Techs Mechs-Pedal thoughts
by Peter Fontecchio on Mar 15, 2009 4:58 PM EDT
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PrintSorry, I've been a little quiet lately. I have had no major bike purchases and I hate to blog about my 2006 CAAD8 or my 2004 Pinarello Opera (both with 2004-2006 Record 10), but I'm still riding and still wrenching whenever possible (loving both equally).
Last year I did my first cross racing and enjoyed it despite pretty humble results. For cross I puchased some Crank Bros Eggbeater C pedals. I found them perfect for cross since they shed mud easily, have four sided entry (which is easy to find) and the release is smooth and easy. Plus at $59 a set the price was right.
I decided to use them this winter with my road bike for both the trainer (rollers) and the road. I normally use Speedplay X2's as my road pedals and have always liked (if not loved) them for their float and easy release. I do have the following complaints about Speedplays however. 1) the cleat is very sensitive to dirt, sand, snow, ice, chewing gum (when it happens, you'll understand) and anything else I might step in between my basement door and the road. 2) There aren't alot of options for the pedal wrench. They don't offer a 6mm hex option inside the spindle like some pedals, and the tiny slots for a pedal wrench make it hard to get any real torque, and the stainless steel spindle of the X2 is very soft and can strip easily if you aren't careful. 3) clipping in seems to be fussy. You have to line the cleat and pedal up and apply force. Sometimes you get a positive "click" other times you don't. 4) the cleats are expensive and you can't really walk in them without the cleat covers.
While using the eggbeaters all winter I have discovered that the entry/release is very easy. The float is adequate and although self centering, it feels like a speedplay. Also there are no issues with snow or ice or anything else I step in. The cleats are easy to clean off, just by rubbing them against the pedal once. Winter rides are shortish so even though I have experienced no "hotspots" this winter, I can't say this wouldn't be an issue with a mid July century.
The biggest surprise though is that a nagging soreness in my knees that I have just seemed to learn to live with has dissapeared. It could be that my miles are down a bit, but I tend to think the eggbeaters are lining up my knee better and some think that the loose float of the Speedplays can cause knee pain. In fairness most will say the free float eliminates pain, however in my case the eggbeaters seem to do the trick.
Anyone using Eggbeaters as their road pedals? Any reason why they don't make good road pedals? I understand they can chew up the soles a bit, but couldn't you use the quattro cleat or the Look adapter plate to protect the soles? I am giving serious consideration to using Eggbeater SL's as my road pedals while rotating out the Speedplays this season, but would appreciate any advice you can provide. Thanx
Pete
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HeyVan P
I used Eggbeaters for a year and now use the Candys.
I love them.
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
I have Candy's on my MTB
and like them. Did you get hotspots with the egbeaters on the road?
by Peter Fontecchio on Mar 15, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions
A little, never too bad...
but I did my century with Candys.
The Crank Bros road pedal I would buy if I wore road shoes, still wearing mountainbike shoes after all these years.
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
The Zero's have adustble float
but honestly I like the float. I’m not blaming the float for knee pain (i don’t have a large enough sample on the Eggbeaters on the road). I guess maybe after 5 years of dealing with speedplay’s (including one stripped pair stuck in an old crankset) I just like the simple design of crank bros. I like to be able to actually walk in my shoes now and then for nature breaks, or refueling at a cumberland farm store. Last year on a a 148 mile ride, at the 50mile stop, i stepped in chewing gum and then walked in sand. I spent the next 98 miles dealing with a left shoe that wouldn’t release. As if 148 miles wasn’t enough suffering… I’m not saying that Look, Time, ShimaNO, Campy or Crank Bros would have stood up to gum and sand better, but the speedplay’s were a nightmare. The same is said for snow (and we had a lot of it this winter).
by Peter Fontecchio on Mar 15, 2009 7:12 PM EDT reply actions
Oh, you're completely right
on the low tolerance for crap on your cleat, wrt speedplays. I just don’t encounter it too much (the lesson having been learned early and harshly, much like your 148m ride.).
I ended up in the Speedplay camp through my search for massive float, post surgery (first Frogs, and then to the Zeros I use now). Completely happy on the road, but always looking for something a little better off. Lots of friends seem to be happy with their eggbeaters, so I might try them this summer.
I've had good luck
with Crank brothers, I use candy’s on my lighter Cross Country bike and Mallets on the heavier duty bike. The Mallets come in handy for me when I am riding somewhere with lots of baby heads as I can ride it like a platform pedal (not clipped in) if I have to. Of course all of the above is in the MTB area.
Skipper: He's one of us, men. You all know the Penguin Credo.
