Pedal help
 

Ok hears the problem. I have a mountain bike with regular platform pedals and im about to buy a new road bike. I’ve wanted to go with clipless pedals for a while and now I have a problem.
I want to only buy one pair of shoes that will work on both bikes. So I will haft to put the same type of pedals on both bikes. So what system should I use eg. SPD, LOOK, Eggbeater?
I ride several hours a day like five days a week and I ride road as much as trails.
And if the entire setup could be under 250 that would be great!
Thanks.

The only logical choice you have is to buy one pair of mountain shoes and equip both your road and mountain bikes with either eggbeaters or SPD's as you mentioned. Lots of roadies use mountain shoes and pedals on their road bikes.....nothing wrong with that......You'll be able to walk normally without looking like a duck.
Look pedals and cleats are for road use with road shoes only......not for dirt trails.

Thanks Fixer!

I have SPDs on both my road bike and mountain bike and love them! I am usually cycling with kids and running all around, so it's nice to have shoes I can walk in.

I have a question now:

I just got some road shoes at the local Performance shop at 75% off, a total of $10 out the door. They are Performance Azzuri, and take just about every cleat/pedal out there(apparently). What is your favorite/inexpensive($ is a concern) pedal for road?
I'd love to try clipless, have the shoes now, and just need the pedals...

Thanks,
Lufty

I have gone through two other pedals but have finally ended up with Shimano Ultegra SPD-SL pedals. Those are expensive, about $140.00 American. However I mention them only because I think it is the type of pedal that is best for road riding with regular road shoes. You can get some much cheaper versions of this LOOK style pedal. For example Performance "Forte" Classic is only about $40.00 American. I can't really speak of the quality of these cheaper versions but I am sure it is the style that is the best for road riding even in the city where you may be clipping in and out of the pedals often. It may be that in pedals you get what you pay for. If that is true, you might want to buy the best LOOK or Shimano pedals at the much higher price. Has anyone here had experience with these cheaper versions?

I prefer Speedplay pedals for road. How much are you looking to spend?

Note - Nashbar's prices for Speedplay pedals where found...

• X-series - double-sided, 25 deg free-float, very user-friendly, cleats weigh 85g/pair
  • X/1 - titanium spindle, 150g/pair: $248.95
  • X/2 - stainless steel spindle, 198g/pair: $164.95
  • X/3 - cromoly steel spindle, 225g/pair: $108.95
  • X/5 - same as X/3 bit with improved bearings and earlier release angle, 220g/pair
• Zero-series - double-sided, adjustable 15 deg of float (independent inboard/outboard adjustment as well as centering), similar in design to X-series, cleats weigh 105g/pair
  • Zero/Ti - titanium spindle, 164g/pair
  • Zero/SS - stainless steel spindle, 206g/pair: $184.95
  • Zero-CrMo - cromoly steel spindle, 210g/pair: $154.95
• Frogs - designed for MTB but can be used for road biking too, touring cyclists and more recreational cyclists prefer them because the cleats are more walkable and can be fitted to MTB shoes which have better tread and walking capability, uses SPD 2-bolt attachment, 37 deg non-centering free-float, cleats weigh 44g/pair
  • Frog/Ti - titanium spindle, 206g/pair: $179.95
  • Frog/SS - stainless steel spindle, 250g/pair: $128.95
  • Frog/CrMo - 255g/pair: $104.95

Other pedal systems I personally (I prefer double-sided pedals) would consider include:

• Crank Brothers Eggbeater series
• Crank Brothers Quattro (uses Eggbeater system as core)
• Bebop
• Time ATAC (yes, I know they're MTB pedals and I use these on my MTB but many roadies like them too)

I am a roadie, but I regularly ride with MTN bike shoes (Sidi Bullet - which I highy recommend), and Crank Bros Candy SL pedals. I have never ridden with any other pedal system, because I am too happy with what I have! VERY easy to use, and I have not fallen in two years - at least not because of the pedals! They are comfortable (no hot spots) and plenty of float to prevent knee pain. The Candy line of pedals can be bought for ~ $70. for Candy C, and ~ $120. for Candy SL (if you shop around). I find that my Candy C's squeak a bit, so I put them on my MTN bike and spent the extra $ for SL's for my road bikes.

Upsides:

o You can click in on either side of the platform, and the integrated Egg Beater mechanism gives you four ways to get in...

o You can get out toot-sweet!

o They have a nice stable platform

o They are simple and clean

Downside:

o Not super easy to find the cleat-clip interface -- especially when you need to get the lead out... i.e. a truck is coming and you are dorking around with your feet!!!!

o Do not always let you know you are in -- or worse, not in... Sometimes the click is so subtle it's inaudible! After a brief period, zero problems...

o The Candy C's can squeak (I hate squeaks!)

o They can be slick (sliding off the pedal is not cool)

o With some shoes they can fit tight - i.e. preventing the float you need, so make sure you expriment with the shims if you feel your feet are not moving freely (laterally)

BTW, I believe MTN bike shoes are not as stiff as road shoes... I like this, because I like to walk around in mine. If they are not as stiff as a road shoe, you will lose power as a result of the flex. I think the Egg Beater pedals can be fitted to a road shoe, though I have seen that Crank Bros now makes a road-specific variant.

My grade 1-to-5 scale... 4.5