do it all clipless
#1
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do it all clipless
So basically the title says it all. I mountain bike mainly, but plan on actually getting into road biking this summer and then touring next summer so I want to find a clipless pedal for all types of riding. If anyone else has an all around pedal I'd love to hear what it is. Or if you think i should just money up and get two different types of pedals. Open to all suggestions, but remember college kid and money is tight. Thanks guys.
#2
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You can wear mountain shoes (and run mountain pedals) for road, but wearing road shoes (and running road pedals) for mountain wouldn't be such a great idea. Reason being is mountain shoes have tread and a slightly recessed cleat, so you're able to walk in them. Generally the platform on a mountain pedal is a little smaller, and the shoe won't be *quite* as stiff (though many high end XC mountain shoes are pretty stiff), but a mountain shoe-pedal combo should serve you just fine. If you're on a budget, check out Shimano SPD's (M520's are Shimano's entry-level). Cheap but still a really good pedal. I run M520's and M540's on my mountain bikes. Other popular choices are Time ATAC and CrankBrothers EggBeaters/Candy, though they're both a bit pricier. CB also makes a cheaper pedal called the Smarty, but I've heard quite a few negative reviews on them. Time makes some cheaper pedals too...don't know much about them though, and they're still a bit more expensive than SPD's. Also, it's better to save money on the pedal and splurge on shoes. A good fitting shoe is really important. Try on as many as you can and figure out what fits best. Personally, I like Sidi and Specialized's offerings, but it's also worth checking out what other companies (Shimano, Pearl Izumi, 661, Adidas, Diadora, etc) are offering.
#3
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I figured I'd be riding a mountain pedal and shoe for everything I guess I could have just asked if anyone had any complaints with with doing it.
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I went back to toe clips for most of my riding several years ago, because I didn't go any faster or feel any better with clipless and I had trouble finding size 15 cycling shoes. Most of the guys I ride with who use one system, though (it's pretty common around here), are riding Eggbeaters with mountain shoes for everything.
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I used a road specific shoe and pedal a long time ago (10 years ago) when I was doing mostly road riding, charity rides, centuries, that sort of stuff. Hated it when I was off the bike, though; while on the bike it was nice, it was not crucial so just went with the same mountain pedals I use (Ritchey v.2s which I stocked up on long ago and am now down to the last several pairs, and out of multi position cleats, wish I had some more of those). Now I can get off the bike and not do the slippery floor duck dance...
#6
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Crank Brothers.
For your mountain bike:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/mallet.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/acid.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/candy.php
Cleats are included with all of the above.
For the road bike:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/candy.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater.php
or, if you can find it,
https://www.crankbrothers.com/quattro.php
And all three of those work with:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/3hole_cleat.php?itemId=
which bolts to the majority of road shoes, or use:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/quattro...p?itemId=74650
for road shoes with a 2-hole pattern.
For your mountain bike:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/mallet.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/acid.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/candy.php
Cleats are included with all of the above.
For the road bike:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/candy.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater.php
or, if you can find it,
https://www.crankbrothers.com/quattro.php
And all three of those work with:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/3hole_cleat.php?itemId=
which bolts to the majority of road shoes, or use:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/quattro...p?itemId=74650
for road shoes with a 2-hole pattern.
#7
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
I should sum up why I posted all of those specific links...
If you go CB, you won't be so restricted as to which shoe you use with which pedal. The plain cleats work with every pedal, so you can use your MTB shoes whenever you want.
The Quattro cleats only really work with Eggbeater, Candy, and Quattro pedals because the horseshoe-shaped part keeps the cleat from reaching the clips in the pedals with larger platforms (Mallet, Acid, etc).
In short: if you have MTB-style shoes, or any of the more casual "SPD Compatible" shoes, you can ride on any bike that you've equipped with CB pedals. Then, for your long distance or high-speed road days, you can use hard-soled road-specific shoes without changing pedals.
If you go CB, you won't be so restricted as to which shoe you use with which pedal. The plain cleats work with every pedal, so you can use your MTB shoes whenever you want.
The Quattro cleats only really work with Eggbeater, Candy, and Quattro pedals because the horseshoe-shaped part keeps the cleat from reaching the clips in the pedals with larger platforms (Mallet, Acid, etc).
In short: if you have MTB-style shoes, or any of the more casual "SPD Compatible" shoes, you can ride on any bike that you've equipped with CB pedals. Then, for your long distance or high-speed road days, you can use hard-soled road-specific shoes without changing pedals.
#8
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time atac xs w/ a sporty mountain shoe. itll be stiff enough for your road needs, times dont clog up with off road gunk very easily and youll walk fine while off the bike. youll have more float for happier knees. youll be locked in more securely (opinions differ) than spd, especially when you have crud in your cleat, but times are going to be more expensive. youll get what you pay for. jmo
#9
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You can wear mountain shoes (and run mountain pedals) for road, but wearing road shoes (and running road pedals) for mountain wouldn't be such a great idea. Reason being is mountain shoes have tread and a slightly recessed cleat, so you're able to walk in them. Generally the platform on a mountain pedal is a little smaller, and the shoe won't be *quite* as stiff (though many high end XC mountain shoes are pretty stiff), but a mountain shoe-pedal combo should serve you just fine. If you're on a budget, check out Shimano SPD's (M520's are Shimano's entry-level). Cheap but still a really good pedal. I run M520's and M540's on my mountain bikes. Other popular choices are Time ATAC and CrankBrothers EggBeaters/Candy, though they're both a bit pricier. CB also makes a cheaper pedal called the Smarty, but I've heard quite a few negative reviews on them. Time makes some cheaper pedals too...don't know much about them though, and they're still a bit more expensive than SPD's. Also, it's better to save money on the pedal and splurge on shoes. A good fitting shoe is really important. Try on as many as you can and figure out what fits best. Personally, I like Sidi and Specialized's offerings, but it's also worth checking out what other companies (Shimano, Pearl Izumi, 661, Adidas, Diadora, etc) are offering.
