Clipless MTB Pedals

[Miranda]

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.