Pedals

[Bob]

I've been lurking on the site and reading the forums for quite awhile and I need some advice. A little back ground first. I havent been on a bike since I was 15. Over 13 years ago! My buddy got a new bike and was planning a ride in Wisconsin and invited me. I got a bike I could afford and rode as much as I could up until my trip. We went on the trip, and it was a blast!!! From that point on, I was hooked. I found new things to get and upgrades to make. On of the first were clipless pedals and shoes. One day I was riding at Leb and found my feet coming off the pedals so much, I went down the road to a LBS and had them change my pedals on the spot. I went back to Leb and it helped a lot. I was still new on the pedals and took a few spills. All while I was barely moving I might add. Not knowing too much, and not wanting to spend a whole lot, I got an inexpensive pair of pedals with platforms on one side and clips on the other. I found that I had to spend too much time trying to flip the pedal to click back in, and I would occasionally pop out when I didn't want to. I admit they weren't very tight, but I was getting the feel for them. So, I was ordering some items from the Internet and the vendor had a closeout on some Ritchey pedals. I got them and reduced the tension as far as I could. Well, 3 spills later (all in the first ride) and battle wounds that took weeks to dissapear, I once again went looking. I read everything I could on the subject and deceided on Speedplay Frogs. Everybody raved about how easy it is to get out of them. After sliding down a hill with a bike attached to my feet, I wanted easy to get out of. I have had them for almost 2 months. And have taken them on miles of rides. Yes they are easy to get out of. I'm no longer afraid to try obstacles because I know I can get my foot on the ground before my hip hits it. My problem is I can't always get back in. I tried my luck at my first race this last Saturday, the Fat Tire Triathlon in Cable Wisconsin. It rained during the race (made for an awesome race though) and the bike leg was pretty much start to finish mud or wet sand. After pushing up a couple muddy/sandy hills, I couldn't get back in without some work. I had this problem before, but never like this. And yes, I applied plenty of dry lube to both cleats and pedals prior. What I would like to know is what to get? I am happy with the Frogs, but would be willing to try something new if it would help with my problem.

Why do you guys use what you have? I'm sure someone here has tried lesser pedals before dicovering "the one." I think the only options at this point would be Egg Beaters or ATAC's. I really like how easy it is to get out of mine and the fact there it no tension adjustment. Sorry for the long post. I hope you guys will be able to help me with my next pedal.

[BrightYellow]

Most people I know who have had Frogs have had them on thier road bike. I know the roadies like them a lot because they are easy to get in and out of and provide a lot of float. But, from looking at them, they look delicate and somewhat complicated and I could see how they wouldn't be easy to get back in, once they had mud in them.

I don't think you could go wrong with ATACs or Eggbeaters... I've bought a lot of upgrades for my bike(s) in the last 9 years or so and I would rate the ATACs as the best money I've spent on an upgrade...

[zerpy]

I can't say I've got experience with other clipless pedals. My first set of clipless I've ever owned are my Time Z-pedals and I love them. Although, I still do have a tendancy to be a clumbsy attachment to the bike as it goes tumbling off the trail and bouncing off trees...:)

It isn't because they are hard to get out of, it is because I'm not used to getting out of them. When I'm in panic mode and know I'm going to hit something, the last thing I think about is twisting my foot. There have been quite a few times lately though where I just pull my foot out to the side, and since it is held at the ball it twists and pops out. So if I get into this habbit of just pullin my foot out sideways I should be OK. It will just take some time.

They are pretty easy to get into, even when full of mud. The only issue is the Z-Pedals are a platform and the ATAC mechanism on both sides. So while it doesn't matter which side of the pedal you are on, there is a lot of area where you foot can be and you have to have it in the right spot to clip in. After a little riding though, I've naturally found that spot and tend to automatically go for it. So there isn't too many times where I have to think about where my foot is to clip in. And of course, I can ride in my sneakers too because of the platform.

