Mt. bike riders.

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 10:46 am

A quick question....

I've never been a fan of being clipped into the peddles when I'm "downhillin". I don't like the feeling of getting unclipped in a hurry.

I've just spotted these and wondered what all of you riders thought?

Brass cleat fits any SPD compatible shoe
Fewer parts than any clipless pedal ever made, open design sheds mud easily.
Strong steel body and spindle, pair weighs 283 grams.
Uniquely designed cleat contacts the pedal at two outer areas alowing for greater stability.
Medium spring tension allows easy unclipping.
GUARANTEED 2 year warranty.
Bottom Line: light,easier to clip in and out of, durable, rebuildable, low profile, better in mud than any other pedal

I've used clips in mud. What a hasssle imho.

[Immortal voice] Discuss [/Immortal voice]

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 11:20 am

Hi John, thanks for the reply.

The pedals are called Egg Beaters and are made by CrankBros.

Here's a link.

http://bikeworld.com/product/crankbro/crankbro.htm

I've seen reviews on them from other mags.
Yeah I've used clips before. I still do for trail riding and so forth. But when I'm just "downhillin" I use regular pedals...Something about being locked in at 4O mph on a fire road or even 10 mph on a rock slide trail gives me the heebee jeevies...

These may be more of what I would be inclined to use for this type of riding.

I've a buddy who's a pro downhill racer....maybe I'll ask him to test them. LOL

poptom · Post by **poptom** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 11:25 am

I can't speak from experience with Egg Beaters but that sure looks like a clever design that should do the job nicely. I can't imagine riding on rough ground without clip-ons but I'm a roadie so what would I know.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 11:29 am

bah just go with a good solid tennis shoe, dr scholls gel inser, and any spiked pedal, that is the way i go! if ur new, or an old man/woman then maybe u should look into the clips

Christopher561 · Post by **Christopher561** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 12:29 pm

Downhill I am ashamed of you! Host that pic your self. Don’t use their bandwidth!!!

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 12:30 pm

Ummmmm....yeah.

Mehmet · Post by **Mehmet** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 12:34 pm

I actually saw these at Sea Otter.

they were real nice, they worked real well too. Cept that try riding on them with regular shoes.. Itll be a pain..

The worked real well, but just like times pedals, i dont thing you can adjust the tightness or the looseness.

GO for it if you really want em

Christopher561 · Post by **Christopher561** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 12:40 pm

I am a mountain biker/long train rider. I would feel unsafe with my shoes attached to the peddles

DiskDoc · Post by **DiskDoc** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 12:41 pm

um.... so? does it really matter?

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 12:47 pm

DiscDoc...

Yeah Clips are cool...you not only push the pedals but also pull. That is the advantage of them

vegeto, from the various posts I can find on them, they actually have MORE surface area than most clip types. Check out the clips that come with them. They look to be a bit bigger than most. Yep, riding on them with out clips would be a pain.

poptom · Post by **poptom** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 1:00 pm

Originally posted by DiskDoc
um.... so? does it really matter?

Absolutely. You pedal in a circle instead of just pushing down. Much longer power stroke.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 1:31 pm

Never used clips myself, if I'm gonna fly i dont want the bike attached to me

know a few peeps who have broke legs in falls because of being locked in.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 7:47 pm

Hi Downhill, just back from a couple days in the mountains or I would've responded to this thread sooner.

Clipless peddles are great depending on what sort of riding you're doing. The can be a hassle if you're doing something so technical (or TOO technical rather) that you are repeatedly clipping in and out of them.

This is pretty damn rare though, for me normally just during a ride after a storm or something when a lot of branches have fallen, something like that.

Like any product, they have advantages and disadvantages. As you mentioned, they obviusly add a great deal of energy into the upward stroke, and this makes them great for roadriding and mellow crosscountry.

Being connected to the bike also lets you move the thing with body English more effectively. The two of you act a bit more like one unit. I don't do any gnarly jumps or technical riding, but they let you hop the bike over obstacles more easily too, as you can pull the bike up with you.

The only real disadvantage is the obvious one: you are connected during the bad moments too, and if the bike is flying towards a large stationary object and you decide to part company, forgetting about your funky new clipless peddles can get you into trouble.

Don't sweat it. They will become second nature to you. LOL, one of the first times I used my new clips I'd had a beer or two first and was just riding slowly around my neighborhood. I knew they were there, but my body didn't have the motion down well enough to be reflexive yet, so when I pulled into my driveway I just slowed down more and more until I slowly fell over. One of the funniest things my buddy had seen in a while.

