Which pedals?

**beancounterbeth** · 10-03-2007, 07:17 AM

Thank you to everyone for all your input.

I guess I should have added a couple more details. 1. I have used white lightening and the right foot still sticks. 2. I have Specialized road shoes that are brand new and I don't want to spend more money on shoes.

There are enough women on here who suggest the eggbeaters to make me really interested. Can I use them with road shoes? Also, is there a specific crankbrothers eggbeaters pedal that is highly recomended? Can I adjust the tension on the cleat/pedal to make it easy to clip in and out of?

**VeloVT** · 10-03-2007, 07:36 AM

I have Ultegra (SPD-SL) pedals on my road bike and eggbeaters (just the plain ole' eggbeaters, not one of the platform varieties) on my cx/commuter bike.

I like both. I definitely prefer a road-style (SPD-SL, Look, etc) pedal for road biking -- I feel like I get better power transfer and they're just so solid.

But, the eggbeaters are super easy to clip in/out of, and they shed slop like nobody's business. Only issue I've had is that sometimes I feel like my cleat is loose, but when I go and check it, it's not -- gotta figure out what's going on there because it's distracting.

I'm not sure if eggbeater cleats are compatible with road shoes -- if I had to guess I'd say not with most (more traditional road cleats have three screws spaced in a triangle with a wide base -- the eggbeater cleats are more like spd mountain cleats, two screws set close together). I'm sure someone else will give a definitive answer though. I'd worry about the slipperiness of eggbeater cleats on road shoes if they are compatible. Everyone hates the "duck waddle" you're forced to do with road shoes and cleats, but the big road cleats do give you a little traction when otherwise slick road soles would have none. (I use road shoes for my road pedals and mountain shoes for my eggbeaters).

**VeloVT** · 10-03-2007, 07:52 AM

One other thing -- I'm not sure I'd want to characterize clipping out on the same side each time as a "bad habit", ESPECIALLY for people new to clipless. I think when you're first starting to use clipless pedals, unless you're super coordinated (which some people are!), it takes a while to get establish the muscle memory/neural pathway/whatever to automatically clip out when you need to stop, and to lean to the correct side. Having a pattern that your conscious brain can hang on to -- "slow down, clip out left, lean left, stop" -- can really make this process faster and easier.

I've been riding with clipless pedals for about a year and a half, and I don't think about my pedals anymore. I DO clip out on the same side 90% of the time, not because of some rigid adherence to habit, but because I get a faster start with my dominant leg clipped in. However, I've demonstrated to myself a few times recently that when I NEED to clip out on the other side (such as when I'm going 2mph in deep sand and start to lose it), I have no trouble doing it, and I don't have to think about it, and I don't risk leaning to the wrong side --it's just as automatic as my "sweet" side.

**Trekhawk** · 10-03-2007, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by liza

I'm not sure if eggbeater cleats are compatible with road shoes -- if I had to guess I'd say not with most (more traditional road cleats have three screws spaced in a triangle with a wide base -- the eggbeater cleats are more like spd mountain cleats, two screws set close together). I'm sure someone else will give a definitive answer though. I'd worry about the slipperiness of eggbeater cleats on road shoes if they are compatible. Everyone hates the "duck waddle" you're forced to do with road shoes and cleats, but the big road cleats do give you a little traction when otherwise slick road soles would have none. (I use road shoes for my road pedals and mountain shoes for my eggbeaters).

Hmm Im thinking they probably are compatible. I have egg beaters on my mountain bike and Quattros on my road bike (both pedals are made by Crank Brothers) and the cleats are pretty much the same. I can clip my mountain bike shoes into my Quattro road pedals but Crank Brothers recommends shaving a little off your mountain bike shoe to make connection between the shoe and pedal a little easier. The Quattros are basically an egg beater with a platform around them. I love my Crank Brothers pedals.

**VeloVT** · 10-03-2007, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by Trekhawk

Hmm Im thinking they probably are compatible. I have egg beaters on my mountain bike and Quattros on my road bike (both pedals are made by Crank Brothers) and the cleats are pretty much the same. I can clip my mountain bike shoes into my Quattro road pedals but Crank Brothers recommends shaving a little off your mountain bike shoe to make connection between the shoe and pedal a little easier. The Quattros are basically an egg beater with a platform around them. I love my Crank Brothers pedals.

Huh. Interesting. It makes sense that the cleats for all of the Crank Bros pedas would be the same I guess. Do you use road shoes with your quattros... and if so, is the combination really slippery

? I'm curious about this now.

**Trekhawk** · 10-03-2007, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by liza

Huh. Interesting. It makes sense that the cleats for all of the Crank Bros pedas would be the same I guess. Do you use road shoes with your quattros... and if so, is the combination really slippery

? I'm curious about this now.

Yep I use road shoes with my Quattros and don't find them slippery. If you check out the link below you will see that they have a platform piece that surrounds the cleats and I think this helps.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=13057

**TsPoet** · 10-03-2007, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by liza

Only issue I've had is that sometimes I feel like my cleat is loose, but when I go and check it, it's not -- gotta figure out what's going on there because it's distracting.

Some describe the feeling of riding on eggbeaters as similar to riding on ice. I get that, too. It's the float. You can get used to it, it's a good thing, really it is

Also make sure your cleats are whichever way makes for less float, that might help the feeling of riding on ice.
I notice the feeling when I've been riding my trike a lot. My trike has powergrips which, oddly, have less float. So, when I go back to my road bike with the eggbeaters, that cleat is loose feeling takes awhile to go away.

