First Impressions – Eggbeater Clipless Pedals with Shimano MT20D Shoes

Note: This is a continuation of my previous post Giving Clipless Another Chance. You may need to read that post for background details.

I still seem to have the flu so I kept my ride today short and that was a good thing. Here’s what I noticed today on my first ride with Crank Brothers Eggbeater Clipless Pedals and Shimano Shoes.

Pros:

1. Much more efficient feeling. I felt locked to the crank arms. This was a positive feeling.

2. Spinning seemed much improved. I could spin easier and faster than without clipless pedals.

3. I felt stronger on climbs.

4. Both the pedals and the shoes look very nicely made.

5. Exit felt positive and safe both with inward and outward turns of the foot.

6. The entry has a nice positive click in.

7. These pedals are a very significant improvement over the Shimano SPD pedals I have used and have a more positive entry and exit that the Time Clipless Pedals I used 8 years ago.

8. These Pedals look great on my bike.

Cons:

1. My average speed was a little slower than normal, even though I felt faster. This was just the first ride so there was a bit of adaptation going on.

2. I felt more pressure on my knees. This may have been from pulling harder but I suspect it was from being locked harder to the pedal. My foot was definitely more restrained ever with the clips et in the looser position with “15 degrees of freedom”. The Eggbeater Instructions says they will loosen up with use. I read that to mean that the clip will wear in a way that loosens the connection to the pedal and allows more foot movement.

3. The Shamino shores run very small. A 45 Birkenstock sandal is big on me. A 47 Shamino shoe is tight. I can’t even get my foot into a 45.

4. After just 10 miles my feet were very uncomfortable. They were not abraded. I have no blisters but there was just too much pressure on my feet where the clips connect to the shoe. I blame this on the shoe because I get the same feeling just walking around. There was no way I can’t believe that anyone would ride with this level of discomfort. Maybe the shoes need to break in? But I have come to expect good shoes to feel good from the start and these shoes definitely do not disperse the pressure from the clips well.

Well it was fun for a few miles and maybe if they had been more comfortable I would have been faster. I definitely felt faster and stronger but it didn’t show up on the clock.

I am hoping someone can suggest a more comfortable shoe. I am definitely looking for a different shoe.

The First Impression is a Tentative Positive on the Crank Brothers Eggbeater Pedals and a definite Negative on the Shimano MT-20D shoes.

This is the third time I have used Shimano shoes and the result has been the same each time, great looking and well made shoe but very uncomfortable. I can only speak for my Industrial Hobbit feet; you will have to judge for your self and let me know if your results are the same. I can’t beleive such a good looking and well made shoe hurts my feet. But maybe “Often Cranky” Old Fat Guys are not their target market.

See: 2nd Ride with Eggbeaters and Shimano Shoes for follow on

See Shoes and Pedals for more posts on this topic