British NPS Leads the way in banning SPD's for Gravity Events!

 Maybe. It's just the pedal gestapo pushing my buttons. It's a form of bullying and I am suprised the site allows it.

 I've seen a nail through the foot as a new SPD think it would catch on?

 C'mon give him a brake... we need some opinions in this sport other than a bunch of kids fascinated with Josh Bender. Even if this opinion is a bit narrowminded. An just if U see me as a flats-lobby, I love SPDs and the confidence they give me.

 I think its more of a one-liner that he's become known for. Its a light-hearted joke, I dont think anybody thinks it to be super serious tbh. Its not as though he's gna go top anybody running spd's?

 Duir "Time was when beginners started out on flats and when they gained enough confidence, skills and ability they switched to flats." You're problem is?

 I think I see what you are getting at but I don't think I am the one here with the problem. Hmm I wouldn't like to think that my post could have been edited but what it means to say is switched to clips.

 just doing my civic duty

 yep usual april 1st stuff from Pinkbike for sure....

 APRIL FOOLS!! HAHA

 It wouldn't be so beleivable if it wasn't from Si Paton, the worlds most anti-spd rider. Shimano SPD's going cheap... hahaha

 ah i got all excited flats for the win

 i was so happy about this until i realized its april 1st

 f*ck, why dont they just do it for real, I mean, come on! SPD's? pfft!

FLATS FTW

 awwww. I was all happy...stupid clip ins...

 aha, I almost shat my pants...then I realized the date. Pheuwph

 but i wish they actually banned the skin suits, like c'mon, who wants to see a growen man riding a DH bike in a skin suit?

I DONT

just my opinion

 ^they did^

 only one man has EVER won a world championship on flats, and that's sam hill...

 right, so now the rest of us have a chance then eh?

 I wish Id been on pinkbike back in the porn year, I would have LOL'd so hard at that anyone got a screenshot?

 ceramic rotors exist and I have seen a perspex frame somewhere.

 yay the bike porn! my proposal a 13kg dh bike!
-frame 2,5kg - 1 pivot monocoque CF front triangle with Ti chainstays and Ti plate moulded into CF downtube of front triangle as rock shield. seat post integrated into seat tower as in TT road bikes...
-300g air shock with glassfiber body, ti shim carbon fiber reservoir and cf/ti internals
-ceramic discs with carbon fiber spiders
-CF cranks, CF integrated chain guide, rear mech from glass fiber/carbon with ti spring! shifters with CF outerbody
-crossmax SX rims with crossmax SLR hubs and titanium spokes with brass nipples
-2010 Boxxer 2,2kg with CF upper legs integrated with CF upper crown and stem, plus gold like nickel/ti coating, lower crown - forged hollow ti!! all internals CF and titanium, and off course.. titanium axle!
-maxxis 2,35" UST HRs!
-CF bars, CF seat
- and on top of it all... platinum seat clamps, platinumbar ends and grip clamps

YAY!

 I don't believe it!

 hmm carbon spider. ohhhh not sure if it could take the torque from the brake unless it had a Ti skeleton

 they are banned anyways

 Well, I think they shouldn't be banned for exactly the same reason

 no, its UCI rules

 I think its gonna be to controversial. Where and how are they going to draw the line of a tight shirt turning to a skinsuit

 Are you serious ? Its a gag. Now go do your dishes.

 April fools.

 I hope theyre not joking.

 hint at it in a settle way, that way the , uh... slower people dont get it

 I don't use SPDs due to the fact I ride my bike on pavement most of the times. It is true that I miss them when I take my bike down the trails, but you can't change your pedals every now and again and you have to make a decition on it. However, this is a joke isn't it?

 Clips encourage poor technique (picking the bike up instead of hopping it), they also pose a safety issue in the event of a crash. Nuff said.

 the fact you say that clips pose a safety issue in the event of a crash simply indicates the fact that U never crashed in SPDs. The problem with clips is not when U crash but when ppl set their clip out power too low, their SPDs tend to release on the rough stuff and then they crash... And clips encouraging a poor technique, sorry but that's a complete bullocks... I could argue that poor riders using flats put their leg out in corners way too often, and that's way worse than someone "bunnyhoping" in a bad way...

 I quite agree with you Bunkey0207. Clips do encourage poor technique as you pick the bike with your feet instead of the hands (I did not want to put it over like that, basically, out of respect for those who can't bonny-hop), but this is the reason why I just don't like SPDs (I was sort of hinting at this when I was saying "because I ride my bike on the pavement most of the times"). And about SPDs posing a real threat to the rider's safety, I mean, spot on! The only place where I really miss them is, as I am saying, when I take my bike down to the trails. This is not so more because any bonny-hop issues whatsoever, but because my feet tend to be all over the place as my ride get more and more bumpy (I do find it difficult at time to stay put where I want, that's all). As for szfetbb, I think we should probably not listen to him as it is only his heart, and not his head, doing all the talking. Anybody can see this and he who hasn't will surely prop us down out of contemp. Bunkey0207, you have spoken the truth mate.