Within a ride or two I could pull my feet out in a heartbeat if I needed to. Funny thing is, once you're used to them you feel moe confident WITH them and you don't even worry about trying to get out of them.

The EggBeaters look like a neat design, I haven't seen them before. I couple of things to keep in mind though:

As John mentioned...float. Clipless peddles will shred your knees if they not adjusted correctly. Even correctly dialed ones can stress your knees if there's not enough float. 6 degrees sounds good, but make sure there configured right and feel good when you use them. They shouldn't stress your knee AT ALL when you're just peddling along.

Also, you might want to look into another clipless peddle with a larger platform. A good amount of the extra energy you'll feel when using clipless peddels comes from the stiff sole of the shoes, normally hard plastic or a light metal. When you're cranking down on the pedal, all of the downward energy hits that shoe and is transferred onto the peddle instead of flexing over the sides like a normal shoe and wasting it.

If the peddle platform is tiny, like with the EggBeaters, this can get uncomfortable after a while. It doesn't make a big difference since you have the support of such a stiff shoe, but there are peddles out there with slightly larger platforms that won't knot the arch of your foot after a long ride.

Just some ideas. I've had some Ritchey clipless peddles for years and love them. Hell, I even ride around town using them with normal shoes.

grundy · Post by **grundy** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 7:51 pm

I ride on time atacs, which is essentially the same design as the egg beaters. I have ridden a number of other pedals (shimano 535's, a few ritcheys, speedplay frogs) and have found the times to be the best of the lot - easy, consistant clip in, decent float, consistant clip out, shed mud better than anything else I have tried - they're great. I expect the egg beaters are similar.

I ride pretty aggresively while clipped in, but would not ride real downhill, or ride big technical stuff while clipped in.

You might want to check out a pedal like the shimano m646:

which you could ride clipped and unclipped.

if you're climbing or riding xc trails,you really should try clipless pedals - they make a huge difference, and can give you added confidence in some technical situations.

also, rumors are that time will be coming out with a platform/clip in pedal similar to the m646 - not sure when that is supposed to come out, but it would be the same concept - a big platform pedal with the time/egg beater style clip in the middle.

hope that helps

grundy

DiskDoc · Post by **DiskDoc** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 7:55 pm

Originally posted by downhill
DiscDoc...

Yeah Clips are cool...you not only push the pedals but also pull. That is the advantage of them

i was refering to to christopher561... he said shame of u for not using ur own bandwidth. lolz

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 9:43 pm

Hi guys. Thanks for the replies.
For the record, if I didn't exactly spell it out, I use clipless all the time, except when I'm downhillin'. As stated, something about 40 mph and a fireroad and being clipped in, dosn't sit well with me.

Those eggbeaters look a bit easier to get out of.

I'm using Richie clipless now with a high quality shoe. Just for your info.

Humm...when I race, I've been using platforms but the course for the old farts division is usually for the beginners division anyway. No one my age from this small place, races.

brembo · Post by **brembo** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 9:45 pm

Originally posted by downhill
Hi guys. Thanks for the replies.
For the record, if I didn't exactly spell it out, I use clipless all the time, except when I'm downhillin'. As stated, something about 40 mph and a fireroad and being clipped in, dosn't sit well with me.

Those eggbeaters look a bit easier to get out of.

I'm using Richie clipless now with a high quality shoe. Just for your info.

Humm...when I race, I've been using platforms but the course for the old farts division is usually for the beginners division anyway. No one my age from this small place, races.

Ahhh, quit pedaling, get a motorcycle. Just twist the handle, and away ya go.

I'm lazy, can ya tell?

EvilAngel · Post by **EvilAngel** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 9:48 pm

Originally posted by Christopher561
Downhill I am ashamed of you! Host that pic your self. Don’t use their bandwidth!!!

LMFAO... whatever dude.........

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 9:50 pm

Originally posted by brembo

Ahhh, quit pedaling, get a motorcycle. Just twist the handle, and away ya go. I'm lazy, can ya tell?

If you like dirtbikes, you'd love it here, brembo...

I'm 6 miles away from an area about the size of Connecticut that's dirt bike heaven.

