Rode Crank Brothers for two years. Kept struggling with getting out in bail out situations. Switched to flats for a year. Didn't like them even though I had good shoes and pedals. Went to Shimano XTR this year and I am in love. Keep me locked in and when I have to bail out I can get unclipped. SPD for me.
I am shopping for pedals and this is really helpful, GREAT video! 01:29 Crank Brothers Egg Beater Pedals 02:28 Crank Brothers Candy Pedals 02:39 Crank Brothers Mallet E Pedals 03:06 Pro & Con of Crank Brothers pedals 06:15 Shimano XT M8020 Trail Pedals 09:12 Time Speciale 12 Pedals 10:35 HT X2 Pedals
In my experience with 5 yrs on Shimano SPDs - no, they don't clear thick mud as nicely, but even when they were covered in mud completely, I was still able to clip in and out nicely. So yes, maybe few more seconds back at home when cleaning with garden hose but no troubles on the trail.
I bought my pair of XTR spd pedals (no platform) for my first cross country hardtail in 2006 or so. I transfered them to my all mountain fully in 2011, which i still ride today (even though the days on the trail have become more rare). I have used those spd-pedals with the same cleats since i first bought them (the replacement cleats I bought for the transalp tour are still sitting on the shelf). They have been deep through the mud and I NEVER had a problem getting in or out of them! No matter how dirty, the cleat finds the pedal and clicks right in! So, mud clearance is not an issue!
Outstanding video! I went from feeling overwhelmed and clueless on how to decide on a clipless pedal to feeling confident on what I wanted after watching this video. I purchased one online the very same day. Well done and thank you very much!
Time ATAC since late 1990's. Tried Shimano one winter, lasted two weeks, clogged with mud and slush. Back to Time ATAC. Recently trying out flats too :)
time atac bodx is not holding up with the quality of the barings and axle. too bad. that problem is not there on the new speciale but they could be much lighter
I have been running Time for 18 years and own 4 sets. Never ever had a problem with them in mud , sand or snow. They take rock strikes like a hammer. The bearings seem bulletproof. My first set has about 8k miles on them between 5 bikes and work awesome. Even riding with one prosthetic leg.
I have been riding my original Time ATAC XC pedals since 2004 and still have them to this day with all the original parts, no replacements. They're a little more minimalist for my liking as I transition more into a more Trail/Enduro riding style but they're still great all around pedal. Even though these pedals are still in good condition, I am considering the Time ATAC MX line of pedals instead of the Speciales which are shown in the video since they provide a solid foundation for XC shoes which I still like to ride with and are a little more affordable. Time pedals provide a firm connection every time and allow some float and I have never had an issue with mud clearing the cleat mechanism. I don't see myself ever trying out another pedal given my more than positive experience with Time pedals over the last 14 years.
@@ousqa crankbrothers cleats wear down really fast so after a few month u can just pull up to clip out and when u get new cleats there to hard so maybe need to file them down and then they last shorter
Rode the Mallet Es for 2 years and yes, the tightest fades. But bought new cleats for them, needed 2-3 rides to break them in but then they felt like new. Actually rode one shoe with old cleats and one with new. Don’t ever try that. It’s sketch as hell. Also got a refresh kit with new bearings, seals, nuts and washers. The install was easy and made them feel brand new. Def recommend!!
I used SPDs for decades. Coming back to cycling after a few years, I switched to egg beaters for the extra float. So much more comfortable for my knees. Everything else is secondary to the comfort for me.
I don't have much dog in this fight, (I'm on haitus from clips, I even have flats on the road bike,) but I always appreciated all the variations in color and platform that Crank Bros offers.
I’ve used TIME ATAC pedals for about 20yrs. LOVE THEM! I have tried Shimano pedals and they do not clear mud. I own a pair of Crank Bros Candy pedals and they are OK. I don’t like them for that rolling feature.
Hey Jeff! I’ve been a bike mechanic since 1995 and raced DH in the NORBA national 96-2000. I love the HTs with the combination of adjustability from the spd platform and the mud clearing from the crankbrothers platform. I use a thin plastic shin to get the cleat height set to allow platform support without engagement interference. Tried everything from shimano to TIme and am sold on HT. Thanks for the great review.
I've ridden past 2 seasons on Shimano PD-M8020 and I loved them. Kinda. It's just those super tiny small moments when I was on trail and really wanted to clip in, but struggled to, that made me switch. The issue is that M8020, even tho it says that they're a "Trail" model, doesn't offer any support when not clipped in. The "platform" is really worthless, you could as well go M520 for a fraction of the price and have your foot slide all over the place exactly like on m8020. I moved to Mallet E to find myself with exactly opposite problem - I couldn't clip out in a few super sticky situations (edit: exactly like in the intro - whenever the shoe was next to the crank). I figured out that it's partly because my 5-10 shoes are rather big, so I ordered a long spindle kit and then recently - ordered their beginner friendly easy release cleats (to add insult to the injury - they're rose colored, ha!). I found myself on the ground recently after an OTB and I was clipped out, so I guess it worked. Still - it's something that Shimano solves with superb cleats of theirs called SH56 - AKA multi release cleats. You can just force the foot any way you want whenever the danger is coming. I might consider SPD Saints for next season, although the XT T8000 flat+spd look tempting AF (I might even leave the reflectors for fun and giggles).
I guess the CB candy pedals have a similar issue where the cage is pretty worthless when you're not clipped in. I had to make do with it a few times and it felt pretty sketchy to say the least, I don't think I want to know what it'd be like in the wet.
This is the best video explanation I’ve seen so far! Thanks for getting into the differences/ pros and cons. I’m still not sure which ones to go with, but I’m way more informed after watching this video! Cheers!
I have a set of Time Speciale pedals and after years of being on Crank Bros they took some time to get used to for clipping in but I really love them now. Only disappointment I've had with them is that the packaging is rather disappointing they're alloy pedals but packed without foam or anything to secure them in the box besides a cardboard separator, so they can get dinged up a bit in shipping. Overall it isn't really a big issue because they'll be far more dinged and scraped up after a few rides but still rather frustrating to open a box and have your brand new pedals dinged slightly on the edge. They have a really solid feeling engagement where it is much easier to tell if you're properly clipped in than the crank brothers, and still give the awesome float that I loved the crank bros pedals for if you back off the grip screws a bit. With how the platform is you can have it set so that the rear grip screws will dig into your shoe when you're not actually clipped in but not when you are, really helps with when things get crazy in slow techy terrain when you need to clip off the pedal for a second and maybe don't get exactly clipped back in right away.
