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Great pedal debate

1492 Views 16 Replies 9 Participants Last post by B-Rant, Jun 27, 2006

Big Jim Mac

Discussion Starter · Jun 26, 2006

Got my 575 on order, but i forgot to order pedals with it. I've been riding SPDs, but a recent epic ride with some friends has me wondering about going with time Atac. Anyone running and liking these? Also thought about trying the Crank Bros Candy's, don't think the eggbeaters will work too well with my flat feet. I have a little trouble getting in and out of the SPDs, much worse when the mud settles into the cleats.

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Jdub

· #2 · Jun 26, 2006

I went from SPDs to Eggbeaters. Good move for me, but the Eggs do eat up the bottom of your shoes. I like the engagement/feel of the Eggs much better.

Lots of buddies run Time ATAC pedals and say they are like Eggbeaters with two sides instead of four. The one advantage they say is that you don't get the "ejection foot" that happens when you smack an Eggbeater into a rock, which can force the pedal open and send your foot flying out quickly.

Pedals are quite subjective, so each person will have their favorite. Really helps just to try some out and see how they feel to you.

Big Jim Mac

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 26, 2006

That's what I was thinking, head to the LBS and see if they will let me try some options. Of course it will make a big difference in the woods.

perttime

· #4 · Jun 26, 2006

ATAC XS is the only clipless that I have used and they have been troublefree so far (only about a year of riding).

At a LBS, I recently mentioned that I'd heard of people destroying their Eggbeaters in rock strikes. The guy said it does not take a rock strike to blow up their bearings: you just ride. He had this small plastic tray full of tiny damaged bearings removed from Eggbeaters.

95Stumpy

· #5 · Jun 26, 2006

I tried Time Carbons for a year(the old versions) when they were considered the best pedal out there. Before eggbeaters came out. I had a hell of a time getting of them. Engagement was great but I was always stuck in them when it came time to bail. So, after a year figuring it was a break in thing, I went back to SPDs, shimano 540's.

Joules

· #6 · Jun 26, 2006

crank bros or time pedals are a lot more resistant to jamming with mud than SPD. I'd think you'd be pretty happy with either candies or ATACs, most everyone else is.

cRock

· #7 · Jun 26, 2006

I've ridden Time Z pedals on the Yeti and ATACs on the Ventana for a couple of years. They work well in stick clay mud that will kill most SPD pedals. They're also damn bulletproof in my limited experience. Unless you're really keen on the SPD release action, you should like them.

I've also heard good things about the 'beaters. They are certainly more delicate, but CB is supposed to be good about replacing broken bits. The upside is that they're lighter than the Times.

Jdub

· #8 · Jun 26, 2006

perttime said:
At a LBS, I recently mentioned that I'd heard of people destroying their Eggbeaters in rock strikes. The guy said it does not take a rock strike to blow up their bearings: you just ride. He had this small plastic tray full of tiny damaged bearings removed from Eggbeaters.

Not my experience at all. I've run the same pair of Eggbeater S pedals for the last 3 years, and did a bearing replacement one time. I didn't have to do it the one time either, just doing winter maintenance and thought I'd give the pedals an overhaul.

I smash mine into rocks all the time on the trails here, never had any problems at all.

iviguy

· #9 · Jun 26, 2006

Big Jim Mac said:
Got my 575 on order, but i forgot to order pedals with it. I've been riding SPDs, but a recent epic ride with some friends has me wondering about going with time Atac. Anyone running and liking these? Also thought about trying the Crank Bros Candy's, don't think the eggbeaters will work too well with my flat feet. I have a little trouble getting in and out of the SPDs, much worse when the mud settles into the cleats.

