Time or Crank Bros?

[drewdane]

Which do you prefer and why? I'm a little tired of my SPDs, and I'm thinking of switching.

[martin]

Crank

Four sided entry
Simple, not many parts
light - strong
great mud clearance, easty to get in and out of
Won't break the bank

I got my first pair of egg beaters many years agao and haven't looked back since - all of my rides have them now - Getting ready to try out the Candy soon...

[Buddylee]

I ride Eggbeaters and wouldn't trade them for anything. Never have a problem getting in or out in any condition. I just put Candy's on my SS and like them too. Although, i don't think entry in the Candy is AS smooth, but still great.


one of my favorite features... you can rebuild any of the Crank Bros pedals for about $20. So if you wear them out, and you will evenutally, you can rebuild your pedal for $20 instead of buying a new set of expensive pedals.

Note: I've been riding mine for 3 years now, i will rebuild them for the first time this season.

[bikerRob]

4/03/05 >> My new bike came with a set of entry level Shimano pedals that are simply crap. Are the Crank Bros. compatible with Shimano SPD cleats?? The C.Bros. don't look to have much of a stable platform...do the candys have a more stable feel??

[Buddylee]

The SPD cleats are not compatible, but of course if you buy some new eggbeaters, they will come with new cleats.

The Candy pedals do have a larger platform and give you that platform feel. I've never had an issue with the amount of platform on the eggbeaters. They actually have much more platform than many other pedals on the market....

From Crank Bros site...

Do the pedals have enough contact area?

Yes. In fact, the egg beater actually has as much or more contact area than most other clipless pedals. In addition to the sole of your shoe contacting the pedal, the unique design of our cleat contacts the pedal at two outer areas giving great stability. The platform feels large and solid while you're clipped in.

Unless you like to ride unclipped, then you will never feel like there isn't enough platform on the pedal.

[DKEG]

Jason turned me on to candy's about six months ago and like them alot. I had been using SPD's before and it is night and day. Easier to get in and out of is the main reason. You can find them on EBAY a lot of times for $50 to $60 (new). I will say I did break my frist pair (I broke one of the things the cleats clip into). But have had no problems since.

[esfand]

There are some interesting responses to this thread on mtbr, as well: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=90442

I'm gonna try the Times next, I think.

[ezraw]

Not a single complaint about my Time ATACs. I've got them on my commuter and trail bike, and I love 'em.

The point about rebuilding eggbeaters is a good one, but my LBS did rebuild a pedal for me last year after I bashed one real hard and the spring bent. Can't remember the cost, and it was not something I could have done myself, though.

For what it's worth, the Time platform seems to offer a modicum of protection you might not get with the non-platform eggbeaters. And it is nice to be able to cruise down the market, etc. without having to put on cleated shoes.

Either way, not sure you can make a wrong choice here.

[drevil]

Which do you prefer and why? I'm a little tired of my SPDs, and I'm thinking of switching.

I've personally seen more than six (but less than a dozen) broken Eggbeaters. However, I've never seen a single broken Candy. Also, I've never seen (or heard) of a single broken Time pedal, be it Alium, ATAC XS, or the old ones ATAC.

Every one that I know that broke their Eggbeaters was taken care of by Crank Bros, but why deal with it in the first place?

BTW, until late last year I used Shimanos almost exclusively since ~'96 on my mountain bikes. I tried a buddy's Time pedals for a short ride and I was hooked immediately at how smooth and easy it is to clip in and out. I have stopped using Shimanos and now have three sets of ATAC XS.

[dmofot]

However, I've never seen a single broken Candy

Don't forget the Candy I broke...and now my left Candy pedal has developed some side to side play, so it may not be long before it comes off the spindle. To be fair, the Candy I broke was while doing the downhill stage of ECNASSCU in the rocks of State College, PA.

My next pedals will be Time, whenever I get around to it that is. Crank Bros. definitely treated me right and quickly, but like Ricky just said, why deal with it if you don't have to.

DT

[drevil]

Don't forget the Candy I broke...and now my left Candy pedal has developed some side to side play, so it may not be long before it comes off the spindle. To be fair, the Candy I broke was while doing the downhill stage of ECNASSCU in the rocks of State College, PA.

My next pedals will be Time, whenever I get around to it that is. Crank Bros. definitely treated me right and quickly, but like Ricky just said, why deal with it if you don't have to.

DT

Aboard his fixed gear mountain and road bikes, DT is long on the miles but short on the finesse and maintenance. If something survives under him, it's either really tough shite or God/Allah/Buddha wanted it that way. Buy whatever he doesn't break; it'll last forever :D

[Dirt]

I'm a time guy.

