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Submitted by
Jorj
a Weekend Warrior
from Windsor, England Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Cheap, reasonable weight for combo pedal | | Weaknesses: | Cage can break | | Similar Products Used: | Dura-Ace SPD's on my road bike, PD-A535's on everything else, Look road pedals back in the day! | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Enduro Pro frame built up to about $2500 | | Bottom Line: | I broke on of the resin cages yesterday on a stump. Didn't hit it that hard (i.e., I carried on riding, didn't even have to clip out). On the other hand, it ain't the first time I've smacked the scenery with these pedals. Had some trouble clipping out when I first got them, then switched to SH55 cleats, which are the dog's. Please Mr Shimano ship all your pedals with the good cleats, they cost the same and we wouldn't have to spend an extra $20 on replacements! Only 3 chilli's for value, because they're really $60 after you've bought the good cleats. A good pedal for off road exploring, not really enough cage grip if you need it for agressive unclipped riding, quite possibly the perfect pedal for a commuter bike so you can just get on and ride in any shoes. If you take the cages off, you have (more or less) a pair of PD-M515's for XC racing, though I wouldn't recommend doing it repeatedly. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charlie
a Weekend Warrior
from Sunnyvale, CA Date Reviewed: April 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Soquel Demo - Braille | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$48.00 | | Purchased At: | Burro Bikes | | Strengths: | unbreakable, supports better than non-cage SPDs when you're not clicked in - which is a good thing because you can't click in when it's muddy. Pedals do work quite well when it's dry. They are also lighter than similar pedals and every bit as tough. The resin cages are far tougher than aluminum and tons lighter. | | Weaknesses: | Pedals and cleats get so clogged with mud and leaves that they are useless in wet weather - at least in the Santa Cruz Mts. There is no way you will be able to engage the cleat and you'd be far better off with platforms because of the better support. If you're using Times now, do not try these pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | Time Atacs, SunTour XC-1 with toeclips, SunTour XC-2 beartraps, old Shimano XTs with toeclips | | Bike Setup: | Burro bike "exploration" (freeride?) bike with 19" wheels and 3" wide trials tires. Rigid front and back - as in very rigid. If the terrain is kicking your butt, the Burro will kick it back - hard. | | Bottom Line: | These pedals were the first I've owned with the SPD click-in system. In my experience, this system simply does not work in muddy environments. After riding/scrambling for just a few minutes in mud (and the mud in Northern California is pathetic in comparison to Texas gumbo - a real man's mud!), I cannot click in to save my life. It takes a screwdriver or Allen wrench to clean out the mud so that you can click in again - which is a pain in the patootie. Times are FAR better, but they don't offer nearly as much grip when you're unclicked. I took my pedals off for wet riding and am now on either my Times or my old beartraps. I'll go back to the Shimanos once things dry up. I would give these things 4 flamers if they had the new 958 design that is supposed to be better in the mud-shedding dept. But I suppose the price would skyrocket. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DRoNe
a
from Auburn, Ca Date Reviewed: November 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Easy in and out. Nice grip without cleats. | | Weaknesses: | Cage material wears easily with harsh usage. | | Bike Setup: | GT XCR | | Bottom Line: | These have worked and are still working great. I swapped the stock Ritchey's for these when I purchased my bike and they have performed flawlessly for the last 9 months. The only issue I have with them is the cage material is soft and getting destroyed from roots and rocks. So, if you ride over alot of hard material with pedal contact don't get these, get the M-545's instead (the same pedal as this but with a metal cage). As far as riding without cleats they're great too. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Cruces Date Reviewed: October 14, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$44.00 | | Purchased At: | Outdoor Adventures | | Strengths: | Easy to install and adjust. The cage makes riding unclipped very stable. | | Weaknesses: | None found. | | Similar Products Used: | Time ATAC and Bontrager RE-1 | | Bike Setup: | Trek VRX 300 | | Bottom Line: | Cheap, easy to get in and out of, the cage gives me stability when unclipped. Tried Time ATAC but in this climate (dry and sandy) they are not really necessary. I found Time to be a little difficult to get out of but easy to get into. The original equipment Bontrager's worked well for a cheap pedal. But I love the cage, my foot doesn't slip around when unclipped. The installation and transition from my other pedal's was very smooth. I would recommend them to anyone who would like a little more stability from their pedals. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cooter
a Cross Country Rider
