octopus magic

Are roadie 3 bolt pedals (Shimano/look/etc) pedals any stronger at holding your feet in, versus mountain pedals? (Time/Eggbeaters/etc)?

I'm using eggbeaters right now with road shoes, and I just feel like there should be a stiffer connection.

LóFarkas

Eggbeaters are notoriously floppy (or provide fredom, depending on how you look at it) SPD's give a much more solid, connected feel to me so I vastly prefer SPD's (This has nothing to do with releasing, and only a little with float. Beaters allowed my foot to move sideways, twist, even move up and down a bit, rotate in funny directions and had way too much float and too easy release for my taste).

AFAIK road pedals are even more reassuringly snug (restrictive). You can also get a setup which has no float at all.

Rattlebag

+1. These are reeeely wanky

paris5

i've been using spds on my single speed mtn bike, and my fixie. once i found settings i liked, i've had no problems on either bike.

Aeroplane

There's a difference between a stiffer connection and a stronger connection, too. Road pedals have the attachment at very wide points compared to MTB pedals, so your foot can flop around less, yes. But you can lower the tension on them to make getting your foot out even easier.

Personally, I don't like them (yet), because even if you can get your foot out, it's about as usefull as a club. putting all my weight on one foot, which is in a shoe with a LOOK cleat on it has caused me to fall more times than I care to mention.

SamHouston

True, step in is the only way to go for a fixie i.e. street ride clipless system. Look on the track would be a-okay & apparently is for many, butt being able to jump on & jump off (and still walk when off) is the way for the street.

One other advantage Time has, you will extend the pedal life perhaps, keeping them clean & well adjusted, but they will work regardless, the cleat will push/crush out any mud or ice that comes between, unless it's frozen into a ball, in which case it just needs a quick kick, then you can clip in & rest assured if you heard it you are in no matter how dirty. Big plus for winter riding/messengering in the frozen margarita salt sand streets

Scooped

i have older look 5.1a on my road bike and i got a pair on my fixed, got them on sale for $99. it's a little pain in the as.. flipping the pedal but it was much cheeper than buying either 2 sets of speedplays or similar or new shoes. maybe this year new pedals????

ostro

Been using them for years on mulitiple bikes, multiple versions of the pedals, various cleats, with various shoes. The only time i had a problem, was with worn out cleats or really loose adjustment.

get_nuts

Listen to Mr. Houston. I primarily use Time ATAC pedals and I have LOOK Keo pedals on my other bike and I really wouldn't use road shoes if I was going to be doing ANY walking. It's what I imagine wearing stilettos to be like. No balance and slippery. The Times are super durable; 1.5 years of messengering full-time on them and my feet always stay in. Well, once when I had really worn down cleats they popped out but I blame the cleats for that one.

danimal

i've used clips and straps, SPDs and Time's and the SPDs were my least favorite becuase (in my experience) if the cleats aren't in really good shape and pedal tension isn't cranked hard, i had more than a couple accidental unclips, whereas with my Time ATACS, regardless of how old my cleats are, have never accidentally disengaged. -i understand the desire to keep the same pedal system, but if you're riding breakless i wouldn't recommend SPDs

cmiller908

I enjoy my SPD campus pedals, but I have to say the black single release cleats are necessary for riding fixed hard. I had the silver cleats and they would pop out at times even after adjusting the tension. I have some SIDI MTB shoes to go with the cleats and they are really comfortable and durable.

caloso

I had no idea that SPDs were a problem. I've never had a problem. I have my Shimano 540s set at a fairly loose setting but have never had a problem with them pulling straight out. Maybe because I've got the magic black cleats?

prendrefeu

Bebop pedals (I rock the stainless steel version) are far superior, if you can get a hold of a pair. They're rare to come by, and many shops have them on back order. Cleats are available through VP one or something, which is a BMX company that is selling the CroMo (BLACK!!) Bebop pedals for the BMX crowd. They're super light, INDESTRUCTABLE, rebuildable, and you can not (i mean, absolutely can-not) destroy the cleat by walking around in it all day... just by the nature of its design, it's what you're looking for. Look 'em up.

Oh, 20 degrees of float! Save your knees!

LóFarkas

I looked at the bebop site once. Sounded interesting.
While the pedals are super light, they have monster cleats which weigh a ton, so the combined weight is in the same ballpark as SPD IIRC.

slvoid

Actually you can get a larger clip on platform for SPD's too and twist em off when you don't need it.

kmart

I will briefly resurrect this thread to say that I got some Shimano M520s to replace plastic clips and straps and it is a night and day difference. Skids are effortless and I don't get the pain in the ankles that comes with digging into the front of the clips on the upstroke to keep my foot from coming loose (I kept my straps loose). Thanks for all the advice on this thread. Just wanted to share this success story

myfish

well, i can only share my very experience.

2 weeks ago i got my fixed, i decided to run spd's until i got used to the whole fixed thing.
300 miles later i thought, ok, lets change over, so i installed Look Keo's as per my other road bikes.

Yes, there was a price to pay in having to adjust yet again, but the more solid, locked in feel definately helps my pedalling and I'm getting more drive too.

I used my spd's on fairly stiff shoes, but i have carbon soled shoes now with the keo cleats.

Not for everyone maybe, but for me, it makes sense to have continuity across my mounts.

Retem

I recently switched form platforms to time atacs and mtb shoes and love it no more foot cramps and I can walk in the shoes off the bike unlike my old slotted cleat shoes

marqueemoon

You can. I think I'll stick with changing pedals if I need to.

skanking biker

I have these, except in silver. They work fine. I used to have the occasional unwanted unclip but adjusting them put a stop to that:

iridetitus

eggs and candy's all over 4 bikes. always rock the same shoes.

JeffS

If your shoes are stiff small pedals shouldn't be much of a problem - assuming, of course, distances most fixed riders normally see - not a 200mile timed stage.

I have eggbeaters on all my bikes and don't get hot spots. Yes, a wide road pedal seems better for load distribution, but I happily traded that for the clip-in ease of the beaters.

Retem

only problem is egg beaters loos tencion and wear out after about a year i have two friends who have had this problem hence the atacs

mihlbach

More than likely its the cleat, not the pedal, that is worn out. The cleats are made of softer metal to prevent the pedal from wearing. Replace the cleat.

Gyeswho

i used spd's. i only clipped out once but i wasnt going too fast. the feeling is like you're really connected to the bike when you have them. skips and skids are a breeze but i didn't like the idea of being locked in. i know there's the argument that its a natural thing when you need to bail out clipless but i didn't find so for me. it seems more natural using clips since all you do is pull out and your out. both have their dangers when skidding but thing of it this way: if you in the mid of a skid in clips and the strap breaks it may be more natural for you to pull out the other foot and bail as compared to have clipless and you unclip while the other is locked in. i thought about this and decided that clipless on a fixed is not my cup of tea. also, its annoying that you can only where one pair of shoes with clipless; with clips you can wear so many other shoes making it more versatile.

if you want complete control then go clipless (you will love the power u get) plus your ride will be easier because of the power transfer will be direct. i wont bad mouth clipless at all because as far as function goes, they rule over clips, but as far as practicality and versatility,they are not as safest thing to use in the streets. its is quite scary having that happen

if you want options and convenience stay with clips. i haven't tried double straps but i made some ghetto ones for myself and they feel good to me. i think i want that to be my next upgrade: toshi doubles (i have the single and they are awesome) and mks track pedals (i have wellgos for now that are uncomfy because they have ridges on the platform and i have soft sole pumas). find that perfect ratio of the straps being tight but easy to pull out of.