Submitted by
smokey422
a Cross Country Rider
from MO Date Reviewed: July 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Landahl
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
E-bay
Strengths:
Mud shedding, weight.
Weaknesses:
Difficult entry, lack of platform for times when I couldn't clip in right away, durability. Made hot spots on my feet due to the small platform. Bruised my shins easily.
I purchased these pedals because of the rave review they got from MBA. I should have known better than to believe them. I never could get consistent entry with them compared to my Shimanos and Times. Release was OK after I shaved the cleats for technical riding. They also didn't provide a good platform for pedaling unclipped when that was necessary. The end caps fell out and they needed new bearings in a year's time, a problem I never had with my Times. They also caused painful bruises on my shins when I banged into them.
I decided to put them on my cyclocross bike that I use for gravel road, dirt trail, and pavement use. They had such a small platform that they formed hot spots on my feet after 30-50 miles. I can't imagine doing a century on them.
If you're interested in this type of pedal, get the FAR superior Time ATACs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Arlington, VA Date Reviewed: April 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Whatever I have time for
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
PBS
Strengths:
Weight, simplicity.
Weaknesses:
Too minimal; made powering up a hill (if you came unclipped for whatever reason) really difficult.
Similar Products Used:
Time ATAC XS
Bike Setup:
'01 big sur that has been updated a bit.
Bottom Line:
Didn't give these a long enough stay on my bike to wear them out as other have. I really disliked the pedal from a design standpoint (stated above). Stick with ATACs. If you're a weight weenie, get the Titans... they're roughly the same weight as these.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike T.
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario Canada Date Reviewed: June 6, 2007
This is a re-test 3.5 years after my first one. I've just worn out the bearings and bushings after over 4 years of riding. I e-mailed Crank Bros last night and the reply came this morning - a service and repair kit will be in the mail ASAP.
These pedals are the greatest - just fit and forget. There's even no need to clean them as the mud drops off when it dries. Mud entry has never been an issue at all and the entry and release is smooth and consistent no matter what the conditions - just stomp down and go, twist and release.
Perfect pedals. Thanks Crank Bros.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gary Satlemann
a Cross Country Rider
from U.K. Date Reviewed: January 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Marin Trail N.Wales
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Light weight
Weaknesses:
Pricey, lousey seals and bearings, cleats ware very quickly, hot spots on the soles of the shoes.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Addidas, Specialized.
Bike Setup:
Spez 2002 FSR.
Bottom Line:
This is strictly a west coast...nice dry warm weather.... US pedal. It won't last 2 minutes in UK grit and mud. I'm on the second set. The seals will not prevent the ingress of grime into the bearings and the bearings are not up to the job. Cleats ware at an alarming rate in the UK conditions, they clearly are not designed for constant immersion in mud. This is a costly pedal. Better to use the more durable Shimano or Time products.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
colin
a Cross Country Rider
from uk dorset Date Reviewed: January 1, 2007
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Strengths:
Amazing design, clears mud, good float that protects knees, lightweight. No real problems with bearings if greased twice yearly
Weaknesses:
eggbeater S - Am I a product tester for this company? - two broken spindles and one unscrewed spindle mis threaded in factory all during normal riding and no crashes. I am 6 4" and 210lbs but do not abuse my gear. Broke both original 2002 model and 2004 model Most of the reviews below are only a few months old - mine broke after about 14 months use. Changing to spds before I have along walk home or gashed achillies. Crankbros distributor UK replaced first pair after some haggling, I kept the receipt second time and I am awaiting retailer reply
Bike Setup:
Trek Oclv/SID/XT
Bottom Line:
Lightweights only
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Timsk
a Cross Country Rider
from United Kingdoom Date Reviewed: October 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
South Downs
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Little Raleigh dealer in West London
Strengths:
Light and look good. Easy to get out of without feeling un-secure. Big float option. Swanky packaging.
Weaknesses:
Numerous. There's something very wrong with the design of these pedals; having the bearings exposed poorly shielded from dirt and water when they go on about how good they are with mud clearence is a bit daft. Not a pedal for people who ride in muddy conditions at all. I've replaced the bearings 4 times in the time that I've had them so that makes them very high maintance. I don't have to replace my BB annually so why the pedal rebuild? On the last rebuild, The bearing was seized into the pedal body and I tried numerous methods for getting it out. No chance. I'm sticking them on ebay for 0.99p. Can be difficult to clip into in a hurry as the contact area is so small.
Similar Products Used:
Time ATACs
Bike Setup:
Intense Tracer XT/XTR, Rockshox, Hope etc.
Bottom Line:
If you ride your bike a lot, stick with your slightly heavier more reliable SPDs and Times.
I have no experience with SPDs but I've never hear of anyone having to constantly rebuild them. I've never had to touch my ATACs and I use them on both my MTB and my commuter bike which I ride daily in all seasons, all weathers.
Poor product. I bought a Crank Brothers pump once and that was rubbish as well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Timsk
a Cross Country Rider
from United Kingdoom Date Reviewed: October 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
South Downs
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Little Raleigh dealer in West London
Strengths:
Light and look good. Easy to get out of without feeling un-secure. Big float option. Swanky packaging.
Weaknesses:
Numerous. There's something very wrong with the design of these pedals; having the bearings exposed poorly shielded from dirt and water when they go on about how good they are with mud clearence is a bit daft. Not a pedal for people who ride in muddy conditions at all. I've replaced the bearings 4 times in the time that I've had them so that makes them very high maintance. I don't have to replace my BB annually so why the pedal rebuild? On the last rebuild, The bearing was seized into the pedal body and I tried numerous methods for getting it out. No chance. I'm sticking them on ebay for 0.99p. Can be difficult to clip into in a hurry as the contact area is so small.
Similar Products Used:
Time ATACs
Bike Setup:
Intense Tracer XT/XTR, Rockshox, Hope etc.
Bottom Line:
If you ride your bike a lot, stick with your slightly heavier more reliable SPDs and Times.
I have no experience with SPDs but I've never hear of anyone having to constantly rebuild them. I've never had to touch my ATACs and I use them on both my MTB and my commuter bike which I ride daily in all seasons, all weathers.
Poor product. I bought a Crank Brothers pump as well and that was rubbish as well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Barry
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle Date Reviewed: May 31, 2006
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
work good, last a long time.
Similar Products Used:
spd, bebop, frog, time
Bottom Line:
I’ve used these for about 3 years. The spindle came off a few years ago and Cranks Bros upgraded me to a rebuilt set of the improved design. They are an awesome pedal. Light weight, easy in, easy out, low maintenance, and inexpensive cleats. I used all the following pedals before eggbeaters and none of them compare favorably:
SPD – mud up too easy. Not enough float. Too many screws to adjust – if they are not all the same then you get inconsistent release
FROG – crummy rubber spring on the cleat wears quickly and results in play between shoe and pedal. Plastic body breaks easy. Won’t release to the inside (until the knob wears off, but that’s not by design). Expensive, complicated cleats. Mud up really bad.
BEBOP – way too fragile for mtb. Very complicated and expensive cleat that wears out quickly. The spring is a spring steel bar in the cleat the looses it’s shape and you pop out of the pedal unexpectedly. Mud up really bad
TIME – similar to eggbeaters but I found them harder to get into. Weigh a lot more. The plastic body holds mud and pieces of log etc… I actually had to stop on several occasions and use a multi-tool to pry wood out of them before I could get into them.
DON’T BUY THE “C” MODELS. They are some kind of brittle carbon steel instead of stainless. I put my old pedals on my roadbike and quickly went through 2 pairs of the cheap version on my mtb. The cages break when you hit rocks etc. I never broke a cage in 3 years with the stainless, but broke 3 cages in 3 months with the “C”. It’s too bad Crank Bros have to market something at that price point. It will just give them a bad name.
Customer service is good. In both the broken spindle case and the broken “C” pedals they have upgraded to a better pedal (for a fee, but better than starting from scratch).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Black
a Weekend Warrior
from Markham, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: March 7, 2006
Hmmmmm.... I'll get back to you. Oh, price on the Ti models. Twice the price to save 30 grams? Just go to the washroom before you ride and you've lost more than 30 grams. Save your money and don't bother with the Ti models. (Secret: I dare say it's already the lightest pedal out there!)
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 525', 858's, Onza (on previous bikes)
Bike Setup:
'03 Klein Palomino Race Disk, mostly stock
Bottom Line:
I have used other 2 sided pedals in the past (I've been usind clipless for 12 years now), and these by far are the best I've used. The ultimate test is the anual Paris-Ancaster (60 km point to point) race that is often mud bogged. I've walked through mud up to my ankle and am able to clip in one shot. No scraping, or stopping to get a twig to flick out the mud, no spinning the pedal a 1/4 turn to find the cleat. Just aim, clip in, you're done. As far as the maintainance goes, those who complain about taking the pedal apart are on crack. Undo ONE screw, slide pedal off spindle, apply grease, reassemble. 5 minutes once or twice a season is not a pain. The cleats are brass, but it's cheaper to replace the brass cleat than the whole pedal. It's built into the design... the cleat wears out so the pedal doesn't. Crank Bros have an awesome product and as long as the quality stays the same, they have a life time buyer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tim
a Weekend Warrior
from virginia Date Reviewed: November 24, 2005
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
light, durable, easy to clip/unclip
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
shimano clipless
Bike Setup:
SC Bullit
Bottom Line:
I purchased these when they first came out after hearing all the hype in 2002. They have definately lived up to their expectations. I have knocked them off rocks, buried them in mud, jumped and dropped with them, and watched my bike tumble down the trail ahead of me after I wrecked, and they still work perfectly. I haven't had to rebuild them, only replace the cleats every season.
I still ride them with the cleats set for easy release and have never had a problem. I find it hard to ride platforms now and feel more comfortable with these anyday on almost any terrain. I have a pair of CB Mallets on the way.
I highly recommend these to any XC'er or aggressive rider.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jens
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia Date Reviewed: November 23, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Anything around Sydney
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Local Sydney Bike shop
Strengths:
The feel of these pedals are great and the fact that you have 4 entry points as opposed to 2 with most other pedals. The mud clearance is great but as we haven't had a decent rain in Sydney for ages i must say that this is not a big issue for me.
