Most secure two-bolt clipless pedals?

Lumen

For unavoidable practical reasons I do a lot of fast road cycling/training in MTB shoes.

I've just upgraded myself from ancient and knackered Specialized Comp MTB shoes to some shiny new S-Works MTB shoes. They're super stiff carbon soled things which feel like a road shoe, but have exposed deficiencies in my pedals.

I'm currently using Speedplay Frogs, which I chose because of the free float. I'm less concerned about that now, but I'm finding that these pedals feel quite insecure even with properly mounted cleats. There seems to be some play around the cleat which isn't a factor of wear but a design issue.

Prior to this I used Crank Bros Eggbeaters and I found those similarly wobbly.

I think the choices remaining in a two-bolt pattern are:

- Shimano SPD. Haven't used these in a few years.
- Time Roc or Atac.
- Look Quartz.

I don't care about mud clearance, float or ease of entry/exit, I just want them to feel properly attached to my feet throughout the pedal stroke.

Thoughts?

ROK ON

Lumen wrote: »

I think the choices remaining in a two-bolt pattern are:

- Shimano SPD. Haven't used these in a few years.
- Time Roc or Atac.
- Look Quartz.

I used SPD's on my commuting/training bike for a while, but I found that when going fast an consciously focusing on the up and down stroke while pedalling that my cleat had a habit of popping out of the pedal on the upstroke.
For this reason, I simply changed over to my road pedals.

For that reason alone I wouldn't recommend the Shimano SPD's.

Lumen

ROK ON wrote: »

I used SPD's on my commuting/training bike for a while, but I found that when going fast an consciously focusing on the up and down stroke while pedalling that my cleat had a habit of popping out of the pedal on the upstroke.

Which SPDs were you using? Did they have adjustable tension?

ROK ON

Lumen wrote: »

Which SPDs were you using? Did they have adjustable tension?

They did have adjustable tension. as I kept tightening them, before I ditched them.

PD-M540

irishmotorist

I use M540s and have no problem with them. I keep them quite floaty and loose but have never once had them come loose unexpectedly.

Edit - I think they are 520s that I have.

Lumen

LOL at BikeRadar reviews of the M980s.

5 stars, Fri 27 Aug 2010, Justin Lorenz, What Mountain Bike
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/pedals/product/review-shimano-xtr-pedals-10-39635

2 stars, Wed 22 Dec 2010, Matt Pacocha, US editor
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/pedals/product/review-shimano-xtr-pd-m980-race-pedals-42708

At the bottom of this 2 star review there is a second opinion from some bloke named Justin Lorenz, who awards 4/5 stars.

So even the same tester can't agree with himself whether they're any good or not.

petethedrummer

I do all my training and commuting on M520 SPDs and have yet to pull my shoes out while in the act of cycling.

smacl

I also use M520s on my road bike and M424s on my hybrid, both set quite loose. I've come out on the rare occasion hitting a bump at speed on the hybrid, but never due to pressure on the up stroke. I prefer the feel of the M424s but they'd look pretty naff on a road bike.

abcdggs

I know of several seasoned couriers who would swear by time atac, ie riding brakeless fixed gears with them and have no problems. That, to me, seems like a pretty solid pedal system. Although having used them for a period i also found them a little wobbly. In terms of pedal security, i'd be very impressed if you found any better than XTR spd's, also you have less of an issue with cleat wear with the shimano system compared with the ATAC's

Lumen

abcdggs wrote: »

I know of several seasoned couriers who would swear by time atac, ie riding brakeless fixed gears with them and have no problems. That, to me, seems like a pretty solid pedal system. Although having used them for a period i also found them a little wobbly. In terms of pedal security, i'd be very impressed if you found any better than XTR spd's, also you have less of an issue with cleat wear with the shimano system compared with the ATAC's

It seems that the Atacs have lateral float, which seems just plain weird to me. I've also busted two pairs of high-end Time pedals, so I'm gratified that your "little wobbly" comment allows me to eliminate them from the selection.

tunney

I commute on these
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/drivetrain/pedal/shimano/pd-m647/prd_362878_135crx.aspx

I've folded chain rings on my fixie before I've popped a cleat out. Lateral float though.

My 8 year old Spesh Comp MTB shoes have died - is Cycleways the only place that sells Spesh shoes?

