pedals debate....

[atombessy]

Hi ladies! I thought this question might do better here than in the equipment thread area....I'm possibly going back to clipped in pedals after a sabbatical on flat pedals, and I've got it down to two options, they are:

http://www.crankbrothers.com/mallet.php

and the Shimano M647.

Both are platform style pedals that clip in on either side. I got the Shimano recommendation from reading this board, but two important mt biking dudes in my life insist on the crank brothers. My major priority is something I can get out of easily because I'm a BIG klutz. Any yays or nays in favor of either? I know the Shimano will get some support but I'm curious if anyone has used the mallet as well....

[Trekhawk]

I am a huge fan of Crank Brothers.
I don't have mallets but I run egg beaters on my mtb and quattros on my road bike.

I am a complete clutz on my mtb and the egg beaters allow me to get out fast.

The mallets look like egg beaters with a platform so they should be super easy to clip in and out of.

Good luck with your pedal hunt.

[mimitabby]

I have spd's and they are fit very loosely. when i need to get out i can pull both feet pretty much any direction.

I like those pedals you showed a photo of though!

[oxysback]

Hubby and I ride on various Crank Bros pedals. I had egg beaters for awhile, but just got a pair of red Candy C's for Mother's Day. Tried them out for the first time this morning on my commute to work. Love them!

Hubby has Quattros on his recumbent trike and loves them, as well.

Very easy in and out...and it doesn't matter if you get them muddy. I also like that the cleats work with any of Crank Bros pedals.

[SalsaMTB]

I use egg beaters and highly recommend. DH uses mallets on his commuting bike and loves them.

[bounceswoosh]

Hi ladies! I thought this question might do better here than in the equipment thread area....I'm possibly going back to clipped in pedals after a sabbatical on flat pedals, and I've got it down to two options, they are:

http://www.crankbrothers.com/mallet.php

and the Shimano M647.

Both are platform style pedals that clip in on either side. I got the Shimano recommendation from reading this board, but two important mt biking dudes in my life insist on the crank brothers. My major priority is something I can get out of easily because I'm a BIG klutz. Any yays or nays in favor of either? I know the Shimano will get some support but I'm curious if anyone has used the mallet as well....

I adore the M647 -- but I'm guessing it's my post you saw in the first place. But I have never tried anything but SPD, so I can't compare them to the mallets =/ I did find the M647 a lot easier to get in and out of than my previous SPD pedals -- I don't know if that's because they are higher end, because the platform somehow channels my foot into the right place, or what.

[bluebug32]

Instead of the mallets, you may want to look into a set of Crank Bros. Acids. They have the larger platform like the Mallet, but are much lighter and don't hurt as much when you bash them into your shins (like the mallets do). The Candy is my favorite, however, and has a nice platform too and is easy to get in and out of. Most of pedals will be a little stiff at first (esp. if the cleats are new too), so just give them time to loosen up. I got rid of my SPDs because they were always really loose! Good to learn on, but almost dangerous because my foot would unclip when I was trying to go over logs or big stuff.

[Zen]

How are the Crank Bros. in terms of float?

[atombessy]

Hmmm....and what is float? lol

[bounceswoosh]

First page google hit on "pedal float" looks pretty good":

http://archive.roadbikereview.com/04/0EFCD16A.php

[bluebug32]

How are the Crank Bros. in terms of float?

Pretty good float, esp. the candies.

[atombessy]

aha, the shimano pedals I have on my road bike are kinda wiggly like that. I also have them as loose as they go though! (I do'nt know what kind they are, they're husband cast offs that are probably ten years old, but they don't have a flat platform).

I think it's going to end up being the Crank Bros at this point.... thank you for the advice ladies!! I'll let you know how they work out. Might be another month though, I have to save up for new mt bike shoes too

[Zen]

Pretty good float, esp. the candies.

I'm looking for something for a canal bike. I need float and a big platform. If I could just combine my Frogs with some Wellgo's

[carback]

I recently switched to Crank Bros Candy pedals, after several years on Shimano platform type SPDs.

I ride in a very muddy part of the world (and sometimes snowy) and found the cleats on the SPDS would get clogged with mud (I walk super technical stuff) and snow and be impossible to clip into and out of.

After a particularly bad session of the above a couple of weeks ago, I switched to the Candy's. there was a bit of a learning curve in terms of ease of clipping back in but otherwise think they're great. If the tread on your shoe is quite aggressive, you might need to shave a bit of sole off (with a rasp or really rough sandpaper) in order to clip in / out easier.

Good luck.

[ima_bleeder]

Living in the northwest I wouldn't use the Shimano's for mountain biking because I ride year-round, and it gets difficult to clip back in with mud packed in your cleat. With the CB pedals you can jam your foot down and the mud drops through.

I've got the regular eggbeaters, and love them. I'm able to get in and out easily.

Look has a mountain bike pedal too that has an interesting design. Pretty open, like the eggbeaters. I'm interested, but not interested enough to start trying out new pedals right now.