from milroy, indiana Date Reviewed: July 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | r i e | | Strengths: | cheap easy to use / setup cage for when you dont ride cliped in | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | first set of clipless pedals | | Bike Setup: | '01 trek 4500 w/judy | | Bottom Line: | the guys at my lbs told me clipless was the only way to ride, and they were right. i will never go back to regular pedals. these pedals are great because there cheap and easy to learn on. they seem to be holding up well and have made me a better rider | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Homestead, Florida Date Reviewed: July 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Everglades | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$28.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Tek | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | My cleats interfere with the cage a little, but I use the cage so,oh well. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Specialized Rockhopper A1 FS | | Bottom Line: | Holds well, just a pain to clip with my shoes. Price was roght on a 10% over cost sale. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lisa
a Cross Country Rider
from Mountain View, CA Date Reviewed: May 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Strengths: | relatively light for a pedal that also has a platform, super-reliable clip-ins and outs, tension adjustment, can use bike with sneakers for a quick hop to the store. | | Weaknesses: | because the pedal has a (small) cage, if your shoe has big deep tread, the tread can interfere with clipping in and out. I had to cut some of the tread off my AXO mountain shoes so that I could clip in and out. Once I did that, the clip in/clip out has been flawless and easy. Why do we need separate tension adjusters for each side of the pedal? 2x the work, IMHO. If you try to pedal 10 miles or more in sneakers, you'll feel the hotspot where the popup cleat mechanism sticks up higher than the platform surface. | | Similar Products Used: | road shoes and campy clipless pedals on a road bike | | Bike Setup: | Specialized 2000 Rockhopper A1 FS | | Bottom Line: | Very easy and reliable clip in and out (that's what's important, right?). The pedal positions your foot so that it'll clip in without a thought. However, if you wanted to stay clipped out, it's hard to avoid clipping back in. The small platform is great for added support and giving you time to clip in while pedaling.
You may have to trim tread off your shoes. If the tread is too deep in the area around the cleat, you'll have trouble clipping in and out.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC, Canada Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything fast and technical | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | simons bike shop | | Strengths: | platform helps when your unclipped, Makes alot less noise than alloy version, also cheaper, lighter, and much cheaper to replace the resin outside | | Weaknesses: | resin cage, (i broke it) but the mechanic at the bike store said it was the first time he'd ever seen it happen before. springs that make the pedal parralel with the cage both broke. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano 545, VP-? | | Bike Setup: | doesnt matter | | Bottom Line: | i like the pedals, they work good, alot harder to clip in in muddy coditions but thats what its like with any pedal except time and speedplays. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Setter
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg, Manitoba Date Reviewed: May 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything that looks like it won't kill me. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Olympia Cycle & Ski, Wpg., Man. | | Strengths: | Strong. Relatively light Inexpensive Cage for extra foot support | | Weaknesses: | Cage restricts disengagement of your foot in emergencies. Not a weakness exactly but the cage is PLASTIC!!! NOT carbon. When I want to unclip to ride through a rough section, the pedal just kinda clips you back in anyway. | | Similar Products Used: | None. First time clipless pedal user. | | Bike Setup: | LX drivetrain, other goodies not pertinent to this review. | | Bottom Line: | I'm torn about whether clipless pedals are for me. When I'm off-roading, I don't feel safe being clipped in, but it doesn't work for me to try to ride unclipped, because my shoes just end up clipping themselves in anyway. And I've fallen a few times because the damn things wouldn't release quick enough. I have them set on the lightest setting possible and they still hold my feet too solid laterally. I thought that all you had to do was kick your heel out (or in) and the pedal would release - ya right...Is it me? Or is it these pedals? And you can't put one of those plastic fake pedal adapters on one side of this pedal because the plastic cage gets in the way and won't allow it to fit. But......when I'm on solid ground (city streets/fire roads) and want to ride crazy fast, then clipless is out of this world. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Buddy
a Weekend Warrior
from Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. Date Reviewed: March 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Fire Trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$69.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Garage of Indy | | Strengths: | Stability, Don't have to clip in right away if you wanna get goin in a hurry thanks to the cage | | Weaknesses: | Don't know of any | | Similar Products Used: | First one | | Bike Setup: | '97 Schwinn GSX, 2001 Judy XC fork | | Bottom Line: | A very Nice Pedal even if is my first | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Philadelphia, PA, USA Date Reviewed: January 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | vertical ones | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Line of Wilmington | | Strengths: | Easy to adjust. Wide platform for sneakers when your doing some unclipped riding. Lightweight and low cost.
