Mtb pedals - any suggestions?

[MightyMitre]

Hi girls.

Irulans poll has re-newed my interested in mtb and I've even gone as far as buying a couple of mags to see what kind of bikes they're got out there.

I have a question though. On my road bike I currently use Speedplay pedals but wondered what sort I should go for on my mtb.

I quite like the look of SPD platforms. I like the idea of a wide surface area while I learn some riding skills, and they also look handy for if I just wanted to jump on my bike and head down the shops without having to put cycling shoes on.

Any thoughts/ suggestions for this mtb beginner?

[Kpicha]

Before I went back to flats, I had used 959s, then Time Zs (looking for that platform). The 959s were great clipping in as long as there was NO mud/dirt/ice. They were my first clipless pedals so they were still setup as loose as possible and they worked well but I didn't like the lack of platform.

On to the Time Zs. At first, I really liked the platform, then after a little while, I realized the clip in mechanism was too far above the cage so that anytime I was unclipped, I really didn't have any platform at all. As far as adverse conditions go, these pedals were FANTASTIC! They never, ever once clogged up with mud or ice or anything. I would occasionally have trouble getting unclipped at the last second and that really held me back on learning new techniques.

I ended up getting Wellgo Mag (flats) with skate shoes and my confidence in getting over obstacles increased tenfold and now I'm getting over stuff that other people who've been riding much longer still have trouble with. Climbing with flats is a little harder than with clipless but with the right technique, it works. Its a little bit of a trade-off but I'd much rather have the confidence in getting over stuff and worry about my climbing later.

Anyway, those are my short lived experiences I'm a very rare one that prefers flats over clipless but the 959s were really good for just starting out and platform with clipless won't really give you what you're looking for; just a false sense of security of sorts so good luck with whatever you end up with.

[Irulan]

the whole flats vs. clipless is the ongoing perpetual debate in MTB. The hybrids pedals are a lame compromise.

You probably want to consider your climate more than anything. Some shed mud very well and some dont'. SPD's are horrible in the mud. ( ask me how I know) Eggbeaters are supposed to be good as are the times.

Also, they all required different knee/foot motions to release. Frogs are supposed to be less stress ful if you hvae knee issues.

I've been riding with clips for years: I think there's a real advanttage when climbing and pedaling. But for really technical, I can see where flats may have the advantage.

~I

[Adventure Girl]

I ride SPDs on my mountain bike, but they have a cage around the clip. I need the clips for climbing, but I really like having the flats for technical stuff, near a cliff or anywhere I don't feel as confident. I don't see very many people riding pedals like mine, but they work for me.

The pedals I run have clips on both sides (just like regular SPDs). There are others that only have a clip on one side. I think these would be confusing for me. I would never know what side was up, and I would probably clip in when I didn't want to.

Clips require more TLC on a mountain bike than a road bike. The mud and dirt do cause havoc on them. You have to keep them as clean as possible, adjusted and well lubed.

I ride a pedal that works something like this:

[Cdalekat]

I'm happy with my Shimano M545's (?) - I'm not entirely sure what number they are.

Essentially, SPD clip both sides with an extra cage around them so I can use them as flats (or with regular shoes) if I want.

I haven't had mud issues, though my tension is set very low.

They've also been good for learning clipless - they don't require me to be clipped in when restarting at a traffic light - I can just pedal and then get clipped as I'm traveling.

[MightyMitre]

Many thanks for your replie's girls.

Haven't even got a bike sorted yet but thought I ought to do some pedal research from people who actually use them, rather than just reading magazine ads/reviews.

I like the look of your pedals Adventuregirl. What brand are they?

Regarding the climate - yes, mud is going to play a big part in my choice so thanks for the advice.

[Adventure Girl]

The pedal in the picture is a Shimano PD-647. It is basically a Shimano PD-M959 Pedal (mud shedder) that has the cage wrapped around it.

[Trek420]

road or mountain bike, what do y'all think of eggbeaters?

They look cool, are supposed to shed mud and dirt. Are they compatible with regular SPD shoes? Any problems getting in or out?

