Pedal Choice

2plus2

I've been riding / racing Time ATACs for a while now but I feel like it's quite a chore to get clipped in quickly which has left me going into turns with a foot out a few times, unable to get the power down on the exit. The issue just seems to be the weight required compared to SPD, I'm relatively light and I really have to stomp down hard to clip in.

I'm thinking of giving SPDs a shot (having only used a set for commuting before), they're a breeze to get into by comparison but does anyone have issues with clogging up with mud? This is one area the Time have been flawless.

Alternatively, does anyone know a way I can lighten the entry to the ATACs? I know the point is they're auto tension, but I still feel they're really heavy compared to Shimano.

Chris James

I race with M520s and they can clog up a bit. In my last (muddy) race I went about a quarter of a lap with one foot unclipped. Usually stamping on the pedals would clear it, or worst case you can just flip the pedal and try the other side for luck. But they definitely can clog.

lostboysaint

Crank Brothers Eggbeaters. Four sided, easy entry and release, plenty of float, never any mud issues.

tgotb

I switched from SPD to ATAC this season, specifically because I was fed up with SPDs clogging. So far, the ATACs seem to be a lot better, because there's more space for the grass/mud combo to get pushed right through the locking mechanism and out the other side.

I effectively had to re-learn the clip-in technique; originally tried switching mid season, and switched back because it was slowing down my starts. It's quite a subtle difference, but I think I point my toes down as I clip in, whereas with SPDs you can just stamp on the pedal with your toes pointed forward. Once you get that technique programmed into your brain, it's just as easy, and quite a lot more reliable than SPD.

Edit: I looked at Egg Beaters, but scared off by too many reports of them falling apart.

2plus2

OK, thanks for the feedback. Seems like Shimano is maybe not the way to go and I just need to get better with the Times. I'd thought about eggbeaters as well and was also put off by reports of them being more fragile.

TGOTB, out of interest, and this might be a silly question, but how floaty are your ATACs? Do your feet move around easily when clipped in like with SPD, because mine hold my feet really tight...I'm wondering if the sole of my shoe is interfering with the pedal or something.

tgotb

The range of float seems greater than SPDs but there's a small amount of friction/resistance within that range, especially when the cleats are new. This is with the cleats on the "correct" foot, ie R/D on the right, L/G on the left.

By contrast, SPDs offer negligible resistance within their range of float, but the actual range of permitted movement is lower.

lostboysaint

TGOTB wrote:

Edit: I looked at Egg Beaters, but scared off by too many reports of them falling apart.

And yet they have a 5 year warranty.

The older models (from 2011 and earlier) were certainly less than reliable if you didn't service them regularly, the later models (pretty much anything you're going to get now) are excellent - hence the 5 year warranty.

tgotb

lostboysaint wrote:

TGOTB wrote:

Edit: I looked at Egg Beaters, but scared off by too many reports of them falling apart.

And yet they have a 5 year warranty.

The older models (from 2011 and earlier) were certainly less than reliable if you didn't service them regularly, the later models (pretty much anything you're going to get now) are excellent - hence the 5 year warranty.

Although we'll have to wait a while to see whether or not they actually last 5 years. Getting something replaced for free under warranty is still more of a pain than not having it fail in the first place; I'm already the owner of several cycling products with lifetime warranties, that still have to be sent back to the manufacturer at least annually.

ATACs do seem to be pretty bombproof; bearings last ages, and replacements are easy to obtain and fit. At the moment I can't see a reason to try anything different.

imposter2.0

I would persevere with the ATACs. The clip-in method is slightly different (as mentioned above, more 'toe down' rather than 'stamp on') and the float is 'tighter' - but it's there nonetheless. Worth hanging on to them for the mud clearance alone...

DavidBelcher

The only issues I've really had with ATACs and clipping in have stemmed from the sole of the shoe being a bit "crowded" in the cleat area leaving accumulated muck with nowhere to go and stopping the cleat/spring interface from doing its stuff. A few minutes' work with a craft knife to pare back some of the grippy bits on the sole usually solves the problem.

David

cyclingsheep

DavidBelcher wrote:

The only issues I've really had with ATACs and clipping in have stemmed from the sole of the shoe being a bit "crowded" in the cleat area leaving accumulated muck with nowhere to go and stopping the cleat/spring interface from doing its stuff. A few minutes' work with a craft knife to pare back some of the grippy bits on the sole usually solves the problem.

David

Now that's an interesting idea. I have felt my pedals were less effective with my new shoes and maybe the depth of tread has something to do with that. May have to get the knife out

2plus2

Thought I'd post back because I did decide I'd try switching over to Shimano - managed to get a set of M520s for about £15 so thought they were worth a punt. For now I'm glad I switched, much easier to get into / out of and didn't have any issues with mud clogging despite muddiest race of the year so far for me - lots of flat sections faster running due to conditions so I think it was a pretty good test. Will keep going with them and hopefully they'll be as good in the coming months

tgotb

Excellent! Funny how different kit suits different people...

The biggest problem I had with SPDs was when a combination of "sticky" mud and grass clogged up the front half of the pedal. Was always a huge problem when training run-ups (maybe our training venue has particularly sticky mud) but racing generally not so bad. In those conditions, it's well worth making sure you clear out your pedals just before the start; I used to find a suitable stick which I carried around in a pocket during warmup laps...