Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - What pedals would you get?

If you had to get a set of clipless pedals, what would you get? I've got some Shimano MT clipless shoes now with SPD cleats, but I'm gonna splure and get a pair of the Sidi Genius 5's. I have some platform/clip pedals that allow you to wear normal shoes, but I never ride without my cleats, so I want some other pedals.

Opinions welcome!

SPD's are ridiculously easy to get into and out of. There are a ton of clones out there, so you can save money. And the cleats don't need to be replaced every 3 months *cough* crank bros *cough*.

Do you want road or mountain style? (ie. are you doing rec/race riding, or urban/commuting riding?)

If you're picking up sidi genius shoes I would imagine you are going for road style cleats and pedals, so in that case, I like the look keos. I have the keo carbons; they are light, have 3 sets of bearings each pedal, a large platform and you can get them cheap on the web)

However, if you're commuting, I'd stick with SPD style cleats and get sidi dominators instead (they are pretty much identical to the geniuses, just spd and walkable). I have stainless eggbeaters that I'm pretty happy with, although on long rides they are too loose and get annoying. I have the hardened cleats on my mountain shoes now and they are WAYY better and harder than the stock cleats. If you have eggbeaters, upgrade your cleats.

I love nice tight clip-ins; I'm about 80% a commuter, so I still need to walk in the shoes often. How are the Sidi dragons (anyone know)? Mostly my issues with my shoes now is that I don't feel that there's enough rigidity to them, and I feel like I'm pedaling with only the tip of my feet. I've adjusted them over and over, but i'd like a bit more security in 'em. There's a lot of messengers around here wearing sidi's, but I can never see what kind of pedals they have.

Shiznaz, are you talking about the "premium" crank bros cleats? theyre $3 more http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=690&category=116
I definetely notice the looseness, would you recommend these? It'd be almost more convenient for me to just buy a pair of pedals for $20 more and just have eggbeaters on 2 bikes.

I love my Candy SL pedals. I have sprinted up hills on them and never a problem. The Time Atac are quite nice as well.

Shiznaz, are you talking about the "premium" crank bros cleats? theyre $3 more http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=690&category=116
I definetely notice the looseness, would you recommend these? It'd be almost more convenient for me to just buy a pair of pedals for $20 more and just have eggbeaters on 2 bikes.


I find them alot harder and stiffer. Then again I had my orginal cleats set the high float way and the new cleats set the low float way. Either way, they ARE harder and have more adjustability. I wouldn't ride the regular cleats anymore.

i've used my stock eggbeaters cleats for well over 3 months, without unintentional unclipping.

that said i'd get either Time ATAC or crank bros. pedals

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=224493
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=227976
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=220865
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=205762
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=201785
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=193964


summary: toss up between atac's and eggbeaters. i like my eggbeaters.

get beaters if you are wanting to stick with mountain cleats. Otherwise spd-sl/

I'd get some Time Atacs, but my M520s aren't dying anytime soon.

I just bought some eggbeaters a couple of months ago. I would reccommend these if you have a pretty true pedal stroke. If you have a pedal stroke that is all over the place I could see a person running into some trouble. I have unclipped once when try to skid and the results weren't so great but this is because I shifted my foot and unclipped. On the same note the nice thing about them is that they are really easy to get out of if you run into a problem, such as a 0mph dump at a light.

i ride sidi dominators and time atacs. it does everything i want it to do. most of the messengers i know who ride clipless ride times. those messengers you see in chicago are probably on times aswell.

i've used my stock eggbeaters cleats for well over 3 months, without unintentional unclipping.


Wow! Well over 3 months!

...the stock cleats last longer than 3 months, they aren't made of BUTTER after all. Give it some time.

Time ATAC XS here ... no complaints at all.

Time ATACs here too. I love 'em.

i ride sidi dominators and time atacs. it does everything i want it to do. most of the messengers i know who ride clipless ride times. those messengers you see in chicago are probably on times aswell.

+1

Time ATAC + Sidi Dominator
http://www.zzk.lv/images/elements/small/rezerves_time_pedali_41.jpg

Same combo I have. Best setup ever.