[JanT]

My first clipless pedals for mountain biking were TIME aliums, and sometimes I couldn't unclip quickly enough, which impacted my confidence. I switch to Shimano, I believe 536's, which are no longer produced. I now have Shimano M540's, also on my road bike. They have enough platform that if you aren't clipped in, you can still control the pedal. I like a pedal that you can enter from both sides. If you don't have the clip on one side, you will always have to flip the pedal over. That's not easy to do on a rocky descent--or getting started on a tough uphill.
That being said, I think pedals are much like saddles. You just have to try some out and find out what works best for you. Good luck! You won't regret going clipless, once you get past the learning curve.

[Kpicha]

Originally posted by Trek420
road or mountain bike, what do y'all think of eggbeaters?

They look cool, are supposed to shed mud and dirt. Are they compatible with regular SPD shoes? Any problems getting in or out?

I haven't used eggbeaters but someone I ride with swears by them and she never has any problems clipping in. I think I've only seen her tip over two or three times from not unclipping in time and that was due to her being more tired than anything else.

No, they are not compatible with SPD cleats. Eggbeaters come with their own type of cleat. Check out http://www.crankbrothers.com . They've got some neat lookin' pedals!

[triscuit]

SPD pedals, especially clones, are cheap. You can get them for $25 on sale (I got Forte's at Permormance). They work well enough for learning on, and you haven't spent a lot of money if you hate them. I now have a cheap pair on my commuter that I initially learned on. However, these do not shed mud well, and don't hold up to trail riding (there is one bolt that falls out and makes the spring stop working).

Real Shimano SPDs (I use PD 540s) were redesigned in the last year or so, and are now much better. They hold up really well, shed mud better (though probably not the best out there), and I really like that the tension is adjustable.

I have only used these two pairs of pedals, but friends use some others, so here is what I can tell you based on their experience:

Eggbeaters: make sure you DO NOT get the 2002 model. They fall apart really easily (whatever holds the pedal onto the spindle shears off). They were redesigned in 2003 to make them more rugged to solve this problem. They are pricey. The pedals come with the special cleats, which look a lot like spd cleats. They are not as adjustable as spds, but have two settings I think to adjust tension. They shed mud very well.

Time: my boyfriend swears by these. They do not have adjustable tension, but shed mud really well. They seem to last forever. He is using a set for 5 years, and he rides a lot.

Frogs: The pedal sheds mud, but the shoe doesn't. The spring is in the shoe cleat, and if you have to hike a bike at all, they get all cruddy. HOwever, if you have knee problems, these have the most float, and are supposed to be easiest on your knees.

[RitaG]

When I made the big jump to clipless pedals, I went right to Eggbeaters. I love them! Now, I did fall, a lot, but that was mainly because I had never used clipless pedals before. So I would take a tumble even going uphill, slowly. But I have gotten better.

With Eggbeaters, you cannot adjust how tight or loose the clip-out is. And I feel like I really have to twist my ankle out to un-clip; I've gotten used to that too. But when you're in, you're in, and you're feet will not come flying off the pedals.

I also like that there are 4 sides to the Eggbeater pedal, which makes clipping in a breeze. No maneuvering. Just hop on. I don't miss any sort of platform. However they do make the "candies" version, which does provide a platform if you'd like that extra bit. They also resit mud and dirt, so there's no worries there.

I've been really impressed, even though I can't compare them to other clipless pedals. My husband had been using Frogs. After they broke, and my husband spent half a season watching me on Eggbeaters, he decided to try a pair. He couldn't believe how much he liked them. From the moment he clipped in, he said they felt more secure. He's sold on them now too.

Hope this helps.

[SadieKate]

I LOVE my Eggbeaters. They shed mud, they don't require maintenance (or at least much). I can get in and out without looking, thinking or delay. I'm also not the one sitting on the side of the trail picking out small stones and sticks that lodge beside the cleat or the pedal. They are fabulous. They have never caused me to fall-- only my own occasional inept manuevers.

If you think you'd like a bit more of a platform, try the Candy version. Same pedal but has a platform around it.

[triscuit]

I was at a big mtb camping trip this past weekend, and two guys' eggbeaters sheared off the post. I thought Crank Bros had fixed this problem (notorious on 2002 model) but they were both current year models. So if you are still looking at pedals, you might want to take that into consideration. Times last forever (my BF has a pair that are 9 years old. They creak a little, but work just fine.) My shimanos are almost a year old and holding up fabulously.

[SadieKate]

Huh? Never heard of the problem with Eggbeaters. My husband and I have been riding them for 3 years on 5 different bikes and have had zero problems.