Crank Bros.

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by J Switzer [/i]
I am in the process of purchasing a new bike, and I think I am >going clipless. I picked up some
Pearl Izumi Bolder shoes, and I thinking about grabbing some >Crank Bros. Mallet pedals this week.
Since I am new to the clipless riding - a platform/clip hybrid >seems like a good start. Does anybody
have any experience with these pedals? I would like to read >some cheers or jeers on the Crank Bros.
Oh - BTW I am open to any other brand of pedal you might >recommend.

Quoted message said:

Thanks

Quoted message said:

J

I've been abusing my "new" (two months?) Crank brother mallets for a few rides and have really appreciated their "mud proof" design up here in the land of eternal wettness. They start a bit tight, but break-in quickly and have worked flawlessly since that first ride. I love them compared to the last pair of clip-in pedals I had (shimano). I figured I'd run them with the larger of the two traction plates they come with, but have found the shorter of the two is more than plenty for most of the time. You should enjoy them. Have fun.

K.

"J Switzer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am in the process of purchasing a new bike, and I think I am going clipless. I picked up some
Pearl Izumi Bolder shoes, and I thinking about grabbing some Crank Bros. Mallet pedals this week.
Since I am new to the clipless riding - a platform/clip hybrid seems like a good start. Does
anybody have any experience with these pedals? I would like to read some cheers or jeers on the
Crank Bros. Oh - BTW I am open to any other brand

of

Quoted message said:

pedal you might recommend.

Thanks

J

I run regular 'beaters, stainless steel, not the semi-platform-dealies. While I think they are the
best pedal available for XC riding, they're not ideal for a beginner...you can't adjust the spring
tension to "pull out" in an emergency, the release angle is pretty steep, and clipping in has some
close tolerances as well. These aren't problems that an experienced clipless rider minds, but
rookies may not be best suited for 'beaters. I say get a cheap, used pair of SPD compatibles (see
what your LBS has in a parts bin or hit up Ebay) and get used to them, then switch to 'beaters, the
best pedal on earth.

Why I love beaters - best mud shedding around, easy maintenance, simple, smart. Less important -
they look cool. Much less important - they're very lightweight.

If you go all platform, I dig Ringle ZuZus. For what that's worth.

Chris

Chris said:

I run regular 'beaters, stainless steel, not the semi-platform-dealies. While I think they are the
best pedal available for XC riding, they're not ideal for a beginner...you can't adjust the spring
tension to "pull out" in an emergency, the release angle is pretty steep, and clipping in has some
close tolerances as well. These aren't problems that an experienced clipless rider minds, but
rookies may not be best suited for 'beaters. I say get a cheap, used pair of SPD compatibles (see
what your LBS has in a parts bin or hit up Ebay) and get used to them, then switch to 'beaters,
the best pedal on earth.

How can they be the best if they're not adjustable? One size does not fit all.

Greg

"G.T." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

How can they be the best if they're not adjustable? One size does not fit

all.

Quoted message said:

Greg

Because nothing's perfect: I think the 'beaters are just closer than everything else.

Chris

In article <[email hidden]>, getnews1 @dslextreme.com says...

Quoted message said:

Chris said:

I run regular 'beaters, stainless steel, not the semi-platform-dealies. While I think they are
the best pedal available for XC riding, they're not ideal for a beginner...you can't adjust the
spring tension to "pull out" in an emergency, the release angle is pretty steep, and clipping in
has some close tolerances as well. These aren't problems that an experienced clipless rider
minds, but rookies may not be best suited for 'beaters. I say get a cheap, used pair of SPD
compatibles (see what your LBS has in a parts bin or hit up Ebay) and get used to them, then
switch to 'beaters, the best pedal on earth.

How can they be the best if they're not adjustable? One size does not fit all.

Greg

There's no need to have adjustable spring tension when you have 100% free float. It's only $himano
pedals that have you engaging the mechanism from the first degree of movement.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.comOpen ↗

"Chris Phillipo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, getnews1 @dslextreme.com says...

