Cash1188

As my first set of clipless pedals, what do you suggest? I know there have been threads on this, but I'm really stuck. What is the recent consensus? Is the 4 sided entry, the smaller chance of disengaging while sprinting, and the light weight worth the loss in durability? What about the float? I ride relatively short trips, use platform pedals, don't sprint very often, and plan on spending about $80 on recessed cleat shoes. Also, do Egg Beater cleats fit on all SPD compatible shoes? Thanks.

the_mac

The crank-bros pedals are awesome, and they have excellent customer service if durability ever becomes an issue.

gonococcus

I use M540 on my road bike and am pretty satisfied with them. Word goes around that SPDs are better pedals to learn on, but Eggies shed mud much better. I've got my SPD cleats caked in mud before and it wasn't a nice feeling.

DevDel

520's have fantastic exit manners. Their higher end brother just won an extensive pedal test in What MTB Mag.

Crast

I'd say you can't go wrong with either. the four-sided entry really doesn't make a difference, since you simply can't stand on the non-cleated side of the shimanos, stepping on it will always get one of the cleated sides up.

I have M540's on one road bike and M520's on another, and they both perform stellar. One advantage I like on the shimanos over crank bros is that I can use my same shoes&cleats at my gym on their indoor bikes and for Spinning since they all use SPD compatible pedals on the flip-side.

As for learning I don't really think the CB is any better/worse than the shimano; both give you the ability to "stomp and go" so will be substantially easier than one-sided road pedals.

AEO

time ATAC >>> impenetrable wall >>> shimano spd and crank brothers

sstorkel

FWIW, I have Crank Brothers EggBeater pedals on all of my bikes. I tried Shimano SPD pedals a decade ago, but found my knees couldn't deal with the lack of float. Haven't ridden SPDs recently, but at the time I thought they were somewhat difficult to clip.

You might also consider the Crank Brothers Candy pedals; they're more like SPDs in that there's a small platform which you can use to pedal if you can't get clipped immediately...

pacificaslim

I have the M520s and dig them. Easy to get in/out and all that jazz, didn't cost much, are decently light, etc.

roadiejorge 

I learned on Look pedals and had no issue clipping into only one side of the pedal. I know some people feel safer with more access points but it really doesn't take much to get used to.

keisatsu

I have some Shimano M520's (or something close to that, low end SPDs) and I hate them.

If I have the tension up high enough to keep from unclipping during sprints, I have a hard time getting out of them.

Plus I think the lack of float is causing some of the knee problems I've been having, I'll be going back to Speedplay Frogs, or maybe some Bebops to try something different.

Val23708

This is the Road Forum right?

SPD-SL.

keisatsu

^ Many people run MTB pedals on their road bike. I like MTB pedals because they shed dirt, mud, and road grime, and are generally easier to walk on (the cleats).

BarracksSi

And, if you get some Quattro cleats, you can put them on your road shoes and use them on plain Eggbeater or Candy pedals (not just Quattro pedals, which they're supposed to be discontinuing).

These in particular --
3-hole Look/SPD-SL pattern: https://crankbrothers.com/3hole_cleat.php?itemId=
2-hole: https://crankbrothers.com/quattro_cleat.php?itemId=74650

Tequila Joe

Both pedals have thier advantages / disadvantages. It all comes down to the differences & your preference.

The CB Eggs are easier to get in / out than SPDs. Both systems are essentially stomp & go but CB need less focus on cleat placement when clipping in. The release of CB is easier as it based on foot angle and not resistance like the SPDs. However, the angle is more extreme than SPDs. (15 vs. 8 degrees) so if you can't twist your heel out 15+ degrees, then you'll have a problem with CB.

CB have more float than SPDs which depending on your knee preference, one may be better than the other. This leads to SPDs having a more "connected" feeling while CB have more "float".

CB have much better mud/snow/ice shedding abilities. SPDs tend to clog up in these conditions.

Accidental releases happen on both systems and are usually due to worn cleats. Even with fresh cleats, both systems can release if you sprint with "floppy" ankles.

johnny99

I think the cheapest Shimano pedals are sturdier and more durable than the cheapest Crank Brothers pedals. On the other hand, either should be adequate for casual recreational use.

GP

All of the ATAC models or the higher end ones?

I'm probably going to replace the CBs on my commuter within a few months and I've heard good things about the ATACs.

Cash1188

Thanks everyone. I know this is a road forum and I ride a road bike, but I want to be able to walk easily. How about the cleat compatibility?

Tequila Joe

SPD & CB cleats are not compatible

Cash1188

So if a shoe says it works with spd, it might not work with cb cleats?

AEO

as a general rule, one manufacturer cleats won't work in another manufacturer's pedal.
some seem like they do, but they won't work right.

shoes said to work with "SPD/2-hole" will work with SPD, CB, Time ATAC, bebop, speedplay frog, etc.

johnny99

SPD-compatible means that the shoes will work with any 2-bolt cleat. No one (other than Shimano) advertises that their cleats are SPD-compatible, though a few off-brands will kind of work. Crank and Time cleats will definitely not work with Shimano pedals and vice-versa.

umd

I don't know that I agree with this. When I first started using clipless I used SPDs and I never had any issue needing to focus on clipping in. I eventually switched to Speedplay Zeros and much prefer those, but I just got Eggbeaters for my cross bike and spend most of today fumbling around trying to clip in. I have to focus a lot on the placement of my cleat when cliping in compared to my SPDs and especially my Speedplays. Once clipped in though, I much prefer the Eggbeaters to the SPDs, they feel much more solid and its much harder to unclip by accident.

kudude

That wasn't the question he asked. Ok, it was, but you didn't make your response very clear. Here's the answer to the question that was asked:

YES.

If a SHOE is spd compatible, it has two bolts and the CB cleats will fit. so will time atac cleats.

I've found that after a bit of a learning period, the CB's are as easy or easier to clip into than spds. umd, I'm sure you know every system has a learning curve. If you continue to race your cross bike, bump this thread in february and let us know if you are still fumbling to clip in

umd

Yeah, I just found it interesting that it is very sensitive to cleat placement, much more so than the SPDs or speedplays. I'm sure I'll get it figured out, it's just taking longer than either of he other systems. Unfortunately I have a race tomorrow....

kudude

I'm pretty sure you mean 'fortunately'

sprint on every flat section and run like a crazy man any time you get off your bike. it'll be fun