Kowalski: Never bathe in hot oil and Bisquick?
Alomst forgot to mention
though, Stay away from the Smarty pedals, I know lots of guys who have had trouble with those. Too cheap a pedal.
Skipper: He's one of us, men. You all know the Penguin Credo.
Kowalski: Never bathe in hot oil and Bisquick?
eggbeaters
I’ve used eggbeaters since I got a road bike (3 yrs ago). I got a new pair for the mtn bike and put the old ones on the road bike. I don’t understand why people use anything else. I’ve done 150 mile days on the road, 24 hr mtn races, never a hot spot. Soles on shoes are stiff enough these days. I also use my mtn bike shoes on the road. I don’t see the point in buying a second pair that is exactly the same thing minus the tread. The crank bros. cleats are hidden below the treads, so walking around doesn’t damage them, or feel funny.
Ok actual serious question...
I’m thinking of finally breaking down and getting some shoes / clipless pedals. I ride for exercise between 50 and 80 miles / week and its beginning to become absurd to be doing that in the aforementioned Converse. Thing is, I have one bike and its also my primary mode of transport, so being able to use it for short-ish trips to get around remains at a premium.
Any recommendations on clipless pedals that’d suit. People have told me you can totally use looks with ordinary shoes for a ride across town, but ‘wealth of cycling knowledge at my fingertips and all…’
spd's
are what I use on my commuter bike, I use mtb shoes so I can walk around when I need to. They work great for me.
+1
the cleats are durable, non-obtrusive and relatively easy to walk around in. Plus, some MTB shoes look pretty close to regular shoes. Plus, plus – I think you can even get some sneaker-looking shoes with SPD cleats. And finally, the SPD pedals can be found really cheap on places like Nashbar.
right click, refresh
Several options
You can ride on pretty much any road pedals with normal street shoes for a short distance, but it sucks. Crank brothers makes several mountain bike models that have their eggbeater cleats and also have a platform so you can use your road shoes with cleats for road riding, and then ride the same pedals in flip-flops when you need to head down to 7-11 for some Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food and a bottle of White Zin at 11:30 on a Tuesday night… . You can get really cheapo Forte’ ones from Performance called the “Campus Pedals” for $40 which are spd compatible.
More Muur...
The Crank Bros ones you mention...
don’t stick up in the middle to the point where if you’re riding in say, Converse, and using the platform it doesn’t feel like you’re also stabbing yourself in the bottom of the foot?
If not, awesome. B/c I like the sound of those. The combo SPD/platform pedals I’ve seen do not light my fire. I’m not looking to add half a pound to the weight of my already hefty machine just so I can have a pedal I can only use with MTB shoes (I don’t own and likely never will own a mountain bike). I’m assuming the speedplays can be used with ordinary road shoes, if I understand the rest of this thread correctly. But the thing is I really need to be able to use it to get around when taking a second pair of shoes with is just not practical. And this is why I’m still wearing my converse to ride for exercise.
And I kinda hate that b/c I know 1) I’m giving up like 2 mph easily and limiting the length of my rides and 2) I’m probably not doing wonders for my knees given the way my feet slip around in the pedals and get sorta stuck that way. I spend way too much time trying to find a good balance with both legs that should just be more or less automatic in decent clipless pedals, I’m thinking.
I ride
on speedplay zeros in flip flops, slip-ons, and whatnot (but never Crocs, and never for white zin) all the time. Yeah, if It’s going to be more than five or so miles, I’d probably prefer to have my Sidis, but it’s really not that bad. Borrow some pedals and try it out (I think it’s easier with something like the zeros/X2s because they’re essentially mini-platforms. Probably more annoying with the eggbeater-types.).
Agreed re: Crocs and White Zin
But some people are just philistines. I’d been thinking that about the Speedplays, when I looked at them. And yeah, the longest ride I do bopping around the city comes in under 5 miles.
These are helpful responses, thank you.
lol
Gah, white zin. I recoil in horror.
I cruise around on looks all the time. Works okay. My Time mountain bike pedals are less bueno for cruising in the cons. Platform is muy small and eh, a tad awkwardo. But definitly not impossible.
So basically, as long as it has some kind of platform its more or less ok?
This is what I’m getting.
This is really helpful. Thanks all. As odd as it may seem, I’ve just never, in all this time, graduated from the clips and straps that came with the bike when I got it in 1985. So I am beyond clueless on all of this.
si...
Look for a pedal with some spaciousness and no pokey-outy bits and you should be good to go.
Definitely worth it in terms of going for bike rides. Faster is good :-)
Yes. Thing is. I go faster than most everyone not part of a pace line...
