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Submitted by
Natedogz
a Cross Country Rider
from CA
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | New from friend | | Strengths: | Great design as far as the cleat, spring, and release system. | | Weaknesses: | Utter CRAP that was loose, gritty, and floppy after only 4 rides in dry summer weather. Completely shot after only 10 rides and didn't think I'd make it home on the last ride, they were flopping around and making clicking noise so bad! | | Similar Products Used: | CB Candy, far superior product that uses same great basic design but carried through with much better components. | | Bike Setup: | Several | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy this JUNK! Crank Brothers has a great idea, but these pedals are made like crap. Buy their Candy C or better models only. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Damo 29er SS
a Racer
from Australia
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | one tree hill loop | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | on line | | Strengths: | light weight
colour! | | Weaknesses: | They dont cope with SS and uphills!!!!! | | Bottom Line: | Dont buy em if you ride hard, uphill or single speed | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
onato
a Cross Country Rider
from Austria
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Easy to clip in. | | Weaknesses: | They broke apart during the second ride. | | Bottom Line: | After the second ride one pedal fell apart sending ball bearings through the bush and rendering the pedals irreparable.
I contacted Crankbrothers but they didn't seem to be able, or want, to offer an explanation choosing instead to tell me that they are an "economical option". I don't think $50 for less than two rides is very economical at all.
I really would have liked to continue riding crankbrothers but I don't want to risk my pedals causing me to crash.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jon
a Racer
from NY, NY
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Cyclocross! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Cheap, smart design in principle, no mud problems, reasonably light. | | Weaknesses: | Engagement and release just sucks. I have been riding clipless for many years, and I just couldn't get the engagement motion down on these, and the release always felt sloppy and inconsistent. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano SPD, Speedplay Zero, Time Impact, Onza HO | | Bike Setup: | Recline Conquest Pro CX | | Bottom Line: | Everyone raves about Eggbeaters and their kin, so I couldn't figure out why I just couldn't get down with these. After months of assuming there was something wrong with me or that the pedals just needed to break in or something, one day I borrowed a friend's bike with Eggbeaters, and was dumbfounded by how easy they were to get in and out of. Either the internals of these are not as solid as Eggbeaters, or something about that platform screws up the engagement and release. I have replaced these with Eggbeaters and haven't looked back. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dpastore22
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Chicopee, Blankets, Big Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Awesome first pedal to learn on, easy to use, inexpensive, take a beaten and keep on ticken | | Weaknesses: | could be made overall a little stronger, but what I expected for the price | | Bike Setup: | GF Marlin now switched to my HIFI 29er Deluxe | | Bottom Line: | I honeslty couldnt recommend a better pedal to start with. I started riding on a regular basis and knew I needed to switch to clipless. I was overwhelmed in the beginning trying to figure which pedals to go with. My LBS recommended these pedals and honestly couldnt be happier. Guys I ride with use different setups and there always amazed on how smooth my CB Smartys work. Just like anything else, you need to practice popping in out and now its second nature. Regardless of what pedal you choose, make sure you go clipless asap, you wont regret it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
e_hermo3
a Cross Country Rider
from Laguna Beach, Ca
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Telonics | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Stock w/ new C'dale | | Strengths: | Simple/easy engagement and release. No tension settings to deal with. Decent weight, just enough platform (Smarty's/Candys). | | Weaknesses: | None yet. | | Similar Products Used: | SPD, TIME | | Bottom Line: | Definitely surprised to see such low reviews. Especially the ones who complained about being unable to release. Makes me think they weren't informed about installing the cleats. The cleat w/ the 2 dots goes on your right shoe for easier release at 15deg, or the left shoe for a 20deg release.
I dig em. Feels similar to Time, which is what I would've switched back to, but Ive had no reason to. Easy in, easy out, with no surprise releases, and seem like they'll be easy to maintain. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alicorc
a Weekend Warrior
from ct, usa
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | e bay | | Strengths: | Perfect size platform. Mine didn't fall apart in any way or make weird noises. | | Weaknesses: | Very inconsistant to clip in/out. Lots of difficulty getting out. I fell a lot thanks to these pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | None yet, ordered 520's | | Bike Setup: | frankenbike | | Bottom Line: | I am novice mtn biker. I knew there was a learning curve for using these + a breaking in period, so I thought it was just me. Thank god I went biking with an experienced rider this weekend and they figured out it was the pedal.
I'm riding in technical/rocky terrain and I'm very lucky that I didn't get seriously injured. I had to plan on a pedal release at least 3 seconds before I had to stop just to make sure I could get out.
In any case I'm excited to learn that it's the pedals and not me and glad I didn't break any bones.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Casey A
a Weekend Warrior
from Silver Spring, MD
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Blue Sky Cycling | | Strengths: | Inexpensive, easy to clip in and out | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Crank Brothers Mallet and Acid | | Bike Setup: | Beater Fuji hardtail | | Bottom Line: | I have had no problems with these pedals, and I am amazed at all of the horrible reviews. I have used other eggbeater-style pedals from Crank Brothers (Mallet and Acid) and I like them all. I do not abuse these pedals but ride them about three times a week (commuting during the week and riding a variety of trails on the weekend), and I have had no issues in almost a year of use. Some of the negative experiences reported in the reviews seem to reflect a lack of familiarity with the eggbeater release mechanism -- it requires a different motion than the SPD pedals, and if you expect it to be the same it is no surprise that you will have a hard time getting in and out of them. If price is not a consideration, then by all means you should go with the Candys, but if you are looking for an inexpensive pedal and like the eggbeater system, these are a good choice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TallRider
a Cross Country Rider
from Lakes, UK
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Whinlatter | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Rutland | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Non replaceable parts, that wear out WAY too fast. | | Similar Products Used: | SPDs, Time ATAC | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC | | Bottom Line: | Used a set of these last summer and after 3 weeks of touring the trail centres in Scotland, they were in pieces.
V disapointing.
Riding Time ATACs now, much better build quality and replacable bits (if they'll ever need it!).