| | Similar Products Used: | platforms | | Bike Setup: | Trek 1999 4500 w/ these pedels | | Bottom Line: | I just bought a new bike and chose these pedals because they were cheap light and just all afround good. They are eays to use and very durable. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank Furter
a
from San Berdoo Date Reviewed: November 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | da sto' | | Strengths: | Lightest platform/clipless pedal around. Super easy "in" for those technical spots. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 636, 646, 747, ritchey ti, frogs | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Bullit...the 29 lb. freeride, smoke you up any hill version. And then you know what happens on the descent... | | Bottom Line: | This is the sweetest freeride pedal around. The pop up binding is impossible to miss when trying to re-engage with chunky tech terrain directly in front of you. 6 feet of rolling and you should be in. Forget about the too heavy, too wide, too thick, grind on any turn or bump 636/646 series. The 434 has the same binding and everything else is gravy. The carbon cage is holding up well so far and the after a few rides you will see the shin hungry platform teeth begin to wear away, nice. This pedal allows you to ride down hairy stuff dis-engaged, or when you reach the point where you LIKE to be clipped in for even the weirdest stuff you can find the binding easily. Figure it out. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Warg
a Weekend Warrior
from Woodland, CA Date Reviewed: October 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Pleasnts Valley Road | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheelworks, Davis CA | | Strengths: | Easy to adjust. Wide platform for sneakers, unclipped riding. With the Shimano recessed cleat shoe I can easily walk the grades I can't climb yet. | | Weaknesses: | Were hard to get out of at first (user ignorance- see below) | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Allez A1, spdm-434, Serfas Rx | | Bottom Line: | This is a fantastic pedal for a new ROAD rider. I'm 60 and just starting road riding, so it's really a plus to have a clipless pedal with a walkable shoe. Until I can get up those t4-5 climbs on the bike every time, I like being able to push it the rest of the way to the top and not screw up the shoes and cleats in the process. Being something of a weenie I'll approach an uncertain situation like a stop sign, or gravel, with one foot unclipped, just in case, and still get good force onto the pedal. The big platform makes that a reasonably efficient option.
I fell several times when I first got these clipless pedals because I couldn't get out in time(I understand it's a common problem for new riders, but I was hiding the knee scrapes from my wife so I wouldn't get grounded.) I was beginning to think that the dealer had given me a bum steer because I had asked about Speedplays and he thought I'd have better results with the 434s. A mechanic I asked said they were as loose as they could get and for a month and a half I felt uncomfortable (read scared) until I finally realized that the mech was 180 degrees wrong, they were as TIGHT as they could get. I can EASILY adjust them to the point that it takes NO EFFORT at all to unclip. I'd gotten some wrong advice.
I've experimented with having a loose side and a tight side so I can stay lightly clipped in city traffic and still slip out instantly, or flip the pedal over and have a firmer grip for powering ( a relative term )down the open road. Right now I have both sides set about medium.