Had spd's grown up with them really, them when I went into more trail, Enduro riding in late 2010, decided to give CB a try, spd's were not giving me the feel I wanted, too stiff. Liked the float of the CB but, as you pointed out, the clipping in was not up there, and the bearings at that time where crap (I'm aware that's not the case anymore), looked around, talked with some ppl, and the time to give Time a try came. True love..., now it's Time in all my bikes. Reliable in and out (no tension adjustment in older models, and no need for me, they just work) great float, not 2 munch or 2 little. And bulletproof construction. Can run smoothly for years under the worst with close to no care.
I've got a set of crank bros mallet dh, mallet e, and candy pedals. They were all pretty "meh" until I bought a set of zero float/easy release cleats and now they totally kick ass. Never unclip when putting down power, and never fail to unclip in crashes. And they're amazing flat pedals too.
I use look pedals, same cleat as Shimano. I cranked down the stiffness, and like how they feel like a road cleat with a little more float. Also super light.
This was such a great unbiased video. I was looking for one type of system for my road bike and MTB (so I only need 1 pair of shoes) and this made it easy to decide which would be best!!
SPD all the way for me! I have them on both of my MTB's and I even use them on my road bike! I just love them, but as you suggest in your video - it is all down to a personnel preference . Great video by the way - keep them coming
Yeah, had made to my mind to go with Crank Brothers Mallets before watching this video then checked out the Times after watching. Jaw dropped at the price.
I m about to get some pedals that have a platform part with pins and a clipless part. Makes it easier for everyday life. I m really looking forward to that.
Also with the Crank Brothers if you smash/pedal strike, because the spring/clip is a rotating, double sided, one piece unit it can unclip your shoe. Whereas the SPD style is a separate mechanism on each side so it doesn't matter if you hit something
Crankbrother’s Candy works best for me. Small, cheap, works good. The trails in GA are half “Trail” half “XC”, small clip ins works best. Plastic Candy’s are only 30-40$ on Amazon. You don’t need to adjust the spring either.
Watching this in 2021: Jeff: "I'm not that concerned about weight." Also Jeff: cuts off the largest ring on a 12-speed cassette for weight purposes. LMAO
My name is Tim I've been clipped in many iterations of TIME ATACs for 2 decades on all 6 of my bicycles (MTB & fixed) and will never look back at Crank Brothers/shin-manglers
He didn’t mentioned that egg beaters do have adjustments capabilities if you get a adjustment kit... it’s basically round insert that when you take the pedals apart they slide over inner and outer part of the shank on both sides of the spring with a 1-5mm thickness depending on shoe contact it gives you a snug fit once the proper thickness is in place.
I switched to the HT X2 DH pedals after having my Crank Bros release at the worst possible moment, for no good reason, too many times. That kind of thrill I can do without. Used Shimano pedals for many years. SPD's are great, but when not clipped in (after a dab, or on a sketchy tech section), it was like standing on steel lolly pops. Even on the ones with a flat cage surrounding the clip mech. Not good. The HTs have a VERY secure engagement and release feel, and when not clipped in, they have some of the support of pinned flat pedals. Perfect. I've had them for one season and love 'em. Mud hasn't been a problem with them. Thanks for the great video.
I went from flats to Shimano SPDs, from a flats perspective, they have plenty of float. Prior to flats I wore toe straps so "pulling out" was already instinctual, but the float took some time to get used to.
That video was well put together. Good information for those who want to try clip in. I like Shimano system but once I tried Crank Bros. Done Deal. I have been riding CB’s for well over 12 years. Still have my first set of CB acid’s and first generation Mallets. I would still run my Acid’s if I wasn’t so lazy as to use the bearing rebuild kit that I purchased for it. CB are so darn good that I don’t mind purchasing new set for each bike I own.
Here in rocky Arizona, I have seen so many broken Crankbrothers that riders call them Crack-brothers. My lightweight girlfriend bent the bars on hers, and then fell into rocks with her foot stuck. Also, if you climb rocky hills, a pedal strike on the bottom can release your foot. We went to Shimano M-647 pedals, and they are way easier to get into with the way the mechanism springs up in the front. And if you use the optional SH-56 multi release cleats, you can dab just as easy as a flat pedal. And they take a ton of abuse on rocks just fine. I tried flats, and my foot would fly over the top of the pedal when lunging up rocky steps. The Shimano pedals are much better for me on the technical climbs I love to do, than flats, but with the 56 cleat, they are just as easy to dab.
I live in AZ and had a Crankbrothers pedal snap off. I couldn't believe it and was happy to not have had an accident. I didn't bother going for a warranty as I couldn't trust their product after that experience. I switched to One Up composite and have been writing them on multiple bikes for a few years now with zero issues.
Love my crank brothers DH. I got them when they first came out and are still holding strong. Now with crank brothers coming out with the different cleats to give more or less float, I think they are killer. and gotta love they are rebuildable!
Started with look pedals in the eighties as an amateur and ended up as a senior with the Look S track carbon ti-with Duegi and Sidi shoes it works absolutely perfect 👌
Been using TIME ATAC for well over 20 yrs.... As long as they keep making them, I'll keep using them. Great pedals.. note : they weren't always adjustable. One tension and they worked great.
Important factor you don’t mention! Shimano has a multi release cleat. SM SH 56 is the model number. This is a great choice for first time clipless pedal users. The standard single release method for all cleats is to twist the heal to the side. The SM SH 56 has a greater range of twists angles that work in panic mode when a rider is bailing out in a fall. The con in using this cleat is that you can inadvertently pull out of the pedal. If you are racing the standard SH 51 single release with the ability to set the tension will work better. I have been riding Shimano for 25 years and like the SM SH 56 Multi release for recreational trail riding. I rather be able to release from different angles or when I am going over to the side and not lined up for a perfect twist to the side.
Yeah, we are totally aware of that cleat. It's just not as popular and being the SH-51 comes with all the "trail" pedals we didn't bring it up. Some valid points you listed though. Thanks for pointing this out and bringing up this option for people!
