Ever since I've started using clipless pedals I've used a pair of Shimano SPD's. For some reason no matter now much I ride I've always had problems clipping in my second foot from time to time. I figure it is about time to upgrade, and thought I would ask for advice here. Most of the people I've talked to swear by Crank Bros. or Look egg beater style pedals. But I've also talked to one person that likes there Time ATAC pedals. I'm most concerned with ease of entry, but I am interested in all your thoughts on the different pedals available.

I use an older set of Time ATACs. I have been happy with their performance. Easy entry and release. I ride XC, sometimes in less than desirable conditions, and have had no issues with the cleat or pedal malfunctioning. Only time I had any trouble was in snow where the snow packed and froze around my cleat. I have not used the other pedals, so I cannot comment on how they compare.

Welcome Mr. Loncarevich.

All about Time ATACs. Best pedals ever.

Which is exactly what I have now. My problem isn't the force of entry required, but more so getting them lined up properly to clip in. I'm not sure why this continues to be a problem after 6 years of using clipless, but it still is. Granted not as bad as it used to be. I don't seem to have the problem on my road bike with my Look KEO's. Would your recommendation still be the Shimano's?

No. Shimano has a very small slot that you stick the cleat in and makes it hard to clip in. When they get dirty they are impossable to get into.

I am doing the same thing you are doing. I am upgrading my spds to egg beaters.

I didn't know that Look made a egg beater style pedal. Thanks

The platform that you put the cleat into is narrow and small. During a race that small slot is hard to get into.

That is not false. I have had my pedals jam from small pine needles, little rocks, and dirt.

+1. I don't know if the high-end Shimano pedals are any better but my 520 SPDs don't clear mud/debris well and often become difficult to clip into as a result. This is true for me even when the spring tension is at the loosest setting.

Dirt and debris collect on the Shimano SPD pedals. The cleat will cram the dirt in the slot and not cause the cleat to not engage all the way. They do not shed mud or any thing for that matter.

Yesterday when I was out for a ride I got small piece of a pinecone stuck in between my cleat and pedal, jamming it into that “slot” causing it to not clip in. When I stopped to look at it I had to use a small allen key to force it out.

Great news that they work for you. They do not work for me or the OP.

ATAC's, still love them ! The only other one that comes close are Frogs and that's what I use due to knee problems. Never had either fail when I needed them. I like the platform size on both. Eggs just always seemed small.

I am repeating it because it is not false.

I am sure you have.

My pedals are 8 months old. They have been riding in 12 XC races, some happen to be very muddy but other are sandy dry. The cleats do not need to be replaced, the pedal tension is fine. I have had more problems getting in and out then I want to. They clog, jam and gum up on grass, weeds, sticks, rocks and in my opinion they shouldn’t have that much of a problem.

I fully understand that all pedals are going to get dirty, gum up with mud and will break at a certain point. My pedals are not up to my standards of simply clipping in and clipping out.

In my experience, TIMEs and Eggbeaters are definitely better than SPDs in terms of mudshedding/getting into when dirty.

Do you have the high(er)-end SPDs? If so, do you know if they clear mud/debris better than the low-end ones? My low-end SPDs shed (and have always shed) mud/debris very poorly and, at least once or twice per ride, and more so if I ride in muddy conditions, they become very difficult to clip into. It is especially frustrating when I am on a certain part of a trail where I want to be clipped in immediately and where I can't (w/o risking falling) whack my foot against anything while riding.

I have heard similar complaints about the SPDs often but very rarely about Eggbeaters and Times. Additionally, I have never had problems clipping into or out of with my low-end Smarty Eggbeaters.

Is the whole SPD pedal line not based on the same design principle?

I use Speeplay frogs on both my Mountain bike and my Road bike with no complaints. I originally changed to them for the extra float, but I believe that they work well as MTB pedals as well.