If going for CB pedals, go Candys. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Singlespeed McGee
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Western Cycle | | Strengths: | Look good
Durable enough for commuting
Don't rust if they get wet
Cheap
Come with the cleats and everything else that's needed to set them up. | | Weaknesses: | Weight, maybe? I'm not really a weight weanie though. | | Similar Products Used: | SPD's before these. | | Bike Setup: | They're on my year round commuter. Yes, I ride clipless in the winter. | | Bottom Line: | Much easier to get in and out of than my SPD's and I've crashed a few times and scratched them up but the spring and wings are still fine. I might upgrade to the Candies when these finally wear out, but I have a feeling that that will be a while yet. If I was still using SPD's, I would have had more falls and worse ones because of how hard they were for me to get out. These shed snow and mud like CRAZY. I was never not able to clip in whereas my SPD's would clog up with snow just from standing on them. Just make sure your cleats are on tight because if they're loose, it's a lot harder to get out. Bottom line: get them if you want clipless pedals but are on a budget. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colorado Yooper
a Cross Country Rider
from pat.mattson@wispertel.net
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Colorado Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | None to speak of | | Weaknesses: | Sloppy, hard to unclip | | Bike Setup: | Iron Horse Warrior 5 | | Bottom Line: | They came on my oem on my bike. When I purchased the bike I took them off and put on my SPDs. About two weeks ago I came across them in my shop and I decided to put them on the bike to try them out.
Well, I was not impressed. It took some getting used to due to the different release points. After about 20 miles they started to squeak and felt sloppy so I unclipped and readusted my cleats, lubed and tightened the pedals. It helped a little, however after another 20 I had enough and was through with them. I was glad I was a mile from home. I will try the candys and egg beaters over the summer, maybe they will be better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hobbes
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary AB
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Light | | Weaknesses: | Hard to clip in, not adjustable, weak. | | Bottom Line: | These pedals came with my Cdale Rize. I'm used to SPDs, and these are by far way worse. Very hard to clip in due to the platform that really doesn't help at all, after 2 rides the spring got fairly damaged by the cleats. I have used them for 2 months but they are already trashed. I had a pair of Wellgo that lasted me for 10 years. Going back to SPDs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
VicnPA
a Racer
from Pittsburgh PA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | South Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | City Cycle | | Strengths: | NONE! | | Weaknesses: | Junk perdal, last only a few months. Not rebuildable. | | Similar Products Used: | SPD | | Bike Setup: | Niner MCR | | Bottom Line: | These pedals just don't hold up. They will fall apart, and soon. Buy the Candy pedals | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
darthbobby
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento, CA
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | granite Bay | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Clips in easy and sheds mud like a champ | | Weaknesses: | Shody parts | | Similar Products Used: | Crank Bros. Acid 2 pedals | | Bottom Line: | I bought these online and they came to me defective (the spring slid every time I clipped in until it stopped working). For $8 I sent them in to Crank Bros. to be fixed and they sent me a different set in a different color. The new pair had a problem with the ball bearings and wouldn't work at all. For another $8, I could send them in again. These pedals were getting expensive! After a few emails back and forth Crank Bros. offered to let me upgrade to the eggbeaters for the price difference (not including my shipping charges). This was nice, but I opted to throw them away and buy the Crank Bros. Acid 2 pedals. I love my Acid's and will buy new ones when they wear down to dust. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dorcrycrystal
a Cross Country Rider
from las vegas, nv
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | any bootleg canyon trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | mcghies | | Strengths: | they came with 09 cannondale rize 4 stock | | Weaknesses: | difficult to clip in and out, no adjustment good enough | | Similar Products Used: | shimano spd 505, 592 | | Bike Setup: | cannondale rize, fox float rl 120 fork , fox float rear, 2.35 kenda nevegals | | Bottom Line: | I've been riding clipless for about 7 yrs and by far these are the most dangerous clip ins on rocky steep terrain, can't pull your foot out on steep terrain when your toe is pointed down, super dangerous.. don';t waste your money | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
leech
a Weekend Warrior
from WA, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Dwellingup | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Cost effective way to "try" clipless pedals. The brass cleats are awesome as they wear in to match your body geometry - makes entry and exit so easy.
The small platform helps for trail sections where you don't want to be attached to your bike. | | Weaknesses: | They don't last. Mine wore out after about 4mths of commuting (~100km / week). The pedal has come loose from the spindle resulting in a very wobbly feeling. | | Similar Products Used: | None. First set of clipless pedals | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Enduro | | Bottom Line: | I bought two sets of these to try clipless pedals. I put one set on my commuter and another on my dual susp.
Both sets wore out after a few months, going wobbly and developing annoying squeaks and mushy pedalling. That said, I'm glad I bought them cos it gave me a cheap entry into the wonderful world of clipless pedals that I wouldn't have tried otherwise!
Replaced them with CB Candy SLs, the difference is very noticeable. The Candy's are much more rigid, have a stronger spindle and seem to clip in and out easier than the Smarty (I'm using my worn-in cleats).
Realize that you get what you pay for. If you have never tried clipless before and are not sure then the Smarty is a smart choice to try before committing to a decent set of pedals. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Psycho Marco
a Cross Country Rider
from Puebla
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Price | | Weaknesses: | Hard to clip on sometimes | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher, Piranha 09 | | Bottom Line: | These are my first clipless pedals, I was terrified about the idea of falling everytime I wanted to release from the pedals, but I practiced a little bit on my trainer. First it was really hard to get on/off, but after a while things changed. So far I´m very pleased with them... I hope I can say the same in about 1-2 years. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
santone
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, Texas
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Joe Johnson(Government Canyon) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | stock on XTC1 | | Strengths: | easy clip-in | | Weaknesses: | VERY unreliable/difficult clip-out (DANGEROUS) | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano SPD pedal(PD M970) | | Bike Setup: | XTC1 stock + Shimano pedal(PDM970) derailleur (RDM772) brake (BRM775) | | Bottom Line: | Crank Bros 'SMARTY' is dangerous in steep/rocky terrain... very difficult to clip-out reliably. Shimano SPD is reliable AND adjustable for clip-in/out force...Giant should follow their UK product setup on their XTC1 and use Shimano XT (including pedals) instead of Crank Bros pedals/SRAM derailleur/BRM486 brake... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mwmtb
a Weekend Warrior
from leonardtown, md, usa
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | st. marys lake park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Good, inexpensive clipless pedal. I like that it has a small mallet-area. Clip in and out is easy once you get used to it. | | Weaknesses: | only 2 tension settings. Other pedals have a tension screw for adjustment. CrankBros design does not support that but it would be nice to tighten or loosen more. | | Similar Products Used: | stock mallet pedals. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Bianchi SASS SS, smarty pedals | | Bottom Line: | Good starter pedal and good for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lucky D
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Cwmcarn | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | None | | Bottom Line: | These pedals came on my Stumpy 08, I'd never ridden SPD's before but thiught I'd give them a go. Basically they scared the hell out of me as they are almost impossible to bet out of! Takes quite a bit of practice to get in to them, once you're in, you are in! The build quality is suspect as mechanism already grinds. Have changed for Shimano M647 with a platform, which is far more forgiving and a much better transition if you are new to cleats. These may be OK if you are an experienced SPD rider but defiately would not reccomend to a novice like myself. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mackeroo
a Racer
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Penmachno | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Skyline cycles | | Strengths: | Cheap. Lighter than the Candy and Egg Beater chrome. | | Weaknesses: | Build quality | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Intense 5.5 | | Bottom Line: | Ironically, I bought these pedals as a last minute replacement for some mallets that stopped turning when I started a ride.