Weaknesses:
The maintenance cost in both hours and dollars are way too high. I can understand the need to replace the brass cleats, but having to constantly service and rebuild the actual pedal is a pain. The other main issue is the wear on the sole of the shoe, after a while it doesn't matter if you buy new cleats as the shoe has been worn out and the play between the shoe and pedal cannot be removed.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPDs, Time, other SPD compatible brands
Bike Setup:
Specialized FSR XC
Bottom Line:
Great pedal that when it comes to feel, but the work and maintenance cost required i would not recommend anyone using this pedal unless they have full sponsorship from Crank Brothers...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Cooper
a Cross Country Rider
from Rockford, IL Date Reviewed: October 24, 2005
Favorite Trail:
aevum_m@yahoo.com
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
not telling :)
Strengths:
they work really well! Really strong, really easy entry, great look, light weight, Durable! Durable! Durable! Shed mus very very well.
Weaknesses:
No adjustabilty can be a problem with some riders... but they are allready set to exactly where they should be for tension... so shut it!
Similar Products Used:
ugh... al the shimano entry level pedals, eggbeater candy c's, half platformhlaf clips, speedplay frogs, look carbon crap, speedplay X2s
Bike Setup:
Litech magnesium frame, cannondale AL rigid fork, XTR/517 wheels, old XTR crank (replacing asap), Kenda Kozmik Lite 2 tires (my sweeties), easton carbon bar, Thompson seatpost, Avocet o2 titanium saddle, XT linear brakes, 17 lbs
Bottom Line:
Get em! They work! I got them for an amazing price and they just seem to be getting cheaper.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
S G
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte, NC Date Reviewed: August 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Cache-Game
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
gift
Strengths:
Easy in easy out. Durable.
Weaknesses:
At first I'd have said the cleat material. But they work and I got replacements at a great price. So no big deal.
Similar Products Used:
I had an old pair of Onza clipless with elastomer bumpers and some CODA's which is probably why I think the Eggbeater as so great.
Bike Setup:
Titus Switchblade and a Redline Monocog.
Bottom Line:
I never clean my bikes. I know thats bad but I'm lazy. Even if I do clean them I don't really work on the pedals. The bearings are fine, everything works. I have bashed rocks and crashed hard and nothing has happened to the pedals. A friend of mine gave them to me because he said they were too hard to get out of. I have no problem. I occassionaly ride skinnies and can get out of my eggbeater quickly.
It sucks that others aren't have the great experience I've had with these. I'm putting them on my next project (fixie).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nando Benish
a
from Sultan Date Reviewed: July 29, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Tyee Ridge
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
can't remember online
Strengths:
good mud clearance, easy entry and exit
Weaknesses:
I have several sets of these pedals. my original set lasted a couple of years before the mechanism came off the spindle. lately I have seen several mechanisms do the same. Some in near new condition.
Similar Products Used:
Candy SL, Mallet C, Candy C, Eggbeater Stainless, Quatro
Bike Setup:
Which One?
Bottom Line:
I sent Crank Bros. an email a week or so ago about this problem and asked them if they were aware of the problem and if so are they intending to correct the problem. To date I have received no response. I moved on to Time XS Carbon this week and have already found advantages.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Testtech
a Cross Country Rider
from Betthesda, MD Date Reviewed: July 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Gambril
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$120.00
Strengths:
Easy entrance and exit, mud proof
Weaknesses:
Sharp edges
Similar Products Used:
Various Shimano SPD pedals
Bike Setup:
Ventanna El Salto
Bottom Line:
These pedals perform well with one caveat for the developing rider: if you fall and your shins contact the pedal, you will experience abrasions, cuts and bruises. I never had this problem with Shimano SPD's. I have now retired the Cranks and am trying Frogs (no sharp edges). If you are a competent rider, these pedals work very well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Niklaus Hartmann
a Weekend Warrior
from Cochabamba, Bolivia Date Reviewed: May 6, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Cruzani, Cochabamba
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Simple. Easy in - Easy out. Simple = less useless material = no mud stuck on pedals = no stuck clips. I've used these pedals on very technical trails and have not had any problems with them yet. I used to have Shimano DX's but never used them on technical trails because i never trusted them. I used the eggbeaters the first day out on a very technical trail and never thought about any other pedal again.
Weaknesses:
I was about to put the clip lifetime as a weakness, but I would be wrong to. The reason the clips wear out quicker is because they are made of brass. Brass is the reason the clip goes in and out so easy. If you want you can file down an SPD clip and will last longer, but you will not get the same feel.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano DX
Bike Setup:
Santa Blur 4X / SRAM X-9, Easton EA70, DT Swiss, Mavic, Thomson Elite, Terry
Bottom Line:
Eggbeaters are the only way to go. They made the perfect clip-in pedal. This pedal is simple and efficient, in fact its simplicity makes it eye dazzling. You'll love to look at your bike when you put these on...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bernie
a
from Laguna, Philippines Date Reviewed: March 25, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Laguna Trails-All
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Cycling Zone Las Pinas
Strengths:
Very Light, easy to engage & disengage, nice looking
Perhaps one of the pedals recommended for thjose who are afraid of mis-disengaging cleats resulting to accident. Very easy to use, just take care of the cleats.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Whaley
a Cross Country Rider
from Pensacola, FL, USA Date Reviewed: March 8, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Oak Mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Sports
Strengths:
4-sided entry makes clipping in easy. Withstands mud and sand well. Easy to clean and requires little or no service.
Weaknesses:
Once clipped in you have a hard time getting out. No way to adjust the tension. I took them off of my mountain bike because they were a hazard to my health. My new mountain bike has Shimano 520 clipless pedals and I can adjust the tension.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 520
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel 80.
Bottom Line:
I like the concept behind the egg beater pedals but wish they had had tension adjustment.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jared
a Cross Country Rider
from Delta, CO Date Reviewed: March 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:
More Fun-Fruita
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
No look clip in that is easy to do. No parts to lose i.e. tension screws. Super light weight (compared to ATAC pedals). 4 sided entry.
Weaknesses:
If there is one, I can't find it, and I have been trying to for a couple of years now.
Similar Products Used:
Time ATAC, Shimano 575.
Bike Setup:
Intense Spider XVP, Litespeed Unicoi, Gary Fisher Montare
Bottom Line:
These are the pedals that all of you Time ATAC lovers will change to. This pedal is light than any of the Time pedals and offers the same great featuers of the ATAC-except for the larger platform of the ATAC. If you have a decent shoe this is not a problem. These pedals have no tension adjustment, but the cleats can be switched so as to change the release angle. They are always there to clip in when you want to, and let you out when you need to. I have been negelgent in maintenance on the pair I have owned for 2+ years-not having done a thing but ride with them, and still they are the same as the pair my wife just bought. Try them once and you'll know this review is true.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
je le
a
from australia Date Reviewed: December 26, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
jenson
Strengths:
great design. clip in+out is natural. freedom of movement (float) is excellent. cant comment about mud clearing ability as i only use mine on the road.
Weaknesses:
Longevity! 4 months and my first pair broke a spring in one pedal. cleats wore out in 5 months and theyre dam expensive here $40AUD. and second pair have worn bearing sleeves already. I hate things that dont last.
Similar Products Used:
nothing. i cannot compare to any other clipless pedals as i went strait from platforms to eggbeaters.
Bike Setup:
mountain with slick tyres for road.
Bottom Line:
great design with short lifespan. i dont mind the cleats wearing out after 5 months but the replacement price is rude. the bearings arent designed to last very long at all - and i never ride mine in mud!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Racer
from Marietta, GA, USA Date Reviewed: December 11, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Fontana Village, NC
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Weight, 4-sided entry, mud clearance
Weaknesses:
Small platform, cleats wear quickly
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Ritchey
Bike Setup:
High End
Bottom Line:
I'm glad I waited to give this review. When I first started to use these I thought they were great. I wonder how much of that was buyer's justification. I have started to notice the small platform a bit. However, my biggest complaint is the soft, brass cleats. As the cleats started to wear, the connection became less and less certain. I started to lose the feel and the sound of clicking in. I started thinking way too much about whether or not I was in my pedal. They started feeling that way about 3/4 way through my season. That may sound like a lot of riding... but I do 90% of my training on the road. I'm going to spend a few bucks on a new set of cleats and give them one more shot.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wayne
a Cross Country Rider
from Greenfield Ctr NY Date Reviewed: November 20, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
local shop
Strengths:
light weight, compact & simple design
Weaknesses:
clipping out under duress
Similar Products Used:
shimano spd, power grips, platforms
Bike Setup:
Sjumper M4, Hayes mag discs, Panaracer Cinders
Bottom Line:
I still use these pedals, but they are on my road bike now, where I get along just fine with them. However I took a pretty good beating with them when they were on my Mountain bike on technical single track rides.
My problem was that they were not consistant in releasing when you were about to eat the big one. After several crashes in which I could not unclip from my bike I removed the Beaters and threaded on a pair of 520 Shimanos.
Problem solved, I have no problem getting into or out of the 520's. It could be me or the pedals, I don't know or care. The bottom line is that I have been far happier with the Shimanos and I am not taking the beating that I was getting with the Eggbeaters.
I have since installed the Eggbeaters on my road bike where getting into & out of your pedals in a hurry is less of an issue so it was a win, win solution for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christian
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario Date Reviewed: October 13, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Easy in, innovative design
Weaknesses:
Fast cleat wear, very fast internal wear. Developed knee problems.
Similar Products Used:
Old Ritchey SPD type
Bike Setup:
RaceFace crank, rest of the drivetrain is SRAM. Light mag frame. Also used them on my roadie
Bottom Line:
I beleive these pedals gave me knee problems. After riding fairly hard for the past 6 years (about 20-40km a day in the summers, commuting every day even in the winter) I developed knee problems after only 2000km with these pedals, initially I refused to beleive it was them, as they have a good reputation for the knees. Before I finally gave up on them my 4km daily commute caused incredible knee pain (yes, I re-adjusted the height of my seat to account for low stack height), now that I've switched back to my old ritcheys it's going away slowly - but I fear I may have done permanent damage to my knees. I still can't ride more than 50km in a day without feeling it coming back, but at least I can commute and go on social rides again thanks to my old ritcheys (with no float).
