Started on fixies commuting, then raced road and CX in college on Shimano clipless. After college I got my first cross-country mountain bike and just kept using the same pedal/shoe combo from racing cyclocross.
Got into dirt bikes around 2021 and figured I'd try flat pedals since I wasn't clipped in on the dirt bike.. felt really good. Stayed on flats for five years.
Recently switched to Crank Brothers Mallet DH. Wanted a little additional security and to get pedaling efficiency back without completely losing the flat pedal feel. The main reason I finally made the move was chewing through too many shoes on aggressive pins. The platform on the Mallet DH made it feel like a reasonable tradeoff. Two falls relearning engagement.
I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it. There have been a few moments where I've felt sketchy, and engagement isn't as positive as it should be..but it feels kind of muddy clipping in. Thinking I might need a really thin spacer or something.
Anyone else make this switch after a long flat pedal run? Did engagement feel vague at first, or is this a setup issue?
by Few_Package5409
7 Comments
Practice on the lawn… A lot.
A vague entry feeling is pretty normal for Crank Bros pedals.
It’s the unfortunate price you pay for easy entry and exit.
A cleat shim might help a bit but you’ll lose some of the platform feel.
I did not like the mallets and almost decides to go back to flats then I switched to Shimano SPD and I like them way more
I have run crank brothers for many years. The Pros- easy entry easy release, an overall smoother feel. Feels better than the Shimano’s I rode before as far as knee strain.
Cons- its unique mechanism has two downsides. Pedal strikes can release your foot because both sides of the mechanism are connected( pressure on the bottom can cause the top to open) Also the relative large size of the bars means they are easily broken.
And lastly they are known for axle bearing failures ( Ive had two pair warranted no problem in the past)
Can somebody tell me why they’re called clipless if they seem to clip in to the pedal?
Science says stick to flats.
You could have started with the Candy. Those have a smooth platform which makes release a lot easier. Especially with their ‘easy’ cleats. It’s almost as easy as taking your foot of a flat pedal.