These are real marmite pedals - you either seem to love them or hate them. I've been using them for 2 years now and have given them a fair bit of abuse which they have stood up to reasonably well. However, they have finally died - the internals are a complete joke. I think you get what you pay for though. Cheap, yes. Durability, no!
Can't re-build them (unlike most of the other CB pedals), so they will just go in the bin.
Good for a starter pedal, and cheap to replace, but now would worry about them staying together on a long ride.
Think I will opt for the Candys... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ponyski
a Weekend Warrior
from dallas,TX
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Grapevine | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Look like the Candy's. Easy in and out | | Weaknesses: | Everything about these is "lesser". Lesser quallity, lesser life, lesser durability. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Wellgo and other | | Bike Setup: | Giant VT | | Bottom Line: | I am soooo glad I didn't pay much for these. I thought I got an awesome deal on these...but did I really??? They lasted only a few months. The spring keeps slipping over, causing the bars to hold wide open.
Bottom Line: Don't send a lot of money on these...infact, save your money and buy some Candy's.
I do like the simplicity of Crank Bros pedals and bought a pair of candy's.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Built4Action
a Weekend Warrior
from santa clara, ca
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Nisene | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | easy to clip in/out, easy to find these *very* cheap, good value pedal if you're not sure if you will love/hate clipless pedals. | | Weaknesses: | plastic housing shows even light abuse, bearings not servicable, platform not really big enough to be used with regular shoes | | Similar Products Used: | platforms, "rat traps" | | Bike Setup: | gary fisher piranha | | Bottom Line: | I have no regrets in purchasing these pedals, I ride 3-5 times per week so I have gotten my $$'s worth. But after six months of riding on these pedals I noticed slop in one pedal (along with a persistent squeek that has been annoying me for several months now). I opened the pedal up to grease the spindle and a bunch of *tiny* bearings dropped out all over my garage floor. I doubt that I will be able to replace them.
My next purchase will probably be some Eggbeater SL pedals that, along with a beefier construction, "are very easy and fast to rebuild. the only tools necessary are a flat head screwdriver and a 3mm allen wrench to replace the sealed ball bearing and bushing."
On a side note, don't believe the crank brothers when they say that these pedals are self-cleaning and don't need any servicing. That may be true if you aren't concerned with easy clip in/out, but I found that an occasional cleaning of the center of the pedal with WD-40 followed by rubbing alcohol (to get the WD-40 off) made these MUCH easier to clip-in/out of. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bikermanjme50
a Weekend Warrior
from Indianapolis
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Amasa Back Moab | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Stock on RM ETSX 50 | | Strengths: | None. | | Weaknesses: | these came stock on my Rocky Mountain ETSX 50. They are worthless!!. You can't adjust the clip in/out tension. After a couple rides, it became more and more difficult to clip in and out. The platform is grey with red end caps (perfect because the bike is red and white) but the red faded to pink. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano m520, Wellgo wam m3. | | Bike Setup: | RM ETSX 50 | | Bottom Line: | These pedals are horrible. If you get them for free, sure give them a try, other wise buy some shimano m520's | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod
a Cross Country Rider
from ky
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | It works as described | | Weaknesses: | No problems thus far. | | Bike Setup: | Jamis dakota xc | | Bottom Line: | I have worn out a set of cleats using these pedals. I am not sure why everyone is hating on them because they have not given me any problems at all in two years of abuse. I have hit them on rocks and ridden them in all conditions. These pedals have not let me down once. I wish they could be rebuilt when they need to be. In the long run the Candy model would be a better value. 4 chilis on value since you cannot rebuild the pedal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fat guy
a Cross Country Rider
from Sugar Grove, PA
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Gap | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | platform is nice | | Weaknesses: | Endcap popped off within 2 weeks and the pedal was sloppy like all the bearings fell out (but there are no ball bearings). | | Similar Products Used: | Eggbeaters | | Bike Setup: | XXIX singlespeed | | Bottom Line: | These pedals are junk, didn't last more than 2 weeks under the stress of a singlespeed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
YZINGERR
a Weekend Warrior
from Fremont, CA USA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Chabot loop | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | nice pedal, just the right size for my taste | | Weaknesses: | bearings are not replaceable and the pair that i had seemed to get stiff and didnt turn well after only 6 mo of use! | | Similar Products Used: | mallett, smarty, candy | | Bottom Line: | I liked these until i found that the candy pedals are the same, only rebuildable!
Cheap and functional, they wont last long, but they are good in the meantime.
