Clipless pedal choice, Shimano, Time, Crank Bros?

belgiangoth

I'm in need of a new pair of cycle shoes and am thinking of getting some new pedals for the second bike at the same time. So I have got to thinking of trying a new clipless system, I currently use double sided Shimano SPDs. I'm thinking of trying Time ATACs fpr the extra float or Crank Bros Smartys or Mallet.
Times are much cheaper, The Crank Bros should be able to fit reflectors in some fation but I hear bad things about them falling apart.
Has anyone actually compared these pedals and come to some opinion?

dondare

My Time ATAKs have given excellent service for many years. They are very easy to get in and out of.

graeme_s-2

Can't compare as they're the only clipless pedals that I have used, but I have Smartys on my hybrid and Quattro's on my road bike. I love them, haven't had any problems with either set of pedals and I just find them incredibly comfortable and reliable. Easy to clip into with no accidental releases. I think they look ace as well 8)

JustRidecp

+1 Time ATAC's

Ale

I have some smarties and quattros on my hybrid and road bikes. Was v. happy with them till one of my quattros fell apart. I didn't realise this was common!

Using smarties on both now, They work fine with road shoes and quattro cleats, or with more MTB shoes with soles, so can walk a bit in them too.

graeme_s-2

Just after I bought my Quattro's I was chatting to another cyclist who had some on his road bike, he said his were the "new design" which didn't suffer from the falling apart problem that the earlier design had. Don't know if there's any truth in that, but I haven't had any trouble with mine in ~800 miles.

smiorgan

Time ATACs for me. Better than crank bros? Dunno. Better than SPD? Oh yeah.

lateralus

Sorry to hijack, but I've been pondering exactly the same question. I think you guys are swaying me toward the ATACs. I tried a friend's SPDs the other week, and wasn't too confident with the release. Has anyone tried the Shimano multi release cleats? If so, how do they compare to the ATACs for ease/reliability of release?

Ale

Graeme_S wrote:

Just after I bought my Quattro's I was chatting to another cyclist who had some on his road bike, he said his were the "new design" which didn't suffer from the falling apart problem that the earlier design had. Don't know if there's any truth in that, but I haven't had any trouble with mine in ~800 miles.

Ah, that explains why Evans were selling my quattros so cheaply last year. The ones I bought were £40, whereas the '06 model which looked identical was £70!

janm399

I'm riding the older Dura Ace pedals with the fixed red cleats and I can't complain. Presumably you can now get the new Dura Ace pedals, which are meant to be even better.

PutneyJoe

Time ATAC all the way!

ddraver

I'd go for Candy's over smartys.....

but time ATAC are getting 11/10 in most magazine reviews i read art the moment, the crank brothers i don't think are excellent (god give me grammar), they clear mud superbly but shimano ones enter, exit and feel better most of the time

Hairy Jock

For commuting purposes SPD are probably a better choice, that is if you are in traffic and having to clip in and out a lot. That said if you have a rural commute where you are covering long distances without having to stop, then road shoes and clipless are probably better, especially if you have other pair of shoes to change into when you get to work.

belgiangoth

My understanding was that ATACs are MTB style (like SPD) allow more float (so theoretically better for your knees) but are harder to get in/out than SPDs (though the last point is a learning curve, should not be so bad if you are already used to clipless systems?)

proto

Time ATACs for me too. Excellent. Got them on three bikes Commuter, Winter hack and XC MTB

Noel PT

My opinion of time is that they are well designed and extremely strong. Got time on all my bikes.

hevipedal

I used quattros for some time because of being double sided - made commuting easier, but I still had problems on long rides with sore toes. So I bought a pair of the new Ultegra pedals. Good broad base for my feet, easy to clip in and out but very secure and no problems on corners. I use these all the time now - best pedals in the world.

Zatoichi

I've got several pairs of comfortable walking shoes that are set up with SPD cleats. They are ideal for a commute. Not perfect for riding because the sole still has some flex. But the combination of riding and walking setup works for me. The recessed SPD cleat means I can wear them around the office all day without a change of footwear.

My money's on SPD for commuting because you have to make that transition from your bike back to walking.

I've heard other people advise a larger platform cleat for road riding. Say that it gives more stability and better energy transfer. That said all my riding shoes are set up for SPDs.

Big Red S

My ATACs have been going strong for about seven years now, with no signs of degradation. Presumably, the new ones are even better.

The new Crank Bros don't seem to be falling apart so often any more, and they've got a seemingly reliable distributor behind the warranties now.

I'd go with Times, personally.

JustRidecp

belgiangoth wrote:

but are harder to get in/out than SPDs (though the last point is a learning curve, should not be so bad if you are already used to clipless systems?)

Nah. Easy peasy mate. Dont even need to twist, a yank'll do it if you're in a pickle! You can flip the cleats so you can adjust the amount of angle you need to release. They've got more float than spd's so maybe you have to twist your foot more but its not harder.

Mine are 10+ years old. My bro bought them for his mtb when he started uni in '95 and I procured them off him! They're the old school ATACs, the one's with the all plastic body. They haven't even seen the sniff of a service in that time! I'll keep using them till they disintegrate.

Jacomus-rides-Gen

Am a big fan of Time pedals - I have RXS's on my roadie and ATAC's for my MTB, fixie and tourer, though standard platforms for my knockabout tourer

adifiddler

I was in the LBS today to buy some bike shoes for my commute bike which has the double use shamano peddles, I was told that shimano are dropping the SPDs and that only cheaper bike shoes have the fixings for SPDs, i wish they had told me that two weeks ago when i bought the peddles.