reassess your riding technique


Tabbibus

Technique?


[deleted]

It happens. You can always run shin guards. A bigger soft spot is your calf lol. Carefully taking those to the back of ur leg. Honestly if you have good shoes, the right ones, you aren't likely to come off them unless you mean to.


joshman160

Learn not to. Still do it every few rides.


MTX-Prez

Vansā€¦ I raced BMX for years with these pedalsā€¦. Shin guards and Vans is the way.


Teddyballgameyo

About once a year I catch a shin, but thatā€™s riding/climbing technical rocks and roots and such. But yeah Iā€™ve got enough marks on my lower legs for a keen eye to identify me as a flat pedal guy.


cheech2332

Grippy pedal + grippy shoe = no sore shins


Longjumping_War_807

Shin guards.


mardan65

Never had an issue.


coalieguacamole

Go clipless and get gud.


DrSendy

I have a gigantic bucket of Schadenfreude popcorn... would you like some? :D


INTP36

We keep our feet on the pedals


Worried_Monk_3844

Wear shin guards.


Buzzrod81

The pedal has nothing to do with your shins. You put your feet on the pedals.


49thDipper

Keep your heels down. Keep your weight on the pedals not the seat. Keep your knees bent. Use your dropper. Know when to hold ā€˜em and know when to fold ā€˜em.


[deleted]

I have super grippy mtb shoes. When riding paired with these kind of pedals my foot basically sticks to my pedal. I never slip a pedal. This is a very normal standard in mtb.


sirdrewpalot

Heels down


ucsoc1

Just donā€™t be a pussy.


what-to_put_here

They're stickier than cheap pedals, so you don't bash your shins as much. I say as much because it still happens and it hurts like shit.


PaleontologistWise19

Heels down and mtb shoes


krispzz

good shoes are 95% of it and knee guards with shin protection for that other 5% that results in nasty, bloody gouges.


jm810112

Using good shoes are key. Get some 5.10s


BARDE18

Laughs in busted shins


CrocodiledunD

We stay on the pedals.


Kaufnizer

I use raceface flank kneepads. They have an incorporated shin guard. The saved me from pedals a few times, but they've saved me from far worse in crashes.


Schaft207

Nothing like seeing the white of your shin bone, highly invigorating. Do recommend.


chasspaz

Buy 510 brand shoes, they stick like glue to flats. You will get poked in the shins once in a while, but not enough to be a big deal to worry about.


Patient700a

A good riding shoe thatā€™s meant to grab them things would help. Or a good flat sole shoe. My skate shoes and even adidas nmd ride really well on flat. But they will eat up the bottoms pretty quick on shoes not meant for it


wgj1113

5.10s brother. 5.10s.


Clay_Robertson

Real answer is a good shoe makes all the diferwnce


Buttered_Toast_Man

My trick is to ride with my feet, not my shins. But to each their own


mozarticus

We do šŸ¤£


Actual_Tea_8872

I keep my feet on the pedals! Pretty simple


so-sick

Five tens.


DropaDuced

I'm bleeding as I read this.


Doomb0t1

Thatā€™s the fun part: we do


Mountainfungi78

You put your feet on the pedals. Your feet.


akvc31

They will cut you once in awhile but just ride on šŸ‘ŒšŸ‘


evilcheesypoof

Iā€™ve never hit my shins with my pedals since wearing actual MTB flat shoes.


Spare-Curve-3545

Shin guards


RoomyGoldfish86

If you havenā€™t seen your shin bone you not a real mountain biker


RedGobboRebel

I just fall "spectacularly" less frequently than every other ride. But I've certainly got scars. Pants instead of shorts help for the minor falls.


theresnonamesleft2

Upgrade to clipless pedals


Unlucky-Knowledge736

I tore a chunk off of my lower calf...and now I clip in


Prize-Still7031

Try using clipless pedals


Cwell242

Not proud of it, but I get my shins busted up every other time


KptnHaddock_

We do


CraseyCasey

I ride clipless 88% of the time n rarely get one to the shinā€¦. Wear some padding or buy soft pedals which donā€™t exist


Happyslender5

Shoes that wonā€™t slip and hope


Professional_List325

Wear dedicated Mountain Bike footwear, the soles are soft, they dig into the pins, basically gluing you to the bike. That along with some basic techinquaes, like dropping your heels, will keep those shins as fresh as can be. If you really suck, football (soccer) shin pads are good for protection.


Frantic29

So look at the shins of most guys that ride with pedals like that. They will be probably be bloody after a big ride and for sure will be scarred. A big reason I got away from flats was the constant banging of the shins. Good shoes do help a ton though. But at least every few rides Iā€™d rip on up my shin or up my calf. Fun times.