…at least where I ride. But part of this definitely has to do with thinking it might be fun to try to hang with the pace line people too. Or at least have the option.
actually
if you’ve still got the clips and straps, depending on the pedal…well, you might be happy with that – you could get a pair of cool old-school shoes (with old-school cleats, pretty easy to find) and just go Sean Kelly style. I know this probably isn’t what you want to do but I say this because clips and straps will be pretty much better than anything else just for riding around in the All-Stars.
Or get an old Schwinn for riding around town, then you can get the sexiest clipless pedals you like!
by plinytheelder on Mar 16, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions
HAR!
by plinytheelder on Mar 16, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I mean how hot would it be to ride around in these?
by plinytheelder on Mar 16, 2009 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Those are not crocs
And for the record, I have never, ever ridden my bike down to the 7-11 to pick up anything. I was just using that as an example of something that someone besides me might do. I hate White Zin. And I hate Ben, and especially that Jerry asshole….
More Muur...
Who the hell are you trying to kid?
I do love how you don’t deny riding your bike in your crocs. We so know you have a pair. ha ha!
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
not only do I ride my bike to the sev
to buy slurpees, but I have upturned drop bars so I can get more comfy
by plinytheelder on Mar 16, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Were you 'The Cyclist"...
in the Village People?
The character they left out?
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
yeah those f***ers
kicked me out right before they made it big, “sorry we don’t need a cyclist, we’re not Europeans after all,” I’ll get them if it’s the last thing I do
by plinytheelder on Mar 18, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
You didn't have the opportunity...
to be in “Can’t Stop The Music”!?!?!?
Those bastards!
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
How did this get by without comment?
I cruise around on looks all the time
Not that I know you, but you seem pretty smart too.
just sayin…
Nothing much, yet. Soon, though.
Found that I was somewhat under-equipped (and definitely under-prepared – turns out that illustrating scale is a lot harder than I’d realized) to do any really good shooting. But I think I ended up with a few keepers.
ja
Surfing generally requires big glass. Very, very big glass. Alas. Was more asking ’bout scenic stuff than surfing.
The Egg beaters flex enough that they do not bother
your foot at all. You can ride Candy’s very easily as a platform pedal.
Skipper: He's one of us, men. You all know the Penguin Credo.
Kowalski: Never bathe in hot oil and Bisquick?
I used to use eggbeaters for everything.
Now the crank bros are strictly on my mtb/cross bikes. I like a more stable platform for road (Look Keos) and have been thinking about XTR pedals for MTB/cross because of this. But I haven’t wanted to fork over the cash for 2 pair of XTR.
FWIW I like the Time mtb pedals
I’ve been riding them on my mtbs for 10+ years and have gotten tired of buying two pairs of shoes every once in a while. They’re on my seven, my cross rig and my ooold skool rigid merlin now. bliss. Haven’t ridden the Crank Bros, as I heard they’re a little jangly once worn in – no such probs with the Times. Just quiet click-in | click-out-ness, no matter the goop.
That being said, the dyed in the wool roadies on the local group rides (PRB and Denver) give me sideways glances for the sidis with soles and the non-roadie pedals, but that’s easy to deal with as they’re more than likely ending the ride behind me (not to gloat). On top of that, showing up to those rides with hairy legs and zigging/zagging just a little for the first few miles gives me all of the room I want in the group with the newish/youngish folks on the ride ;-) I say use what works for you. conventional wisdom is just snooty-ness defined.
25s on dirt, what's not to like?
Eggbeaters vs Candys
MTB: I prefer Eggbeaters over Candys. Much easier to clip into. I don’t find a benefit from the Candy platform. I have broken 2 sets of EBs by grazing rocks: bent spindle, broken wire thingy. Buy from a place that will replace for free.
Road: No experience w/ Crank Bros. However make sure you road shoe is compatible with the 2 bolt cleats. Most road shoes are 3 bolt but fewer have 2 bolt. I just switched Road pedals to Look KEOs, I like them so far, a little harder to clip into than previous Look pedals w/ older delta cleat platform. This may be just getting use to the KEOs slightly smaller platform.
I have the Keos
(actually Keo sprint I think, can’t remember) and I love them, I think you’ll like them more once you get used to them.
by plinytheelder on Mar 20, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Got some Keo Classics...
Been riding around doing errands. Not as nice for that as my old road pedals with clips, obviously, but definitely doable. Thank you to all for your advice. Gonna go take a real ride with them soon, and the new shoes. That’ll be the real test but I’m looking forward to it.
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