I suspect it was the side to side float - I checked with my feet out of the shoes and these pedals have float that allows the feet to 'roll' side to side (not rotational float) as well the standard float. Maybe that was the problem, but I don't really care - I'm not going back to them. They do shed mud easily and are cheap, but watch out for your knees...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Philadelphia, PA Date Reviewed: June 7, 2004
I ride with a lot of people who have these, and no one I know has had a problem. If you're going to be doing any winter riding, these (any maybe Time Ataks) are the only pedals to have. "Complicated" pedals get all iced up and there's no in and no out. Both of which suck. I've never, ever had a problem getting into or out of these, dry, mud, snow, ice. The float is a little weird, as a few people have mentioned, but once you get used to it, you'll never let go of these pedals. At about $100/pr, these are really, really hard to beat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Eugene, Oregon Date Reviewed: May 18, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
LBS I work for
Strengths:
Cutting edge design that's very simple. Easy engagement and release. Very lightweight for the price.
Weaknesses:
Very poor durability. First set owned needed a rebuild kit after 6 months of mostly dry riding. The seals on these pedals are very poor, and I found myself disassembling, cleaning and regreasing the internals after almost every ride. The internals are of shoddy construction, a bushing and a "sealed" bearing that both wear out quickly. Spindle strength is questionable, I broke a spindle on a seemingly harmless collision with a rock. Cleats wear out prematurely. Pedal "claws" wear grooves into the bottom of my shoes, thus making the cleat feel loose when engaged and causing frustrating and scary disengagement on sketchy downhills.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Wellgo, Speedplay
Bike Setup:
Varies
Bottom Line:
I cannot recommend these pedals to anyone and I regret ever buying them. Luckily Crank Brothers has excellent customer service and gave me a free rebuild kit for the first set of pedals and then replaced that set when I broke them. But that is not what I am reviewing. These pedals have been nothing but problems. I seriously clean them all the time and they still wear out. My second set is now exhibiting the same problems as the first set I had. Both pedals spin freely (bearings have gone completely dry) and have huge amounts of play at the bushings which are also now worn. This is after 1 year of riding mostly during the drier months of the rear (I don't ride off road during the winter, too rainy). The loose engagement of the pedals is scary, especially with a pedal that has such a small platform for engagement. I inadvertly clip out when making even small one or two foot jumps/drops. Not confidence inspiring at all. I now wonder if the bearing play was a contributing factor to the failure of the first set, since the spindle broke close to the pedal body. Before that they had so much play that the pedals would rattle if you dropped the bike. Rediculous. Crank Brothers is a good company with great customer service, but their first attempt at a pedal is a dismal failure. Hopefully the 2003 pedals have better internals and seals. I have not tried them, and I don't intend to. I can't afford to throw away that much money for a product that performs this poorly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cameron
a Cross Country Rider
from Saugus, CA, U.S. Date Reviewed: May 17, 2004
I just love these pedals. The float took a little getting used to but I like it. Haven't had the clicking out problems mentioned below. And the lack of a platform has not been a problem at all. If this is a concern maybe give the the candy's a try. Don't know what else to say, these pedals are simply the best I have tried...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jay
a Racer
from Fairfax, VA Date Reviewed: April 29, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Kokopelli
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At:
performance
Strengths:
Light and great mud clearence. Easy to maintain and last a long time.
Weaknesses:
Not as adjustable as SPDs and large amount of float makes them hard to get out of in tricky situations. Lack of platform makes clipping in on a hill more difficult.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPD and baskets
Bike Setup:
Canny Jekyll, Race Face crank & bb, xtr & lx mix, Julie h discs.
Bottom Line:
If you race in the mud like I do, these are the best to get. Ti is a little too expensive for me, but the Crank Bros. have a good system that has been extremely reliable. 2 years and I've serviced them myself once and they probably didn't really need it. Easy to use, maintain, love them. Lack of platform makes clipping in on a hill more difficult.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Decatur, Georgia Date Reviewed: April 22, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Bear Creek
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
local bike shop
Strengths:
easy in and out (4 sided entry), light weight, never clogs, essentially problem free
Weaknesses:
bearings going bad
Similar Products Used:
SPDs
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F600 with XT components, Thompson seat post, and Selle Flight Gel saddle
Bottom Line:
These pedals were the best upgrade on my bike. The stock SPDs cloged constantly and broke quickly (too many parts). The simple design of the egg beaters solved all these problems. I thought not having a platform would bother me, but I've never even noticed it. The only issue (which has just cropped up after a couple years of abuse) is that the bearings in one pedal are started to go. I've read the this issue has been fixed on the 2003 and up versions--can't wait to upgrade to the new stainless or possible a titanium version.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zon Win
a Racer
from Seattle, WA, USA Date Reviewed: April 10, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Tiger
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Simple, light, 4 sided entry
Weaknesses:
Doesn't spin freely on spindle. Wears sole of shoe!
Similar Products Used:
SPD, Time ATAC, Frogs
Bike Setup:
Epic S-works, full XTR, SID
Bottom Line:
Great simple design but the pedals doesn't spin freely on the spindle. It is enough to cause me knee problems. Times and SPD spin so nicely without any stiction. Spin them next time and you will see.
The other factor is that they wear not only the cleat but the bottom of your shoe! So you get a crease in your shoe and for me, it tilted my shoe out more. I found that Times did this also which caused me to replace the shoe instead of just the cleat. The SPD are great because they only allow the cleat to wear. I know, it is a weird observation but keep on eye on it.
If you looking for a simple pedal with no mud problem, these are it. The 4 sides can make it difficult to enter sometimes. The stiction and poor shoe wear caused me to sell them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ed
a Weekend Warrior
from manchvegas Date Reviewed: March 31, 2004
Favorite Trail:
anything with mud
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
local ripoff artists oops I ment to say gooddales
Strengths:
everything about the design. easy in/out. more float, durable, sheds mud, light, put it on a cordless drill and make scrambled eggs at the state park
Weaknesses:
none its design puts it above the rest
Similar Products Used:
various shimano
Bike Setup:
then rock hopper pro/ now banshee morphine
Bottom Line:
This system is buy far the best clipless out there. Easy in easy out.... a few indo's sent the bike gunnin for the back of my head but atleast the dam things cliped in. Work great in the mud. Like the fact that you can kick the petal, in a foward motion rolling it on (try doing that with your shimano) The only poor reviews were submitted by lessthan's take there advise with a grain of salt.
You may want somthing with a platform (go with the mallet C) I recomend that for the extreamist in technical sessions and mabey the flat out beginer who wants to try clipless stage. Have ridden these over 2000 miles through everything, they just plain out perform. Ive never had to service and I beat everything I own..... with the exception of my girlfriend, mabey thats cause she owns me?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from Blairstown, NJ Date Reviewed: March 27, 2004
Favorite Trail:
knife edge
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Gift
Strengths:
Lightweight, Excellent mud shedding ability, Ease of maintenance.
Weaknesses:
Clipping out in emergency situations, cleat wear.
Similar Products Used:
Ritchey and Shimano pedals
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F5000SL, set up to ride fast and light.
Bottom Line:
It is a great set of pedals to own when if you don't ride a lot of technical trails. The Eggbeaters were easy to clip in, engaged perfectly on muddy/snowy rides and are super light. In emergency situations however, I had a lot of difficulty clipping out. Which lead to eating a lot of rock, and changing my riding style for the worse. A pair of Ritchey's have repalced them for now.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dirk
a Cross Country Rider
from Gallup, NM Date Reviewed: March 24, 2004
Favorite Trail:
North Side
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Scoreboard
Strengths:
Simple design, 4 sided engagement, weight, price, Customer Service (see below)
Weaknesses:
Relatively new design at time of purchase, can be tough to disengage
Similar Products Used:
SPDs, Bontrager knockoffs, Time
Bike Setup:
Specialized FSR
Bottom Line:
I bought these pedals from the LBS at a fair price. Although I had some intial problems with getting out of the pedals in emergencies (which time solved), I really liked the pedals due their light weight and toughness. Fast forward to this week. While standing on a short climb, my right pedal snapped in half with a stub on my crank and the pedal "beater" on my shoe. After a less than glorious four mile ride back to my truck with one leg pedaling, I called Crank Brothers and told them my woes. Without even questioning the incident they take down my name and address so they might ship me a 2004 pair of Candy Egg Beaters and send the required label that I might send the busted pedals back to them on their dime. Now that it is customer service! I would like to bottle some of that and force feed it to some other bike companies. Anyway, these pedals are great and if they break, Crank Brothers stands behind their product like few others do.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a
from Wellington, New Zealand Date Reviewed: February 18, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Entry and exit are great, even in the muddiest conditions, incredibly low weight
Weaknesses:
Looseness while cleated in
Similar Products Used:
Shimano low-enders
Bottom Line:
Found these to be a dream after suffering through constant engagement issues with old Shimanos. Though: my cleats have worn out fast and there seems to be some play in the pedal (can wobble the bars back and forth a bit). So only issue is that my cleat now slides around inside the pedal a lot.
Recommended pedal to those who ride in the mud a lot. Really noticable weight difference compared to the old Shimanos. Pretty expensive over here though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cody
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX Date Reviewed: February 17, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Ant hills
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Virtually maintenance free, easy to clip in and out of after a little practice, best mud shedding pedal on the market.
Weaknesses:
Isn't free.
Bike Setup:
Trek 4500 with every component upgraded.
Bottom Line:
These pedals were a big improvement over the stock flat pedals that came with the bike. I've been riding them for 15 months and I've never done any maintenance on them until this week. I noticed that one of the seals were torn, so I just ordered a rebuild kit for $15. Not bad considering I didn't even take them off my bike in the 15 months I've owned them. I know that Crank Brothers have made improvements on the pedal for '03, but if I only have to buy a rebuild kit every 15 months, I'll keep what I have.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dennis
a Cross Country Rider
from WA Date Reviewed: February 6, 2004
Favorite Trail:
cross country
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$89.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Easy to rebuild. Shed mud. 4 sided entry. Etc......
Weaknesses:
Brass cleats wear fast
Similar Products Used:
Some old Coda junk
Bike Setup:
RM Instinct, Klein SS
Bottom Line:
Went through 2 sets of cleats real fast. Contacted Crank Bros. and they said that this is pretty common. Then they stated that they could send me an '04 spec pedal for $25 and then I send my '02's back. Well I gladly did this and no I can use those old cleats again and they work fine. I guess most of my problem was with the pedal itself. Great to have a 2 year warranty. Crank made this process easy because they believe that '02 owners do not have as good of a product as the newer models. I am a very satisfied customer!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Worth
a Cross Country Rider
from Suffield CT, USA Date Reviewed: December 22, 2003
Favorite Trail:
any east coast technical singletrack
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Excellent entry/exit in mud or snow, light weight
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
shimano 515
Bike Setup:
2002 Cannondale f-800, xtr, lefty fork
Bottom Line:
These are great pedals for any xc rider especially if you ride often in mud or snow
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dirk
a Cross Country Rider
from Mishawaka, IN, US Date Reviewed: November 30, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Weight, customer service
Weaknesses:
Clip entry/exit, screws come loose, durability, adjustability (there is none even the cleat)
Similar Products Used:
M747, PD959
Bike Setup:
GT hardtail with XT, and some nicer components.
