Cyclocross - pedals and tension and cleats oh my

are eggbeaters absolutely necessary (i know they are very popular, and i used to have a pair...)? right now i'm on a tight budget and all i have is cheap double sided mtb spd pedals, so i'm planning on using these. also, what kind of tension does everyone use, i just tightened mine up a lot and it seems like i stick getting out sometimes, so i'm guessing i need to loosen them a bit? and i'm planning on wearing my mtb shoes which have a lot of rubber on the bottom around the cleat to make them stable, but this slows down clipping in slightly i think, should i try to file them down a bit or something?

sorry for the long sentences, and thanks for any help.

SPDs worked great for me for years. Lots of other guys too. Set the release tension a lot lower than what you need on a MTB. Usually a cross course isn't going to bounce you out of the pedals.

MTB shoes are fine. Any number of pedal/shoe combinations need a bit of customizing.

eggbeaters are absolutely not necessary, spds will work fine.

tension is a matter of personal preference, i kept mine pretty loose cause i'm a dumbass and like to trackstand at intersections.

some people do "modify" the soles of their mtb shoes to help with clipping in, but unless it's necessary and you're missing a lot of clip ins, i'd leave it alone.

tension is a matter of personal preference, i kept mine pretty loose cause i'm a dumbass and like to trackstand at intersections.


A kindred spirit! I almost spat out tea when I read this. :D


I do the exact same thing, plus I'm a klutz.