A question for those who like to ride clipless on technical/steep terrain

[marshalolson]

Unfortunately I haven't spent much time on any of the new 'trail' pedals, but have not heard any complaints or warranties.

the new trail pedals are rad. i did, however, break my xtr trails finally (after about 100 days of DH), but it was on a truly horrible crash on a road gap, so not really the pedals' fault IMO. shimano also had a new pair to me (via their standard consumer warranty deal, not some bro thing), in 8 biz days.

i personally ride spd trails on my DH bike and xt spd's on my trail bile. shimano m300 shoes for xc and their white clip less shoes w/ the velco lace cover, whatever model that is, when on the big bike, or lots of hike-a-bike, or DJ;ing.

i want it no other way.

oh, and single release cleats for sure. i don't like much float in a pedal.

[hardboiled]

I like the XTR trail pedals, but I use them with Sidis and will probably switch to shimano's "race" line (without the cages) if I kill these. both the race and trail pedals have more surface area directly under your foot/around the cleat, which is really nice, but otherwise if you use them with a stiff-soled shoe the cage isn't really doing much for you except tagging rocks. I don't find the cage on the xtr trails to help guide you into the cleat if you unclip on a tech trail (sometimes it seems like it gets in the way), and standing on the pedal unclipped in an XC shoe feels about the same to me with the cage as without. maybe the cage would do more for you if you use a soft soled shoe but I'd rather give up the cage than give up my sidis on my pedally bike. my $.02...

[marshalolson]

^^^agreed^^^

i only use the trail style pedals with my softer AM clip less shoes, and would not bother with my rigid plastic sole XC style shoes.

[kidwoo]

Which pedals are best for nac nacs?

[::: :::]

i've got CB candies on 3 bikes, 29er xc bike, fixie commuter & road bike.

only time i've prereleased is trying to stop the fixie by pulling up on the pedal. (however, they've always worked well for pulling through on the upstroke while pedaling)

i don't get the hate either. i've had them for many years; i usually get about 4yrs out of them before needing to replace them. i put a lot of miles on my bikes, but my caveat is i'm not a mtb ninja like most of you all, so i probably don't hammer the pedals as much

[iscariot]

Which pedals are best for nac nacs?

The new white ones...they also work best for abubacas and fufanus.

[robnow]

Totally agree with hardboiled. Rocking XTR Trails with Mavic Mantras which are a stiff carbon soled shoe but with an awesome grippy tread. Single release cleat, probably seven clicks in and never an issue getting out when needed.

http://www.mavic.com/en/product/foot...ootwear/Mantra

From the first ride I didn't think the cage made any difference with stiff soled shoes and after a year still believe the same. The cage probably makes more of a difference with the softer AM shoes. However, if you look at a Trail pedal side/side with a Race pedal, the Trails do have a larger surface area of shoe interface around the cleat under the ball of the foot and appreciate this for comfort/stability. From day one I've been thinking about cutting the cage off for the best of both pedals and will probably get around to it sometime just to see.

The definite winner is the shoes though. Coming from carbon sole Specialized before with your typical XC grip, the grip on the Mantras feels SO MUCH BETTER on rocks and logs, especially when wet/slick. The new Specialized Rimes look like a winner too.

[jm2e]

Eggbeaters with 5.10 Maltese Falcon because I got them both from mags in here.
I dropped like a pound going from my Forte platforms to the beaters. And they were cheap.
Now I find that I'm way more confident on any kind of jump since I suck at managing my feet on flats.
I like the float. When I used to ride SPDs, the lack of float really fucked with my knees. And I found the SPDs way harder to get in and out of.

[Hott Butt Mud]

I like my Crank Bros pedals. I'm a little bow legged so having some float on my pedals helps keep my knees aligned comfortably through the pedal.

If you man up and just start riding everything with your clipless you'll be fine. When you need to get out, you'll clip out.

[LeeLau]

After a season and a half using flats and 5.10's for my Trail bike I went back SPD's.
I am Using the XT Trail pedal with Shimano AM-45 Shoes. They work great. I feel a more positive connection with them than When I am using My 540's on my hardtail. This may be because the AM-45 have a little more give than my Carbon soled XC shoes did and they like the slightly larger interface. I also like the cleat position on these shoes over a traditional XC shoe. Great setup IMO.

I still use the Flats and 5.10's for DH riding though.

I only use that gear when I'm feeling all AM

[kidwoo]

How do they work for trail riding?

What about xc?

Have you tried them for black diamond terrain?

[Hott Butt Mud]

How do they work for trail riding?

What about xc?

Have you tried them for black diamond terrain?

What are you talking about? Trail riding = XC and both can = 'black diamond terrain'

u trolling man?

[kidwoo]

u trolling man?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrm-rPSCIBw

[Hott Butt Mud]

Almost as fun as trolling on Mtbr.com eh? It's like fishing with dynamite over there.



guess my epic pic isn't showing nemor

[kidwoo]

Almost as fun as trolling on Mtbr.com eh? It's like fishing with dynamite over there.