[grizzly adam]

I had the TIME's first offroad pedal venture back in the early 90s. Then it was single-sided and had a small cut out on the non-clip-in side so that if you missed the correct side, your cleat would fir in the cut out and your foot wouldn't slip off the pedal. Well, they've come a long way since then and are one of the most popular pedal choices out there.

I like the TIMEs cuz:
1: They have a lot of float. That way if you have bad knees or something it feels better. AND you won't GET bad knees from using 'em.
2: There is no tension adjustment.
3: They clear mud beautifully and are easy to get in when your shoe is clogged. I used to live in Duluth - not so much mud there as there is CLAY. If you have to get off and walk you've suddenly grabbed 5lbs of clay per shoe! I was able to clip back in almost everytime I had to walk while others in SPDs where smacking their feet on the pedals trying to clear them up.
4: I like that the pedal has more to it than the Eggbeaters. There's more of a platform for support.

A friend of mine has Eggbeaters and loves them, so don't rule those out either.

I would suggest finding someone who has your same shoes size and see if they'll let you try what they have so you can get a first hand feel without having an overstock of used pedals.

I wear 13s if that helps!!

[Tetreves]

Originally posted by grizzly adam
I wear 13s if that helps!!

Hey Adam! I want to try your pedals! I've heard all the rave about the ATAC's, and I'd LOVE to try them out for a bit. Group ride soon?

[grizzly adam]

That works with me - I can't tonight or Thursday, but maybe tomorrow night?? or this weekend.

I must warn you - my shoes are coming apart at the sole and one cleat has some stipped bolts so the cleat slides back and forth freely. They're also the original cleats from back in the mid-90's cuz I can't get that one out, so they release pretty easily.

Maybe I can just put the "new" cleats on your shoes and you can try 'em??

Maybe I'm not a good example but we can try to work something out.

[nigel]

ONZA ONZA ONZA!!! Oh geeze did I say that.....Umm, well I'd have to agree with the TIME ATAC folks here.

I began on the Onza's then moved to the Ritchey SPD's, then had some knee troubles, so I tried out Speedplay Frogs, which work great but take some getting used to as far as the ease of getting in and out goes. Then I got me some ATAC Carbon and fell in love with them. You cannot adjust the tension, but there is no need to. Great mud clearance, a lil heavy but work great. Now Im back on Shimano SPD's after getting my knees fixed and I think Ima gonna try me some Eggbeaters next. They are pretty much the same as TIME ATAC but a ton lighter, 4 sided clip in and better mud clearance.

SPD's----affordable $30 and up, 6 degree float, liveable mud clearance if ya kick your shoes off, tension adjust, avg 346gr+- to 530gr+- pair depending on brand

Speedplay Frog---around $125 and up, 22 degree float, ok mud clearance, not tension adjustable, avg 206gr-250gr pair

Time ATAC---$80? and up, 12 degree float, good mud clearance, not tension adjustable, avg 350gr-416gr pair

Crank Bros Eggbeaters---$100 and up, 12 degrees float, best mud clearance, not tension adjustable, avg 185gr-266gr pair

But you could never go wrong with a pair of Time pedals!!

Hope that helps at all :)

[Bob]

Thanks for all the info. Comparing the ATAC's to the Eggbeaters, it looks like the ATAC's may have more area to engage into than the Eggbeater. Making for faster entry perhaps? I'm sure with enough time they would all be similar.

[jaybird]

I know a majority of the riders on this board love ATAC's, but I'll still put in a plug for the non-sexy, standard, Shimano M515. The cleat for the SPD pedal is nearly universal, they work well overall, and about durable as anything else out there. If mud/dirt does become a bigger problem I would go with Eggbeaters.

[sensorysonic]

I started riding Time ATACs in 1999, and really loved them. This season, I switched to Eggbeaters, and they seem superior to me. They have the same good float like ATACS, but they seem more stable. I had a tendency to slide to the outside, on my Time ATACs, and this would actually put pressure on my achilles tendon, and so I tried the eggbeaters, and they are just brilliant. I engage/disengage much faster, and they are so much more reliable during technical riding for me. I think both products are great. We have two very good mudclearing, non-maintenance pedal choices on the market!