I'm only 20 miles away from a trail that heads straight up a mountian where you drop down into a valley with some of the coldest beer around. (Used to do that trip all the time in my youth as I lived about 4 blocks from the trail head) Takes most of the day to ride. Had a Yammaha 125, to a 250 to a 500 and back to the 250. Still thinking about getting a 125 again.

brembo · Post by **brembo** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 9:52 pm

Originally posted by downhill

If you like dirtbikes, you'd love it here, brembo...

I'm 6 miles away from an area about the size of Connecticut that's dirt bike heaven.

I'm only 20 miles away from a trail that heads straight up a mountian where you drop down into a valley with some of the coldest beer around. (Used to do that trip all the time in my youth as I lived about 4 blocks from the trail head) Takes most of the day to ride. Had a Yammaha 125, to a 250 to a 500 and back to the 250. Still thinking about getting a 125 again.

So when yer 65, you'll be back on a 50cc?

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 9:52 pm

Originally posted by brembo

So when yer 65, you'll be back on a 50cc?

If I got a 250 now, I'd never make it to 65.

Mehmet · Post by **Mehmet** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 9:54 pm

Originally posted by grundy
I ride on time atacs, which is essentially the same design as the egg beaters. I have ridden a number of other pedals (shimano 535's, a few ritcheys, speedplay frogs) and have found the times to be the best of the lot - easy, consistant clip in, decent float, consistant clip out, shed mud better than anything else I have tried - they're great. I expect the egg beaters are similar.

I ride pretty aggresively while clipped in, but would not ride real downhill, or ride big technical stuff while clipped in.

You might want to check out a pedal like the shimano m646:

which you could ride clipped and unclipped.

if you're climbing or riding xc trails,you really should try clipless pedals - they make a huge difference, and can give you added confidence in some technical situations.

also, rumors are that time will be coming out with a platform/clip in pedal similar to the m646 - not sure when that is supposed to come out, but it would be the same concept - a big platform pedal with the time/egg beater style clip in the middle.

hope that helps

grundy

Drool.. nice pedals..

anyways, ive got times also, love em, their great for mud too, ive seen peopple in a few races where they could get their cleats on the pedal.. NEVER happened to me.

times are real nice, cept theres no adjustability, but thats part of what makes them so great.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Apr 28, 2002 12:50 pm

Originally posted by downhill

For the record, if I didn't exactly spell it out, I use clipless all the time, except when I'm downhillin'.

You think I would've written all that if you'd "spelled it out"?

grundy · Post by **grundy** » Sun Apr 28, 2002 2:16 pm

Originally posted by downhill
Hi guys. Thanks for the replies.
For the record, if I didn't exactly spell it out, I use clipless all the time, except when I'm downhillin'. As stated, something about 40 mph and a fireroad and being clipped in, dosn't sit well with me.

Those eggbeaters look a bit easier to get out of.

I'm using Richie clipless now with a high quality shoe. Just for your info.

Humm...when I race, I've been using platforms but the course for the old farts division is usually for the beginners division anyway. No one my age from this small place, races.

the eggbeaters will probably be easier to clip in and out of than your ritcheys. you might also want to look at shimano 959's and time atacs.

Mehmet · Post by **Mehmet** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 7:50 pm

one more thing i forgot to say about ATAC's

I hit them on a rock REAL hard during one of our races, but i mean REALLY hard.. I hit the medal parts that clip in to your shoes on a sharp sharp rock..

Guess what??

They still worked

These things will take a beating. Also during muddy situations, they work so well.. i so many people with like pedals that look so nice, but dont work worth sh!t in mud.

Go try em out!

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 8:04 pm

Hell, my Ritcheys look good AND work great in mud.

I try top avoid riding during the wet season here cause it tears up the trails so badly, but our wet season is about 6 mnths long...so I end up riding in mud a fair deal.

Never had a problem with the Ritcheys...and I've had them for about 7 years now.

grundy · Post by **grundy** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 9:43 pm

time>ritchey.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 10:12 pm

Originally posted by grundy
time>ritchey.

only to pooftas

brembo · Post by **brembo** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 10:17 pm

carburator>legs

grundy · Post by **grundy** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 10:25 pm

Originally posted by brembo
carburator>legs

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 10:55 pm

Originally posted by brembo
carburator>legs

Brembo's ass>Grundy's ass

Speaking mass here folks, only mass.

grundy · Post by **grundy** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 10:59 pm

that's right, 'cause mine is fine, fine, fine...

kinda stinky though...

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 11:02 pm

That's quite enough Grundy, quite enough of the finer details.