Let's talk about pedals

[Deleted]

So, after using the most basic of basic Shimano SPD dual sided MTB pedal since I started riding, I wonder now as I need to replace a set whether it is really worth a more expensive pair for cross and MTB?

I get all the usual arguments about weight, but what really are the benefits of me spending £80-100 on a set of pedals that do pretty much the same job as the £20 pair...?

Anyone tried and not found a real benefit?

Cheers

Beth

[Deleted]

Pedals will and do get fucked off road, don't spend anything more than the basics.

I once forked out on some Shimano XTR pedals for my shiny new expensive All-Mountain bike, only to pretty much bend them beyond use when smashing them into a rock a couple of weeks later. I went back to Shimano M520s after that.



Alvaro

[david emery]

try some flats if you're doing something gnarly !

[Sara Barman]

Those crankbrother (?) ones look cool. Does JC rate them?

[James Malone]

I use crank brothers eggbeaters purely cos they are easier to get in and out of when dismounting/remounting. They are fragile though and I'm on my second pair in 2 seasons.

As for Shimano I've always understood the only real difference between the range is the weight.

[david emery]

if you're after something with a platform, the HT Industries SPDs are pretty good and look bling before they get muddy, but coudlnt say if they're any better a pair of XTs

[mick vance]

The XTR pedals are slightly more 'open' meaning they should be less prone to getting clogged in mud. I find the best combination is M520s and not riding in the mud.

[david emery]

for mud and mountain biking, you're def better off with a pair of flats, with pins and some kind of lycra/shin guard. pucturing a hole to the bone with a pedal pin is rite of passage, but not something I could recommend as fun!

[Deleted]

The shimano m540 are the ones to get for cross I think. Better mud clearance than XT and xtr and only slightly heavier, also a lot cheaper. They are worth a bit extra over the 520s because the bearings are much better (same bearings as XT). Im sceptical about all the marketing stuff that the XT and xtr having a bigger contact patch for power transfer, seems to me like it just leads to worse clogging up with mud and the set of XTs I had felt just the same as cheaper pedals. I would be interested to hear from others using eggbeaters, would like to try some but the reliability issues put me off them a bit.

[James Corlett]

Jul 29, 2017 17:07:11 GMT Sara Barman said:

Those crankbrother (?) ones look cool. Does JC rate them?

I do use eggbeaters - excellent for clearance and 4 sided entry.
But they are expensive... B could get 3 pairs of cheap spds for the price of the standard eggbeaters!

[robinjones]

I would stick with the standard SPDs, they are cheap, reliable, have good mud clearence, are nice and easy to service and are pretty much bomb proof. Unless you are having specific issues then I would leave well alone and spend the money else where.

[davidr]

Shimano XTs or 540s would be perfect – have found the SPDs to be the best all-round pedals having tried most of the other brands over the years.
Cheap, readily available, easy to maintain and work.

[Sara Barman]

...and it's easier having fewer systems on the go (thinking of when I commute or go to spin class - nice to just use same shoes)