I just did a 100 mile ride in awful wind and I was able to finish ahead of some riders because I could walk quickly up and over a crest into a 40 mph wind and they couldn't because they had huge, protruding cleats. A few of them eventually passed me - in the SAG wagon. More than once I had to bail out of the clips when I got a huge gust in the face near the top of a hard climb and stopped dead in my tracks. No problem. The pedal and shoe combination worked great for me all day. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bob smith
a Racer
from NC Date Reviewed: August 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | moab | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | came standard on my bike | | Strengths: | easy to adjust easy in not so easy out | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | bunches | | Bike Setup: | 99 GT XCR 3000 | | Bottom Line: | they work really good no matter if there's mud or anything in them | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tiny
a
from Centreville, Va Date Reviewed: July 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Fountainhead | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Easy clip in and out. Also good for urban asaltults with regular shoes | | Weaknesses: | Depends on how long the plastic cage lasts | | Similar Products Used: | Big old platform pedals | | Bike Setup: | '99 GT Backwoods | | Bottom Line: | Good pedal for the money. Wouldn't go to any cheaper pedals. They take a good beating and keep on going!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AV98
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Bay Area Date Reviewed: February 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | High speed fire trails and single tracks | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Lightweight Low cost Durable Ease of use | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | K2 clipless Shimano M747 Shimano M545 Shimano M535 Shimano M636
| | Bike Setup: | Proflex 857 NR2 Front NR4 Rear Full XT Component Groupo | | Bottom Line: | The best SPD/Pedal combo out available. Perfect cost/weight/performance ratio.
I've endo'd, slammed, and crashed these things into rocks and trees but the resin cage holds up. Good thing otherwise the metal SPDs would take the beating. For $50, they're really economical plus light enough that you won't notice pedals are included. I've used them in mud, sand, and the usual dirt without any problems. Just make sure you maintain them with regular cleaning and a little bit of oil to the springs. This results in gravy smooth funtionality.
Another good advantage includes the ability to ride your bike w/o cleats. If your on a casual non-trail ride, you can just hop on your bike and go.
All in all, it's a great pedal that deserves 5 cheesy poofs! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bogus Blake
a Downhiller
from Flagstaff, AZ Date Reviewed: November 14, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | anything that makes me fix the bike afterward | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | really stable, double sided, works great with urban shoes | | Weaknesses: | that dang cage, and the tention tends to work lose when you pound it | | Similar Products Used: | nashbar cheapie clipless | | Bike Setup: | frankenstein bike (parts from all my other bikes)and airwalk urban shoe | | Bottom Line: | these are awesome because they only cost 40 bucks and work great. the clips pop up so getting in is a cinch and i can ride with other shoes if i want to. its really hard to miss the clip because the cage puts your foot right where it needs to be. bailing out is easy, too. the cage only lets your foot turn sideways. the cage is plastic, though and it does flex. i endoed and popped the outside off the hub and that let all the spring tention that rotates the clip go. it still works great. im not at all worried about scraping up the cage- its plastic and i paid 40 bucks for it. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerry Ludgate
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX Date Reviewed: September 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Barton Creek Greenbelt, Austin | | Duration Product Used: | less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Clips in easily with an audible click | | Weaknesses: | Clips in too easily when not intending to for riding the rough stuff. | | Similar Products Used: | First clipless | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher HooKooEKoo, Judy C | | Bottom Line: | I just recently bought a new bike and chose these pedals for the extra support provided by the cage. They have definitely made a beginner out of me again. This is my first experience with clipless pedals, and I have to admit to having occaisional difficulty with releasing from them when needed. But that's all user error stuff, the pedals work great, power transfer to the rear wheel is probably double that without, and the control it gives over the back of the bike is awesome! I think that I have gotten them dialed in now, so we'll see if my skills can improve to match the equipment! No faults found with these bad boys, so here's the full five. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich Pomata
a Weekend Warrior
