The union for life is a give and take. That's the ideal. In many cases, however, only one person gives and the other takes. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why fewer and fewer couples want to tie the knot. If pedals could decide freely, it would probably be similar. A commitment could hardly be more one-sided. Everyone is traipsing around on them. More and more bikers, including endurists and downhillers, are opting for a fixed connection to the bike. The myth of the round pedal has long been scientifically disproved. You invest more power when pulling than you gain in propulsion. Nevertheless, power transmission with clipless pedals is still more effective than with a platform pedal and, above all, makes biomechanical sense. Once correctly adjusted, the foot is permanently in the optimum position on the pedal. Obstacles are often easier to overcome with clipless pedals, and in technical passages there is little risk of unintentionally slipping off the pedals. And when sprinting? The clipless pedal beats the platform version anyway, because you can also accelerate properly in the pull phase.
Perfect power transmission, secure footing and a biomechanically optimised position - clipless pedals have many advantages. But beware: beginners should practise first before venturing off-road.
So there are plenty of reasons why bikers should get stuck in. The disadvantage: You should practise riding with clipless pedals. If you start rolling without having internalised the lateral release, you will usually end up on your face very quickly. And even with a lot of practice, you will hardly get your foot on the ground as quickly in tricky situations as with a platform pedal. Over the past few weeks, we have tested a total of 14 models in three categories. Six inexpensive pedals for a maximum of 80 euros. Four lightweight pedals for racers and lightweight freaks. And a further four models on which you can stand securely thanks to a larger cage in technical passages or even with less stiff soles.
You can find these clipless pedals in our test:
Pedals up to 80 euros:
- BBB ForceMount
- Crankbrothers Candy 1
- Look S-Track
- Mavic Crossride SL
- Shimano PD-M540 (BIKE tip: price/performance)
- Time XC2
Race pedals:
- BBB ForceMount TI (BIKE Tip: Race)
- Crankbrothers Eggbeater 11 gold
- Shimano XTR PD-M9000
- XPedo M-Force 8
Enduro pedals:
- HT Components X1
- Mavic Crossmax XL
- Shimano XT PD-M785 (BIKE tip: test winner)
- Xpedo Baldwin (BIKE tip: Enduro)
There is a Shimano model in each of the three categories. According to our reader survey, more than 50 per cent of bikers pedal with a pedal from the Japanese component giant. This is not entirely incomprehensible. The SPD mechanism has been in use for 25 years - almost unchanged. The bearing technology has also proven itself and is virtually indestructible. The price for this is a slightly higher weight. The release hardness can be easily adjusted using an Allen key. This makes the pedals suitable for beginners through to experts. It is always easy to get on the pedals and the exit is clearly defined. Of course, good things always find imitators. The models from BBB and Xpedo are also compatible with the SPD system. They work similarly well, but not quite as smoothly and only really well with the cleats supplied by the manufacturer.
HT's mechanism is similar, but not SPD-compatible. However, it offers numerous customisation options. The release hardness can be adjusted, the distance from the shoe to the pedal can be adjusted using spacer plates and the exit angle can be varied using different cleats. Crankbrothers, Look, Time and the identical Mavic all use their own spring wire systems. The release hardness cannot be adjusted here, and the entry and exit is not as defined as with BBB, Shimano and Xpedo. Crankbrothers, Mavic and Time, on the other hand, allow you to change the exit angle. The cleats are asymmetrically shaped and, depending on which side they are mounted on, offer between 15 and 20 (Crankbrothers) or 13 and 17 degrees of exit angle (Mavic and Time). With Crankbrothers and Look, the distance between the sole of the shoe and the pedal can also be equalised using spacer plates, thus minimally adjusting the hardness of the step-in and step-out. And if you really need some distance from your pedal, the binding can be loosened at any time with a small twist of the foot.
BIKE test editor Stefan Frey: "There are very few reasons not to ride Shimano. The SPD system has proven itself over 25 years and is celebrating its silver wedding anniversary. The design reliably guides the shoe into the pedal. The clearly defined entry and exit and the wide adjustment range make it easy for beginners in particular to get used to the click system. BBB and Xpedo rely on an SPD-compatible mechanism. This is hardly inferior to the Japanese in terms of functionality. Both manufacturers score points for their significantly lower weight in all categories. If you want something really light, there is no way around the "snow broom" from Crankbrothers. Racers compensate for the small contact area with correspondingly stiff carbon soles or opt for the still light and very affordable Candy. If you need a little more freedom of movement on your feet, the Time and Mavic models are also an option. When it comes to platform pedals, Mavic and Xpedo offer the best compromise between weight and stability. However, the X1 from HT Components can't be beaten when it comes to adjustment options and the size of the footprint."
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE PEDALS
Adjustable release hardness, different release angles or an improved contact surface - most systems can be customised to personal preferences as standard or using accessories.
You can read this article or the entire issue of BIKE 8/2015 in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or buy the issue in the DK shop reorder:
Stefan Frey
Editor