Bottom Line:
I hate these pedals!!! I have been riding mountain bikes for years. I hardley ever crashed until I bought these pedals. I had trouble clipping in and out. I fell over a few times after stopping becasue I could not get out. Getting in was just as hard...almost smashed my knee several times while rolling off the pedal. If you want a great pedal, get the Shimano PD959. I have 2 pair now. 1 for each bike.
BTW, the bearing on one side started loosening after about 500 miles.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Win
a Cross Country Rider
from Saratoga CA Date Reviewed: November 26, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Santa Cruz Mountain Rides
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Sea Otter '02
Strengths:
Note: This review is for the original Egg Beater not the 2003 upgraded version. Same as SPD clipping in. Smoother and surer than SPD releasing. Secure no unplanned releases. Light weight Great customer support from Crank Bros.
Weaknesses:
Yes, the inner bushing wears if not maintained- 5 to 10 minutes every couple months to remove one bolt and clean and lube bushing and spindle. (but isn't that part of the fun?)
Similar Products Used:
Various SPDs
Bike Setup:
MTB built "Lite" for climbing and a carbon road TREK.
Bottom Line:
Love this pedal. I don't hesitate in recommending it to everyone that asks. Will use a Ti version for my next bike build (Blur?). Also currently use it on my road bike. Comment on cleat and shoe wear - after almost 2 years of riding a minimum of 1.5 hours, 5 to 6+ times a week, the original cleats are still functional. The wear has affected the float/slop but not the security of the clip in. I've seen no excessive wear to my SIDI Dom-3s.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Racer
from Florida Date Reviewed: November 25, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Ease of use
Weaknesses:
Spindle/bushing wear and shoe wear
Similar Products Used:
Time/Shimano SPD
Bike Setup:
Ti Hardtail
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to a review from December of 02.
These continue to be the best pedal I've ever used. I'm on the third rebuild kit and third set of cleats in about a year and a half. Not to bad considering how much riding I do.
Two main areas of concern:
Spindal wear.... Mine is now worn out. Even with rebuild kits, the slop is still there.
Shoe wear.... One pair of shoes has bitten the dust from nearly being cut through the sole and the second is looking pretty bad. I just move the cleat sligthly to keep them going.
Looks like the stainles steel version is addressing the spindal issue. Now, what about the shoes?!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ron
a Racer
from Everett, Wa Date Reviewed: November 12, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Strengths:
weight, price, easy in, easy out
Weaknesses:
incompatibility of cleats with Shimano pedals.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 959, Wellgo
Bike Setup:
Sid shoes, Prodigy XC Crankset
Bottom Line:
Much easier to clip into and out of than my Shimano pedals. I can dismount by rotating my foot inwards or outwards. It is very easy to locate the pedal with the cleat. I have not owned the pedal long enough to have bearing issues yet. So far, so good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scott
a Downhiller
from portland, or Date Reviewed: October 28, 2003
Favorite Trail:
dirt merchant
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Lightweight, comfy float, mud-proof
Weaknesses:
Bushings. Bushings in a pedal, you must be mad! Bushings? Not so bueno for steep technical climbing. Occasionally ejects your foot when you whack a rock. Oh, and BUSHINGS SUCK!!!
Similar Products Used:
Time ATAC, Shimanos
Bike Setup:
2003 Norco Shore with 24" rear
Bottom Line:
These pedals were pretty good for the first 4 months, on my old XC bike. Then the bushings wore out. Bushings in a pedal are inexcusable. 4 months out of a pair of pedals is ludicrous. Sure bushings are light, but completely inappropriate for something that needs to continually rotate. They work fine if you spend more time polishing your toy than actually riding, and if you spend more time calculating your bike's weight on a spreadsheet than racing your buddies up a climb.
At least somebody (Look 4x4) addressed this issue appropriately, and put bearings on both sides of the pedal. If I ever get another light bike, I will try a pair of Looks. But for now I will stick with flats for stunts and hucking, and Shimano 545s for aggro XC.
Clipping in and out was not an issue, but I was surprised that the whole 4-sided thing was not an advantage. You cannot "roll" the pedal under your foot if you don't hit it spot-on. This is only really an issue on technical steep climbs.
+5 stars for a great innovative idea, but -4 stars for a horribly inadequate execution with bushings in it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug L
a Cross Country Rider
from Housrton, TX Date Reviewed: October 26, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Reduced Weight Mud clearance
Weaknesses:
Release point
Similar Products Used:
SPD. Frog
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth
Bottom Line:
Was not able to unclip on my left foot. I'd be on my ass still trying to unclip, twisting my ankle / leg at least 60 degrees Finally after sitting in the gargage sent back and spoke with Crank brothers. After two weeks and contacting CB again I received a note (email) saying they "looked" at my peddles and they are fine. Did I know about the different release cleat options? Duh? The official line is that the tread clearance of my shoe is the problem ..ok Specialized and Nothface your shoes don’t work with these peddles…right! For me these peddles are a huge disappointment and the company is as well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a
from Denver, Colorado Date Reviewed: October 24, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
supergo.com
Strengths:
Easy use
Weaknesses:
Bike shoes required for riding anytime.
Similar Products Used:
old school onza h.o. clipless
Bike Setup:
kona cinder cone, marzzochi shocks, magura disc brakes
Bottom Line:
Excellent MTB pedals, 4 sided entry let's you focus on the trail rather that clipping in. Sturdy platform shoes are suggested for use. There is no adjusting or fumbling perfect for even the "slowest" of riders. Simple design yet an great purchase. They will be on my bike for a very , very long time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Tan
a Cross Country Rider
from Malaysia/New Zealand Date Reviewed: October 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Woodhill Bike Park, NZ
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Adventure Cycles Auckland
Strengths:
This baby is light and looks cool. Clipping in felt very positive.
Weaknesses:
Clipping out is a bit of a mission. They are expensive pedals, retailing for about NZ$189, I think. (I got them through staff purchase)
Similar Products Used:
Shimano-style Wellgos
Bike Setup:
'97 GT Avalanche, '01 Mars, old XT (8-spd!)
Bottom Line:
Interesting pedal. I'm yet to test their mud-shedding abilites back in tropical Malaysian trails, right now I ride mainly on sandy trails at Woodhill in New Zealand (where I'm currently studying). I do find the release angle something to get used to, though, after riding for several years on a pair of Wellgos. Don't be mistaken, I don't miss those pedals at all - a real pain to get in and out of in mud.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
aus10 m
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston Date Reviewed: October 5, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
jenson
Strengths:
lightweight, easy entry and exit, good mud shedding design, easy to maintain, easy rebuild, now you can upgrade titanium axles for pretty cheap if you are in that weight range
Weaknesses:
they need service after a few thousand miles, which is expected, the cleats do wear fast, and the pedals to wear the soles of your shoes, but shoes wear out anyways...ohh and wach out if you miss the pedal when you come down hard(to clip in), you can really hurt your shins if you miss
Similar Products Used:
spd's
Bike Setup:
two wheels a chain...and so on
Bottom Line:
These pedals don't really come unclipped when they bottom out, How often do you bottom out your pedals anyways...if you experience this you are probabally twisting in the float when it happens, I have had it happen to me once and that is because I didn't keep my foot down when I hit, and I was riding really sloppy. I got these when they first came out. I was tired of my shimano spd's and wanted a better pedal for the type of riding I do. At first I noticed it was harder to clip in compared to the spd's, but after a while I got used to stepping on to it the right way. The four sided entry isn't hard to get used to, and it is really reliable. The cleats do wear out after a while and the pedals do wear on your shoes...I am going to try the New Crank Bro's Candys they fix that problem and look awesome...Great Product Overall, I have No Buyers remorse, and I have Two pair, and I plan on getting the New Candy Ti's
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a
from Santa Cruz Date Reviewed: October 4, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Design. Getting in and out of them. Ease of maintenance. Durability. Weight.
Weaknesses:
Requires a little user involvement(for some people, such as myself, this is a product strength).
Similar Products Used:
none.
Bike Setup:
First used these pedals on an old Fisher CroMo hardtail. Now being used on a very good FS bike.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up review. I've had these pedals for about 15 months now and obviously I'm still using them so I must like them. For those who initially find these pedals hard to get in and out of, remember to shave away the soles of your shoes where the pedal body makes contact with the rubber on either side of the cleat. My only original complaint was that the pedal didn't hold its grease very well. Well, since I like doing my own maintenance and since re-greasing the pedals takes about five minutes to do, my original complaint really isn't a complaint anymore. I ride about four times a week and I really don't see myself having to replace these pedals until someone comes up with a design that's better than these. I originally gave these pedals three chilis because of the grease issue. But since that's not an issue anymore, I'm upgrading these pedals to five chilis. In fact, I'm putting a new set of Beaters on my road bike. And I don't care if I have to use mtn. shoes on the road bike, I like these pedals that much.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike T.
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario Canada Date Reviewed: September 28, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
e-bay
Strengths:
They love mud! Lighness.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 735, 747. Frogs. ATACs.
Bike Setup:
Seven Sola. Pace rigid carbon fork.
Bottom Line:
I've had most of the pedals on the market and so far the Egg Beaters have been the best. They are easy to enter and even easier to get out of. Mud is NOT an issue with these pedals. I just rode a very muddy race today and had zero problems getting in or out of them.
My cleats have broken in and are now buttery smooth on release and take almost no effort BUT I never have popped out of these pedals unintentionally.
I saved 4.13oz/pair over my next favorite pedal - ATACs. I weighed them myself.
I you have ever had one nano-second's problem with mud and your pedals then get some EggBeaters. Your mud problems are history.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Troy
a Cross Country Rider
from Cincinnati, OH Date Reviewed: September 25, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Nebo Ridge
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
99
Strengths:
These are just great pedals. I have never had to maintain these at all. I probably have about 1000 miles on these and they work like a charm every time. I will probably replace the cleats next season since I figure it cannot hurt to get new ones. Simple to use so much so I am clipped in half the time without realizing I am in the pedal. Plenty of float if you have knee problems.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Time Atac, split one in half hitting a tree.
