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If the guts of the M545s lok familiar, it's because they are basically the discontinued M515 bodies with alloy cages. Unclipping is noticeably less fluid than the latest Shimano SPD designs, especially if you want to run high release tension.
If you're on a tight budgete the Shimano M545s are a reliable option but don't be tempted by the cheaper Shimano M424s, as the basic resin cage isn't strong enough for serious abuse.
Shimano's popular platform SPD is a dual-sided pop-up binding pedal with a large alloy cage that gives great foot stability whether clipped in or just nancying about on top during scary trail sections. The SPD bit rests toe-up relative to the cage so a cleated shoe clicks in happily, and as a bonus the whole clipless mechanism is pushed flat and fairly flush with the cage for comfort when riding around with normal shoes. The clipless bit of the pedal is a fairly old design, and not as open in construction as more modern offerings so mud collection is rather keen.
A good value platform pedal that'll suit all types of riders
Extra grip and support and can be ridden with flat shoes
Versitile all-rounder. Ideal for those who aren't sure about going clipless
The original ATAC pedal was a Best Buy in previous grouptests and this is the freeride version that has a far greater platform area for freeride and downhill mountain biking, they might also appeal to some tourers or commuters. As with the old Atac, mud clearence is exceptionally good.
Quality kit, but one to try first.
Lots of quality for a budget price and easy to use
Almost identical to the XT pedal but made slightly cheaper due to lower quality bearings and hence a few grams heavier. But even that extra few (four!) grams does push this pedal to the top of the weight list for non-platformed pedals. But for the chunkiness you do get the same super-quick engagement and lovely positive release as the XT, just in a reversed colour scheme.
A beefy pedal but for the money it works briliantly and indistinguishable from the XT.
What does your extra tenner get you over the Shimano M520s? Well, they're a wee bit lighter and everything just feels a bit better quality out of the box, and there are no spanner flats on the cro-mo spindles so they tighten onto the crank with an allen key out back, looking neater as a result. Apart from that, it's more or less the same pedal, the same gappy mud-friendlier design, the same Shimano float and release feel. You either do or you don't really.
Affordable, tidy looking, and reassuringly durable
Shimano's origninal SPD system is one against which all similarly designed pedals are judged. The M520 offers exceptional value and performance for the money, and it's a tried and trusted design that works. Its mud shedding design and reliable clip and release mechanism is aimed at mountain bikers. The M520s also make great all-round pedals for tarmac when used with SPD shoes and the release tension can be backed off low or wound up tight for extra security on the road. These pedals last for ages and for £2.99 you can buy the axle removal tool that allows you to get to the bearings for quick and easy servicing. If you're not a fan of clipless pedals then you should consider a pair of M520s because they're very tough wearing and smooth running.
Superb SPD performance for the price, these set the benchmark.
While the entirely user serviceable bearing system has largely remained unchanged for two decades this second generation SPD also has the benefits of improved mud clearance and the cleats are compatible with most non-race shoes and indeed many hard-soled racing shoes that have cleat holes spaced 14mm apart.
Better mud clearence than before. Ideal for road users too.
Like all good off-road pedals, the mechanism stands proud of the body...it's good to know that this pedal works just as effectively on the road and the double-sided aspect makes it very easy to 'find' entry without needing to look down at your feet.
Best value serious off-road pedal also works well on the tarmac
In the market for your first pair of pedals, just to give the clipless thing a try? These are the one's we'd pick.
They're light, work well, and best of all, dirt cheap.
this basic model may lack the Teflon-like coating, but entry and exit from this latest design is without doubt one of the most reliable and confidence inspiring on the market. The snap of the guts when clipping in can be disconcerting to a new rider, but the bark is worse than the bite. As soon as you reach the edges of the 5° foat window, the release is quick and efficient. Bearing quality is not as high as more expensive pedals, but that's the case for most budget pedals. Neither are they super-light nor super-stiff.
What they offer is a perfect compromise: reliability and perfect performance at a great price. What more do you want from a product? Add to this the ubiquitous availability of cleats and it becomes difficult to recommend - a sure favourite in the mbr office.
Great value real SPD pedals that benefit from Shimano's trickle-down technology practice, using the design and cleats from the much-loved older and dearer 959 pedal. Your feet will clip in and out with the standard reliable Shimano clack, there's a wee bit of sticky release trouble when things get dry, gritty or claggy, and you have to get stompy on the pedal when riding in stupid-thick mud, but the open design of the cleat interface lets your standard issue gloop through without any bother.
Great value SPDs, a little heavy, but feel under foot isn't noticeable
The 520 gets the latest flatter profile adjustable spring tension body, plus sealed bearings, and all for £30
Shimano invented the the SPD and despite everyone trying to copy or 'improve' it, there's still no more popular way to clip your feet to your bike.
Time began using its twin-bar clipless designin the mid-'90s, and the latest is the state-of-the-art ATAC Carbon Ti model - which is race - winningly light and also bank account-cripplingly expensive, too.The end result has the light weight of an Eggbeater with greater bearing life but only 70 percent of the mud-clearing ability.The old steel wire retention bars have been replaced with cast items, and the pedals offer ï¬ve degrees of float, 5mm of lateral movement and a spring tension adjuster.The entry and release click remains positive and sure, thanks to the ATAC's open design, even when there's the best part of a muddy field jammed there.Time worked to improve its bearing seals, and the latest has a rubber collar that's so tight that it can squeak if it dries out (a drop of light lube sorts it).
A great pedal for racers who are looking for top performance
You're a hardcore Time pedal lover or your dicky knees simply demand a little more ?oat, this is the pedal for you.If like the sound of Time's ATAC Carbon Ti but thought the price was too salty, you'll love the XS. It's essentially identical to the Carbon Ti in terms of design and features, except it uses a resin body with a steel axle.The ATAC system, which allows separate adjustment of spring tension and foot release, works well, as does the 13°/17° adjustable cleat (just swap the cleats over to the other shoe).The sealed bearings are butter-smooth and, thanks to their excellent seals, the steel axle doesn't squeak like the titanium one does when it dries after a wetting. Overall, this mud-friendly, positive-feeling pedal is simple to set up and maintain and a joy to use.
A mud-shark pedal that's easy to live with and simple to set up
The new bars are shaped to offer better cleat entry/exit and the springs are now adjustable.
A great pedal, but the adjuster isn't worth the extra money.
For £100 a pair, you'd expect Time's ATAC XS carbon pedals to perform superbly and they certainly don't disappoint. The platforms are made from a super light carbon composite, thanks to the clever open arch design, the pedals are great at shredding mud and debris, Even thick mud and clay oozes through. The axles are made of steel which makes the pedals strong enough for everything and precision bearings keep them spinning very smoothly. Simple to adjust the tension springs in the mechanism.
Fantastic clipless XC pedals
For your extra money over the Time Atac XEs you get a carbon body on the same steel axle, an aluminium spring axle, cock-all weight difference and the ability to tune the pedal to one of three resistance settings with the Sensor Elasticity Tuner, or screw. You get the same Time-tastic, knee-happy amounts of angular and lateral though, the same 13 or 17° release, and the same stellar performance in mud. They come with a new arch design keeping the foot centred on the new wider pedal platform, which gives noticeably improved foot stability compared to old models, and its new design is supposed to provide a faster step in, but as Time's have always been stomp-and-go we noticed little difference.
The carbonicity will get some hearts a flutter but still a steep price
These are the top-end second generation of Time's excellent ATAC pedals...The entry is improved over the previous versions with a more slick, positive action with none of the uncertainty over engagement or ghost releases that we sometimes suffered with the old design
The best Time's yet
Five degrees of float both lateral and angular leads to an easy set up and long term healthy knees. The open arch design is self cleaning in that the cleat pushes any detritus through and out every time you engage. Despite the five degrees of float the disengagement point is either at 13° or 17°, depending on which way round you have the cleats. The result is that we never ever came close to accidently unclipping. Engaging was quick and positive although riders who liked to be only lightly attached didn't get on with them. Available in ladies' versions too: Exactly as the XS only with girly turquoise graphics, lower release tension and slightly smaller Q factor ie distance between pedals.