Crankbrothers states that they warranty these pedals once they dont turn smoothly! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
spencerfrater1
a Cross Country Rider
from Harpenden, Herts, UK
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Penmachno | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Leisure Wheels, Heme | | Strengths: | None. Came fitted as standard on a £3,300 Spesh Pro Carbon Stumpy!!! C'mon Specialized - these are absolute rubbish! | | Weaknesses: | End cap comes off - I'm on my third set. Last set lasted all of 5 hours. Too much play, Absolute crap. | | Similar Products Used: | Eggbeaters - much better and more reliable. | | Bike Setup: | 08 Stumpy Pro Carbon FSR | | Bottom Line: | How Specialized could consider fitting these to a £3,300 ($6,600) bike beggars belief. Talk about destroying reputations. Avoid these pedals - they don't last long at all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NCbiker1
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheville, NC
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | relatively Light; easy to use;
Great company support - see below | | Weaknesses: | Seem cheaply made. Bearings and bearing races mesh sloppily making me question longevity. Initially, one spring was much stiffer than the other and there is no adjustment. For my new Lake MX-81 shoes, the cleat screws were too short to allow using the provided shims so had to file the shoe sole. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Trek 2300 Road bike. Wanted walkable shoes for touring. | | Bottom Line: | Love the mechanism but question the Smarty quality. Accolades to the Crankbrothers company, however. I finally called with my concerns after 4000 miles and nearly two years use when--in addition to the loose bearings--I started getting a "popping" sound in the right pedal that I thougth might be a cracked bearing. Crankbrothers not only offered replacements--in spite of only a one-year listed warranty--but allowed me to pay the difference for an upgrade to the Candy C which I'm hoping will have improved quality.
At their inexpensive price, the Smarty model may be a good way to check your interest in clipless pedals but I can't really recommend them except for light use. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
yz426pilot
a Weekend Warrior
from Central Cal
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | These are really solid for being an entry level pedal. Easy entry, good release angle, and very good engagement between platform and shoe. I changed to these pedals from standard Eggbeaters to get away from the excessive float. These have fit the bill perfectly. | | Weaknesses: | Longevity is probably going to suck. The pedals seem to be cheaply made. Bearings are a little tight, but will hopefully loosen up with time. | | Similar Products Used: | Standard Eggbeaters, SPD's | | Bottom Line: | Considering the low price of these pedals I'd rate them very high. If they last a year it will be money well spent. Crank Bros. could upgrade to cartridge bearings and fine tune the pedals a little more, but that's what the higher end models are for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tim
a Weekend Warrior
from VA
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | typical entry & release of all egg beaters | | Weaknesses: | Cheap, unreliable outter spindle bearings/bushings (if there are any). | | Similar Products Used: | Original eggbeaters since 2002 | | Bottom Line: | Came on my new stumpjumper as OEM. After several rides I don't trust them. The outter bearings/bushings that ride on the axles have way too much play and it seems only a matter of time before something prematurly lets go. I don't see a reason to even try a rebuild.
There is only one purpose for this pedal-to supply the manufacture with a cheap OEM version of the Candy. My original egg beaters lasted almost 6 years of abusive riding, these only a few rides.
Like someone said below, Crank Bros is really working hard at destroying their own reputation with someone who may try these for the first time. C'mon guys, go back to manufacturing only quality and well engineered products and lose the crap in the lower end of your line up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shieldwulf
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Light weight, small pedal platform makes easy to continue pedaling without clipping on. | | Weaknesses: | No spring tension adjustment! Left pedal became difficult to clip in. Both pedals difficult to clip out. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano SPDs. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized '08 Stumpjumper. | | Bottom Line: | To be fair, I've heard of good reviews of Crank Bros eggbeater pedals from friends. But the smarty pedals totally sucked. I capsized TWICE within a week each time with the bike almost coming to a stop as I was not able to unclip unless I jolly well dislocate my knee! It was embarassing and suffered bruises, one to my right knee, the other to my left knee. I NEVER HAD such problems with Shimano SPDs as I can adjust the spring tension to my comfort! My habit is to land to a stop using my left leg, imagine the constant fear due to left pedal always difficult to clip out. I have tried different cleat positions and angle and what have you ... and finally attributed it to LACK OF SPRING TENSION ADJUSTMENT!
The pedals came stock with my Stumpjumper, with everything working great except this pair of smarty pedals which I think Specialized totally BLEW IT using it as their stock choice. I thought it may be my lack of riding skills but how to explain the fast wearing cleats in just a week of use? The platform plastic (or polymers ... whatever you call it) wore off easily and one of the pedal side caps popped off. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jari
a Weekend Warrior
from Tuusula, Finland
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Mätäkivi | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Clipping and Mud clearence. | | Weaknesses: | Quality | | Similar Products Used: | Crank Bros Candy, several diefferent Shimano Pedals(total of 10+ yrs of clipless pedaling) | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp | | Bottom Line: | Brearings last 450 km of easy trail riding. I did expect a little bit more. But it seems that this is one of places wher Specialized saved on their bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mule
a Cross Country Rider
from socal,ca,usa
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with 08 stumpy | | Strengths: | feels and works (for now) like crank brothers pedals | | Weaknesses: | sloppy design and construction.
impossible to adjust or correct. | | Similar Products Used: | eggbeaters | | Bike Setup: | 08 stumpjumper fsr comp | | Bottom Line: | I have been using eggbeater pedals for over five years and they are the best pedals I have ever used for mountain biking. My new bike came with smarty pedals and while they feel and work like my old eggbeaters for now, the quality of the smarty pedal is crap. It is hard to explain but they are just really sloppy. I think it was just designed to be OEM cheap. I got the rebuild kit for my 2002 eggbeaters and they are now as good as new. The old eggbeaters are going on my new bike and the smarty pedals are going in the trash can. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Laporte
a Cross Country Rider
from Richland WA United States
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Chamna Nature Preserve | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | User Friendly, Platform is good when I don't want to clip in or can't take the time | | Weaknesses: | eggbeater piece may not rotate within the platform easily but this is not hard to overcome | | Similar Products Used: | First clipless owned | | Bike Setup: | Specialized 07 Rockhoppper | | Bottom Line: | I've beat these up for a year in numerous crashes and I find they still work well clipping in and out. Since these are the first clipless pedals I've owned the simple mechanism and price attracted me I use them for all kinds of trail riding and like how simple they are to use. I can see how someome who is used to spds would have trouble getting used to these but once past that They make great MTB pedals. I would recommend these to anyone looking for an inexpensive entry into clipless pedals. These are probably not good for the really serious rider but I've used them in some beginner races and find them effective. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pascal
a Racer
from New-Brunswick, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | anything | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Super light, looks good :D. Clips in easily and are predictable. They're cheap | | Weaknesses: | None so far,but don't know if they will be dependable. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano M-520
Time Attack Z | | Bike Setup: | Kona the King w/ X9 components and fsa Xc-300 wheelset | | Bottom Line: | Since the reviews for these pedals are so bad I got them at an amazing price. I haven't had any problems with them yet and I like how they feel compare to my spds. Will update if I break them anytime soon.