Bike Setup:
01 Trek Fuel 90, hayes mag hydro brakes, Marizzochi MX comp w/eta, Xt/XTR derailers, Fox float shock rest bontrager.
Bottom Line:
Best pedal on the market IMO. No problems on them at all no service needed no brainer get'em and you will be happy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO Date Reviewed: September 7, 2003
Favorite Trail:
YoMama
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Simplicity, ease of use
Weaknesses:
Wear
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, CODA, Kore(SUCK)
Bottom Line:
I started out loving these pedals. They gave me 4 months of worry free use on my road bike. I got some real road pedals and put them on my mtb after my 545's fell apart. First time in adverse conditions and they start squeaking and popping. I regreased them - that worked for 2 weeks. Serviced again, and that lasted a day, next time in 30 min they were squeaking and popping again. For being rated best product, they don't last. The cleats have big grooves worn in them now. SO - paid $60, and after 6 months have to buy $20 cleats and $20 rebuild kit. Not such a great deal after all. Maybe the newer version is better, but I probably won't chance it. Now I have to pull out my old Coda's, service those and ride them 'til the end of season sales start.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Maine Date Reviewed: August 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Falcon
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Light, look great, simple design
Weaknesses:
Scary DANGEROUS trying to clip back in on technical sections.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Time, Ritchey
Bike Setup:
Raleigh Hardtail w/ Marzocchi MX Comp
Bottom Line:
Great for non-technical rides, but just plain dangerous for trying to re-clip in technical sections. I've ridden clipless since the original Shimano's, so experience isn't an issue. IMHO: Buy the new Crank Bros (or Time) if you need more non-clipped footing than just a toothpick.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dean
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA, USA Date Reviewed: August 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Almaden Quicksilver
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
UC Cyclery, San Diego
Strengths:
Clipping in, mud clearance, cool looking
Weaknesses:
Clipping out (without adjustments), poor platform when riding unclipped
Similar Products Used:
toe clips
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper FS hardtail
Bottom Line:
As my first experience with clip-in pedals, I was willing to give the egg beaters more of a chance than I might normally. Early on, I had lots of trouble clipping out, and did the full turtle (i.e., flipped over on my back, bike above me, with both pedals still clipped) several times. Along with getting more experience with clip-in pedals, I made a few adjustments to the setup that make the egg beaters work for me.
First, I set the cleats to the 15 degree early release. Then I rotated the cleats slightly on the shoes to reduce the release angle even more. This has the effect of canting my heels closer to the crank arms, so that when I'm in normal pedaling mode the pedals are already on their way to releasing. (Note: this doesn't bother my knees, but your situation might be different.) Finally, I carved out the soles of my shoes (Specialized Rockhopper Comp) around the pedals so there are no clearance issues.
This might seem like a lot of tweaking to get the pedals to work, but it beats spending another $100+ on a different set!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
fonseca
a Cross Country Rider
from Virginia Date Reviewed: August 10, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$91.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
The many strengths have been covered over and over in the reviews below.
Weaknesses:
-fast cleat wear -poor seals -bushing/bearing wear -play in the pedals as a result -damage to shoes
Similar Products Used:
Egg Beater S, several Time models, lots of Shimano models and Shimano copies.
Bottom Line:
I cannot recommend these pedals when an improved version is available, despite the fact that they are by far my favorite pedals of the many I have owned over the years.
The new Egg Beater S pedals are far superior, as they correct several problematic issues. I am now on my fourth rebuild kit (and third set of cleats) in less than 1.5 years of use: they probably have less than 1,000 miles on them. The inboard rubber o-ring is all but useless for keeping mud and grit out of the pedal, and I found myself cleaning and regreasing the pedal on a monthly basis--weekly if it was muddy--just to extend the bearing/bushing life.
Crank Bros sent me the new double lip seals (the version with a lip that extends from the body onto the spindle) free of charge, but I had to go back to the standard o-ring because the new seals created a great deal of friction, which did not lessen with use. The pedal body was so difficult to rotate that I had trouble even clipping in, and could barely rotate them by hand. I experimented with different weights of grease, and even squirting oil under the new seal lips, but the reduced drag didn't last long.
I have the original Rev 1 spindles, and can't use the improved seals unless I buy new spindles. I've already put so much money into rebuild kits that I don't think it's worth the cost, so I just bought the new Egg Beater S pedals.
The other issue is the fast cleat wear. Cleats used for a few days look like Shimano steel cleats used for many years. They seem to wear considerably faster than Time brass cleats as well. The new Eggs came with slightly different cleats, but I don't know that they will last longer than the old version. The cleats aren't cheap.
I'm also concerned about my Sidi Dominator 3s, which have grooves worn into them from the the pedal bars, and may eventually fail as a result. These weren't cheap shoes so I hope they don't die prematurely. I've started moving the cleat position occasionally to spread the wear.
Despite the above problems, I love these pedals and think they are the best design around. It seems like most people who have problems with entry and release are coming from Shimano pedals. When Time first became popular there were similar complaints; there is a learning curve with both, but those who switch from Times to Eggs should have no problems. In fact, clipping into Eggs requires less force than Time ATAC, and is a lot faster for me as well. I usually roll my foot foward quickly and get in on my first try 90% of the time. Getting in so easily means less stalls when climbing and less dabs in technical sections.
These pedals are great for all-around trail riding, and very stable even without a platform. I recommend you buy the new model even though this one is available online for considerably less money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Massachusetts Date Reviewed: August 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Wompatuck State Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$115.00
Purchased At:
The Bicycle Link
Strengths:
4 sided entry
Weaknesses:
none
Bottom Line:
nice pedals.....great value
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
The Radical
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston Tx Date Reviewed: July 27, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
Resillant to mud light easy to clip in
Weaknesses:
you gotta keep buying those expensive cleats like every 2-3 month - the lil rubber end cap falls out - new models have a metal screw cap- looks like a keeper
Similar Products Used:
most pedals on the market
Bottom Line:
Great pedals, I love em, the bearings have gone out on me just recently so i ordered the swap kit for em. These pedals are great easy to get in and out of, just replace your cleats often or else they will clip out on you when you don't need to be clippin out. Its like 10-20 a pair depending on where you buy from. Now I'm just trying to snag a pair of those ss pedals, i have my doubts about the Ti's. Overall a great pedal and if you have a few dollars to buy a good pedal go for it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kurtis Diff
a Weekend Warrior
from San Luis Date Reviewed: July 21, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Foothill bikes
Strengths:
Easy to get in and out. Great customer service.
Weaknesses:
none that i have noticed
Similar Products Used:
WTB Stealth, Ricthey, Kore platforms
Bike Setup:
Diamondback XR-4, Manitou fork, with cross country equip. & Intense M1, Dorado DH fork, Kore platforms (along with mallet c's when availble)
Bottom Line:
I did not start out liking the idea being stuck to my bike in technical sections, however these pedals have proved easy to get in and out of in any situation I recommend them to anyone that ride crosscountry.Crank Bros customer service is also outstanding; I collapsed the pedal by a couple of rough slams against some big rocks (which was totally my fault and not the workmanship quality). When I called Crank Bros. and was asking how to fix they just told to send them in and they were fixed and back to me in about a week. Every other clipless pedal I have tried has never seemed quite right up until this pedal. I like this pedal so much I am going to buy some of the "mallet c" for my M1 to use when riding downhill/freeride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Racer
from Silver City, New Mexico Date Reviewed: July 18, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$56.00
Strengths:
Its light, easy to clip in, it can take the abuse.
Weaknesses:
If you bang one on a rock, it releases. No zero float option.
Similar Products Used:
Time Atacs, etc.
Bike Setup:
Litespeed Tanasi w/XTR
Bottom Line:
I like these peddles. I used Time Atacs and liked them, but I prefer these now. I don't need a platform and I don't have problems with unclipping.
I would like a little less float, but thats a limitation for both these and Times. The new Shimano 959 does have a zero float option.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ash
a Weekend Warrior
from Hong Kong Date Reviewed: July 17, 2003
Favorite Trail:
dog chaser
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Mr Lee
Strengths:
Mud clearance No tiny parts Light
Weaknesses:
Get real hard to release if they get real dry
Similar Products Used:
times, shimano -all,
Bike Setup:
tracer, 03 xtr,
Bottom Line:
very reliable pedal but after a while (like 8 months) they get hard to release. Squirt em with WD40, wipe off most of it and they will work at treat for another six months. Heaps of clearance underneath and loads better than shimanos in the mud. Light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Keith Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from New Orleans, LA USA Date Reviewed: July 16, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Online bike shop
Strengths:
Low price
Weaknesses:
Hard to clip in and out, not confortable to ride on
Similar Products Used:
Bebop, Speedplay Frog
Bike Setup:
Morati frame & seatpost, King hubs & headset, LP composite handlebar, Truvativ crankset, Avid Ultimate brakes, Gripshift XO derailleur, etc.....
Bottom Line:
I tried these pedals for a very short time before switching back to my Speedplay Frogs. The Frogs cost me considerably more money ($130 VS $50), but they're much easier for me to use, they look better (my opinion), and they are made domestically. I realize that many people love the Eggbeaters, so perhaps my mediocre review is out of line? I would still recommend riding any type of pedal before buying.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christian Groth
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan and Georgia Date Reviewed: July 11, 2003
Orbea lanza, XTR drivetrain, Avid Ti brakes, mavic 517
Bottom Line:
these pedals rock! my first attemt at clipless and they've blown me away. the ease of entry/exit is unbelievable compared to my roommates atac's. they are super duper light, and now with the triple ti option there really is no question in my mind that these are the greatest pedals on the market. as a college student on a budget they can also be doubled as a road pedal when the need arises. i love them, will never buy anything else! these pedals are great for everone, no matter how experienced you are. the two release angles give even the most experienced riders options over their feet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Sheppard
a Cross Country Rider
from Brighton, UK Date Reviewed: July 8, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Southdowns Way
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Evans Cycles
Strengths:
Amazing mud clearance, Lightweight, stunning looks, easy entry and disengagement.
Weaknesses:
Hard to ride on in normal shoes(but quite honestly who cares?).
