Mountain Biking - Clipless Pedals

I've been out of the mountain biking loop for about three years now, but I'm now making my return and I know a lot has changed. Are Ritchey Logic clipless pedals still one of the best? What else is out there that is comparable?

Your help is greatly appreciated!!
Dave

The big thing lately has been the eggbeaters by Crank Brothers. These resemble a four sided cage that allows mud/water/etc. to fall through, helping to keep the system from clogging. They can be found for under $50 now at most any mail-order site (unless you weant the titanium version=$$$$). Time Atacs are a favorite, with a wide platform. This is especially helpful if this is your first pair in a while. Shimano 959's are also popular. I currently run my first set of clipless that I owned, Shimano 536's, on my XC bike and they have worked well. They have a relatively wide platform around the mechanism which helped when I was learning. The mud clearance doesn't seem too bad - sometimes it takes a try or two, but they always clear out and work. My next pair will either be a set of Atacs or the eggbeaters - haven't decided yet. Check out www.mtbr.com for more reviews on different pedals that you find.

-Moab

Ritchey has a newish version oftheir design out. And his stuff has always been decent.

There are various new pedals on the market.

Crank Brothers eggbeaters seem to be getting the most attention nowadays. You can find last year's models for quite cheap. Be aware that there were some issues with the pedal body separating from the spindle.

Times have a devoted and loyal following, as do the lates version of Shimano's SPDs (aren't they about to run out of numbers?)

I have been running Speedplay frogs across all of my bikes (except for the TCR and the Phantom) for many years now (8? I think) and quite like them. They are an acquired taste though.

Who has the lightest platform,dual sided pedal,road & dirt?

Lightest for dirt is: speedplay frogs, crank brothers eggbeaters, shimano 959's and then the Tima ATAC carbons which is their lightest MTB Pedal. If you want to spend a fortune for the lightest pedal out there look at the Eggbeater Tripple Ti(cost somethin like $300)

Actually, I think that these (http://www.m2racer.com/products.php?cat=2&PHPSESSID=bb5cd1cdfd04d48f9044685c5cca114a) are the lightest pedals around. They are listed as "road" pedals, but I'd think the "maintenance free" design would make them ideal for "off-road" use. I still have not seen them being marketed anywhere yet. The only publicity I've seen from them is an article in one of my engineering magazines.

100 grams/ pair. Lighter than Ti Eggbeaters.

Cheaper too, but those Orbs look scary. I'd like to see them in use or even try them out.

If your looking for a big platform check out the Time ATAC Z, kinda heavy though.

http://pricepoint.com/product1761.html

I am the happy owner of the new Time Atac Z control pedals. These are the lightest platform/clipless pedals around. I have used them in some rides and they can eat rocks and mud like butter. Totally bombproof. They only got scratched in the area where i try to clip on...but this is only superficial.

Excellent buy for a heavy duty but reasonably light pedal.

Can you use them without clipping in?I ride 3 miles on the streets with lights and stop signs and clipping in and out is a drag so i like to just stay clipped on one side and unclipped on the other until i get to the bike trail.I had 545 shimanos that worked fine but with my new bike i want something a little lighter.

Yes, you can ride with on foot, both feet, or none of your feet clipped in. It will be much easier to do this though, with a pedal with a larger platform around the mechanism that attaches the cleat. A relatively small-platformed pedal like the eggbeaters might make it a bit more difficult to keep your feet on the pedals over bumps and stuff when not clipped in, but it's possible and it won't hurt anything.

-Moab

Its hard because your foot will slip,i know because right now i have the time carbons.

Yeah, but you don't have the platforms like the Z Controls. I also use Time A.T.A.C.'s, and yes, your foot will slip around on those. They are tiny compared to the new Z Controls. Riding clipped out on the Z's shouldn't be a problem!

L8R

I ridden unclipped on roads with my eggbeaters with no problems. Kind of annoying on hills though.

Anybody know the weight of the Z's?

According to cambria bike website, ATAC z weight is 525g, my 545s are 568g. A friend swears by 536s when you want to ride clipped out some, 430g....tom

I got Z control and its dead easy to pedal while unclipped. The weight for them is 520g as weighted on a raceface digital scale. I have recently done a high speed downhill while unclipped plus some commuting unclipped with regular shoes. It is ok as long as your shoe sole isnt very soft otherwise you are gona feel the mechanism on your sole. Anyway while in the trail i go clipped or unclipped without any problems depending on the techicality of the trail. I should comment that clip out is dead easy even in emergencies....they saved me in an endo since i was able to clip out fast enough to avoid a faceplant.

Woo hoo bike shop called my bikes on the way and I need to buy some new clipless. Those Z's sound terrific I've heard bad things about the shimano 515s that comes on the bike.

Shimano 515's=DEATH TRAP!

My bike came with the Time ATAC thermal plastics (grey) and they work pretty good. I toyed with the idea of getting the yellow carbon models, but what the hey, the greys were fine.

Man, I've been out of the loop too, first time I've thought about my bike since 1999!:eek: