Clipless pedals, Mallet

bean · Apr 29, 2011

Unless you need to be able to ride in street shoes, I wouldn't bother with a combo pedal. Once you get used to clipless you probably won't want to spend much time on the platform side. I have Shimano A530 pedals on my commuting bike only because I need to be able to ride it in street shoes.

I rode Crank Brothers Candy pedals for a few years. I switched to SPD when those pedals were stolen, and I'm actually sort of happy that they were taken. I like the SPD pedals better.

????? · Apr 29, 2011

I hate how the egg beater contraption rotates around inside the crank brothers pedal bodies. This makes them suck for riding when you're not clipped in and also makes the egg beater vulnerable to hitting rocks. I don't have the mallets specifically, but they're basically the same idea as all the rest. I had some Acid's and still have some candy's. Worst pedals ever. Have a look at the offerings from Time. They're what crank brothers failed to copy anyways.

mrbigisbudgood · Apr 29, 2011

????? said:
I hate how the egg beater contraption rotates around inside the crank brothers pedal bodies. This makes them suck for riding when you're not clipped in and also makes the egg beater vulnerable to hitting rocks. I don't have the mallets specifically, but they're basically the same idea as all the rest. I had some Acid's and still have some candy's. Worst pedals ever. Have a look at the offerings from Time. They're what crank brothers failed to copy anyways.

I have both (bodied and non) and I agree. The body makes it more difficult to clip in. I prefer the wide open EggBeater much more.

That said, when these give up the ghost, I will go back to Time and never switch again.

johnbryanpeters · Apr 29, 2011

Heypal said:
I am 34 years old and have been riding since I could touch the pedals. I am going to pick up a new ride this year (Giant Talon 1 29er) and am thinking of going with a clipless pedal. I have NEVER tried them and are a bit nervous about being clipped into a bike. Being I will not always want to be clipped in, I am looking for a combo pedal. One that has caught my attention is the Crank Bros Mallet. Would there be any reason not to try this pedal as my first clipless go around?

Thanks,
Pal

Don't bother with being nervous. It'll take you a week to get used to clipless, with two required fall-over-when-stopped incidents, after which you'll be golden. Don't waste money on combos.

stoney · Apr 29, 2011

SPD, single-function. You will fall over at traffic lights a few times, it's a gimmie and we've all done it.

dante · Apr 29, 2011

????? said:
I hate how the egg beater contraption rotates around inside the crank brothers pedal bodies. This makes them suck for riding when you're not clipped in and also makes the egg beater vulnerable to hitting rocks. I don't have the mallets specifically, but they're basically the same idea as all the rest. I had some Acid's and still have some candy's. Worst pedals ever. Have a look at the offerings from Time. They're what crank brothers failed to copy anyways.

mrbigisbudgood said:
I have both (bodied and non) and I agree. The body makes it more difficult to clip in. I prefer the wide open EggBeater much more.

That said, when these give up the ghost, I will go back to Time and never switch again.

Interesting, I absolutely love the CB stuff and won't ride anything else. It's just a simple sliding forward motion that causes the tines to line up perfectly, as opposed to having to find the front "wedge" of the cleat on other pedals. Raced DH with the Mallets and Acids, and have Candys and Eggbeaters on the XC and road. <shrug> To each their own.

To the OP, practice in a doorway first, where you can hold onto the door jamb for stability while you get used to it. And yes, you'll crash twice not being able to get your feet out of the pedal, but after that you should be fine. Don't worry about it, take it slow, and don't bother with the "combo" pedals.

Pesqueeb · Apr 29, 2011

dante said:
Interesting, I absolutely love the CB stuff and won't ride anything else. It's just a simple sliding forward motion that causes the tines to line up perfectly, as opposed to having to find the front "wedge" of the cleat on other pedals. Raced DH with the Mallets and Acids, and have Candys and Eggbeaters on the XC and road. <shrug> To each their own.

To the OP, practice in a doorway first, where you can hold onto the door jamb for stability while you get used to it. And yes, you'll crash twice not being able to get your feet out of the pedal, but after that you should be fine. Don't worry about it, take it slow, and don't bother with the "combo" pedals.

Crank Bros in various forms on all of my bikes. I have mallets on the niner. I bought them several bikes ago for the exact reason OP is looking at them, something to stand on if you don't want to clip in. That being said as I have gotten used to being clipped in and can now quickly get out, I think I'll probably go back to a regular egg beater when my mallets finally die, I just don't ever un-clip anymore. I have beat the bejeebus out of my pedals with zero issues. :thumb:

from me for Crank Bros.

Start in the grass. As others have pointed out, you will fall over.

norbar · Apr 29, 2011

CB cleats wear quite fast if you use them and a lot of their pedals have had durability problems (mallets, eggbeaters). Id go with time. I own a pair of attacks that are around 10 years old and still run strong.

Silver · Apr 29, 2011

dante said:
It's just a simple sliding forward motion that causes the tines to line up perfectly

If you can't get into a set of CB pedals, you're doing it wrong. Not that any clipless pedals are hard to get into once your used to them...