I think they are perfect for anyone who are looking for some cheap and light pedals.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rextipher
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Wasatch Crest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Price, weight and thats it | | Weaknesses: | Unpredictable release, Non-adjustable tension. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 520 | | Bike Setup: | 04' Enduro Pro, Fox Talus(Front),Fox Floar R(Rear), Other good stuff | | Bottom Line: | These pedals cannot be adjusted really, you can flip the clips and get a change of release, didn't help. I found myself twisting and kicking my feet trying to get out of them, thankfully not at any serious moment. Just trying to dismount, I'd fall over,in slow motion and when I was on the ground I'd still be kicking like a fish out of water trying to release from my bike. I don't have time or the skin to break these pedals in if thats what it takes. I do hear that the eggbeaters are better. I've gone back to the proven SPD system (love my 520s), save me time changing cleats as well. I did say they(smarty) released most of time right? If you can't say anything nice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
boyvirgil
a Cross Country Rider
from North Texas
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2008 | | Price Paid: |
$37.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | the crankbrothers-style clipless method.
they are small and light.
they look pretty smart... | | Weaknesses: | started splooging out grease the first day I used them.
In less than a month, they demonstrate significant play on the axels and make irritating clicky noises. | | Similar Products Used: | Crankbros mallet C
Crankbros candy | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8500, XT{V-brakes, dual control shifters, drivetrain}...
| | Bottom Line: | My XC bike is sweet but these pedals turn riding it into a joke. A JOKE. WASTE OF MONEY. DO NOT BUY. Why crankbros would damage their reputation by selling these trinkets is beyond me.
From my experience, I say go with Crankbros Candy, or the regular eggbeaters, but please, not this. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Duvon Thomas
a Weekend Warrior
from Yokosuka, Japan
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Zushi Duck Pond | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | RScycle | | Strengths: | They're cheap. | | Weaknesses: | They're cheap, I mean really cheap. | | Similar Products Used: | First time using clipless | | Bike Setup: | Ironhorse warrior stock. | | Bottom Line: | Like I stated above this was my first experience with clipless pedals. I found these things impossible to clip into (especially the left pedal) and once in they would release unexpectedly. I had chalked this up to my inexperience but after a little investigating I realized that the spring was coming lose from the wing arms. I thought that I had a bad pair but after looking at these reviews I see that they are just bad pedals period. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jhonny Ringo
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Price | | Weaknesses: | Cheaply made. | | Similar Products Used: | Candy SL, Shimano XTR, Frog | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F3 Hard Tail | | Bottom Line: | Do not waste you money the Smarty pedals. You will get what you paid for. Mine was hardly spinning after 1 month of use. Released prematurely occasionally. Spend an extra buck and go with the Candy SL. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Oklahoma City, Ok, USA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | the one I'm on at the time | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Pedals do not release accidentally or when they hit an object on the trail. Come to think of it they don't release at all.
Great weight loss program lose lbs. from the outside in by shaving off layers of skin with every crash. | | Weaknesses: | OUCH!!!!!!!
The 6" bruise on my thigh. The skin that used to be on my elbows and sides. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimanl spd 520's | | Bike Setup: | 2008 Stumpy elite. Stock except for the crank bros pedals I have replaced with my old 520'S. | | Bottom Line: | I read reviews on this page to see if the pedals were as bad as I suspected or to see if maybe it was my lack of skill. I was excited to try crank bros. product when they came with the bike but that lasted 1/4 mile into my first ride. The bearings were so stiff on the left pedal it kept backing out. Ended up walking the bike back to the trail head for fear of cross threading the cranks. The LBS replaced the pedals but the new set has expanded my base language skills due to difficulty clipping in and clipping out when I really needed to. If you by a stumpy or any other bike equiped with these pedals ask for an upgrade even if it costs you. These pedals will get you hurt. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Pacific Northwest, WA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere off road | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Came stock on bike | | Strengths: | The pedal minus the cheap plastic seems to be structurally sound. | | Weaknesses: | Plastic on one side of the pedal is very cheap and sometimes falls off if your not clipped in. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | iron horse warrior 6.0 (stock) | | Bottom Line: | I would not recommend these pedals to anybody! But as in my case they came with the bike so I didn't have much of a choice, they make due... Replacing these SOON! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon
a Racer
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | none so far | | Weaknesses: | material used. soft plastic, cheapo metal, like tin or something. | | Similar Products Used: | eggbeaters, SPDs | | Bike Setup: | 07 Stumpy FSR | | Bottom Line: | Cheaply built, impossible to predict. I have been racing on a pair of eggbeaters for years and love them, so I bought a set of these for my city ceater road bike. I figured they'd be just as nice but with some plastic around the guts.
Wrong.
The plastic is soft and since the spring comes out so often, it cuts a groove through the middle of the pedal. Hard to describe, but if you own a set, you know what I mean. I used them for a week and tried to clip in once and couldnt because the springlet loose of one of the wings that engage the cleat.
Crap.
I thought I bought a conterfeit set off ebay since they sucked so bad, but then I read the reviews, and am both dissapointed and relieved.
I will be buying a set of eggbeaters to replace these POS's soon enough. Bad move, Crank Brothers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mateo
a Cross Country Rider
from warsaw, poland
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | weight, looks | | Weaknesses: | crisp-less, excessive play on the axle, not predictable in cliping in or out | | Bike Setup: | 08 Stumpy FSR Expert | | Bottom Line: | don't buy them. not only cliping in or out is unpredictable, but also after firts 100km I got a huge play on the axle. servicing helped for another 50km. I'm changing them to Time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan
a Cross Country Rider
from Harrisburg, PA
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Fawn Kill (Weiser State Forest) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Trailz End Multisport and Bicycle Shop | | Strengths: | Easy to find with foot while riding on rough terrain, relatively inexpensive, and comfortable | | Weaknesses: | Grime seems to find it way inside easily, destroying the bb's, cups, and spindle. I purchased mine sometime around may, they only lasted till about October. I noticed they had excessive play and I opened them up and sure enough the cups were pretty much ground to nothing. Also, the bb's were the smallest I have ever seen in my life, I mean we are talking smaller than a pinhead! Anyways, normally I hear that crankbrothers is great with their warranty stuff, but they took so long that I gave up trying and haven't heard anything since. *I have purchased their eggbeaters and I love them, so we'll see how long those last. | | Bottom Line: | Unless you are a weekend rider that doens't get into hairy situations and muck I would not purchase these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jarrett Ellis
a Weekend Warrior
from Richland MO
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | bittersweet | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Jensonusa | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | Pedals lasted 2 rides. Well, 1 and a half. Halfway through second ride today, pedal bent and on my way back to my truck, ripped out of crank arm. Need new crank arm and pedals now. | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | doesn't matter | | Bottom Line: | Bought these as my first clipless pedals. Not much experience with clipless but seemed very inconsistent clipping in and out. Bent pedal riding technical rooty climbs, had to pedal back to my truck with one pedal.