 You guys are ridiculous!! It encourages poor technique? Maybe you are just puttin me on cuz its April fools. Who cares how you bunny hop your bike? If you make it over what you were hopping you have good technique. I ride both, flats make sense hittin DJ's, urban, or sessioning skinnies. But anytime you are on the trail (up or down) clipping in is in your best interest. There are times when i like to dab on full speed tight corners, but really if you dab on trail, YOU are the one deficient in skills. If I read this last year I may have been agreeing with you but give 'em a try you have twice the power and way more control of your bike, maybe you aren't fit enough for the trail though, muscles still elude some of you kids.

 Bukey0207 and smeckma, you better shut up. You are retards.
Are you saying that Steve Peat has pure technique?
You are stupid men, period. Actually I improved my riding when I used my spd because I tried to use my balance better and it payed off.
This is just my very personal thing though.
Lots of great dowhillers use spd like Steve Peat, Brian Lopes, Gee Atherton and lots of great dhiller don't like Sam Hill, Rennie, Kovarik.
It is personal thing!

 i said they encorage poor technique, i never said that all pro's who use them have poor technique the 'muscles still elude some of you kids' made me laugh. When in your teens, your actual age has no corrolation with your physical development whatsoever.

 So what's with the fuss guys? I said what I said but it seems like you guys ain't reading it. I never said SPDs are useless or that anyone using them are retards or something. On the other hand, I have admited to "missing them" when it is the case I do take my bike down to the trails. I did not give up on them by just turning a blind eye on its benefits: it was more kind of a thoughtful process what did actually lead me to me taking that decition. If you ride SPDs all the time, you just give up on a bag full of tricks. However, this is all based on my experience with bikes and it does not bother me what others might find usefull in this sense. What I say is, if it works for them, full stop. What I cannot understand though is people running other people down because of what they are saying or calling them names. I never said "he who rides on SPDs is a prick" did I? And I hate people who say their way is the only way. Offensive vocabulary only reflects upon its user's lack of knowledge as this is precisely the reason why they will resort to such extreeme mesures (to fill the gaps, basically), and it is true that if you are in the right, everybody will listen to you. Now I need to say I am so happy we've gone this far through it as this is where my very, very strong case for it comes in: I do ride my bike in flats because I jolly well like. How about that?

 I'm not runnin you guys down and like I was sayin I ride both so I can agree that flats have benefits. I like the power and control of spd's on the trail up or down, cuz I jolly well like it. The bunny hopping comment made me laugh however because it has no reflection in your skill if you are hopping, your hopping thats it. Finesse on your bike is a total body effort and spd's helped me realize that. And to you bunkey muscles on your bike are developed over time, that why the best endurance racers are older (see triathlon). However being a crazy f'n kid helps on the dh course unless your are a full time madman like Peaty. That being said at 19 I could go all day all night and party instead of sleep so maybe just maybe I'm wrong... Nope, I'm a veteran of the fitness industry, natural talent hits you in your teens, training hones the perfect weapon.

 i've never had a "safety" issue with my SPD's . always been able to unclip in a crash .

 smeckma do u mean that U don't ride SPDs because it is more ambitious to ride flats?! If SPDs pose a safety issue to U that mean tha U never rode SPDs! SO shut the hell up - and whats that crap about my heart?! U read too much Tolkien or wha?! EVERYONE THAT EVER RODE SPDs in FR or DH and crashed in them knows that U dont clip out concoiusly! Ur shoes just come out of the pedals and there U go just like with flats! even when U set them super tightly! And dont talk about the technique either as U have no damn idea about it... as it was said:SPDs aint better or worse - just a preference!

 your acting as though i said spd's are wrong? ok, heres the flip side: Flats aren't as efficiant when pedalling, with flats you run the risk of your feet slipping off also, and theres also the problem of if you have insanely grippy shoes/pedals and you dont quite get your foot on in the right position - theres not much you can do about it. so yeah flats also have there downsides, but id much rather stick to my 5050's than clip into a set of spd's. its all personal preference, just that spd's give an unfair advantage in some respects on the race circuit. But seriously, what does this matter? I dont currently race anyway, and i hate the commercialism associated with racing too. so this argument is pretty pointless.

 I do not think that spds is cheating. U get the pedaling benefit along with rolling through rockgardens, not mentioning the jumping factor (no way to loose the pedals from under ur feet when U do something wrong at the take off) which means u can focus on more important things, but... lets say it clear: SPDs are the hell of a pain in the ass when racing in deep mud! each time u need to support ur self whether it is off camber or slippery roots, around 90% of your focus goes into one thought CLIP IN! CLIP IN! and clipping in with a pound bowl of mud in UR shoe clip is a tough shit. Furthermore, in all conditions Spds limit the movement of the foot in the pedal, and when Josh Bryceland bends himself in corners like a rubberman or snake there would be no way he would do that on Spds. PROPS AND CONS, U choose what U like. I ride flats evrytime i feel that im getting stif on my legs as i dont have to worry about damping rockgardens and I hear my wheels screaming for revenge. I use both because it helps me to be a better rider.

 Yes, but even if you are in the right and we in the wrong, what's the point for taking on so? It is only ideas we are talking about and if you cannot stand the heat, just don't get in the kitchen please: it really is as simple as that.

 If it isn't a joke? then we can all celebrate! FLATS FTW!

 yeahhh, but i guess they cant do 2 April fools can they ?

so maybe it is true, clips are for ROADIES