Chunky looking, tight and a good choice for riders with sensitive knees
Frog pedals have been around for ages with a few dedicated hoppers enjoying the way they do things arse-about-face by putting the spring mechanism as part of the cleat rather than the pedal. Hmmm. Set up is a little more delicate than other pedal systems; some shoes may need chunks of tread hacked off to get the large cleats to fit, and there's no inward release, cleat positioning has to be a bit more precise. On the positive side, there's plenty of walking-on-ice free float here, with a full 20° of buttery smooth movement to the outside which is great if you have iffy knees. Small, and with no external moving parts, the Frogs are extremely resistant to rock strikes and mud build up.
We like the concept and loads of float, but clipping in is too fluffy.
Here's Shimano's dependable SPD system in a bigger, easier-to-hit pedal. This is a trail pedal you can clip into, stand on, whack into rocks and not worry about.The usual clockwork precision of the SPD entry and exit will delight Shimanoites, as will the durability.Shimano has made metal-bodied platform cipless pedals, but its cheaper resin-bodied ones turned out to be more durable as well as lighter, so Shimano came up with this high-end version.It's also believed that in some circumstances the resin body will slide over rocks rather than gripping and launching the rider over the bars, so if you're prone to pedal-snag crashes, these might save you a flying lesson.Detractors will point to them being less than optimum for planting errant feet, and they're only okay at dealing with thick mud.Essentially, if you like pedalling where others don't, then save yourself at least one avoidable crash and use the resin-bodied DX.
Standard reliable SPD function in a rugged resin cage
perfect if you like the stability of flat pedals but the performance benefits of being clipped in. the wide resin cage supports your foot, allowing the use of softer-soled shoes. The cleat sticks up at the right angle when you're clipped out, making re-entry a breeze. They're wider than regular SPDs so you may catch them on more rocks or ruts though.
Performance and stability. A great way to move into SPDs.
Originally designed to withstand the rigours of DH and BMX racing, the DXs have proved popular with trail riders looking for improved pedal stability. The new design is lighter than its predecessor and the replaceable resin cage is a lot stronger than that of the entry-level 424s.
The DXs have a reassuring click on entry and have a pronounced edge where the float ends so you always know where you are. The flip side is that you can't get your foot down as quickly as on the mallets.
The venerable ATAC Alium has the famous mud-phobic Time performance, plus Tonka-toy durability thanks to solid cast alloy construction and steel wire clear retention bars.And, because this is one of the less glitzy models in Time's range, the price tag is pretty attractive, too.The steel axle performs perfectly, spinning on well sealed bearings that will last longer than most suspension concepts, while a positive clunk-click lets you know that you're clipped in. The wire bars offer a higher degree of rotational and lateral ?oat than the cast items on more modern Times - good for anyone with sensitive knees.The pedal works well right out of the box, and if you really don't mind the extra 100g over most other clipless models, you'll be well rewarded by the Alium.
An old pedal, but for some riders it may still be the perfect choice
Time's ATAC system has been around for years but is nowhere near as ubiquitous as Shimano's offerings. Two spring-loaded steel hoops make up the ATAC system, and the open design is renowned as one of the best in the mud. There is simply nowhere for the mud to stick. This is a good job, as Time's only nemesis is cleat wear. The soft brass cleats simply don't last as well as Shimano's. that aside, the Alium has a huge amount going for it. First off, the cromoly axle is plenty large enough and is easily the stiffest on test. These pedasl do not flex, no matter how hard you stomp. The action is equally reliable...
For 30 sniffs, the Aliums are great, solid pedals that, once set up, do actually offer an economical alternative to Shimano's range.