Pay the bucks and get something else.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Maple Grove, MN USA
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Santa Ana River Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Strengths: | They didn't give my grandmother cancer. | | Weaknesses: | Everything. Absolutely no consistency. Clipped out when a mosquito sneezed on my shoe. | | Similar Products Used: | Frogs, Shimano 520 | | Bike Setup: | Stock Cannondale Caffeine 2 with COMPLETELY CONSISTENT SHIMANO SPD PEDALS. | | Bottom Line: | This product is absolutely garbage. I'd have had more fun swallowing them and waiting for them to come out the other end than to use them on my bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PAUL
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | the ones with my friends right behind me | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | 40 | | Strengths: | Easy in and out
Wet conditions | | Weaknesses: | Cheap crap. My friend likes eggbeaters but told me he went thru several sets of bearings a season. My "Smartys" started getting stiff after a few rides. I have had the same trouble as Duke... this causes the spindle to loosen itself out of the crank and the pedal comes off. Ouch! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Frog, ATAC and Nashbars | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575 | | Bottom Line: | If you even ride semi-hard, look somewhere else. I am surprised a good company like CrankBros would put their name on this POS.
A light eggbeater with a platform is a good idea, but they didn't pull it off with the Smarty.
It isn't a good value when it doesn't work. I got several seasons out of my Nashbar cheapos... that was value. Too bad I left them on my old bike when I sold it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoff
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything steep and technical. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Gift . . . whooo hooo free stuff!!!!! | | Strengths: | Multiple ways to clip in (toe in, heel in and straight down). Light-weight. Excellent in mud and wet sloppy clay. Platform is great when you start on an extreme uphill and can't waste the effort to clip in, you actually can stand on it unclipped quite comfortably. Effortless to clip in once you get the feel for it. Much closer to the pedal, I actually can tell a difference over my M520's. The float is great. I've always struggled to keep my SPD's aligned right to keep my knees and feet happy, these pedals have eliminate my need to keep readjusting. | | Weaknesses: | I thought the bearings were a little stiff at first. There's a rubber seal on the spindle where it meets the cage body. If you put some grease on it, it smoothes out that stiffness (and probably prolongs the life of the pedal. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 737's (the original MTB clipless), 1st generation Ritchey clipless, Shimano m520's, Time equipe road. | | Bike Setup: | 05 Stumpy fsr comp 100, Crank Bros Smarty Pedals, Selle Italia TurboMatic 3 saddle, WTB Velociraptor Front, IRC MythosXC rear. All other stock for now. New wheel set soon if I can scrap the cash together. | | Bottom Line: | So far these pedals have been great for me. I was a little worried at first because I had trouble getting used to them on the street and on my first ride. Now it has become second nature to get into them. I really like steep technical uphill, I'm used to starting on tough slopes. These pedals are easier to get into than my Shimanos and much better to stand on and pedal when I miss the clip in. I can ride these unclipped comfortably until I can spare the concentration to clip in. My last 3 rides with them have been in the mud. I've never had a pedal clip in this well in the mud. As a test, I shoved my foot in the mud and dirt until the cleat was packed in with mud. It clipped in as easily as when there was no mud. The blades of the beater work to clear the mud off (I think).
I've seen some posts about spindle breakage. I'll take a 4-5ft drop at most so I don't anticipate breaking a Chromoly spindle. If I do, I'll re-post. Some have posted that they've bent the eggbeater arms on the pedal. I could see how that's possible. I've knocked mine on some head sized boulders, but so far there's no sign of fatigue. As far as not having a positive feel for clipping in and out, it is less positive than the Shimanos, but after one ride I knew right where the limits were. Not being able to clip out seems implausible, these things are so easy to clip out of. I'd attribute that to rider error (that ought to get somebody fired up). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy Provencher
a Weekend Warrior
from NH
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | jeremyp111@hotmail.com | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Just an all around terrible pedal. Build quality is garbage. clip in/clip out consistency. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 540, 647 and 520 SPD's | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575, Pike 454 Air UTurn, Mavic Crossmax XLs, XT cranks & FD, SRAM X9 shifter & RD, Avid Juicy7's 185F/160R | | Bottom Line: | Where do I start? The worst built pedal I've every seen. One ride and both end caps blew out. Seals are terrible. Totally a throw away pedal. If you buy these, throw them away...Get some REAL pedals. The inconsistency of clipping in and out is just unbelievable. Just pedaling uphill and WHAM, foot comes flying out on it's own. Need to get out on a really tech section? Praying has brough better results. I've got more banged up body parts due to these pedals not unclipping when needed than I ever had in the past year on Shimano SPD's....I wanted to try something new as I was getting kind of frustrated with the SPD's coming unclipped everytime the pedal hit a rock...These made me long for those days again. At least the Shimano's were totally consistent. I was totally confident in the Shimano's clip in/clip out. Not these at all. DON'T BUY THESE PEDALS!!!!!SMARTY'S ARE THE WORST PEDAL EVER!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Button
a Cross Country Rider
from Hereford, UK
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Forest of Dean | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Pearce Cycles, Ludlow, UK | | Strengths: | Easy to clip in, simple twist out, quiet bearings, nice design with small platform | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano SPD | | Bike Setup: | BeOne Team Replica with Rock Shox Dart III | | Bottom Line: | Its like this - You spend $2000 on a bike then these probably won't float your boat, but then I wouldn't put re-moulds on my £25,000 car either!!!
