Crank Bros Platform Eggbeater Pedals

[powderboy]

Ok... I'm supposed to keep this on the down low, but I thought I'd share it with the Monkeys (we're good at keeping secrets, right?).

Crank Bros is introducing an entirely new pedal on June 15 built on the Eggbeater design to be called the Mallet C.

2-sided DH/freeride pedal
4-sided entry
Large aluminum platform
Egg Beater core technology
540g/pair

$100 US retail

Official product release date is June 15 and should be available in stores August 1! It looks like a sweet pedal for sure!

[Heidi]

hehe - I just got the email on that too!

[Flipper]

Hey they looks like my time z control's go figure :)

http://www.timesportusa.com/images/zcontrol-lg.jpg

4 sided entry :confused: ?

"Egg Beater core technology" LOL nice marketing

[powderboy]

Originally posted by Flipper
Hey they looks like my time z control's go figure :)

4 sided entry :confused: ?

Yeah, I'm guessing that the eggbeater rotates around inside the platform to allow you to engage it. The only issue I see is that the platform will get in the way if it isn't straight up and down.

I guess you never know until you try. Hopefully I'll have a pair to demo here soon. :D

[Flipper]

Well I like my time Z control's. I can't wait for your review.

[sub6]

at 540g per pair, I don't see what advantage they have over anything else. The whole point of eggs is a) 4-sided entry - which you don't have here b/c of the 2-sided platform, and b) light weight, which you don't have here either. Oh, and c) mud clearing ability, which you don't have here, b/c of the platform.

Maybe if it was like 340g per pair, they'd be setting the world on fire, but as I see it, the only advantage to those things is that I could wear the same pair of shoes for DH and XC....

I think they need tweaking.

[fonseca]

Actually, I think the mud shedding ability will be damned good. You can still push the mud through the pedal when you clip in just like with regular eggs; you can't to that with the Time Zs.

I'm not sure I see the point in clipless pedals with a platform though. Commit to one or the other, because both in one pedal are inferior. Either the platform gets in the way when you want to clip in, or the bars get in the way when you want to use the platform.

[powderboy]

Originally posted by fonseca
Actually, I think the mud shedding ability will be damned good. You can still push the mud through the pedal when you clip in just like with regular eggs; you can't to that with the Time Zs.

I'm not sure I see the point in clipless pedals with a platform though. Commit to one or the other, because both in one pedal are inferior. Either the platform gets in the way when you want to clip in, or the bars get in the way when you want to use the platform.

I think you're right on about the mud-shedding abilities... they will be far superior to any other clipless platforms.

But, obviously you've never slipped out of the pedals in a rough section and relied on the platform cage to get you through it until you can get it back together and clip in. :D Believe me, the platform-style SPD's are great for that.

Granted, they suck to ride without cleats, but that's not the intention. They're made to compensate for those times when it's either too sketchy or too hard to get back in, but you want something solid to stand on.

I like platform-style clipless pedals :thumb: and I'd be stoked to get on a pair of the new Mallet's!

[spincrazy]

Originally posted by sub6
at 540g per pair, I don't see what advantage they have over anything else. The whole point of eggs is a) 4-sided entry - which you don't have here b/c of the 2-sided platform, and b) light weight, which you don't have here either. Oh, and c) mud clearing ability, which you don't have here, b/c of the platform.

Maybe if it was like 340g per pair, they'd be setting the world on fire, but as I see it, the only advantage to those things is that I could wear the same pair of shoes for DH and XC....

I think they need tweaking.

That's exactly what I said in another thread elsewhere. I'd try em, but I like the Z pedals A LOT.

[sub6]

Originally posted by spincrazy
That's exactly what I said in another thread elsewhere. I'd try em, but I like the Z pedals A LOT.

Plagiarist.

[spincrazy]

Originally posted by sub6
Plagiarist.

:) off to check see who posted first and if you were where you shouldn't have been......:monkey:

[spincrazy]

ok, you got me. I posted this @ 1:07 pm, but I didn't read this thread yet CB may have something, but I'd expect them to be lighter than the Times or equivalent, and they aren't.

[sub6]

LOL @ Spin :D

On the mud-shedding issue - I agree that mud will push through them unlike a SPD or Time, but still the spaces in there are pretty tight - where the platform surrounds the clip adds a lot of tight places to pack up with mud. It would probably be better than any of the other splatform/clips on the market, I'll admit that.

It's probably not a big deal though. My biggest disappointment was seeing Egg DH and thinking "oooh, finally a LIGHT DH pedal"......

[fonseca]

Originally posted by powderboy
But, obviously you've never slipped out of the pedals in a rough section and relied on the platform cage to get you through it until you can get it back together and clip in. :D Believe me, the platform-style SPD's are great for that.

Oh but I have! :D

My pedal history is: Crappy wellgos -> Shimano 737s -> Shimano 747s -> Shimano 545s (platform/clipless combo) -> Time Atacs -> crank bros eggs

I stand by my earlier comments. I much prefer to use a real platform pedal and shoes with no cleats and nice soft rubber tread. I swap my eggs out if I think the trail I will be riding warrants platforms. You can't really use the platforms when there's a cleat in the way that's not engaged. It's not a great enough improvement over pedalling on just the bars of eggs or times.

I very rarely release by accident with eggs or times. That's much more of a problem with SPD pedals imo. The situation you described is the only time the combo type pedal is worth the trouble. I would never have stood up while pedalling without being clipped in when I used the 545s; you're nearly as likely to have your foot slip off as you are with plain non-platform clipless. And since I switched from times to eggs, the number of times per ride I don't clip in when I want to has dropped by 90%. They're so damn easy to clip into, I almost never have to try more than once, just roll my shoe over the pedal and I'm in.

Just my opinion of course. Your results may vary.