Clipless MTB Pedals

Okay, Dudettes, I need help. Or, well, will need help at some point.

As some of you know, I broke my ankle two weeks ago, launching over the handlebars of my suddenly-stationary mountain bike. SPD pedals, set to pretty light tension. I have loved those pedals, but once I finally get back on the bike, I'm not sure I will trust them again. Right now, I'm not that hot on mountain biking at all :rolleyes:, but hopefully by the time I'm allowed to, I'll feel better about it. Anyway, my fibula broke before the pedals released at that angle (as in, straight up and forward, to the best of my knowledge).

My question is this: what pedals are good for mountain biking, but will release at additional angles? I want clipless, but am thinking maybe Powergrips would be a better option in the short term, until I regain some confidence. What pedals exist that would have allowed me out (there was no time to think, by the way - it happened in a flash). I REALLY don't want to go back to toe clips on my mtb - that whole flipping the pedal over from a stop thing. And platforms are out of the question - I know people who do it, but the only time I tried it I thought my shins would be scarred for life. I'm just hoping somebody will say "Oh, XYZ pedals release at any angle, including straight up". I suspect my options don't include the perfect one in my brain, but hope springs eternal.

Thanks!

I'm confused. Were your pedals in someway responsible for you going over the bars?

No - they just didn't release as I was launched forward. The bike had stopped dead. Because of the direction I was flying, the pedals didn't let go. Had there been an instant to realize what was happening, maybe I could have rotated my heels outward to unclip, but it was all in a flash, with (as I recall) at least 2 distinct impacts among the bike, the tree, and myself. Anyway, no, the pedals didn't cause the accident, but they did break my ankle. Rather, they didn't cover for my own stupidity :rolleyes:.

DH just put some mallet/flats on his mtb, and really likes them. He was an spd guy for years. That being said - power grips have the same problem as toe clips in that there's a strap to futz with. SPDs have a lot of variation, and many people don't realize you can adjust the release, or that if you never lube them they tighten right up.

I used Scott pedals on my MTB for years... Multi release, easy release - i.e. I could yank my foot straight out and they would unclip, yet I never had an accidental unclip. Here's a set on Ebay. They are not in production anymore.

At some point I put Shimano PDM540's on my road bike, and found the cleats for those wouldn't work with the Scott's so I gave them to my brother. The Shimano pedals do not release as easily as the Scott's but they aren't bad. When you get cleats for the pedals, you can choose multi-directional release or single-directional release. SH56 and SH51, respectively. I tried the SH51 and promptly bought a replacement set of SH56; you can definitely tell the difference!

You can also loosen up the tension on the pedals; that will help some.

Have you considered Crank Bros. Smarty or Candy pedals?

I have Candy's on my 'cross bike and I love them.:confused:

Athletic sports tape, my friend... it will be your friend also, just like it is to my still tender broken foot bone. Drug store brand for about $3.99 works better than name brand w/three Advils 30min prior to ride w/food for the rx part. Read: gives extra support = a good thing.

Ahh... now that's off my chest...


With your current Shimano spd ds mtb pedals, these particular cleats would really help...
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSN_SH56.html

I assume if you used the cleats that came with the pedals, they are single-release?

There is a HUGE difference I found out the hard way myself (crashed over and almost into traffic--ouch & yikes). This was on my old roadie girl. The shop got the cleats for me. Thought they looked diff. Well, the only release click out to the side. The multis you can pull several directions at an angle to get out. MUCH easier. However, they do not generally release "straight up". Thus, they are safe to ride clipped in. I ride with the tension at the lowest setting.

Besides that idea, in my massive pedal trying last season, I really liked traditional egg beaters by Crank Bros. Why? #1 reason because you could set the "release angle"... sorta like the spds w/multirelease cleat set up. I can't remember which, thinking 15 degrees, is the easiest to get out. Least amount of twisting to the outside to be free.

One thing that drew me to egg beaters was their 4 sided entry. I thought if I could get in and out a bit quicker... then I would crash less.

Another thought later I had was egg beater mallets. Think they are sped'ed as down-hill on CB website. But, you could still have a pretty good sized platform to pedal unclipped one foot. But, could clip in pretty easy without flipping the pedal over to the "correct side". I understand that one. I had a campus pedal on my mtb a while. One side spd, other platform. Sorta like cages, a PITA to get over to the right side in time for the trail obstacle etc. Took those nasty things OFF.