Quoted message said:

Chris said:

I run regular 'beaters, stainless steel, not the

semi-platform-dealies.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

While I think they are the best pedal available for XC riding, they're

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ideal for a beginner...you can't adjust the spring tension to "pull

out" in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

an emergency, the release angle is pretty steep, and clipping in has

some

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

close tolerances as well. These aren't problems that an experienced clipless rider minds, but
rookies may not be best suited for 'beaters.

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

say get a cheap, used pair of SPD compatibles (see what your LBS has

in a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

parts bin or hit up Ebay) and get used to them, then switch to

'beaters, the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

best pedal on earth.

How can they be the best if they're not adjustable? One size does not

fit all.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Greg

There's no need to have adjustable spring tension when you have 100% free float. It's only $himano
pedals that have you engaging the mechanism from the first degree of movement.

Similar to Times? If so, then I wouldn't consider it "100% free float".

Greg

"J Switzer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I am in the process of purchasing a new bike, and I think I am going clipless. I picked up some
Pearl Izumi Bolder shoes, and I thinking about grabbing some Crank Bros. Mallet pedals this week.
Since I am new to the clipless riding - a platform/clip hybrid seems like a good start. Does
anybody have any experience with these pedals? I would like to read some cheers or jeers on the
Crank Bros. Oh - BTW I am open to any other brand of pedal you might recommend.

Picked up the Mallets last summer. What I really like is that I can jump on the bike and ride a new,
never-seen section not-clipped-in, so I can bail ASAP, if required. Or so that I can ride the 'hood
in whatever shoes I got going.

My PD-545s were OK in that regard as well, but they had no float, and they got crapped up too
easily. In addition, they were heavy. Nice when you rebound the pedal cage off of rocks, but sucky
when you're going uphill. 🙂

While I was leery of the lack of adjustment inherent in the design, I found they loosened up pretty
well after a few rides, and have maintained a decent tension. Luck? Maybe, but I sure like them
better than the fiddly Shimano stuff.

I have not tried any other type of clipless, so I do not know how these compare to Speedplay or
other clipless types.

HTH,
--
Jonesy

Quoted message said:

I am in the process of purchasing a new bike, and I think I am going clipless. I picked up some
Pearl Izumi Bolder shoes, and I thinking

about

Quoted message said:

grabbing some Crank Bros. Mallet pedals this week. Since I am new to

the

Quoted message said:

clipless riding - a platform/clip hybrid seems like a good start.

Does

Quoted message said:

anybody have any experience with these pedals? I would like to read

some

Quoted message said:

cheers or jeers on the Crank Bros. Oh - BTW I am open to any other

brand of

Quoted message said:

pedal you might recommend.

My first clipless pedal was the Time ATAC Alium. I had been riding mountain bikes for about 3 months
prior to going to clipless, and I had no problems with these pedals. In fact, after I got used to
riding with them I could never go back to regular platform pedals. When the eggbeaters came out a
couple years ago, I decided to give them a try. I immediately was hooked on them. They work very
similar to Time pedals, but they have a lighter action to them. They are easier to get into and out
of due to lighter spring tension and the 4-sided engagement...not to mention the pedal itself weighs
half as much.

You shouldn't have any problems going with the eggbeater as your first pedal if you are comfortable
on your bike. Just give yourself ample time to adjust to riding clipless before trying any difficult
trails. Here is the FAQ if you want some helpful information... just skip all the confusing
technical sections...

members.cox.netCliplessFAQ.txtOpen ↗

-John Morgan

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There's no need to have adjustable spring tension when you have

100%

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

free float. It's only $himano pedals that have you engaging the mechanism from the first degree
of movement.

Similar to Times? If so, then I wouldn't consider it "100% free

float".

Quoted message said:

Greg

I would say a closer pedal to "100% free float" would be Speedplay... but eggbeaters do have a good
bit of float before spring tension kicks in, similar to Time. With most Shimano pedals, the spring
tension begins on the cleat in the first degree of angular cleat movement. The idea behind Time and
Eggbeater pedals is you get 6 deg. of float with no tension on the cleat, then you get progressive
tension that ramps up as angular rotation increases. Thus, you always have a comfortable amount of
tension keeping your foot from releasing with no need for manual spring adjustment. Time calls this
Auto Tension Adjustment Concept.