I found them a bit tricky to clip in for the first 2 mins, then hey presto were there!
All I can say is take the time to set them up properly, i.e. read the instructions, then you can't go wrong.
At $40 they are throw away money, even if they last me just 3 months!
It was either these or the Eggbeaters and I like the Smartys for price and looks as well as all round good performance | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Duke
a Cross Country Rider
from Tennessee
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Price | | Weaknesses: | Hard to clip into
Not durable at all | | Similar Products Used: | Original Eggbeater pedals | | Bottom Line: | I bought these because I had good luck with the original Eggbeater pedals I bought several years ago and these pedals were not expensive.
Clipping into these pedals was always difficult, especially compared to the ease of clipping into my old Eggbeters. After only 3 months of use the left pedal seized up and it would no longer turn. I have not found a way to fix them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Ned, Hall, CB, Mtn Lion | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Light weight, sheds mud/ dirt well. No need to adjust like SPDs. Able to color coordinate with your bike, if you're into that sort of thing :) | | Weaknesses: | Like everyone else said, yes, they can be hard to clip into once in awhile but no problems clipping out. I had a hard a time at first but then decided to read the directions and now I have not had as much of a problem. Though seems harder to clip into the left more than the right. | | Similar Products Used: | SPDs | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Rig, Ferrous 29er | | Bottom Line: | Unfortunately these are disposable pedals. This can be a good thing or bad thing however you look at it. The constant adjustments with SPDs made me want a change. The frustration that came with not being able to clip out and embarassingly and painfully falling over in technical sections was the final straw with the SPDs (no, I'm not a rookie).
Though I've never tried any real high end pedals I will say I am relatively happy with these. I like to color bling my bike and this was the cheapest way. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Duke
a Cross Country Rider
from Tennessee
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | The one I'm on | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Weight.
Cost. | | Weaknesses: | Poor durability
Hard to clip in | | Similar Products Used: | Time ATAC
Shimano SPD | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Gary Fisher Mt Tam | | Bottom Line: | After my good experience with my older pair of Eggbeater pedals I thought I would save some money when I switched my 2nd bike to Crank Brothers pedals. It turned out to be a mistake. I never could get clipped in as easily as I could on my old Eggbeaters. After 3 month on the bike, my left pedal seized up during a ride today. It wont turn easily now and in fact it backed up and actually came off of the crank arm while I was riding.
Don't waste your money on these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Ohio
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | Ease of clipping in and out once I fixed the clips. | | Weaknesses: | Poor design of the clips making them almost unusable. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bottom Line: | I used these for about a week without the supplied steel washers and I never had a problem with clipping in and out. I then put on the washers after finding them in the box and reading the instructions and had all sorts of problems getting clipped in at all. Or taking forever to get clipped in. I took the washers off an it went back to working fine. I then put on a shimano steel spd washer buy mistake and a miracle happened they work fine? It looks a little thiner than the crankbrother supplied one? Don't know if thats the reason or not. I wonder if there premium cleat works any better. If so it should be sent with all of there pedals. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange, Ca
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | none that I can see | | Weaknesses: | difficult clip in and even harder clip out. First time out with these couldn't clip out on a hill and went down fracturing my hip. Needless to say when I get better I will be going back to my shimano pedals | | Similar Products Used: | shimano | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Canaan | | Bottom Line: | Dont use use these pedals if you know whats good for you | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Forest Kelly
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Hall Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Light weight. Buy these if you're interested in the 50 grams. | | Weaknesses: | Difficult clip in. Don't buy these if you're doing any technical riding... It's literally taken me 2-5 minutes to clip in... | | Similar Products Used: | Many Shimano SPD's and Time. | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Canaan. | | Bottom Line: | I've already ordered a higher end pedal. These pedals have been a horror for me. I have scars on both of my forearms due to not being able to get out while on a difficult uphill. And, I've spent tons of time trying to get locked in with no avail both while climbing and descending... DON'T BUY THESE!!! Spend the money to get into something more consistent. While appreciate what Crank Bros. are up to, I have not had success with their products thus far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Maybach
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Anne Springs | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Super easy clip in, decently lightweight, simple, sheds mud, good float | | Weaknesses: | not the smoothest spinning, no adjustment (if you need it, I don't) | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 520, Crank Brothers Eggbeaters, Ascent Terra (don't try those...) | | Bike Setup: | 99 Rockhopper, Single Speed | | Bottom Line: | Great pedals for general MTBing, the platform is good enough for short periods without clipping in, although clipping in becomes instinct after a short time period. Can't be beat for $40 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Oxford, UK
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$69.00 | | Purchased At: | Wiggle.co.uk | | Strengths: | Cheaper than Time ATAC. Float without fighting against any tension at all. The four sided design should be good for clipping in by moving foot backwards, which SPDs can't do. This would be good for clipping out for technical sections, then just sliding back to clip in. | | Weaknesses: | However, on the Smarty pedals I have are very poor at clipping in- I have to use a lot of force, and it is very unpredictable- the cage doesn't rotate very freely, and it is easy to get one wing stuck straight up, blocking the cleat from entering.
I have not yet tried the supplied spacer that goes under the cleat to make getting in easier. This will just make the tread of the shoe further from the cage though, so the advantage of the cage goes out the window, as you are not standing on it any more.
Float without fighting against any tension at all. This feels weird after 10+ years of using SPDs. You cannot feel when the pedal is about to disengage- with SPDs, you fight against some spring tension that progressively increases before the cleat is released. These just spit out the cleat at the last minute, with no feedback. I also find that the angle of the foot has to be more extreme to release the cleat than with SPDs.
The build quality is very poor- especially the finish on the wings. The bearings are not sealed like most other crank bros. pedals.