Almost everyone I know who rides eggbeaters or Candys has at least lost the endcaps on them... if not broken them to the point where they need to be replaced.

Crank Bros does a great job replacing broken pedals.

I'm now having to replace my time pedals.... after almost 6 years of riding on them. The bearings squeak a little. They still work perfectly well.

Both work great. I like the way the times feel and last better.

Pete

[Buddylee]

Aboard his fixed gear mountain and road bikes, DT is long on the miles but short on the finesse and maintenance. If something survives under him, it's either really tough shite or God/Allah/Buddha wanted it that way. Buy whatever he doesn't break; it'll last forever :D


sorry dt, but that's funny!!! :D

[dmofot]

Hey call it what you will. I like to think of it as riding over the rocks instead of around them...you call it finesse, I call it fun. My broken list isn't that extensive...frame, stem, chainring, pedal, and seat...oh and about half a dozen helmets. I don't count wheels lost to derby...

I'm on a journey, a journey to find products that require no or minimal maintenance, stand up to fixie abuse, AND can hold their own in a derby. So far the Surly 1x1 frame/fork and CK headset have passed the test and I particular like the SRAM Rustbuster PC-58 chain...other than that it's a toss up.

DT

[halfinch]

time. best pedal around imho.

[Joe Yannie]

about speedplay,
Having used times in the past ( but not eggbeaters) i will say that the times are the most consistent pedals out there. You get into them, just push hard ( mash if you will ) on the pedal and eventually you will be clipped in. I switched becaue I did not like the fact that my foot would slide lateraly while clipped in. I did not notice this until i developed knee problems. I had worn that little platic plate to the point of breaking it. The newer generation may not have this problem i don't know.

But I love my frogs. Also rebuildable, easy to maintain and great mud performance. The float and the entry take a little time to feel normal. But I would never go back.
Joe

[drevil]

about speedplay,
Having used times in the past ( but not eggbeaters) i will say that the times are the most consistent pedals out there. You get into them, just push hard ( mash if you will ) on the pedal and eventually you will be clipped in. I switched becaue I did not like the fact that my foot would slide lateraly while clipped in. I did not notice this until i developed knee problems. I had worn that little platic plate to the point of breaking it. The newer generation may not have this problem i don't know.


I tried the old Time pedals in '97 and did not like them because of the lateral sliding problem as well. However, the new ATAC XS pedals have addressed that issue and do not do that anymore.

Also, the new XS pedals have no plastic plate that cover the springs, so there is nothing to crack or wear through. BTW, how long did it take for you to get to that point, Joe? I'm pretty sure they were replaceable.

But I love my frogs. Also rebuildable, easy to maintain and great mud performance. The float and the entry take a little time to feel normal. But I would never go back.
Joe

I was also a big Frog advocate until I discovered that there were other pedals better suited for my type of riding: careless and clumsy with a teensy bit of air. I found the plastic of the Frog body and the old cleats a little delicate for my taste. The back stop of the pedal body would eventually wear through then I'd be floating all over the place. It became very hard to jump with no inboard stop. Also, the old cleats had little screwed on "mushroom heads" that wore fairly quickly, but that looks like a non-issue on the newest versions. Finally, I broke a couple and most of them developed play.

I think the ideal Frog user is someone who: may have knee problems, doesn't jump around much, or doesn't bang their pedals into stuff a lot.

Just my 2 pesos.

[riderx]

Another vote for Time. I've tried as hard as I can, but a I can't break them. I did wear a couple pair out (bearings), but that was literally after thousands of off-road miles. The new versions are even better.

And like Ricky, I know quite a few people who have busted the Eggbeaters but not a single one who has broken a Time pedal.

[bunky]

I pulled one of the beaters right off the spindle of my eggbeaters at Douthat last fall. That was my fault for not greasing the bearings, and may have just been because I had about 2 years of riding on them without doing any maintenance

I bought a pair of Candys from Dan Hoke so I could ride the remainder of Douthat. Less than a month later I sheared off one of the four "wings"--on a Candy.

Now--here's the good part of the story. I called up Los Hermanos Cranquistadores to see if they could hook me up repairing just the Candys. They told me to just send in BOTH :D pairs and they would overhaul them for gratis. Cost to me? Shipping.

So--excellent Service/Public Relations. I highly recommend these pedals and the company.