Been riding MTB since late 80’o. Tried SPD, Crank Brothers and Time over the years. One winter the owner of our local great bike shop explained that a lot of riders will try different pedals over the years, but once they use the smaller brand Time they rarely will use anything else for rest of their riding life. I had that experience and each of my riding friends that have tried Time also made the switch. Don’t be fooled by the small number of riders that use Time, they just don’t have much presence in the USA
I’ve been looking for pedals I race bmx and I’ve always been running shimano but for me I beat on pedals and they’ve worn out I’ve actually crashed many times now because of uncliping so this is very informative and useful I’ve been leaning towards the HT’s cause many of fellow racers swear by them this finally pushed me Over there pricey but way less than a hospital bill
I ride flats, but this video is really informative. Really like how in depth these videos are, you can tell that he is talking out of experience. Keep it up Jeff!
I've been using spds or an spd clone for 20 years. How many sets of pedals have I gone through during this time? Three, and that includes a pair of 636's that were already on their last legs.
I've been riding spds since I was on a road bike. Love them for the road but not for the mountain. Just purchased some crank Brothers and can't wait to try em out on the trail.
I´ve ridden SPD´s, but currently am riding the HT's. I find them awesome, and not at all hard to get in or out of. So I totally disagree with that statement. What I love about them is that they have to styles of clips for the shoes which in turn give different grades of float. On top of that they have the adjustable spring. I love the HT T1 Enduro pedal! But, shimano´s are nice too :)
I use the CB Mallet Dh and I love them. Did start with the shimano but once I changed never went back. Next time I change I'll try the Mallet E with the long spindle.
I still ride toe cages with toe straps with my old running shoes. That way I never have to change my shoes and I have better traction on log crossings of streams. My feet stay locked in for circular pedaling and are easy to remove in an emergency. Clipless pedals require too much fiddling and are really expensive replacing parts all the time. I also have a never-ending supply of riding shoes as I use them after 600 miles of running. They can go another 400 miles of riding before they're trash.
Started mtn. biking in 82 with sun tour xc pedals went Shimano SPD when introduced was doing a lot Chilcotin epics starting in the early 90’s. The cleats and shoes wouldn’t hold up to the walking and went back to light hikers and the suntour xc with toe clips and straps for many years. I now wear Shimano XM9 boots and crank bro’s mallet DH. The boots are fairly strong and the cleats hold up much better to walking. My drawback with crank bro’s is you can get unwanted releases when the bottom of the pedal hits a rock.
I used to ride spd clipless pedals a while back and I still have 2 pairs of spd pedals lying around but I don't like how they feel when going down hill and going down hill is the most fun part of mountainbiking so I swapped to some flats and I don't miss the clipless pedals. I personally run DMR Vault and I absolutely love that pedal. it is almost like being clipped in but still being a platform pedal. couldn't be better for me
I just bought a set of htd ones which is the Dual side two days ago got him set up do a pair of specialized mountain biking shoes. And I freaking love them. Super easy to get in and out of once you get used to getting in them out of them is easy cuz like you said adjustable tension. The cool thing is they come with spare pens spare tension bolts and Adjusters depends are adjustable on the pedals themselves and they're like I said they're due will fight it so you can work non clipless shoes too. I would actually recommend these for somebody that is not used to clipless pedals. And that reason being is because they come with two different sets of cleats which is cool plus spacers and stainless steel protectors that protect the bottom of your shoe from the cleats. The two sets of cleats one has more float and the other set has less. Obviously. But otherwise I found the pedals to be freaking fantastic when you put it to the loosest setting when you're trying to train that get used to getting in and out of them emergency situations when you're training yourself they're super easy to work with the clip and they hold you in but as soon as you want to get out they let you go. I would recommend the HT D1 to anybody
I rode almost exclusively flat pedals but I'm trying out clipless pedals off and on until I get more comfortable on them. I originally had the crankbros enduro pedal like your, but actually really didn't like them. I'm a tall guy and the pedals made me feel like me knees were inverted and it not only hurt my knees but also were hard to get in and out of. I then ruined the pedals by trying some permanent spacers (They aren't suppose to be permanent but now I can't get them off) which were too much space but were easier to get in and out of. I think I'd like them more if I could find the perfect space from the crank so that I felt comfortable standing and pedaling on them. That brings me to my next pair of pedals which is the DH version of the HT pedals that you said "don't get these if your new to clips". haha. I actually really really like them and while I do find them hard to get into at times (mainly because I'm a newbie to clipless more so than anything else) they are easier to get out of than the crankbros because of the tension dial on them. I like to run them with smaller float cleat and it makes them even easier to get in and out. I'm not committed to them full time yet, but I'm hoping to be over the next few months. Longest post ever now complete. haha. sorry bout that.
the term "clipless" refers back to old days when we used clips and straps and our feet were literally strapped into pedal and your shoe had a cleat on it. The clip was just there to keep the strap in place. It sucked, and was too easy to crash. When Look invented the pedal that was like a ski binding, they eliminated the need for clips (and straps) so the term "clipless" was born. You youngsters have probably never seen clips and straps.
Another down-side to the Crank Brothers pedals is if you hit the bottom side of the pedal on a rock / stump the spring opens up and you are un-clipped. Otherwise, one rotates the heel outward to get out of the Crank Brothers pedals, and how you set up the cleats determines how much rotation is required. Once you get used to the movement, getting out is dead easy - as in no thought required - just RTFM. Sure the cheapest Crank Brothers pedals were not rebuild-able, and mine lasted no more than 1200 km of trail riding. Meanwhile the old Candy pedals certainly are - I have the rebuild kits for them and have not needed them in the seven years I've been riding two sets of the early Candy pedals. Can't speak to the newer models but that should tell you something, eh what?
Look S-Track (withe removable cage mounted when needed or riding with cleatless shoes). Came with two sets of cleats: one with "normal" float and both positive and negative angle release and a set with narrow float and one-sided release.
you forgot one con for crank bros and time pedals (the reason I switched back to shimano m647), is that they are prone to clip out when striking rocks. the mechanism is a bit more exposed, while spd is rounded and doesn’t catch on rocks and roots so easy
I currently have Times on my mountain bike and agree that this is an issue. I really like everything else about them but have been thinking of switching to SPD cause I cant stand it when my foot pops out on rock strikes. Maybe I should stop rock striking though.
for people whos really like racing and doesnt really need to remove cleat they are good for shimano for the other ones who likes who stop some times mallets are great
I've been using CB's for the last 2 years. I'm not too keen on the 6 degree float CB's had (felt like ice skates), so I recently swithced to the HT T1 pedals and absolutely love them! The 4 degree float and tesnsion adjustability is spot on for my liking!
