Results 1 to 25 of 155
Thread: What clipless pedals
-
10-04-2019, 11:48 AM #1
What clipless pedals
Already have flats (DMR Vaults and PI Catalysts), but I want to run a clipless pedal. Use will be longer trail pedaling days 20-40 miles on a long-travel bike in dusty and rocky Tahoe/NorCal. Why? To go a little faster, the rare race, a bit more efficiency...and just for some variety. I'll use the Vaults most days pedaling, including at the bike park and jumpy trails. Looking for flat-pedalesque wide body support. Figure it's a cheaper speed-oriented upgrade than new wheels.
Leaning toward Nukeproof Horizon CS trail. Anyone ride these and have comments?
Other options that seem good:
- Shimano Saints - but very heavy and I'll probably stick with the Vaults for DH riding
- HT Components T1
- Crank Brothers Mallets
I know shoe interface matters, but my local bike shops don't have much variety at this time of year, so I can't really test. I'm on 5.10 Kestrels.Last edited by meter-man; 10-04-2019 at 12:26 PM.
sproing!
-
10-04-2019, 11:54 AM #2
I would recommend Time/Mavic pedals. You can find Mavic Crossride XL fairly cheap and see how you like it. If that's your cup you can upgrade to Time Speciale 8 or 12 later.
Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
-
10-04-2019, 11:57 AM #3
Shimano XT Trail
/end thread
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
-
10-04-2019, 12:05 PM #4
-
10-04-2019, 12:11 PM #5
Before switching to flats, I had Shimano XT Trails. I didn't like them because the "platform" seemed useless. Felt like I was just standing on a road SPD pedal. Then again, I had some shitty shoes, so maybe that was the problem.
Do you feel like it has widebody-like support, i.e., flat-esque?sproing!
-
10-04-2019, 12:15 PM #6
-
10-04-2019, 12:28 PM #7
This. The platform isn't huge but it works well enough if you have to handle a rough section of down and you're not clipped in. I'm coming from eggbeaters with which you were clipped or you died, no in between, and now that I'm used to the XT trails I don't freak out if I'm getting into something techy and I'm not in the clip yet.
Durability is also impressive. Mine have taken some brutal strikes at speed, enough to stop the bike and eject me, and there hasn't been a hint of a change in how well they work.
-
10-04-2019, 12:50 PM #8Registered User
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Central VT
- Posts
- 4,808
x3 on the XT trails. I have 2 pairs I beat the shit out of and they work like they day I got them.
-
10-04-2019, 01:12 PM #9
I like TIME MX8s. Lighter than XTR trail, still have a steel spindle, decent platform, durable. Can be found for $85 on Euro sites.
There's nothing better than sliding down snow, and flying through the air
-
10-04-2019, 01:18 PM #10Registered User
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Location
- northern BC
- Posts
- 31,060
I have cageless SPDs on my road and touring bike, on my trail bike I have had a 535 on one side and a 434 on the other ( same cage one plastic one aluminium ) side for about 15 yars so the longevity of a shimano spd is unquestionable.
IME with SPD the difference between cage or not is that all the cages do is give you a little more to stand on till you get clipped in but once you are clipped in I don't think there is any difference between a caged or not spd
IME where egg beaters are way better than spd is at around 0 C in the snow cuz the pedals/cleats don't clog, that or switch to flatsLast edited by XXX-er; 10-04-2019 at 01:54 PM.
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
-
10-04-2019, 01:59 PM #11
I hate CrankBrothers pedals. Shitty retention, you can open them by hitting the bottom of the pedal, suspect durability, etc.
HT X2 is a good option if you want a big platform at a lighter weight than Saint (which I also like, apart from the weight). XT Trails, or the HT T1 if you want to cut some weight and go to a smaller platform.
-
10-04-2019, 02:17 PM #12
The Crankbrothers will inevitably break.
If you want a good platform try to find an old pair of Shimano 636 dh pedals. They last forever, so I'm sure you'll be able to find a pair somewhere.
-
10-04-2019, 02:32 PM #13Gluten Free Dan
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Posts
- 1,169
HT feel amazing, but they do not last at all and rebuild kits are not easy to come by. If you can chronically check things, I'd recommend them, strong positive feel, like you clip into a ski binding.
Shimano were great but I found I clipped out too often while jibbing around.
CB are nice but hated how easily you clip out. Shouldn't be smashing pedals into rocks, but sometimes it happens and flying off a pedal is real bad.
Time's were great, I think this is where I'm headed to next season.
-
10-04-2019, 04:25 PM #14
All good stuff - thanks people.
Is anyone riding Saints or those Nukeproofs?
HAB, sounds like you have Saints - does that huge platform help when you're clipped in? Or am I chasing a phantom - ie., platform doesn't matter once you're clipped in.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalksproing!
