When I was about to buy my first downhill bike , I went to a store and the guy told me nobody would ride downhill with SPDs and I can see he better keep quiet.

Ohhhh smeckma, stop please, you are making me sick. The mallets are great and Crank Bros. service is outstanding. Riding SPDs or flats is about how well you fell with each kind. If riding with SPDs you fell like you can't handle it or it's too dangerous, you're just like everyone when they ride with 'em for the first time . I have friends that can't ride with SPDs and vice-versa. I'm not a pro and I ride both ways. It's all about practice. You gotta fell confident with 'em or it's not whorthed . Nobody can't say the you won't have that extra power with 'em other than Sam Hill. Hehe. Tkx.

Ready too leave home. I'm comiiing.