I tried the Crank Bros pedals recently and it is the rolling issue mentioned that has bugged me the most. Look ace but I felt more comfortable with the consistency of the various shimano pedals I’ve previously ridden
So, I have been using for last few a Shimano PD-M530, and they worked well for me - however recently I have gotten myself new bike (Scott Genius eRide 920) and wanted to try something new. I have ordered the Crank Brothers Mallet E LS. I'm really struggling to clip in / out. During my practice I feel of the bike and gave up. Now it's time to go back to my Shimanos and Cranck Brothers going to the storage.
Speciale 8 is more affordable than the 12.....for those interested. Time ATAC overall design has been around longer than Crank Brothers. Popular more on the east coast, due to muddier conditions and having that option instead of SPD, back before Crank Brothers came out
I'm thinking about getting a set of clipless this winter to use on my exercise bike then put them on my mountain bike this spring. Thank you for the info.
I use shimano m8020 with multi release cleat. I used normal cleats at first but had lots of problems getting out of them which is kinda weird since i can get in and out of road pedals without any issue at all...
Great video, I took a long break from standard mountain biking. Used to be a Triathlete and remembered Time as a brand from the 1980s onward. I rode flat pedals with a hard core ebike called the Stealth Bomber with the Suntour 9 gear sequential shifting system. The system housed under the bottom bracket and crank set up originally for MTB allowed me to pedal at speeds up to 90 Km/hour with Fox 40 shocks on the front. I always felt connected on the flats and could stick my foot out to mimic MX on tight turns, but pedal a straightaway with bumps with no problems. I’m not sure why I picked a hybrid Shimano SPD pedal for my brand new Santa Cruz 5010, I thought maybe I could do both flats and SPD when I want to. Yesterday on some pretty challenging trails, I got completely owned by the mud jams on the SPD side and tons of expert bikers bombing the opposite direction towards me on the single track, having to unclip mid root/rocky hill and nearly falling 20 times. I felt like a big time noob, but now I’m sold on the Time Speciale 12 pedals. I need exactly the balance between SPD and Crank brothers that’s explained in the video. I do want to go to a flat pedal, but I just bought a new pair of Ride Concept Clipless Transition high tops and my goal is to get some exercise with trail riding having been sick for 8 weeks during this whole Covid mess.
Hi sir, Is your shoes resembles a flat pedal, because I recently bought time speciale 12 and fizik gravita tensor clips, I am wondering if this will work best or should I have gotten the pedals with more platform like crankbrothers mallets or HT’s X2?
@JOE the Time pedals are awesome but I also got the Hustle labs hybrid flat with pivoting magnet so I can still bail on big jumps or step out quickly in very technical rock gardens.
@JOE lol well the Time pedals are awesome but if you want more of a hybrid then don't get the magpeds but consider the Hustle Labs version. They are a lot better.
I use to ride the Shimano SPD and I came back to flats with the Crankbrothers Stamps, it feels a little less efficient but so much more fun to me . Cool video as always , so well explained. A video on saddles would be cool!
CB everytime, love the mallet e's. Would have been nice if you explained what cleats work with the other pedals. (Obv the licenced shimano pedal uses the shimano cleat, but what about the time and ht ?)
All the ones shown in the video are two bolt systems so they will work with pretty much any mountain bike clipless shoe. Some shoes have really deep pockets that require shims though (I think this is an issue on the Crank Brothers in particular but Im not sure because Ive never used those).
Nice that you keep a picture of your Mom up on the screen in your studio.
Rode Crank Brothers for two years. Kept struggling with getting out in bail out situations. Switched to flats for a year. Didn't like them even though I had good shoes and pedals. Went to Shimano XTR this year and I am in love. Keep me locked in and when I have to bail out I can get unclipped. SPD for me.
Oldman_MTB i love shimano pedals too ... the only thing i don't like so much about shimano is the design ...
Agreed, i feel like on the SPD system you are either clipped in or out and its obvious where as on crank brothers its a but more vague feeling
@@BobBob-fk4wo is that a good or a bad thing?
I am shopping for pedals and this is really helpful, GREAT video!
01:29 Crank Brothers Egg Beater Pedals
02:28 Crank Brothers Candy Pedals
02:39 Crank Brothers Mallet E Pedals
03:06 Pro & Con of Crank Brothers pedals
06:15 Shimano XT M8020 Trail Pedals
09:12 Time Speciale 12 Pedals
10:35 HT X2 Pedals
In my experience with 5 yrs on Shimano SPDs - no, they don't clear thick mud as nicely, but even when they were covered in mud completely, I was still able to clip in and out nicely.
So yes, maybe few more seconds back at home when cleaning with garden hose but no troubles on the trail.
I bought my pair of XTR spd pedals (no platform) for my first cross country hardtail in 2006 or so. I transfered them to my all mountain fully in 2011, which i still ride today (even though the days on the trail have become more rare). I have used those spd-pedals with the same cleats since i first bought them (the replacement cleats I bought for the transalp tour are still sitting on the shelf). They have been deep through the mud and I NEVER had a problem getting in or out of them! No matter how dirty, the cleat finds the pedal and clicks right in! So, mud clearance is not an issue!
Outstanding video! I went from feeling overwhelmed and clueless on how to decide on a clipless pedal to feeling confident on what I wanted after watching this video. I purchased one online the very same day. Well done and thank you very much!
Time ATAC since late 1990's. Tried Shimano one winter, lasted two weeks, clogged with mud and slush. Back to Time ATAC. Recently trying out flats too :)
Time ATAC are bombproof!
time atac bodx is not holding up with the quality of the barings and axle. too bad. that problem is not there on the new speciale but they could be much lighter
I have been running Time for 18 years and own 4 sets. Never ever had a problem with them in mud , sand or snow. They take rock strikes like a hammer. The bearings seem bulletproof. My first set has about 8k miles on them between 5 bikes and work awesome. Even riding with one prosthetic leg.
