Cyclocross - favorite pedal?

Am building up a new cross bike and am curious on opinions regarding your favorite and least favorite pedal and why.

Thansk!

I used to use spd's, they're alright, but disengaging was a little uncertain at times and once they got jammed up, good luck clipping in or out. I just bought some egg beaters, they're a lot better for shedding mud and clipping out. I'm still getting used to the float of the beaters though...

I've only ever used Crank Brothers Candys (for CX...Speedplays for road, but would be terrible CX pedals). So I guess those are my favorites by default. I like that they have a small platform, a little more area to help get going before you're fully clipped in.

Time, every time!

http://www.time-sport.com/us/home.htm

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/pedal/index_T.shtml

+1 for speedplay for the road.

I use Shim spd's on my MTB so I wanted to be able to use the same shoes. I just purchased the Shim PD-M970 on ebay for about 1/2 price. No problems except getting the stupid reflectors off:(

I use time xe's with mine and they are great in and out of muddy situations.. A solid all round pedal..

I use time xe's with mine and they are great in and out of muddy situations.. A solid all round pedal..

+1

ive been on the cheap TIME Alium pedals, and even those are great!

Any Crank Brothers SL level pedal (i've got the Eggbeater SL, Candy SL, and Quattro SL pedals on 3 different bikes).

Seems like a Crank Brothers Mallet would be good -- big ol' platform in case you're not clipped in right away.

I cant' say for sure, though; I've only used them for "urban cyclocross", i.e. "commuting". ;)

Seems like a Crank Brothers Mallet would be good -- big ol' platform in case you're not clipped in right away.

I cant' say for sure, though; I've only used them for "urban cyclocross", i.e. "commuting". ;)

The bad thing about them is the very hard, sharp metal edge that can dig into your shin and create a wound that takes an amazingly long time to heal. Don't ask how I know this :o Also they are a lot heavier than Candys or "naked" Eggbeaters.

But yeah, I think they are great for commuting. You can use them, comfortably, for longer ventures without cleats.

The bad thing about them is the very hard, sharp metal edge that can dig into your shin and create a wound that takes an amazingly long time to heal. Don't ask how I know this :o

Heh.. ;) yeah, true, I didn't think about that.

New. Ti.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/gbae007/candy_ti.jpg

I just got back on my bike with SPDs (lowish end, but still good) after spending a couple weeks on the new bike with eggbeater Cs (second to lowest end in their line). In both cases I don't think they perform significantly worse than their higher-end brethren, they just aren't as light. I may be wrong.

Anyways, I was surprised how different the feel was of the SPDs after using the eggies. The SPDs are definately more "noticeable" during the engagment and even more so during the disengage. I have them at pretty low tension so that I can unclip with ease now that it's icey, but they still have way less float than the eggbeaters. In that sense I sort of feel more attached to the pedal. But the crank bros are just more...elegant I guess. And way beter in the slop. On the relaese it's easy to miss th exact moment that you've unclipped. Smoooooth.

So I would be completely sold on the crank bros if it weren't for the insane amount of float. I wish they offered more variety in cleats, so you could buy some that didn't move around so darn much. Every quality of the eggies except the float makes them ideal for cross racing IMO.

I just got back on my bike with SPDs (lowish end, but still good) after spending a couple weeks on the new bike with eggbeater Cs (second to lowest end in their line). In both cases I don't think they perform significantly worse than their higher-end brethren, they just aren't as light. I may be wrong.

Anyways, I was surprised how different the feel was of the SPDs after using the eggies. The SPDs are definately more "noticeable" during the engagment and even more so during the disengage. I have them at pretty low tension so that I can unclip with ease now that it's icey, but they still have way less float than the eggbeaters. In that sense I sort of feel more attached to the pedal. But the crank bros are just more...elegant I guess. And way beter in the slop. On the relaese it's easy to miss th exact moment that you've unclipped. Smoooooth.

So I would be completely sold on the crank bros if it weren't for the insane amount of float. I wish they offered more variety in cleats, so you could buy some that didn't move around so darn much. Every quality of the eggies except the float makes them ideal for cross racing IMO.

Note that Cranks Bros is only 6 deg of float and either a 15 or a 20 deg release angle before disengage. (Depending on cleat placement.)

Note that Cranks Bros is only 6 deg of float and either a 15 or a 20 deg release angle before disengage. (Depending on cleat placement.)

It doesn't really feel like only 6 deg of float, though. As my foot wiggles, it just gets some resistance as the spring opens, but it doesn't hit a tangible stop or anything. But, if I let off the pedal and relax, it sort of auto-positions itself back to normal.

It doesn't really feel like only 6 deg of float, though. As my foot wiggles, it just gets some resistance as the spring opens, but it doesn't hit a tangible stop or anything. But, if I let off the pedal and relax, it sort of auto-positions itself back to normal.

I hear ya, it feels like more than 6 degree because you don't fully release until 15 degs.

Technically it's a self centering float (>6 to <15 degrees is like a spring) whereas Speedplays or Frogs are non-centering float.

Right. It definately feels like more than it actually is, because there isn't that super-clear relase point.

egg beater sl pedals work great , as far as candy's they SUCK bigtime !!

I like shimano spds like the PD-M520. They're cheap and work well.

Personal prerference I guess. I ride all Crank Brothers all the time. Works for me but not for others. Guess you have to try out several systems and see what works best for you.

Can't go wrong with Crank Brothers Candy SL's. Plenty of mud clearance and plenty of support also completely rebuild able. I used these on my mountain and CX bikes

I use CB eggs and quattros. The quattros are a road pedal, but they work with a MTB shoe and the standard CB cleat and have a narrower Q than other CB pedals, which is why I like them.

Time Ftw!

Used to be a Time guy.......this year all Crank Brothers......Candy, Quattros, Mallet and 50/50