**KnottedYet** · 10-03-2007, 07:23 PM

I clipped out with my right foot first for 25 years with toe-clips.

It seemed perfectly natural to clip out with my right foot with my cleated pedal system. (aka clipless)

I can clip out with my left foot first when the need arises.

When I ride on my platform pedals, the right foot nearly always hits the ground first.

Do whatever works for you.

**ilima** · 10-06-2007, 05:24 PM

I just switched from Speedplay X2s to Shimano Ultegra SPD-SL (PD-6620).

While I loved the float of the Speedplays, and they were absolutely effortless to clip out of and into (friends with one-sided pedals sometimes fumble at traffic lights to clip back in; not me in the X2s), I found myself developing 'hot spots' on longer rides (45+ miles or so). Folks claim that the Speedplay pedal has a large platform because of the way the cleat clips in with the pedal, but I could definitely tell I was on lollipops and my feet really weren't supported.

After getting really, really painful hotspots during a Half IM, I decided the Speedplays had to go. Folks at the LPS recommended the Look Keo CroMo (which you can find on sale online), but I wanted the widest platform so I got the Shimano SPD-SLs. So far I really like the supportive and wide platform. Not nearly as much float as the Speedplays, but still a bit with the stock cleats. I'm still getting the hang of clipping in since the pedals are one-sided. Sometimes I have to look down to ensure I'm clipping in right. And despite having the tension set to the lowest setting (I think), it takes some effort to clip out.

There is a 105 version of the newest SPD-SLs for 2008, the PD-5610. Good bargain, IMO. Weighs slightly more than the Ultegras but cost considerably less.

**beancounterbeth** · 10-07-2007, 08:02 AM

Hi Kenda! No, I haven't ridden on the trail to Skiatook yet. Actually, I haven't ridden much in the past couple months because I became so afraid of my Speedplay pedals. I went to the LBS (I would name which one I use but I don't know if that is against the rules) and bought Look classics yesterday. So far I have only used them on the trainer but I really think that I'll like them more than the Speedplays. It came down to the Shimano SPD's and the Looks and in the end the Looks won due to the weight and since my husband uses Looks I figured he would approve of the choice. Oh, and the LBS guys suggested the Looks.

My husbands keeps trying to talk me into the Wednesday night ride but since I've only been riding since March I don't think I'm up to it just yet. Plus I need to get the feel of my new pedals and overcome my fear of clipless.

Thank you everyone who gave me input on which pedals you prefer. It really helped in making my decision.

Beth

**kdskaggs** · 10-07-2007, 08:06 AM

Hi, Beth,

If I can get someone in my family to go with me, I might try the Skiatook trail today. I'll let you know how it is if we go. We usually ride the Katy trail on Sunday and Riverpark on Wed. I get tired of the Riverpark traffic.

My LBS wants me to try the Looks too. I'm looking at new bikes and may switch over to Looks with the new bike. I tried them a few years ago and hated them but I was told they changed the pedals and they are much easier to use now.

Which bike shop do you use in Tulsa? I use primarily T-Town but am going to the Trek store to take a peak at their bikes too.

Let me know how you like yours.

Kenda

**beancounterbeth** · 10-07-2007, 08:15 AM

Too funny! I use T-Town as well. The guys there are soooo nice and helpfull. Plus after purchasing my bike there I get 10% off anything I buy. That really helps out. I have found the people at the Trek store to be unfriendly and it just feels a little too much like shopping at a big department store while every time I go into T-Town they remember my name and are so incredibly helpfull.

I would love to hear how you like the Skiatook trail. I am always looking for a new place to ride. I love the trail down the Creek turnpike because it is usually somewhat shaded and there are less people on it. The traffic on the riverside trail is what keeps my husband and I from going that way. Plus last night I noticed they have a bunch of it torn up. There have been too many times that I had a close call due to someone with headphones on or just not paying attention while riding the riverside trail. Other than that my husband and I have gotten into riding out south of Glenpool on some of the more rural roads.

Hope you have a good ride today!

Beth

**kdskaggs** · 10-07-2007, 03:58 PM

Well, we ended up riding the Katy Trail from River City Park in Sand Springs to Utica Square for lunch. The weather looked a little too ominous to ride to Skiatook. As it was, we were poured on but it was still fun. I'll take rain over extreme heat any day!

We rode 25 miles. My daughter ran a 5K yesterday and was beat. I'm no stud and am trying to get my mileage up. My 18-year old son did the MS150 a couple of weeks ago. I sure would like to do it but am nowhere close. I'd like to do a metric century within the next 6 months or so. How far do you guys ride? My kids and husband race mountain bikes so they don't want to do distance riding with me.

I always use Jake at T-Town. He sold me my mountain bike too a few years ago. I'm not having much luck with road bikes though and will likely have to have a frame custom built. Jake has been very patient with me but I don't think he's going to find anything that fits me right.

Kenda

**beancounterbeth** · 10-08-2007, 08:54 AM

The most I've ridden at one time is 32 miles down the Creek Turnpike. My husband and I usually ride 20-30 miles each ride depending on time and daylight. In general I would like to get a couple 30 mile rides in each week and then if time permits a little longer ride, say 45, on the weekend. But like I said, I haven't gone that far yet.

I'll have to check into that trail in Skiatook. I'm always looking for another trail since right now the Creek is the only "trail" I really like.

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