I have been riding my original Time ATAC XC pedals since 2004 and still have them to this day with all the original parts, no replacements. They're a little more minimalist for my liking as I transition more into a more Trail/Enduro riding style but they're still great all around pedal. Even though these pedals are still in good condition, I am considering the Time ATAC MX line of pedals instead of the Speciales which are shown in the video since they provide a solid foundation for XC shoes which I still like to ride with and are a little more affordable. Time pedals provide a firm connection every time and allow some float and I have never had an issue with mud clearing the cleat mechanism. I don't see myself ever trying out another pedal given my more than positive experience with Time pedals over the last 14 years.
Crank Brothers makes the best disposable pedals.
Best disposable cleats the pedals last long enough
I really enjoyed the candy for 5 months then the performance fades
@@Paulklampeeps what part of the performance faded?
@@ousqa crankbrothers cleats wear down really fast so after a few month u can just pull up to clip out and when u get new cleats there to hard so maybe need to file them down and then they last shorter
Rode the Mallet Es for 2 years and yes, the tightest fades. But bought new cleats for them, needed 2-3 rides to break them in but then they felt like new. Actually rode one shoe with old cleats and one with new. Don’t ever try that. It’s sketch as hell.
Also got a refresh kit with new bearings, seals, nuts and washers. The install was easy and made them feel brand new.
Def recommend!!
I used SPDs for decades. Coming back to cycling after a few years, I switched to egg beaters for the extra float. So much more comfortable for my knees. Everything else is secondary to the comfort for me.
I don't have much dog in this fight, (I'm on haitus from clips, I even have flats on the road bike,) but I always appreciated all the variations in color and platform that Crank Bros offers.
I wish they had the same color options across their price ranges though tbh.
Loved the intro and somehow stayed until the end even though I'm a flats guy, very in-depth and well thought out video keep em rolling!
I’ve used TIME ATAC pedals for about 20yrs. LOVE THEM! I have tried Shimano pedals and they do not clear mud. I own a pair of Crank Bros Candy pedals and they are OK. I don’t like them for that rolling feature.
Hey Jeff! I’ve been a bike mechanic since 1995 and raced DH in the NORBA national 96-2000. I love the HTs with the combination of adjustability from the spd platform and the mud clearing from the crankbrothers platform. I use a thin plastic shin to get the cleat height set to allow platform support without engagement interference. Tried everything from shimano to TIme and am sold on HT. Thanks for the great review.
Rad! Thanks for watching and for the positive feedback!
I've ridden past 2 seasons on Shimano PD-M8020 and I loved them. Kinda. It's just those super tiny small moments when I was on trail and really wanted to clip in, but struggled to, that made me switch. The issue is that M8020, even tho it says that they're a "Trail" model, doesn't offer any support when not clipped in. The "platform" is really worthless, you could as well go M520 for a fraction of the price and have your foot slide all over the place exactly like on m8020.
I moved to Mallet E to find myself with exactly opposite problem - I couldn't clip out in a few super sticky situations (edit: exactly like in the intro - whenever the shoe was next to the crank). I figured out that it's partly because my 5-10 shoes are rather big, so I ordered a long spindle kit and then recently - ordered their beginner friendly easy release cleats (to add insult to the injury - they're rose colored, ha!). I found myself on the ground recently after an OTB and I was clipped out, so I guess it worked. Still - it's something that Shimano solves with superb cleats of theirs called SH56 - AKA multi release cleats. You can just force the foot any way you want whenever the danger is coming.
I might consider SPD Saints for next season, although the XT T8000 flat+spd look tempting AF (I might even leave the reflectors for fun and giggles).
I guess the CB candy pedals have a similar issue where the cage is pretty worthless when you're not clipped in. I had to make do with it a few times and it felt pretty sketchy to say the least, I don't think I want to know what it'd be like in the wet.
I started out with HT x2 for my first clip less and loved them
I've been riding Time pedals since 1999...and the came before Crank Brothers.
This is the best video explanation I’ve seen so far! Thanks for getting into the differences/ pros and cons. I’m still not sure which ones to go with, but I’m way more informed after watching this video! Cheers!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it and good luck deciding. I believe in you 😁
One nice feature of spd’s is multi release cleats, it gives me a peace of mind going into rocky sections 👍
I rode clipless for a long time on the road, transitioned to MTB and ride flats but I miss clipless! Kinda liking the thought of the Time pedals.
I have a set of Time Speciale pedals and after years of being on Crank Bros they took some time to get used to for clipping in but I really love them now. Only disappointment I've had with them is that the packaging is rather disappointing they're alloy pedals but packed without foam or anything to secure them in the box besides a cardboard separator, so they can get dinged up a bit in shipping. Overall it isn't really a big issue because they'll be far more dinged and scraped up after a few rides but still rather frustrating to open a box and have your brand new pedals dinged slightly on the edge.
They have a really solid feeling engagement where it is much easier to tell if you're properly clipped in than the crank brothers, and still give the awesome float that I loved the crank bros pedals for if you back off the grip screws a bit. With how the platform is you can have it set so that the rear grip screws will dig into your shoe when you're not actually clipped in but not when you are, really helps with when things get crazy in slow techy terrain when you need to clip off the pedal for a second and maybe don't get exactly clipped back in right away.
Had spd's grown up with them really, them when I went into more trail, Enduro riding in late 2010, decided to give CB a try, spd's were not giving me the feel I wanted, too stiff.
Liked the float of the CB but, as you pointed out, the clipping in was not up there, and the bearings at that time where crap (I'm aware that's not the case anymore), looked around, talked with some ppl, and the time to give Time a try came.
True love..., now it's Time in all my bikes.
Reliable in and out (no tension adjustment in older models, and no need for me, they just work)
great float, not 2 munch or 2 little.
And bulletproof construction.
Can run smoothly for years under the worst with close to no care.
I think I’m in the same situation you were in before you ended up with the Time pedals. Which model do you have?
I've got a set of crank bros mallet dh, mallet e, and candy pedals. They were all pretty "meh" until I bought a set of zero float/easy release cleats and now they totally kick ass. Never unclip when putting down power, and never fail to unclip in crashes. And they're amazing flat pedals too.
I use look pedals, same cleat as Shimano. I cranked down the stiffness, and like how they feel like a road cleat with a little more float. Also super light.
This was such a great unbiased video. I was looking for one type of system for my road bike and MTB (so I only need 1 pair of shoes) and this made it easy to decide which would be best!!