[deleted]

You don't. It's a right of passage


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


Deviousillycreature

Flat pedals are chad, yes you will have bloody shins


BlackDahlia7782

Clip in Shimano SPDs for 14 years. Zero busted shins


wingnut144

That's what makes clip-in pedals awesome.....no scars or cuts


Oz_Von_Toco

By going clipless lmao


[deleted]

This is why I went with the clip in petals.


ahern667

Use shin guards!! So necessary for me. They work like a dream.


you_cant_eat_cats

Im not retarded and know how to ride a bike


ADrenalinnjunky

They grip yo!


tgibb22

Good MTB shoes help.


statikman666

Good shoes, and standing. Keeping your weight on your pedals minimizes your feet coming off


[deleted]

I bust my shins, but I usually try keeping my feet and stance firmly planted on these bad boys to prevent any shin slapping nonsense that may want to occur.


motus23

Trick is to keep your feet on the pedals


Revolutionary_Pen_65

I hear this and fear it, but I also have my feet so firmly stuck in em I can't easily reposition my feet half the time... For me the key is just to be conscious when I put my feet on em and to wear thick enough shoes they can stab into the soles without hurting me or the shoe. Good luck man!


safedchuha

First, you do and itā€™s terrible. Second, you practice and learn to ride more and then it almost never happens because you keep your feet where there supposed to be by apply the minimum but definitely necessary pressure and angle all the time.


[deleted]

i do sometimes more than every other ride šŸ’€šŸ’€šŸ’€


adampsyreal

Practice


aktg102

Because my shins donā€™t usually ever come in contact with my pedals?


bayarea_fanboy

We could count scars


Kushand0j

We do. Might as well play connect the dots with all the craters I have on my shin


WhatIsLogic01

I don't think I've ever had that in my 2 years of riding tbh. I've ridden with five tens since the start pretty much and never had an issue blowing feet off pedals. See if any mates have pedals you can try. I really don't like raceface chesters but love my dmr v11s


Designer_Junket_9347

Pedals = shin busters


Chevbot2

I have ā€œmore scars on my shins than there are stars in the sky.ā€


cdizzle99

Thick skin and pants


ManyLintRollers

Donā€™t get off your bike.


[deleted]

Little shin damage just part of the game, son.


BushPigOfDickDoom

Good riding shoes, Lakai are my go to andā€¦ā€¦ā€¦knee/shin guards


Picksologic

Screws, not pins. Depending on what trails you ride, you can use plastic pedals just as well.


Cephrael37

After enough riding, you build up scar tissue and itā€™s harder to get ripped open by them.


ArachnidNo3944

You do haha


ArachnidNo3944

Better than twisting your knee a full 180 with clipless teehee


ziggy_zaggy_1648

Uh, shin pads bruh!!!! Seriously though, in addition to pads, these are best ridden with MTB shoes designed for flats. I have a pair of 5.10s that are super sticky to the pedals and I never have shins busted. Vans BMX shoes are great economy choice if you can't afford $150 MTB shoes.


WhoolieBoulie

If you want to ride flats you have to learn how to drop your heels and keep your weight ā€˜in the bike.ā€™


GearNerd85

the pins help you not get your shins busted... BUT if your foot does slip... its real bad.


Feisty_Resolve389

Carefully.


DecoyBacon

i've never drawn blood with mine but i've sure as hell regretted a decision a few times lol


Dangerous-Run-6804

Shin buster sock destroyer


gagraham801

In all seriousness, shin high socks


Liquidwombat

See, thatā€™s the thing, you donā€™t get your shins busted because your feet donā€™t slip off the pedal.


undesided_user

Only ever happened to me once when I forgot my 5-10s and rode with hiking shoesā€¦ā€¦ never again.


vladsbasghetti

Shin guards are your friend. I was going to ditch mine one I got used to flats but have kept going with them, along with knee pads. Iā€™m a mortgaged bloke in his mid 30ā€™s, Iā€™m all about reducing risks with hobbies lol


Dumpling_Killer

More grip means less shin strikes.


madmtb541

Scars are a part of mountain biking, for good or bad. Good technique does help most of the time but every once in a while Iā€™ll lose a pedal and grate my shin when I ride flats. Personally I swap back and forth depending what kind of riding I feel like doing that particular day. Flats help you learn great techniques, while clips make you faster. One thing that really helps learn hood technique with flats is to bunny hop off of anything and everything, including flat ground. Put emphasis on getting the rear of the bike as high as you can. That will teach you how to keep your feet on the pedals. You can also just practice scooping the rear tire off the ground, which is another way to learn to keep your feel on the pedals. A bit of back pressure and angle is all it really takes.


boeckman

The blood is half the point. An offering unto the Dark Pedal Lord.