Lumen

tunney wrote: »

I commute on these
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/drivetrain/pedal/shimano/pd-m647/prd_362878_135crx.aspx

I've folded chain rings on my fixie before I've popped a cleat out. Lateral float though.

By "lateral float" on the Atac I mean "moves left-right" rather than "rotates clockwise/anti-clockwise". AFAIK all SPD cleats only have rotational float.

tunney wrote: »

My 8 year old Spesh Comp MTB shoes have died - is Cycleways the only place that sells Spesh shoes?

I bought mine from bike-sport.de as they do half sizes (43.5 for me).

Lumen

Thanks all. Found some M980s for €90 from bike-components.de, will give them a shot.

petethedrummer

petethedrummer wrote: »

I do all my training and commuting on M520 SPDs and have yet to pull my shoes out while in the act of cycling.

Tell a lie, it's the A530s I'm using at the mo.

triggermortis

tunney wrote: »

I commute on these
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/drivetrain/pedal/shimano/pd-m647/prd_362878_135crx.aspx

I've folded chain rings on my fixie before I've popped a cleat out. Lateral float though.

My 8 year old Spesh Comp MTB shoes have died - is Cycleways the only place that sells Spesh shoes?

I think 58 degrees north stock Specialized

Explosive_Cornflake

ROK ON wrote: »

They did have adjustable tension. as I kept tightening them, before I ditched them.

PD-M540

Do the cleats have an M printed on them? I'd almost bet they were Shimano Easy Cleats. They pop out with pressure in any direction.

Edit: Link

doozerie

I've been using SPD M770's on one of my commute bikes for the last few weeks and I like them. I've been using the SH51 cleats for a few years now, which provide a wider variety of exit options (can't quite remember the details) - I specifically chose those when using my bike as a fixie and just stuck with them ever since mostly 'cos I've been too lazy to check what the alternative version is. In theory, unintentional clicking out is a greater risk with the SH51's but I've not found that to be a problem in practice, though as they wear out you can certainly feel more "float" in them. With SH51 cleats I find these pedals quite solid with the default tension setting.

My previous pedals on the current commute bike were M540's as far as I can remember, and I wouldn't recommend them as they've rusted up quickly over winter and clipping out of those can be a bugger at times due to the grippy effect of rust. I've not got the patience to sand them down, clean them up, and repeat regularly to keep off the rust. I'm hoping the M770's will fare better but only time will tell - I have a much older pair of SPD's, from the mid 90's, that have never rusted up and I'm hoping the M770's will turn out to be more like these.

Incidentally, the M770's are available from Canyon here for 39.95euro, plus shipping (in or around 10euro, I think), which is a good price. Canyon are not always the fastest at delivering though.

Wishbone Ash

I've been using M SH 56 cleats for several years on both pairs of shoes. They have always felt very secure and although the're supposed to unclip vertically I've never had this happen (except after coming off hard in black frost one morning when I presume they must have unclipped on impact).

smacl

doozerie wrote: »

I've been using the SH51 cleats for a few years now, which provide a wider variety of exit options

I'm pretty sure the SH51 cleats are single release (e.g. twist outwards only) whereas the SH56 are multi-release (twist in any direction to release). I use the SH56 which definitely are easier to get out off, but can give you bad habits such as twisting heels in to release. Not so clever if you've biggish overshoes on and your pedals are close to the spokes, as I found out last weekend.

doozerie

smacl wrote: »

I'm pretty sure the SH51 cleats are single release (e.g. twist outwards only) whereas the SH56 are multi-release (twist in any direction to release).

Yikes, you're dead right, and here was me thinking for the last while that I must switch to single release at some point. Hello senility, we meet at last On the plus side, maybe I'll wake up in the morning to find that I've already cut the grass which laughed at me today as it turns my garden into a wild forest - I could grow to like this senility business.

Wishbone Ash

doozerie wrote: »

cut the grass

That says it all - us professionals "mow the lawn"!

Miklos

I use Time ATACs and couldn't recommend them enough. Stiff as you like.

doozerie

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

That says it all - us professionals "mow the lawn"!

Ah, but there is mowing the lawn and then there is professionally mowing the lawn:

mp31

doozerie wrote: »

Ah, but there is mowing the lawn and then there is professionally mowing the lawn:

No high viz, no helmet and no lycra... tsk tsk...;)

smacl

And is that a hybrid mower? Where's the drops, man?