-
10-04-2019, 04:36 PM #15
Yeah, I've got a pair. How much you can tell the difference depends a lot on the shoe you have, and how well it mates up with the platform. With Shimano AM9s, the difference in support between the Saint and an XTR Trail is very noticeable. With more XC oriented shoes, not much.
-
10-04-2019, 04:39 PM #16
Interesting thread, I have been seeing some more folks going back to SPUDS lately.
Can't say if it's a trend yet, though.Forum Cross Pollinator, gratuitously strident
-
10-04-2019, 05:01 PM #17
Yeah I run Times, but the old school ATACs. I have about 12 pairs I'm slowly working through. Loved their ability to shed mud on cyclocross courses and never changed. I like the knee float they have also. If the cleats wear down they are too easy to pull out of the pedals when hopping shit, however. Have to watch for that. I had a pair of XSs that I totally destroyed also - gave them up the the trash this summer.
I was going to get some of new ones but not sure based on reviews.
FWIW
-
10-04-2019, 05:04 PM #18
It might be. I am SO glad I've been riding flats the last couple years, as it really upped my skills and riding speed on all kinds of terrain. I even go faster uphill with flats than I did with clipless. But maybe, now that I'm a better rider because of my time riding flats, I'll be even faster with clipless. That's kinda the experiment. Worth a shot.
I saw some pro rider recently ranting at length that top-level riding basically requires clipping in, Sam Hill notwithstanding. Pro guy admitted that flats are almost mandatory for learning skills (and are also way more funner), but clipping in provides extra speed, efficiency, and control in gnar. Got me thinking it would be worth trying clipless again.sproing!
-
10-04-2019, 05:15 PM #19
I recently went from XT trails to XT race, I just didn't feel like the cage did anything and I still don't think I can tell the difference w/o looking. I run Specialized 2fo shoes, which are stiff enough that the don't contact the cages. I get the cage as a fallback if you miss clipping in, but that's pretty rare for me. Either way, I like the shimano mechanism over Time ATACS, which i ran for a long time. Can't stand the eggbeater/mallet mechanism,.
-
10-04-2019, 05:29 PM #20Registered User
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Location
- northern BC
- Posts
- 31,060
back in the day I seen lotsa kids doin crazy freeride shit on flat pedals wearing skate shoes worn slip on style so they would tuck the laces in and just slip them off/on which means it wasn't that unusual for them to lose a shoe while freeriding
those same riders are now 15 yars older have real jobs and stuff
are riding clipless and have learned to tie their shoelacesLee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
-
10-04-2019, 05:31 PM #21
In my opinion this isn't even a question. If you are trying to go fast you need to secure the bike to your feet. Begin clipped in allows for all kinds of moves that are impossible if you aren't clipped in. However, many folks don't need that level of connection, and you can of course ride a bike very well with flats. Additionally, the downside of fucking up is far lower with flats. There's nothing like cranking up something so steep you slowly start to endo backwards and not being able to get out of the pedals, or being on a 6" plank way up in the air and starting to lose the bike off the side while clipped in. That'll wake your ass up.
At this point, I don't love riding serious consequence features clipped in. The downside is too big. No longer sponsored, no longer so competitive, no longer value the conquest over my health. Once upon a time though, when I had nads, we stayed locked in for everything, the more technical the better. Yes, that often left a mark. But I still feel naked not clipped.
-
10-04-2019, 06:26 PM #22
Another vote for shimano. I have pedals from 1998 still going strong. Have probably bought half a dozen sets since then - never had a set fail on me. I’ve never done any maintenance to any of them. CrankBro riders often can’t say that.
I have the XT trails on my bigger bike and like the security of the cage for when you find yourself starting from standing on top of a series of techy moves.
Other than knee issues requiring float I don’t know why anyone would ride egg beaters. Don’t believe mud clearance is a valid reason - It’s never been an issue with Shimano pedals in PNW riding. Anecdotal but 2 decades of experience has me convinced.
-
10-04-2019, 07:50 PM #23
I like time myself. They just work, take a beating, and last a long time.
-
10-04-2019, 08:46 PM #24
Surprised at the number of TIME people on here. I've had good luck with my cheap ATACs. Came from Crank bros, never ridden an SPD.
ATACs have good float, bombproof, but heavy. Other downside is that I don't know a single other person that rides TIME so bike swaps can't happen easily.
-
10-04-2019, 10:22 PM #25Registered User
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Location
- Whistler
- Posts
- 440
I have saints, I think my old worn out am9 shoes could contact the platform, fresh new ride concepts transition shoes less so. With the shimano am9s it kinda made it harder to get out as I was trying to twist out the shoe with the pins gripping the sole, thought of removing the rear pins and seeing how that went but didn't bother. Fresh new RC shoes don't seem held up. The big platform is nice when something weird happens and you need to ride it out unclipped. Have these on DH bike and xt on trail bike.
Bookmarks