The egg beater petal featured 4 sided entry and being a clip-less newbie. These pedals have more entry points then any other pedal. I was fearful of bruising my ego during a spill, so the more entry points the better. The are light weight and the trade off is a lack of platform.
Sexy versions in titanium
Sexy versions in titanium
Last week I purchased some goodies. The Crank Bros. Egg Beater C and Shimano M086 mountain bike shoe. This is my first experience with both clip-less pedals and Crank Brothers products. I chose the pedals based on price and other online reviews. This review will cover installation, first impressions, and will be updated as my use progresses.
Out The box
The pedals come with cleats, shims, and screws of different lengths (longer screw for shim). Note the blue anodizing has already worn off a bit. I purchased the display at a discount. The C or chromoly version also comes in gray for less visible wear.
Installation
The tools required are an adjustable wrench, 5/8 wrench, mallet, thick rag, gloves, and grease. Installation took less than 30 minutes.
The first step is to remove the existing pedals. I used the 5/8 wrench and a hammer because the pedal was practically cold welded on. I probably should have used a mallet. Righty tighty, lefty loosy, Don't chip the paint off your bike silly goosey!
Clean out the threads with a degreaser.
Identify the left and right pedal - they are marked.
Then grease the threads on the pedals and guide them into the crank with your hands. Go slowly so you don't get any cross threading action. Again, we are hand tightening at this stage. Repeat with the other side.
I didn't get a picture but I wrapped a denim rag around the blue anodizing and did the final tightening of the pedal with the adjustable wrench. This will keep the color from scraping off. If you have a torque wrench then the packet comes with specifications for that. I just make it nice and tight.
Tada!! Justice is served!
Day 1
I was excited and did a midnight practice a empty lot. Clip in was easy and straight forward. I had mega issues clipping out via outward rotation. Inward clipout is an issue because a) I'm duckfooted, and b) the frame, wheels, bottlecages are all in the way. I added the shim but probably didn't need to.
Day 2
Inward clip-out still an issue. I went on a 14mile ride. At a stop light I couldn't get out and made an "emergency" right turn. The cleat bolt actually came loose. I tightened it and it hasn't been an issue. The anodizing has come off a bit more from my mis-queues.
Week 1
I lowered the seat post to get more leverage and its solved the clipout issue. However, for my left ankle I'd prefer an even earlier clipout angle. That's the trade off for non adjustable pedals.
Suggested Links:
Cleat installation
Shimano Shoe Review
Entries
I just bought these pedals and have the issue of the shoe sole coming in contact with the pedal body. It makes clipping out very sluggish. Do you have that problem? I'm guessing it's just my shoes.
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