Pedal types

[Little Lyon]

When I got my bike, it had Egg Beaters on it. I switched them out for Shimano clips. Is there any advice on the difference? I still have the egg beaters, but I am a new rider...

[SadieKate]

Eggbeaters are a model of pedal made by Crank Brothers.

Shimano clips only tell us that you have clipless Shimano pedals, not what model. They make several. Without knowing which, we probably can't help much.

[Little Lyon]

Check. Another lesson learned ;) I have the SHIMANO M324 Clipless SPD Platform Pedals.

[GreatPaws]

<bump> I'm curious if anyone knows the answer myself. new trek countdown t- 6 days...

[alpinerabbit]

well yah, SPD mountain cleats are different from Crank bros. but the cleats don't cost the world.

SPD Mtn
http://www.msteelcycles.co.uk/images/uploads/thumbs/thumb_shim%20spd%20cleat.jpg

Crank Bros
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/img/product/full/c/crkmxz1c.jpg

[oxysback]

I've used both styles of pedals and, hands down, the Crank Bros. are my favorites.

[Onix]

Never used either type, so I am not much help....

But, you mentioned being a new rider. Are you comfortable clipping in? If not, regardless of which you decide to use, try to practice on a trainer so that you don't fall over lots and lots :)


I use light action speed plays and find them super easy to use. I used them first in a trainer for about five minutes (the first clip in was awkward), but then after that, I took off on a ride! They were super easy.

[mayqueen]

Eggbeaters are a model of pedal made by Crank Brothers.

Shimano clips only tell us that you have clipless Shimano pedals, not what model. They make several. Without knowing which, we probably can't help much.

Hmm.. We all got to start somewhere right? I think that you need to give someone a break if they don't have the "exact lingo" down. Your post just came off a bit abrupt to me. Enjoy your pedal clipmore eggbeaters little lyon!! Just be safe and have fun.

[OakLeaf]

I don't think SK was being smart, she was just trying to figure out what the OP was asking, but even knowing which two pedals the OP was asking about, none of us could quite tell what her question was.

What's the difference between two pedals, one that she has ridden and one that she's already purchased? In some ways there are a lot of differences... and about the only ones she won't find out in the first half an hour of riding the new ones are the ones related to cleat replacement, as alpinerabbit partially answered.

Sorry this thread kind of got lost, but how about a specific question. What is it about each of these pedals that you want to know? (not that I can answer since I've never ridden either of them :rolleyes:, just trying to get it on track)

[mayqueen]

OakLeaf, thank you for the perspective. Maybe I read it differently than how it was meant from SK. As far as pedal types, my personal opinion is that new riders should really start with the basics and just get comfy first with toe clips first then upgrade to the clip less. I have heard and seen plenty of new riders bit the dust if they haven't really spent a lot of time practicing getting in and out. For me, the platforms obviously weren't cutting it, so i had my LBS add some strapless toe clips and it had been a great improvement. meanwhile i was practicing with my friend's clip less (we are the same size) and lets just say, after a while i just realized that for my own safety, toe clips were the to go. Plus Little Lyon, what kind of distances are you planning on going? Clip less are really great for those long rides, but most of my friends changing shoes for those shorter trips can be a bit cumbersome after a while. Let us know what you decide to go with.

[SadieKate]

I don't think SK was being smart, she was just trying to figure out what the OP was asking, but even knowing which two pedals the OP was asking about, none of us could quite tell what her question was. You got it, thanks. I was just trying to figure out the question and Little Lyon gave us the info (not that I could help after that because I don't use Shimano pedals). I have no real knowledge of Shimano pedals so I had not responded again hoping that someone with Shimano knowledge would.

Cages scared the crap out of me. I had far more crashes because of them. Clipless was a huge improvement, especially for mountain biking. I loved getting the big clunky white Look pedals that LeMond made famous.

I suspect the Shimano pedals are 2-sided as opposed to the 4-sided Eggbeaters. Regarding ease of clipping in between the two someone else will have to answer, and the same for float. Eggbeaters have no float but the cleats can be mounted to change the release angle.