SPD all the way for me! I have them on both of my MTB's and I even use them on my road bike! I just love them, but as you suggest in your video - it is all down to a personnel preference . Great video by the way - keep them coming
Thanks for the feedback and watching our channel. :)
Been on Time's for almost two decades, love the new Speciale pedals shown in the video...that price though...
Yeah, had made to my mind to go with Crank Brothers Mallets before watching this video then checked out the Times after watching. Jaw dropped at the price.
I m about to get some pedals that have a platform part with pins and a clipless part. Makes it easier for everyday life. I m really looking forward to that.
Also with the Crank Brothers if you smash/pedal strike, because the spring/clip is a rotating, double sided, one piece unit it can unclip your shoe. Whereas the SPD style is a separate mechanism on each side so it doesn't matter if you hit something
I have HT’s enduro Pedal the t1 and I absolutely love them! I actual found I had to crank them really tight to get them how I like it.
I have 10 years using eggbeter this year I changed back to shimano both are good only cranckbroters need more maintenance
Crankbrother’s Candy works best for me. Small, cheap, works good. The trails in GA are half “Trail” half “XC”, small clip ins works best. Plastic Candy’s are only 30-40$ on Amazon. You don’t need to adjust the spring either.
Watching this in 2021:
Jeff: "I'm not that concerned about weight."
Also Jeff: cuts off the largest ring on a 12-speed cassette for weight purposes.
LMAO
Come on. Couldn't he just use an 11 speed with a similar cassette instead? Or go back to 10?
@@seven9766 Nah, because there are no golden 11 speed cassettes
Thanks for the help...ive been looking into clipless and this persuaded me to go shimano
This was an awesome video! Actually really cool to hear about how different all these pedals work.
Thanks for the awesome feedback, glad you enjoyed the video!
My name is Tim
I've been clipped in many iterations of TIME ATACs for 2 decades on all 6 of my bicycles (MTB & fixed) and will never look back at Crank Brothers/shin-manglers
SPD’s for life! They simply work!
He didn’t mentioned that egg beaters do have adjustments capabilities if you get a adjustment kit... it’s basically round insert that when you take the pedals apart they slide over inner and outer part of the shank on both sides of the spring with a 1-5mm thickness depending on shoe contact it gives you a snug fit once the proper thickness is in place.
I switched to the HT X2 DH pedals after having my Crank Bros release at the worst possible moment, for no good reason, too many times. That kind of thrill I can do without. Used Shimano pedals for many years. SPD's are great, but when not clipped in (after a dab, or on a sketchy tech section), it was like standing on steel lolly pops. Even on the ones with a flat cage surrounding the clip mech. Not good. The HTs have a VERY secure engagement and release feel, and when not clipped in, they have some of the support of pinned flat pedals. Perfect. I've had them for one season and love 'em. Mud hasn't been a problem with them. Thanks for the great video.
I went from flats to Shimano SPDs, from a flats perspective, they have plenty of float. Prior to flats I wore toe straps so "pulling out" was already instinctual, but the float took some time to get used to.
17 year old M520’s have been very solid. Thinking about the mallets.
I ride crank brothers on my MTB, cyclocross, and road bikes and use Sidi Tiger shoes for all three.
That video was well put together. Good information for those who want to try clip in.
I like Shimano system but once I tried Crank Bros. Done Deal. I have been riding CB’s for well over 12 years. Still have my first set of CB acid’s and first generation Mallets. I would still run my Acid’s if I wasn’t so lazy as to use the bearing rebuild kit that I purchased for it. CB are so darn good that I don’t mind purchasing new set for each bike I own.
Here in rocky Arizona, I have seen so many broken Crankbrothers that riders call them Crack-brothers. My lightweight girlfriend bent the bars on hers, and then fell into rocks with her foot stuck. Also, if you climb rocky hills, a pedal strike on the bottom can release your foot. We went to Shimano M-647 pedals, and they are way easier to get into with the way the mechanism springs up in the front. And if you use the optional SH-56 multi release cleats, you can dab just as easy as a flat pedal. And they take a ton of abuse on rocks just fine. I tried flats, and my foot would fly over the top of the pedal when lunging up rocky steps. The Shimano pedals are much better for me on the technical climbs I love to do, than flats, but with the 56 cleat, they are just as easy to dab.
I live in AZ and had a Crankbrothers pedal snap off. I couldn't believe it and was happy to not have had an accident. I didn't bother going for a warranty as I couldn't trust their product after that experience. I switched to One Up composite and have been writing them on multiple bikes for a few years now with zero issues.
Love my crank brothers DH. I got them when they first came out and are still holding strong. Now with crank brothers coming out with the different cleats to give more or less float, I think they are killer. and gotta love they are rebuildable!
www.crankbrothers.com/blogs/news/cleats-customize-your-float-release-angle
to go along with my comment if anyone is intrested.
Started with look pedals in the eighties as an amateur and ended up as a senior with the
Look S track carbon ti-with Duegi and Sidi shoes it works absolutely perfect 👌
Been using TIME ATAC for well over 20 yrs.... As long as they keep making them, I'll keep using them. Great pedals.. note : they weren't always adjustable. One tension and they worked great.
The HT pedals ,you can get two different cleats with the one having more float than the other .
I ride flats.
*...barefooted.* ಠ_ಠ
BEAST!
What about eggbeaters.
...barefooted
Just clip in.
*...With your toes.* ಠ益ಠ
What about platform.
....with pins.
How about just the axles with high heels 🤔😳
Important factor you don’t mention! Shimano has a multi release cleat. SM SH 56 is the model number. This is a great choice for first time clipless pedal users. The standard single release method for all cleats is to twist the heal to the side. The SM SH 56 has a greater range of twists angles that work in panic mode when a rider is bailing out in a fall. The con in using this cleat is that you can inadvertently pull out of the pedal. If you are racing the standard SH 51 single release with the ability to set the tension will work better. I have been riding Shimano for 25 years and like the SM SH 56 Multi release for recreational trail riding. I rather be able to release from different angles or when I am going over to the side and not lined up for a perfect twist to the side.
Yeah, we are totally aware of that cleat. It's just not as popular and being the SH-51 comes with all the "trail" pedals we didn't bring it up. Some valid points you listed though. Thanks for pointing this out and bringing up this option for people!