Similar Products Used:
Time atac, shimano 515, 959, 646, bebop, speedplay
The best pedal i have used PERIOD! Loads of float smooth feeling even when the rest of the bike is suffering in the mud. Good release on crashes and bailouts. Can't wait for the next muddy ride!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lou Marles
a Cross Country Rider
from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: July 2, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Durham Forest
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
Bike Canada
Strengths:
Light. Consistent entry and exit. Clears mud very well.
Weaknesses:
Functionally, no weaknesses. A design flaw in the 2002 models (since corrected in the 2003 model) may result in the cage seperating from the spindle. This happened with mine. See below.
These are the best pedals I have used. Similar to the Times in their consistent entry/exit but with a little less spring tension. And the best part is the service from Crank Bros. I had the cage come off of one of the pedals. Sent an e-mail to Crank Bros. in California. Got a response in less than a day referring me to the Canadian distributer, Big Country Equipment Inc. Forwarded my e-mail to Big Country and got a phone call from them in less than an hour. Had new pedals in less than 2 days. Thanks Crank Bros. and thanks Mike at Big Country Equipment for the great response.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Montoursville, PA Date Reviewed: July 1, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any singletrack
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
The Bicycle Center
Strengths:
Virtually no chance of becoming unclipped. Just the right amount of float. Good release angle.
Weaknesses:
My right pedal devloped a clicking sound. I cleaned it with a toothbrush and it went away for about one week and then came back.
Similar Products Used:
First clipless pedals
Bike Setup:
Modified Diamondback Hardtail
Bottom Line:
I like these pedals alot. If I could get the clicking noise to go away, they would be great. Like i said earlier, these are my first clipless pedals. Now that I am used to them , I likethem alot.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jordan
a Racer
from Calgary, AB Date Reviewed: June 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Jumpingpound
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
Cyclepath
Strengths:
Easy to get in and out of. Looks good. Weight
Weaknesses:
Hard to ride when your not clipped in.
Similar Products Used:
shimano 515
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Soul
Bottom Line:
These are probably the best xc racing pedals on the market at the moment
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Magic Kingdom, FL Date Reviewed: June 23, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Santos
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Easy to get in and out of, regardless of weather conditions, once you get used to them. Have not had one problem with them since owning.
Weaknesses:
Tough, if not impossible to ride not clipped in. Not fun when taking a quick ride up the street with normal shoes.
I like these pedals (02 models, no probs) but I don't think their ideal for my type of riding. However, I would highly recomend them, depending on your riding habits. I probably spend equal time riding mine to the gym, local errands and at the beach vs back in the woods. You might say my Fuel is a multi purpose type bike and as such, unless you have clips on, these pedals are not the way to go. The only problem I've ran in to with these on the trail - Florida does not have huge mountains, but we do have short steep uphills and narrow peaked trails... I tend to dabb a lot and don't always make it up these hills. When you don't make it up a hill its a problem getting out of them and maintaining your position on the hillside. I've had a few pretty good falls as a result. On a normal trail here, yeah, no problem clipping in and out to put a leg down, but again, forget about being able to pedal without any power... tree roots can also be a problem.
You get better at using them and knowing when to get the heck out of them ahead of time, (but I hate giving up on a challenge too soon) but on the other side, I like a platform type for those times I don't want to wear my shoes. (I know that's not a true MTB'ker). So, I'm probably going back to a platform type, I like the look of those Time Control Z pedals. I'm thinking that might be better for my type of riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rico
a Cross Country Rider
from Riverside CA USA Date Reviewed: June 20, 2003
Favorite Trail:
sycamore
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
beyondbikes.com
Strengths:
Weight
Weaknesses:
Can scratch the crap out of your calf
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 545s & 959s
Bike Setup:
Schwinn Homegrown XTR
Bottom Line:
I was skeptical because I figured that if Shimano couldn't do it, how could some company I've never heard of, get it right on the first try. Well, they kept it simple and it just plain works. After 7 years with Shimanos, I have nearly perfected the art of cushioning your shoulder for inevitable locked-in crashes. It is an obselete skill now that I have found the Eggbeater. I have only failed one time to get out of the eggbeater. I cannot forsee ever switching pedal brands again. It's kind of like when Easton came out with the Monkey Lite, once it is done right you just know it. I will save my money and get some ti in my next pair of eggs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Knowlton
a Cross Country Rider
from East Dover, VT, USA Date Reviewed: June 17, 2003
THESE ARE THE BEST CLIPLESS OUTHERE! These clip in and out so easy, you would think that you are riding platforms! the size of these is perfect, because they are to small to catch on anything, and there are no points to catch or cut you! BUY IF YOU CAN!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rapidcarbon
a Cross Country Rider
from Vienna, VA Date Reviewed: June 12, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Employee purchase
Strengths:
Easy in and out, stylish, lightweight
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Shimano's products
Bike Setup:
03 Jekyll 1000
Bottom Line:
This is a very good pedal, improved from 02 models. I have enjoyed this pair since the first day I got it.
I saw a lot of negative reviews here, and most of them don't belong here. Anyone who bought these pedal for less than $80 (and not employee), they got themselves a '02 pair, not '03 S model (msrp 130).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Itasca Date Reviewed: June 8, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any singletrack
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Village CycleSport Elk Grove
Strengths:
the perfect design, 4 sided entry, ease of cliping in and out, sheds mud like no other
Weaknesses:
None yet
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 515
Bike Setup:
Sugar 2+ disc with egg beaters
Bottom Line:
Egg beaters are the way to go, don't even consider anything else they make everything else look obsolete, 4 sided entry is great and they are different so i like em
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Worth Wolcott
a Racer
from suffield CT Date Reviewed: June 8, 2003
Favorite Trail:
any tech singletrack
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
Northampton Bicycle
Strengths:
-excellent mud performance, no clogging -light weight -smooth release/entry
Weaknesses:
none yet!
Similar Products Used:
shimano 515s, 858s, and 959s
Bike Setup:
'02 cannondale f-800, hayes hydro brakes, nokian nbx tires, eggbeaters, everything else stock
Bottom Line:
If you race or ride a lot in muddy conditions, there is no other pedal bettar than these!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mattg
a Cross Country Rider
from California, Bay Area Date Reviewed: June 7, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$130.00
Strengths:
Not slipping out all the time. Really locked into them!
Weaknesses:
None Yet
Similar Products Used:
Shimano PD-959
Bike Setup:
Trek Y-11
Bottom Line:
I have a pair of Shimano PD-959's on the bike. Been there for 4 years, never serviced them. You can still spin them, the bearings don't grind.
Didn't need to replace them but saw these pedals, they looked cool and everyone praises them. So what the heck, bought the stainless model @ the LBS. The LBS had them for $140. I knew SuperGo and a few others had them for $120. Since I would have had to pay shipping, and maybe tax from a web vendor, I got the bike shop to meet me in the middle @ $130.
So far, so good. Doing these pedals with Sidi Lorica shoes. They feel great. Clicking in isn't a problem. Feels just like clicking into the 959's, although the beater feels a little more solid.
Based on other reviews, a few notes:
Yes, it is hard to pedal these things if you aren't clipped in. With the 959's and other pedals that kinda have a flat platform you can pedal without being clipped in. With these, you've gotta be clipped in. But I guess that's why we buy these kinda things, so we can clip in! :)
The other thing: Some people said they were hard to clip in or clip out. When setting up the clips on your shoes, there are two dots on one of the clips. Per the instruction manual: Depending on which shoe (the right or left) you put the clip with the two dots, you will affect how easy or hard it is to get in/out of the pedal.
They look cool and so far so good! :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a
from Pittsburgh Date Reviewed: June 4, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$89.00
Purchased At:
local shop
Strengths:
simple design, weight
Weaknesses:
simple design
Similar Products Used:
Sppedplay Frog, Shimano 959
Bottom Line:
I ride in a lot of wet and muddy conditions. These pedals are great for their mud shedding ability, but are prone to bearing problems. The system is easily contaminated with water and dirt. It is not uncommon for the pedal to develop axel play or squeaks due to wear. These thing have also seized up after riding. I've been through three rebuild kits over the past two seasons. I am hard on pedals, but that being said, I'm buying new pedals insted of buying another rebuild kit!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a Cross Country Rider
from Morgantown, WV, USA Date Reviewed: June 3, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$39.00
Purchased At:
WVU cycling club
Strengths:
lightweight; sheds mud/snow/ice better than even the almighty ATAC; easy entry; no/low maintenance; elegant design.
Weaknesses:
can release unintentionally on pedal strikes. This is incredibly rare, though.
A little pricey of you actually pay retail - then again, this is the best XC pedal you'll find.
Similar Products Used:
Time ATAC carbon
Bike Setup:
SC Chameleon, XTR/crossmax
Bottom Line:
These are the most elegantly designed XC pedal ever created.
I've ridden Times for years now and love them because of their mud and snow shedding ability. After riding the eggbeater, I'd never go back to Times - let alone SPDs. These are an absolutely beautiful piece of functional engineering; this is what happens when you tell a good engineer to redesign a product from the ground up. They're as light as anyone could ask for (frogs hide the weight in the cleat; eggbeaters have cleats which are comparable to SPDs or Times), shed mud better than ANY pedal out there, and have a very reliable entry/exit - although not absolutely perfect.
During my first week on these pedals, I had two accidental releases when hitting rocks on a downstroke. This hasn't happened since then, despite having many more pedal strikes. Note that I'm running 180mm cranks which I've been meaning to replace for a while with something shorter - even before changing to the eggbeaters.
Overall, these are the perfect XC pedal. Period.
Freeriders and downhillers look elsewhere. However if that wasn't painfully obvious when you first looked at these pedals, I'd wonder about your perspicacity.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stallworthy
a Cross Country Rider
from newzealand Date Reviewed: May 25, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Strengths:
Lightweight, refuse to clog, good clearance, look cool.
Weaknesses:
Cannot ride unless clipped in, especially in wet. I find hard to get foot back in at times
Similar Products Used:
Several spd's
Bike Setup:
03 stumpjumper
Bottom Line:
People seem to whinge about getting out of these, I have never had any trouble, however getting in still plays havock at times, like when in middle of tricky singletrack and you put a foot down and then need to get it back in pronto at low speed, and you can't rely on pedling if not clipped in cause foot will roll off pedal.