I'm not trolling, I'm sharing a joke with Lee.

Not quite the same thing.


You've ruined christmas!!!!!!!

[AKbruin]

So, here's something that I've longer been curious about: What exactly are the advantages of the expensive, hard-soled MTB shoes? Weight I assume. Beyond that? I've got the prior version of the Shimano shoes pictured above and they're pretty comfy and seem to pedal fine and what not. What exactly would $250 Sidi shoes do better? (This is not a rhetorical question.)

[kidwoo]

Make you look like a dork in the beer store.


Stiff, light weight, super hard soled shoes are pretty rad. It literally feels like you're getting zero loss of transferred energy when pedaling. Plus you get the added benefit of busting your ass walking over to go check out a view over a bunch of shale and all your buddies can laugh at you. Win/win really.

It's kind of like the difference between riding your road bike vs your dh bike down to said beer store. One is just way more efficient a use of energy.

[funkendrenchman]

I've ridden Times for years. Never once had a release/non-release issue... yup, not once.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Other than those obnoxious looking am45s, are there any sneaker style shoes that are as stiff as an entry level xc shoe? Tahoe sports seem almost asa stiff, but I can't really tell. I have some PI shoes that were on sale at rei. Nylon sole, not carbon.

[greasyslope]

^^I just picked up some cheap-ass Sette's. I can't remember the style, offhand, but they're white, with a little velcro lace strap. I haven't actually used them yet, so I can't give you a proper review, but the sole is definitely stiff. Pricepoint actually states that they don't recommend using them with flats because they're too stiff. We'll see how they are, it was a cheap gamble. Also, they recommend going up a size, because they're sized small, and I would definitely recommend it, as I went up one size, and they're still snug.

Back on topic, I have used Time, CB, and I used to go Shimano, but it has been awhile, and things may have changed. I never loved the Shimano's, too unpredictable, but maybe I was just young and dumb. I loved Time's, but I wished for a pedal design that doesn't exist. CB's fail the durability test-I doubt I will ever buy anything from them again.

I have settled on Atomlab Quicksteps. They don't make them anymore, AFAIK, but they are my favorite pedal ever. A couple of caveats. They are heavy. They look heavy, and that's because they are heavy. You are very limited in your shoe possibilities. They only work with a flat soled shoe, no lugs, and even then, I have ended up shimming the cleat quite a bit to attain the correct height.

However, their performance is outstanding. You get a combination of being clipped in, and also gain variable grippiness from the traction pins. They release predictably in all conditions, and shed mud reasonably well. Also, they are pretty tough, and easily serviceable.

I thought about not sharing this, and hoarding all of the used ones I could find, but I decided I had to share the love with the collective. If anybody tries them, and hates them, let me know, as I'm down to my last set, after my worst pedal strike (followed by dramatic, instantaneous crash) in at least ten years.

[beaterdit]

I've ridden Times for years. Never once had a release/non-release issue... yup, not once.

Ditto, been riding Time's for 16 years, I think I've twisted out with too much body english exactly twice in that time. They provide a progressive float that gives you feedback in terms of resisting twist as you approach the float limit. They're just so consistent.

[bendtheski]

XTR SPD Race, single-release, Vittoria Pace (maybe) carbon sole.

Walking does suck in these shoes so I try to avoid walking. Un-clipping mid-air doesn't usually end well for me, and has never been a problem with this set-up.

IMO nothing fits like like a Vittoria. I use them on my road and mountain bikes. Light, stiff, deep heel pocket, no lateral slop, and after 8 years and lots of use and abuse they're still going strong!

I used to ride diadoras, but then they started having some quality issues so I switched to Vittoria. I like italian shoes.

I've used some Ritchey SPD pedals and broke them within a week. I've been using Shimano SPD's since they first came out and they've always performed well and handle a fair amount of abuse before failing, usually because of issues with bearing/spindles which they've improved on over the years.

Someone gave me a pair of Dura-Ace SPD road pedals about 15 years ago. The cleat is slightly different than the mtb one, and I've put thousands of road miles on them without a hitch.

I could see where it might be helpful to have a more walkable shoe, but as far as clipless pedals go SPD and Vittoria are the tits!

[epic]

I'm on 647s for DH. When I first started racing DH I was on 737s went to 636 and then to Times for a long time. Did one season on Mallets and then gave in and went to 647s. I could never really get the Cranks to work for me clip-in was a bit vague (although I did like that I could get in from front to back if I missed), and I also had problems with my feet rocking on them side to side. Times were good, but spindles were too easy to bend and they are not as easy top enter as the 647s.

[Theodore]

Sidi Dominators on 747's, never had a problem and I leave them pretty loose. Never been stuck in em in a fall, and only a small handful of prereleases in the almost 10 years I've been on em.

[Eluder]

I only use that gear when I'm feeling all AM

Do you have to wear an Urge Enduro Matic to feel all AM. Just trying to get the feeling down. I carry 5 or 6 monsters in my camelback but maybe thats too Freeride... Man mountain biking has gotten tuff.