Bicycle Mechanics - clipless

yes, it's yet another clipless pedal thread.....

has anyone here tried a few different types of clipless systems? like for example: spd, look, speedplay.
i've been reading up on speedplay and they seem much easier to work with than the look pedals i currently have. first off, speedplay has a double-sided entry system. it also just requires the user to press down on the pedal to clip in, instead of having to push in the front first and then lock in the back. it just seems so much easier to work with. what do you all think? or is it just a matter of getting used to?

I have used SPD for several competitive XC seasons with a lot of mud and they have given me little to complain about.

I use both Looks and SPDs on two different bikes. SPDs are a little easier and mindless, but the Looks are better pedals: I just feel more connected to the bike. Only reason I have SPDs is for use with MTB shoes on my commuter. Like to be able to walk around.

I have used the following, but all with MTB shoes. SPD they were OK, lasted a long time. Not too bad to get in and out of.

Eggbeaters. Fairly easy to get in to (4 sided). Easy to get out of. They occasionally will roll under your foot when trying to clip in. Your foot shoots off the front. They hurt my knees because they have centering tension. If your foot is not at 0 deg, there is spring tension. They work for lots of people, but not me. My toes point out and I could not angle the cleats enough to correct.

Speedplay FROGs. They are so easy to get in and out of that I literally could not believe it at first. There is no comparison. They also have no spring tension. Your foot can be at the angle that it wants without fighting the pedal.

Shimano do a double- sided pedal which allows easy access and adjusts to allow a good range of lateral movement which is just the thing for dodgy knees( PD520) Cheap too. George.

I have used SPD and Speedplay Frog mtb pedals on my road bikes. With the Frogs, some habitual knee pain disappeared because, I think, my feet could find their most natural position, as Avalanche325 noted. Easy to both clip in and to disengage. Their dual-sided entry is a nice feature: no need to spin the pedal around to get to the proper side, so you can get going without any slight loss of power while you find the pedal and clip in. Lastly, the Frogs are easy to service: even a technophobe like me can easily re-grease them.

The triple, quadruple, muldruple entry sided feature is not as important as you think it is if you're just road riding. The pedals are usally bottom heavy meaning so you don't have to find out which side it is.

However if you are frequently in situations which require fast unclipping or loads of unclipping perhaps (i.e commuting?) maybe eggbeaters would be a better choice.

I think crank brothers makes the best clipless pedal for any use. You can get the egg beaters but i like a little platform so i have candy SL. Light, simple, super easy to get in and especially out. 4 sided entry is nice. But what i like is its simplicity of design, its bomb proof and sheds mud. They seem to break in, i found them difficult at first to get in/out but i was not used to clipless then. I have tried SPD stuff but i like my CB.

I used virtually all systems at one time or another, and the only one that will be getting any of my money is Crank Bros. Eggbeater series. No stupid adjustments to mess around with, and 4 sided entry. By far the easiest to use I have encountered.

I used virtually all systems at one time or another, and the only one that will be getting any of my money is Crank Bros. Eggbeater series. No stupid adjustments to mess around with, and 4 sided entry. By far the easiest to use I have encountered.
Amen, SPD stuff has too much that can collet crap and go wrong. K.I.S.S. and crank brothers stuff all use the same system, andthey have a pedal with a platform size for anybody :)

I've just switched from SPD to Speedplay Frogs, any advice before I head out on the road for the first time?

Practice unclipping with one foot on the ground. Really!

Then practice unclipping just riding around a bit. Get used to the action of turning your heel outward.

Finally, realize you WILL fall. Probably at the most inopportune time! Like in front of a big crowd of people.

Yep, you will always fall with them. I have a scar from my clipless. Sometime you will fall with your feet still attatched though generally when you fall your feet twist out. But before you go out on the road its a good idea to be comfortable, since drivers are not always the best

I have never had the muti sided problem in my SPDs. I use the 545 and 424 mountain pedals which are symmetrical and have a cage platform. Pretty much treat them like platforms and they clip in automatically. Never had a muck problem.

I've just switched from SPD to Speedplay Frogs, any advice before I head out on the road for the first time?

The only things that you need to be aware of is that the Frogs will feel "slippery" compared to the SPDs. This is because your foot can move more and is not being forced into a certain position by a spring. You will get used to it in 10 - 15 minutes.

The click when you get in will be subtle, not a loud snap. (much nicer) There won't be any pop when they release, just twist and you are out. (also much nicer) Here is another thing that is cool. If you twist to clip out and change your mind, you can just straighten your foot and you are still clipped in.

I have used SPD's on the road back when Shimano made the first round of Look knockoff pedals. I've used Looks for years now, though. my problem with SPD or Crank Bros or any system with a very small pedal and cleat is hotfoot. I get pain and numbness eventually on long rides, right where the small cleat is on my shoe. This even happened, though to a far lesser degree, when I had carbon soled shoes. I still run Crank Bros on the mountain bike, but I'm a huge fan of larger cleat/pedal interfaces on the road. IIRC, the speedplays have a large cleat.

And to answer your final question, it's a matter of getting used to it no matter what system you're using.

crankbrothers mallet has a large platform

crankbrothers mallet has a large platform

Looks like the mallet is intended for off-road bikes.
Crank Brothers introduced a new road pedal, the Quattro SL, last year.
http://www.mtbr.com/contest/crankbros/quattro/

Thx for the thoughts