Anyway, after 6 months got used to that so no problem. i wonder if shoe tread pattern is why some others have problem releasing? cause i pop out easy as.
reccomend these for...mud, singletrack, road?, anywhere where you don't need to put a foot down thru corners ( i'm gonna put my old 636's on for the odd downhill i do).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore Date Reviewed: May 23, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$85.00
Strengths:
easy clipping in and great float. good on weight and design. In mud, they work great.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 515, Wellgo
Bike Setup:
trek 8000 with upgrades
Bottom Line:
The greatest pedals that i could find. They feel great. the four sided clip in is superb. In the mud, they work perfectly fine. Clipping in and out is not a problem. The float on the pedals are great to. If you have problems with mud, these are the pedals to get. I'm sure how the 959's work but these probably do a better job.
Note: Many other reviews say that the clipping out is a problem. The cleats on the shoes are not the same and depending on which one you put on each shoe, the unclipping will be different. Just a thought.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alisa
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
online - I forget
Strengths:
Very solid feeling of clipping in and I like the float. Great in mud.
Weaknesses:
NOT for technical climbs.
Similar Products Used:
various clipless
Bike Setup:
VooDoo HooDoo Al hardtail Marzochi
Bottom Line:
Great if you ride mellow trails - fine for technical downhill but if you are not a strong hill climber or if you are doing techical uphill, these are very hard to get out of when you come to a stop on an uphill. I've taken some gnarly falls on these in uphill technical sections, this may be a result of poor skills but now what I used to ride in my basket pedals I just am too freaked to go up with my egg beaters. And you can't really ride unclipped on these. If you regularly do technical climbs, these may not be the answer. But if you ride mellow (or are good enough not to need to unclip in the techie sections), they are sweet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mattias
a Weekend Warrior
from Västerhaninge, Sweden Date Reviewed: May 17, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Technical singletrack
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Cykloteket
Strengths:
Superb function, easy to find
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
959, 646, Wellgo, Flatties, You name it
Bike Setup:
Stock Cannondale Jekyll 1000 with a RooX seatpost
Bottom Line:
This is just first impressions. I was opting for Time ATAC och Control but the shop where I bought my bike didn´t have them on stock and I wanted to try something different than Shimanos.
I live in Sweden and here we have rain and mud in the summers (ok, sometimes it is dry and dusty) and freezing cold and snow in the winters. I ride my bike regardless of the weather. I have previously had problems with clay, mud or snow (depending on the climate) clogging the pedal to complete uselessness.
This pedal doesn´t seem to have any surfaces where the clogging even can begin so I´m looking forward to some really bad weather so that I can test my new pedals. I dont think that this is a pedal for riders living in a dry climate.
I was kind of weary that I would have problem bailing out, so I pushed the limit yesterday really hard to get into those situations where you really need to bail. The pedals where fast and exact when I wanted to disengage. I ride hard, fast and agressive on really technical singletrack and I couldn´t really feel any disadvantages with the C bros compared to other SPDs.
Recommended for riders in wet condition!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Allen Coulonge, Jr.
a Weekend Warrior
from New Orleans, LA Date Reviewed: May 14, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA.com
Strengths:
Excellent minimalist pedal design. Comfortable on the knees with the float. Sheds mud great.
Weaknesses:
Sometime have difficulty unclipping. Can lead to some embarassing moments.
Similar Products Used:
No other clipless pedals used.
Bike Setup:
Trek 4900 w/ full XT/XTR group, Cane Creek Wheels, Duke XC fork, Arami saddle, & Syntace bar & stem.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that I am overall impressed with these pedals. I admit that I was quite skeptical about going clipless, but at the price I decided to give them a try. All I can say is that I am not sorry that I did. I recommend going clipless to anybody that hasn't already, it really increases the power that you tranfer to the wheels, and is worth the embarassment in the long run when you fall at first as everyone does.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
matt
a Weekend Warrior
from long beach, CA, USA Date Reviewed: May 8, 2003
Favorite Trail:
carbon canyon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
not telling
Strengths:
light, super-easy to get in and out of, totally indestructible!
Weaknesses:
nope. looked, but cant find any.
Similar Products Used:
nope, just went clipless in december
Bike Setup:
giant hardtail w/ LX and mavic and WTB
Bottom Line:
these pedals are light and super-easy to clip into and out of. also great on road bikes. actually, i only use em on my road bike now, they arent stable enough for a mtn bikin. did i mention that these things were tough as nails...no, tougher. if for some odd reason you cant get clipped in, mash your foot down onto the pedal (grunting sometimes helps) and your foot will snap right in.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Laguna Niguel, CA Date Reviewed: May 7, 2003
Favorite Trail:
San Juan
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
SuperGo
Strengths:
Very easy to get out of. Minimalist design is good around tight rock gardens. Clearing good and secure when clipped in.
This is a friendly pedal to use. After having engaging problems with my last pedal, I found this one to be much easier to get in and out of. However, because of the minimal design it can be difficult to get in if you miss the first time and you are on an incline or rutty area. Clipping out is never a problem and the pedals have always been secure. The weight is low and the pedal will not get in the way. The brass cleats will wear within a year if you ride regularly. I am happy with these pedals.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Deyv
a Cross Country Rider
from Montreal Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
jenson USA
Strengths:
Light, great mud shedding, easy to clip in, smooth feeling
Weaknesses:
Impossible to clip out on hard tech climbs turned bad!
Similar Products Used:
Spds
Bike Setup:
Blur
Bottom Line:
I ride aggressive xc and I love to spend some time trying very difficult tech climbs until I get them right, These pedals are not for me. They are very hard to realease from when in survival mode and cost me a couple of bruises and embarressing moments. They take 15 degree to release and when you feet is at the back of the stroke (9 oclock) your toes will hit the crank before you can unclip and you are totally stuck!
They are very confortable and the float is great. They feel smooth when you clip out(when you actually succeed!) and are very easy to clip in. They are light and shed mud beautifully. But I don't think they are for everyone, if you like to play around on logs, steep tech climbs they are maybe not for you.
Maybe Times riders will have more luck getting use to them to but SPD's riders(like me) will miss the twisting and pulling features of shimanos.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Wood
a
from Durango Date Reviewed: May 2, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
*light weight *strong *cleans easy *easy in and out
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
shimano m515
Bike Setup:
GF sugar 2+
Bottom Line:
These are great pedals. I've had these for over a year and I'm impressed how well they have held up. Very easy to rebuild. I love them compared to my old shimano m515 pedals. dirt and dibris is not a problem anymore. I'd recommend these crank bros egg beaters to anyone.
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Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, PA Date Reviewed: May 1, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
sierra trading post
Strengths:
Very easy to clip in, great in mud.
Weaknesses:
The lugs on my Nike MTB shoes rub against the shaft, which caused the pedal to unscrew slightly during a ride. The loosening caused the pedal to totally strip the threads on my crank arm. This occurred over the course of one ride and now I have to replace the crank arm. The pedal is none the worse for wear.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano SPD
Bike Setup:
Trek 6700 stock
Bottom Line:
I love using these pedals, but my shoes may not be compatible with the design. Has anyone else had this problem?
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Submitted by
Jubby
a Cross Country Rider
from Texas Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
light, simple, sheds mud well
Weaknesses:
not strong at all, will clip out under massive torque; all sides are interconnedcted so when you hit the bottom on a rock, the pedal will spit out your cleat on top; not a smooth pedal compared to the times
Similar Products Used:
times, ritchey spd's
Bike Setup:
bianchi HT, ellsworth FS, parkpre SS
Bottom Line:
all they're really good for is saving weight. i race these just for that reason and in crunch time, they too unpredictable. i don't know any experts or pros racing these things, just a bunch of weekend warriors. spend your money elsewhere.
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Submitted by
Jason
a
from TX Date Reviewed: April 28, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to my previous post. After leaving my review here on MTBR I was contacted by Crank Bros. They allowed me to send my pedals back directly to them and replaced them no questions asked. Thanks Crank Bros!!
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Submitted by
dale greenhalgh
a Weekend Warrior
from Corralitos,Calif. Date Reviewed: April 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
any single track/any where
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
fox shox
Strengths:
light,fantastic in mud,
Weaknesses:
cleats wear WAY to fast,cheapo bearings on end of axle
Similar Products Used:
spd
Bike Setup:
spec m4
Bottom Line:
I bought these to run in the winter,at the Sea Otter I must have passed five or six people in my class who just could not get clipped into there Shimano pedals,My last set of pedals were 858's.(Horrible in the mud)
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Submitted by
Tim
a Racer
from Bend, OR USA Date Reviewed: April 25, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Weight, ease of entry in mud.
Weaknesses:
-Excessive cleat wear -Bearing play (although easy to rebuild) -Pedal bars wear into shoes (shoe broke in half last week)
Similar Products Used:
Speedplay Frogs, Shimano 747s
Bottom Line:
I don't recommend them. Yes they are light and if I lived somewhere muddy they would be the top of my list, but I don't. I wore through four sets of cleats last year - a set of Shimano cleats generally last me a year and a half. The pedal bars cause stress risers on your shoes and indent them. After a year of riding with them my shoe sole (Northwave) broke in half exactly where the rear bar meets the shoe. Figure shoe wear into your price. The bearings do wear quickly, but are easily rebuildable. The cages develop play between them and are not as easily rebuildable. When I first got them they were quite hard to release from and I pulled many dork-falls (8 year clipless veteran.
Buy them if you live in mud as they function amazingly in it. Or if you are a weight weenie. Otherwise, pick up something more reliable or plan on buying a new pair every year and replacing your cleats often. And your shoes yearly.
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Submitted by
Patrick
a Weekend Warrior
from Schaumburg, IL, USA Date Reviewed: April 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Jubilee
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Prairie Trail Bikes
Strengths:
Four sided entry, super smooth release, sweet look! Mud buildup a problem for you, not with these! The pedals float creates extra comfort for the knees.
Weaknesses:
I didn't buy them earlier!
Similar Products Used:
TIME
Bike Setup:
'03' NRS 1
Bottom Line:
I enjoyed my TIME's and love the Egg Beaters. I have the all Stainless Steel models just out for '03. They have the smoothest release of any pedal I've used. If you are looking to convert to clipless or just update, these are the ones!
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Submitted by
Bar Mizrahi
a Racer
from Israel Date Reviewed: April 23, 2003
Favorite Trail:
single tracks, XC racing
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Matzman Merutz
Strengths:
Light, work at all terms, easy clip in and out, bif float, big release angle. 4 side clip in.