Been riding MTB since late 80’o. Tried SPD, Crank Brothers and Time over the years. One winter the owner of our local great bike shop explained that a lot of riders will try different pedals over the years, but once they use the smaller brand Time they rarely will use anything else for rest of their riding life. I had that experience and each of my riding friends that have tried Time also made the switch. Don’t be fooled by the small number of riders that use Time, they just don’t have much presence in the USA
I’ve been looking for pedals I race bmx and I’ve always been running shimano but for me I beat on pedals and they’ve worn out I’ve actually crashed many times now because of uncliping so this is very informative and useful I’ve been leaning towards the HT’s cause many of fellow racers swear by them this finally pushed me Over there pricey but way less than a hospital bill
I run Crank Bros double shots. Still have a love hate relationship with them.
the double shots are pretty bad pedals I switched to the mallets and they are so much better
Szevasz honestly just look at the reviews on them and you'll see what others think
I am presently riding SPD and was wondering about the alternatives. Your video was very helpful,thanks
I ride flats, but this video is really informative. Really like how in depth these videos are, you can tell that he is talking out of experience. Keep it up Jeff!
Thanks for watching and the positive feedback!
I've been using spds or an spd clone for 20 years. How many sets of pedals have I gone through during this time? Three, and that includes a pair of 636's that were already on their last legs.
The problem with guys that ride clipless is
*they can't pull out quick enough* #Alwayspullout
Bbaaaahahahahaha!
Nice
If you prefer muddy trails you don´t have that problem.
👏👏👏👏
LOL
I've been riding spds since I was on a road bike. Love them for the road but not for the mountain. Just purchased some crank Brothers and can't wait to try em out on the trail.
How have the crankbrothers been for you?
I rode BMX as a kid, now I MTB as an old fucker, just can't beat the "bailability" of flats. But great informative video anyway.
I´ve ridden SPD´s, but currently am riding the HT's. I find them awesome, and not at all hard to get in or out of. So I totally disagree with that statement. What I love about them is that they have to styles of clips for the shoes which in turn give different grades of float. On top of that they have the adjustable spring. I love the HT T1 Enduro pedal! But, shimano´s are nice too :)
I use the CB Mallet Dh and I love them. Did start with the shimano but once I changed never went back. Next time I change I'll try the Mallet E with the long spindle.
That intro was priceless. Great video.
Started using SPD in the 80s still using em on my EMTB!
I still ride toe cages with toe straps with my old running shoes. That way I never have to change my shoes and I have better traction on log crossings of streams. My feet stay locked in for circular pedaling and are easy to remove in an emergency. Clipless pedals require too much fiddling and are really expensive replacing parts all the time. I also have a never-ending supply of riding shoes as I use them after 600 miles of running. They can go another 400 miles of riding before they're trash.
Lol ok then...
Started mtn. biking in 82 with sun tour xc pedals went Shimano SPD when introduced was doing a lot Chilcotin epics starting in the early 90’s. The cleats and shoes wouldn’t hold up to the walking and went back to light hikers and the suntour xc with toe clips and straps for many years. I now wear Shimano XM9 boots and crank bro’s mallet DH. The boots are fairly strong and the cleats hold up much better to walking. My drawback with crank bro’s is you can get unwanted releases when the bottom of the pedal hits a rock.
I used to ride spd clipless pedals a while back and I still have 2 pairs of spd pedals lying around but I don't like how they feel when going down hill and going down hill is the most fun part of mountainbiking so I swapped to some flats and I don't miss the clipless pedals.
I personally run DMR Vault and I absolutely love that pedal. it is almost like being clipped in but still being a platform pedal. couldn't be better for me
I just bought a set of htd ones which is the Dual side two days ago got him set up do a pair of specialized mountain biking shoes. And I freaking love them. Super easy to get in and out of once you get used to getting in them out of them is easy cuz like you said adjustable tension. The cool thing is they come with spare pens spare tension bolts and Adjusters depends are adjustable on the pedals themselves and they're like I said they're due will fight it so you can work non clipless shoes too. I would actually recommend these for somebody that is not used to clipless pedals. And that reason being is because they come with two different sets of cleats which is cool plus spacers and stainless steel protectors that protect the bottom of your shoe from the cleats. The two sets of cleats one has more float and the other set has less. Obviously. But otherwise I found the pedals to be freaking fantastic when you put it to the loosest setting when you're trying to train that get used to getting in and out of them emergency situations when you're training yourself they're super easy to work with the clip and they hold you in but as soon as you want to get out they let you go. I would recommend the HT D1 to anybody
I rode almost exclusively flat pedals but I'm trying out clipless pedals off and on until I get more comfortable on them. I originally had the crankbros enduro pedal like your, but actually really didn't like them. I'm a tall guy and the pedals made me feel like me knees were inverted and it not only hurt my knees but also were hard to get in and out of. I then ruined the pedals by trying some permanent spacers (They aren't suppose to be permanent but now I can't get them off) which were too much space but were easier to get in and out of. I think I'd like them more if I could find the perfect space from the crank so that I felt comfortable standing and pedaling on them. That brings me to my next pair of pedals which is the DH version of the HT pedals that you said "don't get these if your new to clips". haha. I actually really really like them and while I do find them hard to get into at times (mainly because I'm a newbie to clipless more so than anything else) they are easier to get out of than the crankbros because of the tension dial on them. I like to run them with smaller float cleat and it makes them even easier to get in and out. I'm not committed to them full time yet, but I'm hoping to be over the next few months. Longest post ever now complete. haha. sorry bout that.
the term "clipless" refers back to old days when we used clips and straps and our feet were literally strapped into pedal and your shoe had a cleat on it. The clip was just there to keep the strap in place. It sucked, and was too easy to crash. When Look invented the pedal that was like a ski binding, they eliminated the need for clips (and straps) so the term "clipless" was born. You youngsters have probably never seen clips and straps.
Another down-side to the Crank Brothers pedals is if you hit the bottom side of the pedal on a rock / stump the spring opens up and you are un-clipped. Otherwise, one rotates the heel outward to get out of the Crank Brothers pedals, and how you set up the cleats determines how much rotation is required. Once you get used to the movement, getting out is dead easy - as in no thought required - just RTFM.
Sure the cheapest Crank Brothers pedals were not rebuild-able, and mine lasted no more than 1200 km of trail riding. Meanwhile the old Candy pedals certainly are - I have the rebuild kits for them and have not needed them in the seven years I've been riding two sets of the early Candy pedals. Can't speak to the newer models but that should tell you something, eh what?