from Leesburg Date Reviewed: August 12, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Elizabeth Furnace | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | easy in and out when you get them dialed in | | Weaknesses: | Resin cage | | Bike Setup: | Titan Prime RST 381r firm springs | | Bottom Line: | No problem with this other than the resin cage. I've cracked three so far and have two buds that have done the same. We all have been able to fix it with wire, glue or re-weld it. You can't replace the cage from what we can tell. I like the support the cage gives. I've gone without and the ball of my foot gets sore. Next time I go Alum. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta Date Reviewed: July 31, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Severed Dick | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Fairly Cheap Price Fairly lightweight for a platform/clipless pedal. | | Weaknesses: | Durability of Resin Cage. | | Similar Products Used: | CODA 500 | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F700, Nike Nguba Crapo shoes. | | Bottom Line: | A good pedal for the money. I was looking for a platform/clipless pedal for those times you just can't click in fast enough. 636 were nice but a bit heavy and shin hungry. We'll see how long the resin cage lasts, and if the easily replaced cage can be found for less than half the cost of new pedals. The 434's are much better than the CODA's I had (more positive click) and a better pedal overall. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Date Reviewed: July 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Oxford Falls | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Good Sturdy Platform Light | | Weaknesses: | has less float than a 535 can be difficult to engage | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano spd 535 | | Bike Setup: | Giant ATX 870 | | Bottom Line: | A typical good quality shimano product. Seems to have troubles engaging a more racing style shoe. Overall a good compromise pedal, supportive when clipped in and when unclipped in the rough stuff | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lee
a Cross-Country Rider
from Mass Date Reviewed: July 19, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Trial of Tears | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Big platform, easy entry | | Weaknesses: | weight, but not really as they're lighter than most other pedals of this style | | Similar Products Used: | Frogs, other SPD knock-offs | | Bike Setup: | Aluminum HT, Marz z-2 bam | | Bottom Line: | I really like these pedals. They are extrememly easy to get into, they have a very supportive platform, and for their size, they're pretty light. I decided to try these after using the Frogs for about 2 months. They were great pedals, but they didn't offer the correct support for my knees. Sure- I probably didn't have the cleats positioned properly, but after 3 or 4 adjustments on each shoe, I still couldn't find the right position, and the bolts started to strip, so I said screw 'em. I'd rather have a little extra weight and pedals that will save my knees rather then kill my knees and not be able to ride. The 434's aren't very pretty, and they can SOMETIMES be a pain to get out of. Also, we'll have to wait and see how long the plastic cage lasts, and how easy it will be to replace. Overall these are good pedals, and anyone who wants some extra support and a very easily engageable shoe should try these out. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross-Country Rider
from Woodland Hills Date Reviewed: July 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | not in So. Cal | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | light, convenient for friends without cleats | | Weaknesses: | shoes hang up occassionally | | Similar Products Used: | ritchey, 747's, 636 | | Bike Setup: | custom hardtail-Curtlo, z-1's | | Bottom Line: | great deal for the money. Confidence inspiring for those new to clip ins. Work almost as well as 747's. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Art
a Downhiller
from Adirondack Mtns., N.Y. Date Reviewed: July 4, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Twister,Gore Mt.,N.Y. | | Duration Product Used: | less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | Good FR/DH pedal. Seems to be built tough and is easy to adjust. Lighter than others of this type. Cage teeth could be more aggressive for a better grip on your soles. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
M.A.B.M.Z
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgetown,Penang,Malaysia Date Reviewed: June 2, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | BZee Body at Sg. Long/Pg Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Lighter than the 545,not by that much though.Easy clip-in every time,easy to release in emergencies.Nice wide platform,does not throw footing off.XC/DH dual use. | | Weaknesses: | Perhaps to nit-pick,would be the resin cage body.Not as strong as the 545's.But then again you would have to trade off 4 the light weight. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 545,636 & 747.Time ATAC.Girvin Mag. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized S-Works FSR XC.XTR Gruppo.Mavic Cross Maxs. | | Bottom Line: | Another bomb-proof product from the big S Co.Advisable to lubricate the springs b-4 each ride,easy click-in & out every time.Could be lighter? | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross-Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: June 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in Sedona | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | lighter than the metal bodied ones, good solid mechanism, replaceable plastic body, good value, way adjustable | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | none before these | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fischer Big Sur, Indy fork, and axo shoes. | | Bottom Line: | Great pedal for your money | Overall Rating: |
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