Other clipless fixie setups I've had dating back to 2002:
(doesn't include clip/strap systems before 2002)

Eggbeater + Sidi Dominator
Time ATAC + Nike Kato III
Time ATAC + Lake (can't remember the model)
Time ATAC (Alium) + Lake, (Aliums were easier to get into but just ugly. I like the older ones above)
Ultegra SPD + Lake, (non pontoon system ultegra pedals)

Time ATAC Aliums. Because I got waaay over mysteriously unclipping from my SPDs.

my clipless setup is pretty much my ideal setup - sidi dominator 5 narrow's and time atac xs carbon.

my ideal clipless for the track would be rocket 7 custom track shoes, and speedplay zero stainless track pedals

my ideal clipless setup for the road would be specialized bg s-works road shoes, and speedplay zero ti pedals

Light, easy, cheap = SPD

Dead sexy (but not the lightest) = Speedplay (lollipop, not frog)

All others = middleground

Lots of different opinions here. Go with the SPDs if you want the most easy to walk in shoe between rides. The SPD cleats also don't make as much noise as a Crank Bros or Eggbeater pedal.

The SPD cleats also don't make as much noise as a Crank Bros or Eggbeater pedal.
Not in my experience. The eggbeater cleats are 1.5-2mm thinner than SPD cleats, so they don't crunch as much.

Still, I definitely vote SPD.

If I were to buy road/track racing shoes+pedals, I'd go with those cross-shaped things. They just look red hot. What are they called?

Those are Coombe Pedals. I think they went out of business though.

I use Crank Bros. Quattros with my DMT Ultimax Spirit RSX shoes. They've been good to me, but it's my first clipless pedal. I've only had them a few months too.

That's the one. Looks like their site is down, so...:(
http://www.sudibe.de/fotos/pedal/coombe_01.jpg

BTW, this site (http://www.sudibe.de/technik_pedalen.html)lists all sorts of clipless pedals you never thought existed.

+1

Time ATAC + Sidi Dominator
http://www.zzk.lv/images/elements/small/rezerves_time_pedali_41.jpg



I got those Time ATAC pedals just a few days ago after I was popping out of my SPD. Sweet pedals.

Do they not make that model anymore? If not, which model replaced them?

On that german site, anybody know WTF is going on in this pic? The caption has "tandem" in it, but I'm scared to think that that's what this is actually for.

http://www.sudibe.de/fotos/pedal.jpg

I got those Time ATAC pedals just a few days ago after I was popping out of my SPD. Sweet pedals.

Do they not make that model anymore? If not, which model replaced them?

Hold on to them. No, they don't make them anymore. I bought a set of new old-stock this summer on ebay for around $80 shipped (I think suggested retail was like $120 when they were out). Once on Ebay I saw a pair that were beat to death go for $100+ in a bidding war.

By my observation, they were replaced with the ALIUM, which is definitely a technical improvement. They are easier to clip into and probably shed mud better (the ATAC is a MTB pedal). But, what they gained in tech, they lost in aesthetics. They just look too clunky and unrefined to me.

http://www.pricepoint.com/images/styleImages/D_240%20TIMAB9.jpg

On that german site, anybody know WTF is going on in this pic? The caption has "tandem" in it, but I'm scared to think that that's what this is actually for.



looks to me like it is just to keep the stoker pedal oriented face up so they can easily click in.

I think the atac alium is now replaced with the atac xs/xe anyway
http://www.bikesomewhere.com/images/large/Time_Atac_XSTitan_carbon.jpg

Hold on to them. No, they don't make them anymore. I bought a set of new old-stock this summer on ebay for around $80 shipped (I think suggested retail was like $120 when they were out). Once on Ebay I saw a pair that were beat to death go for $100+ in a bidding war.

By my observation, they were replaced with the ALIUM, which is definitely a technical improvement. They are easier to clip into and probably shed mud better (the ATAC is a MTB pedal). But, what they gained in tech, they lost in aesthetics. They just look too clunky and unrefined to me.