#10
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I use SPD pedals and Lake Mtn Bike shoes on all my bicycles and all my rides ... road & mtn.
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#11
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Shimano M520s
I have 'em on my mountain bike and road bike. They're on the cheap (60$ a pair at my LBS). They're really tough (smack 'em into the rocks and they're just fine). You can adjust tension accordingly (looser on my mountain bike is how I have it set up).
Really good reviews from others who have tried 'em too.
I have 'em on my mountain bike and road bike. They're on the cheap (60$ a pair at my LBS). They're really tough (smack 'em into the rocks and they're just fine). You can adjust tension accordingly (looser on my mountain bike is how I have it set up).
Really good reviews from others who have tried 'em too.
#12
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sweet guys i'll definitely be giving a look at all the different stuff here and thanks for the input
#13
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Another vote for shimano m520s. I have them on my cyclocross/road bike and today i put them on my old mountain bike and loved them on there as well. I think you can get them for $10-20 less than msrp if you look around.
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I also went with the SPD M-520s, with Shimano touring shoes. Haven't yet tried any others but definitely no complaints. They were great during the winter, too.
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Gonna agree that Shimano M520's are suitable for road and MTB's. Thats what I have- but as I bought new pedals for the road bike- I got the road version of A520's.
Unless you are an out and out roadie- you do not need the Road cycling shoe that is not easy to walk in. The MTB shoe will still work on the road.
Another point I will make. I have been clipless for around 12 years. My oldest pair of M520's are 10 years old. Absolutely no problems with the pedals in that time and in fact the oldest pair are M515's- The ones that were supeceded by the 520's as the 515's were causing problems. So can vouch for length of life of them aswell.
Unless you are an out and out roadie- you do not need the Road cycling shoe that is not easy to walk in. The MTB shoe will still work on the road.
Another point I will make. I have been clipless for around 12 years. My oldest pair of M520's are 10 years old. Absolutely no problems with the pedals in that time and in fact the oldest pair are M515's- The ones that were supeceded by the 520's as the 515's were causing problems. So can vouch for length of life of them aswell.
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Last edited by stapfam; 04-11-09 at 12:57 AM.
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While we're talking about the M520s, can anyone confirm that they are supposed to have slight play in the bearings? Mine are about five months old, and as far as I know I've always been able to wiggle them on the spindle with my hand. Nice and smooth if I turn them, and I don't notice the play when riding.
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While we're talking about the M520s, can anyone confirm that they are supposed to have slight play in the bearings? Mine are about five months old, and as far as I know I've always been able to wiggle them on the spindle with my hand. Nice and smooth if I turn them, and I don't notice the play when riding.
I also have a pair of m540's on my road bike, and while they will spin a bit better if I spin it with my finger, this is functionally not an issue when riding, so other than weight it's not a massive difference to the 520's on my other bikes.
Last edited by Crast; 04-11-09 at 07:42 AM.
#19
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Crank Brothers.
For your mountain bike:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/mallet.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/acid.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/candy.php
Cleats are included with all of the above.
For the road bike:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/candy.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater.php
or, if you can find it,
https://www.crankbrothers.com/quattro.php
And all three of those work with:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/3hole_cleat.php?itemId=
which bolts to the majority of road shoes, or use:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/quattro...p?itemId=74650
for road shoes with a 2-hole pattern.
For your mountain bike:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/mallet.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/acid.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/candy.php
Cleats are included with all of the above.
For the road bike:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/candy.php
or
https://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater.php
or, if you can find it,
https://www.crankbrothers.com/quattro.php
And all three of those work with:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/3hole_cleat.php?itemId=
which bolts to the majority of road shoes, or use:
https://www.crankbrothers.com/quattro...p?itemId=74650
for road shoes with a 2-hole pattern.
#20
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Having used Quattro cleats on both Quattro and Eggbeater pedals, I'll say that I couldn't tell much difference at all.
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Me too, just picked up a pair of Pearl Izumi X-Alp Enduro shoes, haven't tried them yet, but they would do for road use as well, not as stiff as an out and out racing shoe, but otherwise.....
#23
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True. But, while the Quattro pedal is discontinued (which is why I typed, "If you can find it"), the three- and two-hole road cleats will still be produced. If your Quattro pedals ever wear out, you'll be able to keep using those shoes on Eggbeater or Candy pedals.
Having used Quattro cleats on both Quattro and Eggbeater pedals, I'll say that I couldn't tell much difference at all.
Having used Quattro cleats on both Quattro and Eggbeater pedals, I'll say that I couldn't tell much difference at all.
#24
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
What CB told me via email was that the pedal is discontinued and that the cleat remains in production.