Mountain Biking: Clipless Pedals

When you start out using clipless pedals on your mountain bike, chances are that you won't know much about what makes for a good pedal and a bad one. You'll get what you can afford at the time and you'll probably suffer for your lack of knowledge, finding yourself on the ground and bruised or bloody far more often than you need to be, and having too much difficulty "clipping in" to your pedals as you start off.

Some of that you can overcome just by using your pedals and becoming familiar with them. But some of your problems are design issues.

So I'm writing the pros to find out what they like (not what their sponsors like) and I'll add their answers within this post as they come in. The newest will appear at the top.

-- Rebecca Rusch, World 24 Hour Champion, picks Crank Brothers Egg Beater 4 ti pedals.. I'm posting her entire response as is.

Bikezilla: If a sponsor isn't supplying or paying for a specific brand and model, which pedal do you prefer on your mountain bikes?

Rebecca Rusch: "Crank Brothers Egg Beater 4ti"

Bikezilla: What makes it a great pedal?

Rebecca Rusch: "Ease of clip in/out but with a secure feeling when you're in. Simple design that doesn't break.

Less little moving parts mean a more durable pedal and less opportunity for mud to collect in small spaces and prevent clipping in.

Lastly, I like a floating design so that your foot and knee are not completely locked into one position. This float allows for less stress on the knee and the pedal will accommodate your own body alignment and pedaling style."


Bikezilla: Is there a close second?

Rebecca Rusch: "Time pedals."

Bikezilla: What pedals did you use starting out?

Rebecca Rusch: "Shimano"

Bikezilla: Why did you switch?

Rebecca Rusch: "Because they would always fill up with mud and dirt and were hard to clip into. I was also intimidated by all the tiny parts."

Bikezilla: What pedals do you think give the best value if value is defined as cost vs reliability and ease of use?

Rebecca Rusch: "Crank Brothers Candy or Eggbeater. Same great design and each pedal comes in six different price points based on the materials used. So you can get an $80 Egg beater or Candy design in steel, or go all the way up to the titanium. Either way, same great function, same great design.

I think the SL versions of both pedals are a great performance pedal at a really reasonable price."

Thanks Rebecca!


-- Joe Lawwill of Bikeskills.com picks Shimano M970's, but likes the Shimano 770's, too. He says:

"I have a very clear opinion about what brand of clipless pedals to use. I only use Shimano M970's, but the M770 works just as well.

Over the years I experienced the learning curve manufacturers went through to get to where we are today. I have been caught in my pedals numerous times and my confidence was adversly effected.

It took some time, but once I gained trust in my current pedals I don't give them a second thought. If you are using these pedals and have hang ups then you just gotta remind yourself heel out, heel out. As long as you do that you will come right out of your pedal.

You of course need to set proper release pressure for your body weight. Coming out too easily is almost as bad as getting stuck.

You also need to make sure you have a good shoe that doesnt hang up on the pedals. I also make sure to only run shoes with rubber bottoms rather than that very hard and slippery material many shoe companies insist on using."

Thanks Joe!

Stuff Beginners Should Know (But Almost Never Do): Part . . . Who Knows

Two days after I begin working out after a break from exercising, my muscles hurt like a biatch (which is to say, considerably less than the pain caused by any discussion with my ex wife).

For me, a good rub-down (sadly it's usually self-administered) and a similar but much lighter workout the day immediately after the first workout, cuts way down or even completely prevents the pain.

Or I can avoid it altogether by "prepping" my muscles with a few similar but lighter workouts in advance.

If I'm too daft to do any of that, a deep rub-down in the painful areas usually clears it up by the next day. Yes it does hurt like hell.

That delayed, post workout pain actually has a name (Delayed onset muscle soreness) and Recovox has an article up about it, what causes it and how possible ways to treat it.

Here are Coach Levi's thoughts on it.

For those of you moving from a bike trainer to bike rollers, Coach Levi has some advice on setting up. He'll help you avoid the embarassing and painful newbie mistake of riding off the front roller.