I'm a huge Crank Bros fan and find them very easy to use. If someone asked me what clipless pedals to try first, I'd answer Crank Bros Candies.

[Owlie]

You got it, thanks. I was just trying to figure out the question and Little Lyon gave us the info (not that I could help after that because I don't use Shimano pedals. I have no real knowledge of Shimano pedals so I had not responded again hoping that someone with Shimano knowledge would.

Cages scared the crap out of me. I had far more crashes because of them. Clipless was a huge improvement, especially for mountain biking. I loved getting the big white clunky white Look pedals that LeMond made famous.

I suspect the Shimano cleats are 2-sided as opposed to the 4-sided Eggbeaters. Regarding ease of clipping in between the two someone else will have to answer, and the same for float. Eggbeaters have no float but the cleats can be mounted to change the release angle.

I'm a huge Crank Bros fan and find them very easy to use. If someone asked me what clipless pedals to try first, I'd answer Crank Bros Candies.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who doesn't like the idea of cages. I'd sooner go straight to clipless. I feel like I'd get my foot caught in it.

[SadieKate]

It just isn't an intuitive move for moi to pull my foot backward and then to the side. Not to mention the whole tighten/loosen thing in emergencies. Oi.

Half-clips for around town are OK.

[OakLeaf]

Back in the day, we had downtube shifters and were used to reaching down all the time, and toe clips weren't as big of a deal as they seem now that we're not so used to that long one-handed reach.

Still, needing your hands to be able to get your feet out of the pedals isn't the "safest" way to go, now that clipless is available. Fine 99% of the time, not so fine in an emergency when you need both hands to brake and steer. Plus, if you intend to eventually go clipless, there's no point in going through two learning curves.

[SadieKate]

Back in the day, we had downtube shifters and were used to reaching down all the time, and toe clips weren't as big of a deal as they seem now that we're not so used to that long one-handed reach.As long as you had plenty of time and no surprises, like a huge gravel pit around a blind corner and a cyclist who overtakes you unannounced and forces you into it. With clipless, I wouldn't have fallen (at least probably not.:p

Yeah, the two learning curve thing. I'm totally an advocate of the KISS method.

[Yelsel]

Okay, I'll 'fess up, I've used both. But I've used the Crank Brothers with a platform, not just the eggbeater.

I learned on Crank Brothers clipless -- I wanted a platform for just hopping on the bike for errands and around-town, and clipless for longer rides, and the LBS swapped the crappy stock pedals for a pair of used Mallets. You can adjust the amount of "float" before you clip out with Crank Brothers -- I started with the easier 6 degrees, and now have them on the standard 15 degrees. You set the float by which cleat is in which shoe. Unclipping is parallel to the pedal.

My 1998 Bianchi Eros had shimano mountain pedals on when I bought her. There are two different shimano cleats. One has little (no?) float, and you can only unclip parallel to the pedal. For a couple bucks more, you can get cleats that unclip in multiple directions - for a panic stop (or for a mountain bike), you can even rip them out straight up with enough pressure. This is the only cleat set that I know of where you can rip out the cleat straight up... depending on the perspective, you could view it as "training wheels" or developing "bad habits" if you want to use other clipless systems. I still have these on, since I haven't decided on what clipless pedal system I want to go with (I'd really like Speedplay, but the road and mountain pedals do not have compatible cleats).

I haven't found any difference between the two as far as pressure needed to clip in or out; it depends a lot more on how new the cleat is. It is usually a bit easier to clip in and out with a newer cleat.

[SadieKate]

Oh, trust me. I've managed to rip out of Eggbeaters/Candies by pulling straight up.

Panic can make you do a lot of things without thinking. :rolleyes:

[Crankin]

I intuitively knew that cages would be a disaster for me. DH bought me a pair when i still was riding the old mtb on the road, thinking it would help in the transition to clipless. I told him to send them back after he told me what was required! When I got my first road bike, I went right to spd pedals, with no issues. I had one fall, but it was months after I started using the pedals.
And I am not the most coordinated person in the world. I don't think I could have ever reached down and touched my shoes! I can barely grab the water bottle.
I have campus pedals on my around town bike, but I really hate riding without being clipped in.