-John Morgan

By the way has anyone see the Time ATAC vs. Crano Bros. prices this year? The price of the new style
ATACs almost doubled while the Crank Bros. pedals went down. Mallet C will be replacing my ATACs
which met with an unfortunate blowtorch incident in the fall.

--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.comOpen ↗

Thanks for the imput - John, great FAQ very imformative. J

Quoted message said:

By the way has anyone see the Time ATAC vs. Crano Bros. prices this year? The price of the new
style ATACs almost doubled while the

Crank

Quoted message said:

Bros. pedals went down. Mallet C will be replacing my ATACs which

met

Quoted message said:

with an unfortunate blowtorch incident in the fall.

The new Time XS look very interesting... I would love to hear reports from anyone on this NG who has
used them.

From observation, they have significantly reduced the weight, improved the manufacture quality and
materials (just look at those beautifully crafted square springs...), and added a spring adjustment
screw for fine tuning the feel of the spring tension.

-John Morgan

John Morgan said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There's no need to have adjustable spring tension when you have

100%

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

free float. It's only $himano pedals that have you engaging the mechanism from the first degree
of movement.

Similar to Times? If so, then I wouldn't consider it "100% free

float".

Quoted message said:

Greg

I would say a closer pedal to "100% free float" would be Speedplay... but eggbeaters do have a
good bit of float before spring tension kicks in, similar to Time.

I really screwed that up. I meant that even with the Times that I've tried there is tension that
needs to be overcome to clip out. I haven't tried Crank's so am trying to get a comparison to the
Times. I like Shimanos because if I know I'm going to be riding cliffside trails I can adjust them
to where it takes nothing to clip out. The same couldn't be said for the Times I tried.

Greg

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I would say a closer pedal to "100% free float" would be

Speedplay...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

but eggbeaters do have a good bit of float before spring tension

kicks

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in, similar to Time.

I really screwed that up. I meant that even with the Times that

I've tried

Quoted message said:

there is tension that needs to be overcome to clip out. I haven't

tried

Quoted message said:

Crank's so am trying to get a comparison to the Times. I like

Shimanos

Quoted message said:

because if I know I'm going to be riding cliffside trails I can

adjust them

Quoted message said:

to where it takes nothing to clip out. The same couldn't be said

for the

Quoted message said:

Times I tried.

True. If you want a pedal that is quick in or out, Shimano is still your pedal. Not only can you
adjust the tension to be very weak, but Shimanos also have a smaller release angle... about 10
degrees or so, compared to 15 or 20 (adjustable) on the eggbeaters. Time pedals can be switched
between 13 or 17 degrees for a release angle... still pretty quick if you ask me. A few years back,
Time used to go with the 15/20 setup as well, but they realized a lot of people were grinding down
the cleats to make them easier to get out of...

-John Morgan

Quoted message said:

I really screwed that up. I meant that even with the Times that

I've tried

Quoted message said:

there is tension that needs to be overcome to clip out. I haven't

tried

Quoted message said:

Crank's so am trying to get a comparison to the Times.

I can offer a good comparison... actually I try to cover that in the FAQ too, but here you go:

The Eggbeaters have a lighter action (especially if you're comparing them to an out-of-the-box Time
pedal). When you engage the pedal, it's a light click instead of a resounding *SNAP!* Although Times
are weighted to be at a good angle to slide right into, the Eggbeaters are easier still because of
the 4-sided entry, you just step down on the pedal. You never need to adjust the angle of the pedal
with your foot to get in. For me, it's also important that Eggbeaters are lighter weight than Times,
even lighter than the new Time XS.

And finally, the main technical difference between the two is that Time pedals allow 3mm of lateral
float, which means you can wiggle the cleat side to side within the springs. To some this may feel
sloppy, but what that supposedly does, is allow your leg to move in a more natural motion when
pedalling. Eggbeaters have no lateral float.

If you want your foot to be solidly locked in (or have the option to allow your foot extremely easy
release) then stick with Shimanos. The Times and Eggbeaters allow a lot more free movement (which I
find to be quite comfortable), and keep your foot in by simply increasing the release angle a bit.

-John Morgan