Cool, I got them NOS at my LBS for $90 before taxes. I am going to find out if they have anymore when I stop by there next week to pick kup my new shoes. I agree that the ALIUM is as aesthetically pleasing and since I use the pedal for commuting, shedding mud is not top priority although looks are not necessarily either.

JensonUSA has the Alium's for $45.95, but they won't have them until 10/31. Seems like a good price.

My speedplay frogs were my favorite pedals so far. They never clipped out, and once you got used to the intense float, they were totally rad. Also, the cleat surface was not the engagement surface, so cleat replacement was not very often.

But in all seriousness, it's all about the SMP+rocket 7 shoes: http://sidemountpedal.com/

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=224493
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=227976
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=220865
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=205762
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=201785
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=193964


summary: toss up between atac's and eggbeaters. i like my eggbeaters.


a couple of my friends use those and afte a year they are loosing their tension now these guys are getting atacs...

my preferrence is a good platform with clips and straps ala mks?

a couple of my friends use those and afte a year they are loosing their tension now these guys are getting atacs...

my preferrence is a good platform with clips and straps ala mks?

Maybe its the cleats wearing out? They have really beefy springs on them and the cleats are real soft. The net feeling of pedalling would feel the same with either problem.

As with any pedal, the Eggbeaters needs regular
maintence. If, after a year, they're loosing their
tension, then the probably need to be re-tensioned.
I don't know how this is done, but just looking at
the Eggbeater, it would appear as though it would
be like tightening a screw.

Wow! Well over 3 months!

...the stock cleats last longer than 3 months, they aren't made of BUTTER after all. Give it some time.

11.5 months if you want to get technical.

As with any pedal, the Eggbeaters needs regular
maintence. If, after a year, they're loosing their
tension, then the probably need to be re-tensioned.
I don't know how this is done, but just looking at
the Eggbeater, it would appear as though it would
be like tightening a screw.


nope no real tension adjustment, and as far as cleats go they are new that was the first thing they did and it helped but in long skids or quick sprints they loose it

Retem: I'm not quite sure I believe you then. When i skid, my feet are stationary due to the pressure against them. How are you slipping out of eggbeaters in a skid?

Eggbeaters!

not me a couple of nuts I ride with...they are notorius for abusing gear so thats all I am saying I am too heavy to ride anything of the sort

i've been using the crank brothersroad pedal the quattro's for probably 6 months now and have been really happy with it. Easy in/out no accdental clip outs and they give a nice big contact patch. so i guess one more vote for crank bros. cheers

I am very wary of using clipless pedals on a fixed gear for fear that they would pop out under stress.
(like SPD's seem to do). Though I have heard good things about eggbeaters and similar designs.
(additionally jamis stocked generic but good eggbeaters on all of their mid range bikes last year and so you can buy them for a pittance at any Jamis dealer.

I would suggest that whatever you do, keep a front brake.
If you are going to run clipless I would use eggbeaters or something else that uses a similar design.

I would suggest at least trying traditional toe clips. Decent pedals, (MKS makes a nice range for very little), mated with mountain clips and a straps works quite well. I like to run a double strap, Soma makes them cheap 40 instead of the toshi 100, though you can also just run two straps.

To each their own but I recommend against SPD + brakeless.

I am very wary of using clipless pedals on a fixed gear for fear that they would pop out under stress.
(like SPD's seem to do).

To each their own but I recommend against SPD + brakeless.


That's absurd. SPD's are no more prone to so-called "popping" out than any other clipless pedal. I've ridden bikes for over 20 years and also fixed for the past several years and I've never heard of these phantom pop-outs with SPD pedals.

That's absurd. SPD's are no more prone to so-called "popping" out than any other clipless pedal. I've ridden bikes for over 20 years and also fixed for the past several years and I've never heard of these phantom pop-outs with SPD pedals.

When I first got my SPD's they were so tight that when I fell over I couldn't get my feet off the pedals and had to lie there on the trail like an overturned turtle until help arrived. A few seconds with the allen wrench and I had them not too loose, not too tight. Just right. Unclipping on a mtb. can be very dangerous.