Mountain Biking - Crank Bros Mallet.

opinions? is the magnesium platform much better than the aluminum? can you actually get decent traction with regular shoes, and not just have the sole rest on the clipless part?


thanks
harris

I just bought a pair of the C Mallets and couldn't be happier with them. The traction with regular trainers is excellent and the clipless mechanism doen't get in the way. Dunno about the Mag versus Aluminium... but according to the Crankbrothers website there is about an 80 gram difference. Is it worth the extra cost? That's up to you.

opinions? is the magnesium platform much better than the aluminum? can you actually get decent traction with regular shoes, and not just have the sole rest on the clipless part?


thanks
harris


The magnesium platform is just lighter. You can get good enough traction for casual riding "around town" when unclipped. You would not want to do technical single track unclipped for extended periods of time on Mallets (or any other clipless pedal for that matter).

When clipped in, your sole should make just enough contact with the pedal so that you have three points of contact.

I'm running the M's, and as willtsmith_nwi said, the only difference (besides color) is weight.

They are the best clipless pedal to ride with regular shoes that I know of, but they still suck in that respect, especially when wet.

They are the best clipless pedal to ride with regular shoes that I know of, but they still suck in that respect, especially when wet.

i pretty much agree... i have a pair and i think (at least with the larger cleats) they are the best i know of. they grip pretty well on most of my shoes, but the brunt of my pressure on the pedal is still on the clip, and those are super slick (especially when wet) i have yet to have my foot slip off the pedal in around-town riding

that said, my C mallets were well worth the money... i don't need the extra 80 grams myself

I've yet to try mine unclipped in the wet. Have you guys tried the other traction plates?

^^^ yeah i put the larger plates on first thing, in the wet it's not so much a matter of front to back slippage as left to right, because your shoes sit, in essence, on 4 parallel lines, 2 from the clips and 2 from the plates. it isn't TOO bad, you just have to pay attention

it isn't TOO bad, you just have to pay attention
I was typing while you posted so I'm sorry about the redundant question

Cool I was asking around for the best dual function pedals for regular urban riding (where I would not want to be cliped in due to alot of stoping for traffic) and then have the ability to clip in for my trail and offroad adventures looks like I found them.

Do these give you good security like the egg beaters where your cliped in tight but its not as difficult as some other clipless pedals to get out when you need too (aka all these fancy toe/heel positions)

Cool I was asking around for the best dual function pedals for regular urban riding (where I would not want to be cliped in due to alot of stoping for traffic) and then have the ability to clip in for my trail and offroad adventures looks like I found them.

Do these give you good security like the egg beaters where your cliped in tight but its not as difficult as some other clipless pedals to get out when you need too (aka all these fancy toe/heel positions)

the mallet's, if you look closely, are jsut eggbeaters with a normal platform-looking thing surrounding it.

Yeah, I must have just read about 100 reviews on them, some say you can use regular shoes and not be cliped in no problem for somthing like a urban comute, others say dont be fooled and think you can use them as a regular platform and not clip in.

there was alot of people breaking spindles on these, like some sort of manufacturing change. I still think these are the best way to go for me, since for riding on the streets I can go with regular shoes (sure it might require some practice and geting used to but its doable) and then for offroad and trail riding I can have a clipless experience that everybody raves about.

I want clipless mostly so that I can exercise both sides of my leg applying force on both the up and down stroke of pedaling would help keep my legs in good muscular balance.

Cool I was asking around for the best dual function pedals for regular urban riding (where I would not want to be cliped in due to alot of stoping for traffic) and then have the ability to clip in for my trail and offroad adventures looks like I found them.

Do these give you good security like the egg beaters where your cliped in tight but its not as difficult as some other clipless pedals to get out when you need too (aka all these fancy toe/heel positions)


Atom Lab has a new pedal with a spring mechanism that supposedly goes 100% out of the way if you are using normal shoes. That may be your best bet ... but they are $$$$ expensive $$$$$$.

http://www.anythingxtreme.com/Atomlab-Quickstep-916-Pedals-P10646C3284.aspx

http://www.anythingxtreme.com/whimages/p/Ped-SY-AtQ.jpg

I could care less about the 80g difference from aluminum? to magnesium but the mag just looks sooooo cool.

those atomlab pedals look nice, but i ordered mallets already. plus im getting the mallet m's for 70 bucks, so kinda hard to beat. red with a red spring. ill post pics and a reveiw when i get them. getting a saint bashring too.

peace
harris

those atomlab pedals look nice, but i ordered mallets already. plus im getting the mallet m's for 70 bucks, so kinda hard to beat. red with a red spring. ill post pics and a reveiw when i get them. getting a saint bashring too.

peace
harris
sweet buys dude,
i'm a little late on this thread but yeah ive had both mallet m's and c's and there's bascally no difference except for weight which everyone has said already and even with the longer spiked (plates?) it still doesnt provide as much traction as even a crappy platform, but its enough to ride around town.
congrats again on your purchases!

Those are pretty cool pedals, maybe the price will come down uventully.. I cant find any feedback except one site that is I think german.

With luck maybe I will find sombody with the Mallets when I am out ridding one day and get a in person look at them and maybe even try them out ^^ its always good to try before you buy.

I do not understand wanting non-clipless pedal for around town. Clipless is the only way to go! Unless for dual slalom or the like. I would get used to the clipless (perhaps with a few spills) and let them save your life! They will I promise.
Sam

I do not understand wanting non-clipless pedal for around town. Clipless is the only way to go! Unless for dual slalom or the like. I would get used to the clipless (perhaps with a few spills) and let them save your life! They will I promise.
Sam

Im sure they will in some situations but they could take it in others ^^

If you saw what my commute to work would look like I have to cross over 20 somthing roads, an interstate, and past the parking lot for 30 resteraunts, 50 somthing stores, and some other stuff... ALOT of traffic going in and out of my path that could requrie me to stop alot. So being able to quickly hop on an off the bike is really needed.

Another small issue would be that to use the locks I need some special shoes on, when I am going to the mall or somthing I just want to go there and not have to bring a change of shoes and stuff. Also the upkeep of these seem high, Besides alot of them breaking from what I read in some reviews the cleats wear out pretty fast under regular use and thats just more money to spend. Also I dont want to be dependant on them. Sure I can probably hop my bike higher and pedal more efficantly but when your foot slips out now and then its nice to have somthing to fall back to.

I see myself getting hurt easier relying on the clips to hold me in and acidentally applying too much force and upclipign and flying off my pedals than knowing how to control myself on platforms.

I dont think any method is far superiour (spelling) to the other, so thats why I feel a hybrid is the way to go.

I do not understand wanting non-clipless pedal for around town. Clipless is the only way to go! Unless for dual slalom or the like. I would get used to the clipless (perhaps with a few spills) and let them save your life! They will I promise.
Sam
for me, i want platforms for just riding to work, or dicking around. I dont want to have to bring my clipless shoes to school.... just doesnt make alot of sence. Also, if I am practicing wheelies or trackstands or riding skinnies, i dont want to have to clip out and in all the time.

peace
harris