Only downfall to mallets, or candys etc. is that I think you lose some of the pedals 4 sided entry ability. Have yet to ride them on the trail. Can't say 100% how much of a diff any platform makes.

Hope your ankle heals up well and soon! That sorta thing really sux... but glad you were not hurt any worse.

:)Good Luck
Miranda

EDIT ADD: Re: the "un-intentional release" comment on the Shimano multi-release cleats... never had that personally happen. Even standing and climbing. The best I can describe it is that there is a slight "ice skating feel" when you are close to release. Like if you twist you foot slightly while climbing hard. Just remember not to get TOO twisty happy in the cleats and you are ok. Btw, I am a lighter rider, low 120#s normally. But, am also pretty A.D.D. on the foot twisty thing... still never came out accidently. FWIW.

I hated the Candys, the four sided entry seemed to mean tension was different on each side. I loved them for commuting, couldn't do it on the trail as numerous times I got stuck and ended up hugging a tree for dear life. For me they needed way too deliberate of a twist/pressure to release. I am now riding Time Atac XL (women's version of Time Atac XS) and am pretty pleased. They are supposed to be designed for a lighter rider than the XS but I am not sure they really are different than DH's XS pedals. ;) That being said I am still terribly nervous about getting stuck since I spent a year riding those Candy pedals.

I use the shimanos with a multidirectional release cleat. I think the cleat is the SH 56...I think.

It is a 20 dollar item, and it will change your life. Try it before you switch out your pedals. The cleat will release no matter how you torque your foot, but will not pull out while pedaling.

This post comes just in time for me as I was having the same issues with my spd pedals - they are not easy/intuitive for me as my road/Look pedals are. I suppose I should just keep practicing but I fell a lot on Sunday because I couldn't get my foot out and down. DH loosened them up but it still felt like a vice grip on my foot!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

I hated the Candys, the four sided entry seemed to mean tension was different on each side. I loved them for commuting, couldn't do it on the trail as numerous times I got stuck and ended up hugging a tree for dear life. For me they needed way too deliberate of a twist/pressure to release.

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Huh, I've have multiple pairs of Candy's and Eggbeaters (as had the hubby and many, many friends). Never noticed a tension difference on different sides and they've released every time I've needed them to, including my major kerwhump on Saturday. I highly recommend them because of the 4-sided design. And the more worn your cleats, the easier they release.

A little maintenance can make a difference. The cleats are also directional in that you set them up different ways to get a different release angle which can mean it feels harder or easier, but it's really due to the angle.

I tried everything with the Candies, maybe I had a defective pair but the left was definitely tight. My cleats were installed right. My husband tried to dispell my belief and said they felt tighter, but he had never had that problem on his. I only rode about 20-30 rides so the cleats weren't worn.

My husband rode them but after two pairs bent under his 180 lb frame, we both switched. Put me in the "Time Camp", I won't be trying any Crank Brothers products as they don't work for me. I think pedals are as personal as saddles, my experience with Crank Bros was horrid. I see tons of Egg Beaters out there, so I know they are liked but they are not for me at all.

Thanks for the input, everyone. :)

I do lube my pedals periodically (and had done so quite recently), and I also had the tension adjusted pretty loose (well, loose enough for the 99.99% of the time when I can THINK to twist my heel in time, although I generally don't have to think about it). Maybe I could set them a little looser, but I really think it was the straight up & forward thing that did it. Without the reaction time needed, looser still wouldn't have helped.

The multidirectional SPD cleats sound perfect - thanks! At least, the picture of the package would indicate that straight up would release? I'm not very concerned about unintentional releases - I'm not really that hardcore (just hardcore enough to hurt myself :rolleyes:). I found a review of the SH-56 cleats, and that person mentioned using them to get back on the bike after a broken ankle, so that makes me feel better.

Cool - something to ask for for Christmas. Not planning on mountain biking any more this season, so maybe by next May this will all seem like a bad dream.

By the way, I have Crank Brothers Quattros on my road bike, and love them. Sounds like you got duds, Aggie. Of course, they shouldn't have bent under a 180 lb guy, either. I would consider Eggbeaters or Candies or something but I'm pretty sure I would have had the same problem. When I said "additional release angles", I meant up and down, and not just side to side. Sorry - I was unclear.