Been riding CrankBrothers eggbeaters for close to 20 years, never tried candy. Going to try out the candy next. Thanks for the video!
Jeff spends too much time selecting new desktop screen savers for every video hahaha.
Thanks for the great info! I almost bought the x2 but definitely want the mallets now.
Look S-Track (withe removable cage mounted when needed or riding with cleatless shoes). Came with two sets of cleats: one with "normal" float and both positive and negative angle release and a set with narrow float and one-sided release.
I hate myself for thinking about stepbrothers and prestige worldwide whenever I watch a video by worldwide cyclery lmao
Im a big fan of HT pedals. I also love the shimano M520 pedals. Cheap and bullet proof.
Great video. Actually learned a thing or two about the crankbrothers before trying.
I always go crank bros on my trail bike and shimano on my dh/enduro. Honestly I can't stand the floatyness of the crank bros system when descending.
Ride spd xtr on my gravel now....thinking to get mallet e for my next trail bike cos has bigger/wider platforms
you forgot one con for crank bros and time pedals (the reason I switched back to shimano m647), is that they are prone to clip out when striking rocks. the mechanism is a bit more exposed, while spd is rounded and doesn’t catch on rocks and roots so easy
I currently have Times on my mountain bike and agree that this is an issue. I really like everything else about them but have been thinking of switching to SPD cause I cant stand it when my foot pops out on rock strikes. Maybe I should stop rock striking though.
Crank brothers clip out on rocks, shimano better in this situation.
for people whos really like racing and doesnt really need to remove cleat they are good for shimano for the other ones who likes who stop some times mallets are great
Been on CB eggbeaters since ‘04. 2 years ago switched to CB enduros.
I've been using CB's for the last 2 years. I'm not too keen on the 6 degree float CB's had (felt like ice skates), so I recently swithced to the HT T1 pedals and absolutely love them! The 4 degree float and tesnsion adjustability is spot on for my liking!
Shimano XT trails with multi cleat fo life!
I'm a Crank Brothers fanboy... owned every component they've built. But still prefer xtr's.
Still riding CB wheels? You do not see those as often these days.
i was using crankbrothers mallet 4years but this year i buy HT flat and 5ten shoes and I think never go back to clipless :-D
I ran Candy's but am now using Egg Beaters.. and love 'em
I tried the Crank Bros pedals recently and it is the rolling issue mentioned that has bugged me the most. Look ace but I felt more comfortable with the consistency of the various shimano pedals I’ve previously ridden
So, I have been using for last few a Shimano PD-M530, and they worked well for me - however recently I have gotten myself new bike (Scott Genius eRide 920) and wanted to try something new. I have ordered the Crank Brothers Mallet E LS. I'm really struggling to clip in / out. During my practice I feel of the bike and gave up. Now it's time to go back to my Shimanos and Cranck Brothers going to the storage.
Speciale 8 is more affordable than the 12.....for those interested. Time ATAC overall design has been around longer than Crank Brothers. Popular more on the east coast, due to muddier conditions and having that option instead of SPD, back before Crank Brothers came out
I'm thinking about getting a set of clipless this winter to use on my exercise bike then put them on my mountain bike this spring. Thank you for the info.
I just replaced my Time pedals from 2006, I will run these forever
That girl on his home computer screen be like....
I'm pretty sure that's Kate Perry
I've been watching your videos. And talking to your employee's a little. Your pretty darn funny man. I love the random rumor. Great channel.
I am deeply honored to hear this from Chuck Norris. Thank you sensei. Thank you.
I use shimano m8020 with multi release cleat. I used normal cleats at first but had lots of problems getting out of them which is kinda weird since i can get in and out of road pedals without any issue at all...
Thanks for this. Great, unbiased overview.
Great video, I took a long break from standard mountain biking. Used to be a Triathlete and remembered Time as a brand from the 1980s onward. I rode flat pedals with a hard core ebike called the Stealth Bomber with the Suntour 9 gear sequential shifting system. The system housed under the bottom bracket and crank set up originally for MTB allowed me to pedal at speeds up to 90 Km/hour with Fox 40 shocks on the front. I always felt connected on the flats and could stick my foot out to mimic MX on tight turns, but pedal a straightaway with bumps with no problems. I’m not sure why I picked a hybrid Shimano SPD pedal for my brand new Santa Cruz 5010, I thought maybe I could do both flats and SPD when I want to. Yesterday on some pretty challenging trails, I got completely owned by the mud jams on the SPD side and tons of expert bikers bombing the opposite direction towards me on the single track, having to unclip mid root/rocky hill and nearly falling 20 times. I felt like a big time noob, but now I’m sold on the Time Speciale 12 pedals. I need exactly the balance between SPD and Crank brothers that’s explained in the video. I do want to go to a flat pedal, but I just bought a new pair of Ride Concept Clipless Transition high tops and my goal is to get some exercise with trail riding having been sick for 8 weeks during this whole Covid mess.
Hi sir, Is your shoes resembles a flat pedal, because I recently bought time speciale 12 and fizik gravita tensor clips, I am wondering if this will work best or should I have gotten the pedals with more platform like crankbrothers mallets or HT’s X2?
@JOE the Time pedals are awesome but I also got the Hustle labs hybrid flat with pivoting magnet so I can still bail on big jumps or step out quickly in very technical rock gardens.
@@BWT599 thank you sir, I am thingking if I should’ve gotten the magped enduro 2 haha
@JOE lol well the Time pedals are awesome but if you want more of a hybrid then don't get the magpeds but consider the Hustle Labs version. They are a lot better.
I just checked the hustle pedals, they are way heavy....
I use to ride the Shimano SPD and I came back to flats with the Crankbrothers Stamps, it feels a little less efficient but so much more fun to me . Cool video as always , so well explained. A video on saddles would be cool!
CB everytime, love the mallet e's. Would have been nice if you explained what cleats work with the other pedals. (Obv the licenced shimano pedal uses the shimano cleat, but what about the time and ht ?)
What are the shoe options for each clipless? I would like to see that topic in one of your videos.
All the ones shown in the video are two bolt systems so they will work with pretty much any mountain bike clipless shoe. Some shoes have really deep pockets that require shims though (I think this is an issue on the Crank Brothers in particular but Im not sure because Ive never used those).