I went from the lower end SPD's (M520 or something like that..) to the top end M959's and the 959's are soooo much better. It's a night and day difference. I recommend them. You can get them off ebay for cheap. I found mine for $75 but there were plenty in the $90 range.

saba

· #10 · Jun 26, 2006

When I broke some Mallet C in half at the spindle I quickly installed some Time Atac XS and have never looked back. The Time Atac is bulletproof and has been on 2 seperate bikes

Big Jim Mac

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 26, 2006

I just bit the bullet and ordered a pair of Time Atac XS pedals, guess I will give them a try and see if I like them better than the SPDs. I can always go back to my SPDs if I can't get the hang of these. Thanks for all the advice. Pedals and bike should be here thursday!

perttime

· #12 · Jun 26, 2006 (Edited)

I have the ATAC XS tension screw at its lowest setting and do not see the need for more tension. Also, I put the cleats on the "right" shoes. If you reverse them, you get a wider angle for releasing.

Apparently, the cleats will not last forever. I'll have to remember to drop by at the shop that sells them to get a spare.

Jdub said:
...Eggbeater S pedals for the last 3 years...
I smash mine into rocks all the time on the trails here, never had any problems at all.

Cannot argue with that either. What I have heard about failing Eggbeaters could be a chance accumulation of bits and pieces. I have no statistical proof that one brand lasts longer than another. On the other hand, I have a lot of confidence in the guys at the bikeshop, who confirmed that many EBs have failed.

Big Jim Mac

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jun 26, 2006

perttime said:
I have the ATAC XS tension screw at its lowest setting and do not see the need for more tension. Also, I put the cleats on the "right" shoes. If you reverse them, you get a wider angle for releasing.

Apparently, the cleats will not last forever. I'll have to remember to drop by at the shop that sells them to get a spare.

Cannot argue with that either. What I have heard about failing Eggbeaters could be a chance accumulation of bits and pieces. I have no statistical proof that one brand lasts longer than another. On the other hand, I have a lot of confidence in the guys at the bikeshop, who confirmed that many EBs have failed.

If you look at the reviews of Crank Bros pedals on this site there are many many references to broken pedals on all models. First I had heard of that problem, folks seem to love these pedals. I always take these reviews with a grain of salt, maybe Shimano pays out of work cyclists to post bad reviews?

perttime

· #14 · Jun 27, 2006

Big Jim Mac said:
maybe Shimano pays out of work cyclists to post bad reviews?

:eekster:
Anyway, the shop where I talked about Eggbeaters does not sell Time. Not sure what pedals they have and their website is under major reconstruction so I cannot confirm it right now...

B-Rant

· #15 · Jun 27, 2006

I have Crank Brothers Smarty on my 575. I have had them for three months and I am really starting to like them. At first, I wasn't impressed with the ease of entry and exit compared to my old spd. They are well broken in now and I have to say that I'm impressed. Things I like about them:

1. Bigger pedal platform - something to pedal on if you fail to engage right away. My wife rides beaters and her biggest complaint is that if she doesn't engage right the first time there isn't much to pedal on.

2. Durable - basically a beater with a bash guard. I'm 220lbs and also a novice so I tend to bash them into stuff, very hard, constantly. They have held up great getting bashed into rocks three times weekly on the front range for the last 3 months. They are a rubbery substance so when you hit them on something you don't get that disconcerting metal on rock feel.

3. Cheap - I guess this is part of my novice thing but components on my bike are getting knocked around a lot during my learning period and I like stuff that works really well and can be replaced without having to take out a second mortgage. Even if they prove to have the same weaknesses as other CB pedals, I'm willing to replace them for $60 if I can get a solid season out of them.

4. Cool color inserts - need I say more. Orange inserts with black pedals would be awesome on an orange 575 however I have blue so I don't get to enjoy that.

Some will say they are heavy but I'm not counting grams on my 575, especially considering that I could probably benefit more from one fewer Chipotle than from pedals that weight 50 grams less.

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Big Jim Mac

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 27, 2006

What's the difference between the Smarty's and the Candy's? Cs seem to cost more.

Jim

B-Rant

· #17 · Jun 27, 2006

Candy has a smaller (thinner and less surface area) platform than the Smarty. I have looked at them side by side and it seems like the Smarty is burlier. I think the Candy is actually a beater with a platform whereas the Smarty insides seem bulkier than the beaters.

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