BTW-If you start slipping out- just replace the cleats. I thought I was screwed by the inability to adjust the tension. Turns out the cleats were just a bit worn down. Replaced the cleats and snug!

[mscard]

I've been using times since 97 or 98 and have no complaints. In fact my first pair is still in use on my daily commuter bike! I own an ATAC and ATAC Carbon and an Alum and all have worked equally well. As for the sliding on the older models, I actually like it in those tricky sections where you need to use a little extra body english to clear it. I've tried a set of the new XS pedals and they are a bit crisper, but like Ricky said, no longer have the side-to-side sliding.

Also, like Ricky I've seen too may eggbeaters break to even consider buying one. Heck, if somebody gave me one it would be on e-bay by the end of the day. The worst break I've seen was on a road ride with Scud and Erin Gay - Erin went to crank on the pedals and snap - no more pedal body. If a piece of equipment can't stand up to the Capital Cresent trail its the last thing I want on my bike during an epic ride.

[hophead]

I pulled one of the beaters right off the spindle of my eggbeaters at Douthat last fall. That was my fault for not greasing the bearings, and may have just been because I had about 2 years of riding on them without doing any maintenance
Mtn bike parts break and if they are neglected they break prematurely. I think you hit the nail on the head. I've never tried Time pedals, but I've broken every pedal that I've ever used eventually. I am currently running Eggbeaters on my singlespeed and Candys on my NRS. I ride the ss almost every day and have had no problems with my Eggbeaters yet. Knowing that all mechanical things will break eventually, IMO, service and performance are the most important factors.

It seems that everyone agrees that Crank Bros. offers a high level of service. My Eggbeaters are the best pedals that I have ever used. They are great in all conditions--mud, ice, snow, whatever. I can always clip in with no problem. The jury's still out on the Candys. I don't ride my greared bike much anymore so I really haven't put any miles on them.

When I break an Eggbeater, not if, when, I will replace them with another set of the same.

[drewdane]

So I just remembered I had an old pair of ATAC Aliums lying around that came stock on my cross bike, so I threw them onto the Stumpjumper to check them out. Tomorrow's ride will be the true test, but my initial impression is I should've switched a long time ago!

[Joe Yannie]

I tried the old Time pedals in '97 and did not like them because of the lateral sliding problem as well. However, the new ATAC XS pedals have addressed that issue and do not do that anymore.

Also, the new XS pedals have no plastic plate that cover the springs, so there is nothing to crack or wear through. BTW, how long did it take for you to get to that point, Joe? I'm pretty sure they were replaceable.

I knew that, but i could not get over my foot sliding everytime i was pushing hard. I replaced them adn that did not fix it, it just kept my foot from tilting when it reached the edge. I think the sliding is also shoe related, it depends on how deep the cleat pocket is(or was as it may be a non isue now).



I was also a big Frog advocate until I discovered that there were other pedals better suited for my type of riding: careless and clumsy with a teensy bit of air. I found the plastic of the Frog body and the old cleats a little delicate for my taste. The back stop of the pedal body would eventually wear through then I'd be floating all over the place. It became very hard to jump with no inboard stop. Also, the old cleats had little screwed on "mushroom heads" that wore fairly quickly, but that looks like a non-issue on the newest versions. Finally, I broke a couple and most of them developed play.

I think the ideal Frog user is someone who: may have knee problems, doesn't jump around much, or doesn't bang their pedals into stuff a lot.

Just my 2 pesos.

Well, since I started riding when they were still magnums (no back stop and celia potts was on her way to a world champ.) the float thing did not bother me, and I have speedplays on my road bike. You get used to having to hold your foot straight. I am also a weight freak with knee problems :).

[joep]

There was a time that I broke 3 (maybe 4) sets of eggbeaters in less than a year. In all cases the retaining clip holding the pedal onto the spindle broke and the pedal came off. In one case I was coming down a rocky downhill and lost control because of it. I've switched to Times but I must admit I like the "feel" of the eggbeaters better. The eggbeaters are easier to clip in to in a hurry.

[crashmore]

Add me to the list of former candy/eggbeater users. I broke a brand new Ti Candy yesterday while doing the Hoyles Mill ride. Exactly one week earlier I killed another set of Candy C's. The bearings blew up in the Ti and the pedal started to develop major play on the spindle. The bearings siezed up badly on the C's. No doubt crank brothers has great customer service but I'm tired of breaking pedals while out on the trail.

First order of business after getting home yesterday was to go buy a new site of Times.

FYI As icing on the cake Pete broke his brand new crank brothers pump on the same ride yesterday.