BikerBoy28 · Apr 29, 2011

good call on the clipless, after awhile you wont even notice your clipped in while still getting the benefits. I do recommend trying shimano though, had some bad experiences with crank Bros. One mallet pedal fell right off the spindle, and the other the spindle snapped clean off.

Sandwich · Apr 29, 2011

I loves me some TIMEs. I have the cheapo ATACs and they're just great. I came from SPD 535s beforehand, and really do like the times better. You have a great feel for when you're clipped in (my SPDs, regardless of manufacturer, were always a bit vague) and release is robust. The low end model can be grabbed for not too much moneys.

I also agree that you'll crash twice. Once while practicing, and once out on a trail in front of a bunch of people doing something stupid and embarrassing. It happens, get over it.

Also don't forget to spend a reasonable amount of money on shoes that fit great. I think this is one area that supporting your LBS is worth it. Try on a couple different pairs and get ones that fit great. I have some shimano M86s and I'm very satisifed as a casual rider. I originally had some alpinestars that were absolute trash.

moff_quigley · Apr 29, 2011

Do yourself a favor and get Times. I hated the Egg's and Candie's I used. Bearings didn't last very long either.

stevew · Apr 29, 2011

part of the still running flat pedals gang.

dante · Apr 29, 2011

Sandwich said:
Also don't forget to spend a reasonable amount of money on shoes that fit great. I think this is one area that supporting your LBS is worth it. Try on a couple different pairs and get ones that fit great. I have some shimano M86s and I'm very satisifed as a casual rider. I originally had some alpinestars that were absolute trash.

This too. Everyone's feet are a different shape, and so there's going to be some variation in comfort across different brands/models. Some have narrow toeboxes, some have wider toeboxes, some have weird seams in places that just seem to dig into your foot, etc.

Sandwich · Apr 29, 2011

good point. I think I ended up in shimano's 45s, which is the equivalent of a men's 11-11.5 in US sizing. I typically wear a 10.5 street shoe and 11 athletic shoe, but the size 44 in shimano were too small. I ended up going to REI to get the dividend points (and since you can generally return things even if you pooped in them) but spent some time trying on 44s and 45s until I decided on my size, and they fit great.

A real LBS person would be much more helpful, but I'm stubborn like that.

skinny mike · Apr 30, 2011

i'm a fan of the mallets that i'm running on my bike. haven't had any durability issues, keep me clipped in when i want to stay in, and when i do want to unclip i'm out in a split second. i've even done a couple mile trail ride on them unclipped when i forgot my riding shoes at home.

pedals are a personal preference thing. i'm not a big fan of shimano pedals due to their feel when unclipping.

ZoRo · Apr 30, 2011

These work really well (Shimano M647) although they don't offer the same amount of float than the crank brother pedals. They have a very 'secure' clip in feeling which is good when you are used to clipless but maybe a bit scary at 1st

BikerBoy28 · Apr 30, 2011

2nd'ed. I've used alot of clipless pedals and those (m647) are by far the best

DirtyMike · May 1, 2011

Skip the mallots...... I went through four spindles on mine, they are not as positive on the entry, the cleats wear fast, even with the mech on them you dont feel very secure on the pedal.

If your looking for a combo pedal for rough, go with the 647's..... positive engagement, easy to get into, strong spindle, I mean they have held up to me for three years now......

For those saying not to get a combo pedal...... gotta remember to look at what your doing, for a racing application like DH... The combo is nice, specially when you come into a corner a little too hot and have to dab..... thats were it shines, you can come out of that corner slap your foot back on the pedal and start pedalling without worrying if your back in.... and you will jsut find yourself becomeing engaged in a few pedal strokes.......

Love my 647's... wont ride anything else for DH

johnbryanpeters · May 1, 2011

DirtyMike said:
Skip the mallots...The combo is nice, specially when you come into a corner a little too hot and have to dab..... thats were it shines, you can come out of that corner slap your foot back on the pedal and start pedalling without worrying if your back in.... and you will jsut find yourself becomeing engaged in a few pedal strokes...

That and I find that 646/647s are just flat easier to kick into and lock after you dab than SPDs without the surrounding platform.

5150dhbiker · May 1, 2011

I've run them for DH the past few years and don't reccomend them at all. They WILL break and break quickly! Go for Shimano

I need to listen to my own advice though...still running my CB's

herbman · May 1, 2011

moff_quigley said:
Do yourself a favor and get Times. I hated the Egg's and Candie's I used. Bearings didn't last very long either.

Times FTW, my first set of Z's is close to 10 years old now and still going.

Icantdrive65 · May 3, 2011

I love Mallets. I have been running them for almost 9 years now. I have two pairs of the original Mallet C. I put the taller teeth on and love the grip when not clipped in.

I got a pair of Acids from a friend, but I think I still prefer the big platform on the Mallets.

I have had to rebuild one pair twice. The first time I let them go too long and the bushings wore out so bad that the pedal slipped right off the axle. I had a spindle break when I was riding my oldest pair last year. Fortunately it broke on a flat, smooth part of the trail.

BikerBoy28 · May 6, 2011

Nice you are going to be super happy with the shimanos! Just remember to adjust the tension down a bit for the first few rides to make clipping out easier and ramp it up as you get more comfortable.

Clipless pedals, Mallet

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