It used to be that if you rode in muddy conditions or had dicky knees, you opted against Shimano SPD pedals and bought the free-floating Times. However, when Crank Brothers stormed onto the scene in 2001 with its radical four-sided, mud-shedding Eggbeater, many riders defected.Time did nothing to respond, believing its system to be superior. Even today, it's hard to spot many changes to the 2008 Atac ROC. The differences are a lot more obvious underfoot, however.The spring force appears to have been reduced, which has lessened the overall force required to activate the pedal. That brings the Time pedals roughly in line with the Eggbeaters. This is a good thing: for a start, it's better for anyone with delicate knees that don't take well to the lateral twisting loads required to spring certain pedal mechanisms.Also, the resin body surrounding the pedal has been gently reshaped to reduce its size and mass. The redesign aims to make it work better with the soles of clipless mountain biking shoes than in previous years, by guiding the cleat into the waiting pedal mechanism.Time has also made a little history here by offering the Atac in a specific women-only model –the world's first female clipless pedal that we're aware of.Time Atacs don't shed mud quite as well as the skeletal Eggbeaters, but they clear better than the Crank Brothers Candy, and the action is more positive, resulting in a cleaner entry and exit.One other feature worth noting is the excellent sealing of the axles. Time's axle seals here are better than Shimano's and much better than Crank Brothers' at keeping out a winter's worth of water – worth noting if you're a lover of wet rides.
A pedal that'll deal with the dirt and keep your knees happy
After using the excellent Time ATAC pedals for the last three years it was great to try out the new and burlier looking version, the ROC ATAC S.Time pedals are renowned for easy engagement and bundles of float. The ATAC dual-arch retention system (where foot retention is independant of spring tension) offers five degrees of angular float and 6mm of lateral float, ensuring smooth engagemtn and release. The low spring tension and new round retention bars take much less effort to engage and release which makes them a hit for riders with problem knees.The composite body profile is oversized and offers a wide, stable pedalling platform with no pressure points under foot. With the wide angle of cleat engagement and the large open arch mechanism, these pedals are pretty much self-cleaning. They look pretty industrial, but we like that, and although the platform is slightly wider there's no unnecassary material.They're very tough, with chrome axles that are well sealed against the elements, and they've seen us through some brutal rides.They weigh in at a very reasonable 384g and at just a smidgeon over £60, they're a bargain.
An awesome mud-shedding and knee-friendly new pedal at a great price
Ritchey's WCS V4s are simply beautiful. The body is titanium with a polished finish. The axle is chromoly, and although less glamorous and slightly heavier, Ritchey deem it to be stiffer and more reliable than titanium. Don't panic though - weight is still a miniscule 248g. The hollow axle spins on bushes and needle bearings, and the spring tension can be easily adjusted via a 3mm Allen key. Engagement is nice and positive, even in the grime, with a loud click from the durable steel jaws, and the five degrees of float allows sufficient movement to ease the knees. We did find the small pedal body slightly more difficult than Shimano's to find and engage quickly, though.The WCS V4s are compatible with Shimano cleats. This means you can save them for race days and use cheaper pedals for everyday riding without having to faff about swapping cleats.They're nearly 100g lighter than Shimano XTR (although still not Crank Brothers Eggbeater light), yet won't require the sale of a kidney to buy a pair. The downsides are that the bearings require regular TLC, and the alloy end caps can get mashed.If you're in the market for a pair of race day cross-country pedals then things don't get much posher than this pair from Ritchey.
Great performing pedals for cross-country racers and other weight fetishists
Typically for Time, Z-Controls are good in the mud, with plenty of space forward of the bars for clag to fall through. Probably one of the most solidly made pedals around too.If you're a mud-loving rider or have delicate knees, you'll appreciate the self-clearing design and wire cleat retention jaws which have 1mm more lateral float.The Z-Control has a large, double-sided alloy body in an H-shape that houses the traditional double wire bar cleat retainers. The body of the pedal is cast, then machined to give a distinctive look and add some sharp shoe-gripping working edges to the pedal body.This one has been the favourite pedal for many downhill riders and general 'off-piste' enthusiasts, because, although the cleat bars always remain proud of the body, it's a very stable place for you to put a clipped-out foot in an emergency.
A great all-mountain clipless pedal that deserves wider recognition