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Trari › Global Mountain Bike Network
This week on the channel +1.9M views this week

Rich Payne swaps clips for freedom on GMBN's trails

Fergus Ryan offers the clipless counterpoint as a pedal rethink draws roughly 77,000 views.

Channel: Global Mountain Bike Network Story of Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The channel's weekly summary: what went up this week, what is drawing views now, and where the channel stands among similar channels.

I've Switched To Flats... And You Should Too!I've Switched To Flats... And You Should Too!

Things we can learn from the video

Press to jump

  1. 0:33Clipless pedals lock onto shoe cleats; flat pedals use pinned platforms without a locking mechanism.
  2. 4:02Rich credits flats with more fun, freedom of movement and less anxiety on technical trails.
  3. 5:14Rich argues that flats encourage correct bunny-hopping mechanics and foot technique rather than reliance on the pedal attachment.
  4. 6:45Fergus explains why he chose clips and why relearning his riding on flats feels unappealing.
  5. 8:34Fergus acknowledges that exclusive clipless riding has encouraged bad habits, including forgetting to drop his heels.

Rich Payne wants to be able to put a foot out when the trail gets tricky. After years of riding exclusively with clipless pedals, his return to flats has brought freedom of movement and, he says, more fun.

That personal rethink anchors Global Mountain Bike Network's most-watched new upload, "I've Switched To Flats... And You Should Too!" Rich explains the difference between cleats that lock into a pedal and pinned platforms, then makes a technique argument: without the attachment doing some of the work, riders have to get their bunny hops and foot positioning right.

Fergus Ryan supplies a useful counterpoint. He remembers choosing clips because racers used them and he thought they would be faster. Relearning on flats doesn't sound especially inviting, though he admits that relying on clips has left him lazy about dropping his heels on steep trails. It's less a verdict on the right equipment than a revealing conversation about what familiar equipment lets you stop thinking about.

Viewers bring their own riding histories to the discussion: returning to flats after trying clips, keeping different pedals on different bikes, and valuing the ability to reposition a foot. One asks for a follow-up devoted to flat-pedal technique.

Across fifteen uploads, the week also included Fergus's unwelcome bike modifications and the recurring "SEND Of The Day" and "FAIL Of The Day" clips. The newest sends are attracting the most daily viewing now, alongside a question about jorts taking over riding fashion.

Subscribers were unchanged over the week, while daily viewing sits slightly above its usual level. In the wider off-road neighborhood, Enduro KeX had a much bigger viewing week; GMBN's weekly views were almost identical to Bikes and Beards' total, with pedal habits giving its own audience plenty to discuss.

Published on Trari

Where next?

More from Global Mountain Bike NetworkThis week on the channel +1.4M views this weekGee Atherton's confidence lessons join GMBN's sends and workshop worriesRich Payne's riding guide covers line choice, visualization and building up gradually to bigger features.Channel: Global Mountain Bike Network · Story of October 18, 2026 Also in Motorbikes, off-road and motorsportThis week on the channel +4.1M views this weekJohn Hicks revisits his old BMX commute after midnightA turn onto San Pedro Street brings back memories of riding through Skid Row on the way to work.Channel: John Hicks · Story of November 1, 2026 A different discovery todayA video worth knowingNileBlue's skull candy hits every taste at once, but no flavorA sweetener thousands of times stronger than sugar, a famously bitter compound and pure capsaicin go into the brass-molded drops, and the verdict surprises eve…Channel: NileBlue · Story of November 2, 2026

What viewers say

  • This is literally perfect timing because I just switched to flats today after over a decade of riding clipless.
    @NabeGamma12See it on YouTube
  • I came from bike trials, so I am fully team flats.
    @yuri_on_youtubeSee it on YouTube
  • Having a pair of both types is the way to go, AFAIC.
    @HeartOfLEOSee it on YouTube
5 more comments
  • I was on flats for a long time. Road and off road. I tried clipless for six months. But went back and haven't considered cliplass again.
    @AndyRidesSee it on YouTube
  • Flats for my e bike clips for my trail bike. Enjoyed learning to use flats after years riding clips
    @jimmyebbrell6951See it on YouTube
  • Always ridden with Flats on the MTB, did use Clipless on the road bike for a few years but never really liked them, I like being able to float and reposition, and modern Pedals and Shoes are really very secure. Seems to be more a difference in feel.
    @rogercmerrimanSee it on YouTube
  • Flat pedals for life!
    @corykayhoe1033See it on YouTube
  • Clarkson easter egg was a nice touch
    @advtyunSee it on YouTube

Public comments from the video's page on YouTube

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The videos drawing views on Global Mountain Bike Network right now

Ferg’s not too pleased with his new mods 🪇 🫘⁠75,814 views · 2026-10-29 SEND Of The Day58,301 views · 2026-10-30 FAIL Of The Day50,466 views · 2026-10-29 SEND Of The Day43,209 views · 2026-10-28 FAIL Of The Day30,679 views · 2026-10-30 SEND Of The Day15,838 views Are Jorts taking over? 🤣🤯⁠20,938 views
The facts
Subscribers
2,090,000
Channel views, last 7 days
1,913,644
Videos published this week
15
Video published
October 29, 2026
Video views so far
76,823
Views on its first day
53,574

The numbers

Here is how GMBN's uploads and audience moved over the week.

views gained this week: this channel and similar channels
Enduro KeX
18,701,554
Rockstar Harley
9,846,929
John Hicks
4,064,822
Matt's Off Road Recovery
3,930,970
brian_636
2,513,919
Harley Davidson People
2,400,465
Bikes and Beards
1,914,396
Global Mountain Bike Netw…
1,913,644
Driver61
1,076,730
subscribers
2,090,000
no significant change in the last 7 days
total views
761,535,943
views per day
271,899
typical day: 256,962
first-day views of each video posted this week
I've Switched To Flats... And You Shoul…
53,574
Ferg’s not too pleased with his new mod…
47,362
SEND Of The Day
31,952
FAIL Of The Day
37,670
SEND Of The Day
30,816
FAIL Of The Day
24,996
subscribers: this channel and similar channels
Bikes and Beards
2,840,000
Rockstar Harley
2,300,000
Enduro KeX
2,270,000
Matt's Off Road Recovery
2,210,000
Global Mountain Bike Netw…
2,090,000
brian_636
2,030,000
Harley Davidson People
1,980,000
John Hicks
1,970,000
Driver61
1,520,000
As of November 1, 2026 · Data source: Trari Social News, Trari Traffic Trends and Ranking Platform, Google YouTube
Subscriber, view, like and comment counts are YouTube's. Rates, usual days, rankings, comparisons and categories are Trari's own calculations.
Developed with YouTube

💡 Test your knowledge

Who joins Rich Payne to explain why he prefers riding with clips?