Weaknesses:
sometimes too small, very easy to breke, need to think twice before riding bitween rocks, what makes them for easy trail riding and less for racing, need big shoes, cleats run off fast.
Similar Products Used:
Time alium (my new ones, works great), Ritchey logic Comp, VP.
Bike Setup:
Trek 8000 XT LX manitou SX-R with lock out mavic 517 wheels
Bottom Line:
one of the best pedals i've ever ridden before, great for XC, good for racing - not for agressive racers.
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Submitted by
Chris Szuder
a Cross Country Rider
from Poland, Poznan Date Reviewed: April 19, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
www.cult-bikes.com.pl
Similar Products Used:
Rithey V2 SPD pedal
Bike Setup:
Focus Killer Bee'96, Manitou Mars Elite'01, full Deore XT 9 speed.
Bottom Line:
Wooooowww!!! They are superb!!! They're much better than similar SPD pedals. Earlier I have been useing Ritchey pedals and now I can feel the difference. I bought Egg Beaters for the same price as Rithey V2 but I'm much more glad about Crank Bros pedals. They're working without any problems even in mud other wet conditions! The only weakness of then is that they're a little bit dear...
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO, USA Date Reviewed: April 16, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Apex
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Clip in real fast. Super Light. Look wicked cool/racey.
Weaknesses:
Clipping out while climbing tech. sections is next to impossible.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano 515's
Bike Setup:
'02 Tassajara w/XTR Wheelset, Avid Arch Brk Set
Bottom Line:
I got a sweet deal on these @ Performance Bike during a sale. These pedals rock on pavement, in the city, or on downhill sections. Jumping into them quickly is so much easier than SPD's, they are about a 100% improvement in that dept. However, trying to climb up technical sections while in these pedals is VERY hard due to the difficulty in cipping out. Anyone who says they are easy to clip out of DOESN'T ride up techie stuff... They DO NOT RELEASE QUICKLY, PERIOD. Also, going downhill, if you are going to take a big digger, and go headfirst over the bars, your entire bike WILL follow you!! I've only had this happen once, but it sucks, and can lead to extra damage to your hardware, and your body. Thank god there was nobody on the trail the first time i used these. I took about 4 extra bails while climbing that wouldn't have happened if i was in SPD's, and im sure i looked like a complete JAGG-OFF! Bottom line is, these pedal are excellent if you have super advanced climbing skills, or don't ever dab, or need to clip out in a hurry. Otherwise, take it slowly while using them on the trails for the first few times!!! See the review from TIM, 3/28/03. Same deal.
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Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Madison, NJ Date Reviewed: April 15, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$99.00
Purchased At:
High Gear
Strengths:
Great mud and snow performance, 4 sided entry, light weight, simple design
Weaknesses:
lack of tension adjustment, durability
Similar Products Used:
Shimano
Bike Setup:
Merlin XLM
Bottom Line:
I loved these pedals until recently. I originally missed the tension adjustment, but got used to them over time (and after a number of falls where I stayed clipped in).
I have owned them since about August last year, and now I have three problems:
First, the right pedal came off the spindle when I was desending a technical downhill about two months after I first installed them - the pedal stayed connected to my cleat, but slipped off the spindle. I found that the screw that holds the pedal on the spindle came undone, and I was able to put it all back together and all was well (albeit a bit unnerving).
Last week, I discovered problems two and three - the right pedal exhibits the same condition that "Schubaab" reports below - the bearings seemed worn out, and the pedal rattles on the spindle. The more disturbing thing is the left pedal - the "wing" now collapses regularly so that the "X" formed by the wing and the body looks more like an "I" with both the wing and the body together. Even though I can push the wing back to its original poisition, the pedal is basically unridable because it keeps collapsing. I emailed Crank Bros and they gave me an RMA nubmer to have it repaired, but I am considering going to the Time ATAC anyway as 8 months is too short a time to have these pedals destructing as they have.
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Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Tracy, CA Date Reviewed: April 15, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Performance / Cambria Bikes
Strengths:
Easy to clip in / out Mud is NEVER a problem Reliable Easy to clean Lighter weight
Weaknesses:
None that I have experienced
Similar Products Used:
Various brands of SPD pedals
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Super V, Lefty, XTR
Bottom Line:
I switched to Egg Beater pedals about 3 months ago. I have used them in two races so far, both VERY muddy races. The pedals performed beautifully, I never had to worry about mud on my shoes or the pedals as I did with SPDs. The weight savings was another plus, my Shimano SPD's weighed in at 400 grams (both pedals), the Egg Beaters were 290 grams - I even replaced the pedals on my road bike with Egg Beaters. I had the opportunity to meet the "Crank Brothers" at the Sea Otter Classic, and to check out the new Egg Beater Triple Ti. If I hit the lotto I'll buy the Ti's...for now, I love the Beaters I have.
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Submitted by
Tina
a
from Northern, CA Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
-easy to clip into -very secure
Weaknesses:
-none
Similar Products Used:
-spd and time
Bike Setup:
2003 Trek Fuel 100
Bottom Line:
These pedals/cleats rule! I started using them this race season ann they have shined in the wet and muddy early season races. I luv them so much I want to have sex with them. I only wish by boyfriend was as realiable as thiese pedals.
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Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntington Beach, CA Date Reviewed: April 12, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
4 sided entry makes them easy to clip into. They are also easy to get out of. Dirt doesn't get trapped in them and they always release.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Trek 7000 XT, LX, eggbeaters
Bottom Line:
The eggbeaters are the first clip in pedals I have used. They are so easy to get into and out of. I put my foot on the pedal and it clicks in with no problem. Getting out of them is easy too, I just twist my foot and it comes right out. You have to ride with your feet clipped in, otherwise your feet will roll off the pedals.
The pedal never builds up with dirt. My friends with their Shimano pedals are always having to knock the dust and dirt out of their pedals. These are very nice pedals.
I used toe cages up until I bought these and I had no problem learning how to use them. Took 5 minutes in front of my house. The Eggbeaters are really nice.
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Submitted by
Schubaab
a Racer
from Canada Date Reviewed: April 10, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
(Canada money)
Strengths:
Nice, but only because they're not SPD's.
Weaknesses:
They wear out really badly. Because, I guess, the almighty simplicity of the design water can get right in them real easy, washing grease away like soap, and the wear happens really fast and you get some dirty amount of play on the axle. Just recently it got a lot worse all of a sudden, now one of the pedals rattle up and down with each revolution (it's not just my cleat). The easily worn pits on the bushing make hem rotate horribly.
Similar Products Used:
ATAC's
Bike Setup:
Scalpel
Bottom Line:
My problems could easily have resulted from my lax maintenance habits, combined with the horrible goop I raced in last year, but I'm still dissapointed. It's not like I never greased them at all, but I only started once I noticed the problems I'm going to try going to the shop tomorrow to see about some warranty replacement. I'd be happy to take another (free) pair of Beaters, because I really did like the performance in the beginning, but I'd be happier with some new ATAC's.
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Submitted by
Tanner
a
from Missoula, MT Date Reviewed: April 10, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
sierra trading post
Strengths:
Easy to clip in and out of! 4-sided set up is sweet.
Weaknesses:
none yet
Bottom Line:
I read a lot of these reviews before I purchased this set of pedals. I don't see how anyone would not like these pedals after riding them the last month. I have recently went head first into mountain biking (less than 2 years). This is my first set of clipless pedals I have ever used, so really have no comparitor I guess. However, I can't imagine any other pedals being this easy to get in and out of! I've heard horror stories of not being able to unclip, and was a little nervous first time using the egg-beaters. No problem though, and would recommend them highly to anyone.
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Submitted by
Louis
a Racer
from St. Louis, Missourt US Date Reviewed: March 31, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Castlewood State Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Bike Nashbar
Strengths:
fully rebuildable, light weight, easy exit and entry, simple design
Weaknesses:
small platform for unclipped riding (not a big deal since it is so easy to clip in)
Similar Products Used:
spds
Bike Setup:
'98 klein pulse II xtr and xt mix
Bottom Line:
these pedals are the first things people notice on my bike, there are lik works of art and great price at 50 bucks. buy these pedals if you like a durable and good priced pedal.
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Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Overland Park, KS USA Date Reviewed: March 28, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Landahl (locally)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
weight, clip-in, mud shedding
Weaknesses:
clip-out. Help!
Similar Products Used:
Shimano spd
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth
Bottom Line:
Strengths above are unbeatable. However, clip out at slow speeds, typically on technical stuff, has been painful. I can't seem to get out when I need to dab or stop, esp. unexpectedly. Consequently, I go down with the bike on a normally preventable fall. Virtually every fall I've taken has been under these circumstances.Since there's no adjustability, I'm not sure what can be done.
These do work beautifully at faster speeds, when you have the time and balance to unclip.
Any comments from other users, or any other product recommendations?
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Submitted by
James L.
a Weekend Warrior
from Mound, MN Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
The Farm
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Eden Prairie cycle
Strengths:
Easy in and out. Very secure when in. Sheds mud like it's water. Will not release from a straight up pull.
Weaknesses:
Almost to easy to relese with a twist, even when installed for the harder release. So far it has not caused trouble.
Similar Products Used:
shimano
Bike Setup:
Bontrager (old School), Mt Tam 29
Bottom Line:
I've raced these in mud. The Eggs were great. I've raced other pedals in mud on single track and I could not clip in for 1/2 lap and lost to my evil rival by five seconds. I watched a friends learning curve on a set of Times and it scared me how many times he went ass over tea kettle due to the toughness of the release. I'll stick with the egg beaters it feels like we've been friends forever.
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Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia Date Reviewed: March 22, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
Ease of entry, exit, no slop when clipped in. Mud proof. Light weight.
Weaknesses:
Too many edges!
Similar Products Used:
cheap shimano clone, times.
Bike Setup:
trek 5200, heckler, asr.
Bottom Line:
Great pedals, they feel like my times except with no side-to-side play. Light weight is a plus as well. I had a crash on a night ride where they took a bite of both my shins and the back of my leg and my ankle. Ow. Now I wear shin guards and ankle guards, except for during races. Maybe it could have happened with any pedals, but I think the eggs have an extra protruding-edge factor. I like them well enough to keep them anyway - I have a pair for each of my two mountain bikes, and a pair with titanium spindles (from ebay) for my road bike. These are the best XC pedals I've tried!
$ 130.00
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