Not much (sometimes no) sound feedback when you clip in. Also, the wings seem to rattle a lot when pushing/carrying the bike- may not be like this with the better made Crank Bros pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | I've had VP102 (SPD clones) for 10 years, ridden almost daily. I've actually had 2 pairs of them in this period- I replaced them with a new set of the same pedal as they only cost a tiny bit more than the cleats alone. Never had any problems with them. I'm going back to SPDs now, trying the 520. | | Bike Setup: | An old hybrid from the mid 90's converted to a 'cross bike. | | Bottom Line: | Probably quite good for someone starting out in clipless. Not good if you have lots of techniques for getting into SPDs quickly- you will have to unlearn them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas Schuyler
a Cross Country Rider
from Castaic, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Provides a pedal with a small platform to rest your foot on instead of the standard eggbeater and gives a stiffer feel when climbing. On descents you dont feel foot flex on harder landings. | | Weaknesses: | Can be difficult to clip in with the spinning beater inside a spining pedal. It just takes some getting used to. | | Similar Products Used: | Spd and SPD 959, eggbeater mxr | | Bike Setup: | Ironhorse warrior elite, high riser bar with ends. | | Bottom Line: | For the price it is a great pedal and i really like the eggbeaters style pedal. To me they were much easier to learn to get in and out of, compared to the spd pedals. I also like the smaller body of the smarty pedal as it gives you just enough of a platform to stand on and not to much of a platform like the 959. the learning curve is steep and after about 3 weeks on the pedal getting in was no problem. If you are looking for a cheap and easy to use clipless pedal with at least a small platform this is a great pedal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Amherst, MA
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | Inexpensive, engage well, shed mud, platform design works well | | Weaknesses: | cheaper construction than other eggbeaters, bearings are not sealed well, insufficiently lubricated | | Similar Products Used: | Eggbeater SL | | Bike Setup: | '95 Trek 930 SS conversion with assorted upgrades | | Bottom Line: | I jumped on these cheap pedals for the use on my SS bike, and so far I have been pleased. I was worried when they first came as the construction was much cheezier than my eggbeater SL's, with rough cast edges on the wings, and a cheap rubber grommet that was all to keep out the elements. The bearings were grinding when I first attached them, which was remedied with a squirt of tacky lube under the grommets, which also helped to seal them. Surprisingly the pedals engaged well, and while not nearly as smooth as my SL's they still worked without trouble. It is a much more binding restrictive feel than other eggbeaters, without the smooth float. They provide a decent enough platform for riding with street shoes for short distances. While I havent knocked them against any rocks yet, they have held up against mud, rain and snow. For a cheap mud-shedding pedal, these rate high in my book, but time will be the ultimate test! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
darwin Bullock
a Weekend Warrior
from Leesburg, Ga. USA
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | $50 | | Strengths: | Great price. Easy to get into and out of. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Times. | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS3 | | Bottom Line: | Great pedals! I was using Times and couldn't get out of the things. These are like a night and day difference. I ride with much more confindence knowing I can exit them in a second. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod
a
from Morehead, ky, USA
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | trails with "sweet" jumps | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Cave Run bikes | | Strengths: | I banged this pedal on a rock the last ride and it isn't hurt. The owner of my local bike shop uses these pedals himself and he recommended them to me. They do not get clogged with mud and they're easy to get in and out of. I was riding in muddy conditions and I got out of my pedals in enough time to keep from crashing when my front tire washed out. These pedals are great. | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found any. Will update this post or make a new one if I find some. | | Similar Products Used: | Different clipless pedals over the years. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Yukon w/ these pedals | | Bottom Line: | You can't beat these pedals for the price. Easy to clip in and out, durable, and affordable. I highly recommend these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Douglas
a
from Tucson
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | EBAY | | Strengths: | price | | Weaknesses: | not well made at all even compared to the smartys it looks cheap. | | Similar Products Used: | Every other crank bro pedal | | Bike Setup: | Nomad w/xo, saint cranks and some other good stuff | | Bottom Line: | You get what you pay for with these.
The tolerances are loose and they do not work like the candys or other crank brothers pedals. Instead of the wings being able to spin in the pedal body when you try to clip in like the candys do they get caught on the body becasue of sloppy tolerances making them some of the hardest pedals to get into. The other thing to look at is they do not have the grease port like the candys.
How good of a value is it if the pedal just sucks? THese pedals compare to the wellgo or forte crap you can buy for the money.
SPEND THE EXTRA 10-20 AND GET SOMETHING THAT IS WORTH IT | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Titus
a Cross Country Rider
from AZ
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Cheap, light... | | Weaknesses: | ...Not strong | | Similar Products Used: | Crank Bros Mallet C | | Bike Setup: | Titus Switchblade, Fox Float, Mavic Crossmax... | | Bottom Line: | These are POS. I used them for less than three months and one came apart. Spend a little more money and get a quality pedal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Curtis
a Weekend Warrior
from ID
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | light | | Weaknesses: | it seems to be a little broken after a couple weeks of riding | | Similar Products Used: | shimano pedals with a platform | | Bike Setup: | '99 Rocky Mountain fusion with a lot of nice parts except these pedals. My fault for trying to save a few bucks. | | Bottom Line: | After a couple weeks the right pedal is loose. I guess the bearings are jacked or something. I'll take it to the bike shop and ask them. I'd recommend staying away from low end parts in general. Maybe crank brothers makes quality pedals but not these ones. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Maton
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Barton Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | BSS | | Strengths: | Easy to get in and out of. 6 degree float. No spring tension adjustments necessary. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock Cannondale HT | | Bottom Line: | Banged first pair on a rock and they wouldn't engage anymore. LBS replaced them and haven't had a problem since. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Durahm Forest | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Easy to clip in and out, price. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Time ATAC, Ritchey, Shimano, Wellgo, REI-1 | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS, Crossmax SL Disc. Avid Jucy Carbon, Thompson, XTR, Answer Hyperlite Carbon, Marzocchi Marathon, Crank Bros | | Bottom Line: | This is a great pedal for the money. I have many clipless pedals and noe were a s easy to get in and out of.Many of the pedals i have tried took too long to break in and these were great from the firt day. Foe the XC rider i would highly recomend thes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sean mankie
a Cross Country Rider
from nj usa
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | the small platforms are great for times when you dont want to clip in. easy to install | | Weaknesses: | the plasic is wearing off and ive only had them a week. | | Similar Products Used: | just came from flats | | Bike Setup: | giant iguana, hope mono mini, hope xc hub, mavic 717 disc rim, chris king headset, rock shox sid wc, kenda karma tires. | | Bottom Line: | great for me. they saved alot of damage on my body today. my hub came off my fork and i endoed and if i wasnt clipped in i wouldnt have kids. instead i just messed up my arms face and chest. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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