Shimano SPD vs Crank Brothers

[Grebel]

A bit of an arb question, but I thought it would be cool to see the different opinions out there.

 

I have ridden with Shimano SPD's for about 4 years and I recently got myself a new bike that came with a set of Crank Brother's Smarty's. I fitted the cleats onto my shoes and went for a ride but to be honest I think I preffer the Shimano SPD's. They seem to have a more positive engagement. Any thoughts or opinions?

[Thermophage]

Only ever ridden the Crank Bro's Mallet 2's...but super stoked with them. Seems the have more play when you are clipped in, which I like.

Prior to this I was riding some flat pedals which I still love

Actually considering going back to them..

 

Luckily I haven't come short with the Mallets yet (aside from the standing still and falling over stunt we all do at some point) so I reckon they cool

Mallets are gr8 (for me) because they are kinda a flat pedal with the egg beater thing in the middle. More DH style, but I like the feeling anyway.

 

My friends who ride SPD's don't really like the "stiffness", but I am sure you can adjust this with the spring tension...something lacking in Crank Bro's.

[Aggies]

No comparison for me! Once you have used Crank Brothers and compare it to SPD's inconsistency in cleating out (they sometimes "bite"), you will not use SPD again. Only one way to cleat in. CB have 3 options. Same as SPD by stepping in and down, sliding foot forward, sliding foot backwards.

 

SPD - Terrible in mud.

CB - Not as tough as SPD when it comes to hitting rocks, etc.

 

I rather use a pedal with slighly more maintenance, that is realiable and consistent in the cleating out scenario!

[stewie911]

If you search for it on the hub, you'll see that a lot of opinions have come and gone.

 

I like my eggbeater sl's. You can't adjust the release like shimano, but they look really cool, they're lighter, good in the mudd and different to the rest.

[stewie911]

Aggies, my eggbeaters have taken some heavy knocks at Groenkloof on the rock and I must say, they hold up quite fine.

[Carrot]

I tried eggs when i just started with clip ins (got the cheapest ones) and i hated them, so i prefer my shimano XT's. They never fail a clip in and rarely clog up. Maybe if i tried em now they'd be better but nah

[Weight Weenie]

Eggies work almost as well in mud as without, Shimano just doesnt want to work. You cant clip in or out. Cant count how much I've fallen when I couldnt clip out in time when its muddy. If you have to portage through muck you can just jump on and clip in with eggies and not have to bash mud off your shoe against a rock as I see many people do with spd's.

 

Ive hit the eggies allot on rocks and no issues yet, and its proper knocks where I almost crash.

 

The old style didtn have the best sealing/axle/bearing system but mine are now almost 2 years old and one pedal is now rough and sqeeuky but a quick rebuild wil sort that that out. Think spds need some funny tool to get to the bearings ?

 

Also the news eggies have a revised bearing system with a 5 year garantee so should last much longer between services.

[Mecnic]

With SPDs I had bad ITB issues switched to Egg Beater Candys ITB are no more,

 

I believe the main reason for this is the higher degree of float they give me I even switched the cleats to 20 degrees, I have flat feet so my ankles have collapsed and my feet point kind of outwards, Like a duck???? Duck footed maybe????

 

You may argue setup and cleat placement ect but still ITB issue is gone with Egg Beaters and believe it or not the cleats are in exactly the same spot and placement as the old SPD cleats so works for me

 

But so far so good Egg Beaters for me, but I do use shoe shields as Egg beaters have a nasty habit of eating away at the sole of your shoe, only down side solved with a simple bit of stainlees steel.

[Grebel]

Thanks for the feedback! I was very close to pulling the Eggies off and putting the old SPD's back on, but I will give them abother go. A lot of people that are using egg beaters swear by them so I was expecting a miraculous difference between the two. I must admit that I was dissapointed...

 

The eggbeaters do have a lot of float compared to the SPD's and the lack of adjustment worried me a bit (You know how we like to adjust and fiddle all the time!), but I can see that mud shedding will be a lot better than the SPD's. We do more trail riding than XC so I was worried that they felt a lot looser than the Shimanos and that they would unclip over the rough stuff, but it seems that my worries are unfounded.

 

Thanks for the heads up with the stainless steel plate as protection Mecnic. I am using the supplied shim at the moment. I will have a small plate laser cut and fit them to make the shoes last longer

 

Once again, thanks to all who took the time to comment. Happy trails!!

[Squier]

Still like my SPDs, however, I have to concede that you do have some issues in the mud. The main reason why I haven't gone to Crank Brothers is because their cleats doesn't fit the spinning bikes in the gym.

[AndreZA]

Crankbrothers pedals does not have float. Float is the movement that the cleat has before it starts engaging the release action. You do have the option of two different release angles which some people see as float. Shimano only has one release angle but they have true float. Just wiggle you shoe's heel side to side and you will see it moves without starting to open the clamps. Look pedals have the same problem.

[TNOSE_E]

Mini Hijack.

 

Anyone got odd CB Sl's laying around? And would like to play match maker? Willing to swop or sell Right /Left or whatever makes up a pair.

 

I have ripped, torn, flattened, dented etc, so many SL pedals and now have odds all over the place. So much so that I train with those candy/smarty ones for added protection.

 

Even if they are not working but the wings are in tact.

 

Thanks

 

B

[Mecnic]

Thanks for the heads up with the stainless steel plate as protection Mecnic. I am using the supplied shim at the moment. I will have a small plate laser cut and fit them to make the shoes last longer Once again, thanks to all who took the time to comment. Happy trails!!

 

You can buy pre cut plates from crank brothers they are called "shoe shields" I'm not sure how much they cost though maybe about R120+- , but if someone can cheaply lazer cut you some protection plates do it.

[Grebel]

You can buy pre cut plates from crank brothers they are called "shoe shields" I'm not sure how much they cost though maybe about R120+- , but if someone can cheaply lazer cut you some protection plates do it.

 

Thanks Mecnic. I will see if I can get some of those from my LBS failing which I will look online. Bling for the shoes At least the shoes will last longer with less wear in that area

[Weight Weenie]

Yes I just put some of those on as the carbon in my soles have been 'dented' by the pedal wings.

Just need to try them out before the 3 towers this weekend

[Grebel]

Yes I just put some of those on as the carbon in my soles have been 'dented' by the pedal wings.

Just need to try them out before the 3 towers this weekend

 

Hi Weight Weenie,

 

Where did you get yours from and what was the cost? I saw them last night on CRC for about R88 plus the R109 postage. They aren't available from CWC or Buycycle. I haven't tried my LBS yet but buying online is so much easier!