+1 on GravelKing SK
I run 43mm on a Focus Mares AL, which is a cross bike. Very comfortable between 25 and 30 PSI (I’m 156 lb.) Very fast on the tarmac and a really good tire. Dirt cheap as well.
any reason you don’t use the XTR pedals on your gravel bike?
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Crankbrothers EggBeaters on my gravel bike as well.
I’m looking into power upgrade wit assioma but not sure that will work with EggBeaters housing.
Anyone using speedplay for gravel riding and do it all riding? Do you really need mtb pedals for gravel riding or can you get away from using speedplay? Thanks.
btw I use Sampson sports Fondo pedals on my gravel bike. They way about 145 grams. I can still clip in if there is a ton of gunk on my shoe. I’ve had 'em for four or five years and they still work just fine.
Every so often Sampson will put them on sale for…around $30.
Really depends on the gravel. If you have to get off quite often, I’d use something where you don’t destroy expensive cleats with walking. If you don’t have to get off, ride whatever you want.
IMHO that’s not a good idea.
If you walk a lot on gravel, you’ll quickly wear out your Speedplay cleats. And you’ll be “walking” with road shoes. Up until this January, I used to use Eggbeaters on my road bike, and the main difference to my road pedals is the stiffness of the shoe: I went from Sidis with meh stiffness to Specialized S-Works shoes that are tremendously stiff. The stiffer the sole, the larger the area across which force is distributed. Of course, some people prefer Shimano mountain bike pedals, and they have their advantages over Eggbeaters.
I just switched from SPD to Time Atac. I really like the Time pedals.
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I’ve gone full spd for gravel. Even if the ride is completely rideable (which usually isn’t the case from my experience in central USA), i’ve seen many fall out of the lead break with road cleats when we hit the mud and have a quick run…
gravel just seems better IMO with MTB cleats.
if you don’t mind swapping pedals and chancing getting the road shoes super dirty, it would be more comfortable so you could try it out on dry days.
good luck!
What cleat system do you use and why?
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I moved this under an existing Gravel Pedal topic for reference and quick access to existing discussion.
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I really like Look X Track pedals for both road and gravel! They take SPD or the Look cleats. They have a slighlty larger platform than Shimano SPD so I feel a little more locked in (might be all in my head though!).
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I have the look x-track on my road and gravel bike. I really like them
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I’m a speedplay guy. With the Frogs out of the mix, I’ve tried everything. After trying the Speedplay Syzr, Shimano, Time ATAC, Look, and Crankbros, I landed on the Look X-track with their easy cleat (multi-angle release vs single plane).
The Shimano have that huge tension build grey area between float and release.
Time ATAC were too sloppy on shoes with normal wear and the entry was hard to locate.
Crank Bros didn’t have the float they say they did and were hard to locate.
Speedplay Syzr - the entry angle issue was the only issue. THey also didn’t have the float they say they do in reality.
Speedplay Frog - absolutely perfect aside from lifespan.
Look x-Track are like SPD with a touch more float. The easy cleat makes they exit better.
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Just wanted to mention Look pedals are 25% off at REI!!
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Thanks, ordered!
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Let us know how you like them!!
I have pretty stiff shoes and the Look X-Track pedals. I feel just as efficient and connected as I ever did with road cleats, plus I don’t have to walk like a duck 
Glad someone made this post…I just bought myself a Giant Revolt Advance 2 for my do it everything bike. I was thinking about pedal options too.
My gravel riding will be light gravel id imagine. I have Assioma favero currently on my road bike, and some old look road pedals on my old bike. Was thinking of just swapping them on to the new Giant.
I understand that using road pedals in mud would be far from ideal, it looks like from the thread that a lot of you are using SPD pedals. I was looking at the XTR ones. But as this bike will be a do it all bike.
Gravel, turbo, winter roadie I guess the road pedals make sense, i don’t really plan on putting my foot down too much. Just means I mean have to get my white S-Work road shoes dirty haha.
And i also bet for Gravel racing you might be better off with road pedals? I don’t know, i have never rode with SPD i guess the power transfer would be the same right?
Had Crankbrothers Candy’s on my cross bike and when I upgraded to my diverge went an extra step with egg beaters and love them. For those who want more platform than the egg beaters then I’d suggest the Candy’s but I don’t notice a huge difference.
Around here some gravel roads can be pretty loose or have larger aggregate than you can really get any traction on (of course these are always on the ascents) so there are times I have to walk, would hate to have to do that with road oriented cleats/shoes on those conditions.
Just replaced a 6yr old set of XTRs with x-track carbons. 47 grams heavier but ~$60 bucks less. Seem very well made and they are noticeably larger. I thought the larger platform was good marketing but that it probably wouldn’t really translate into user experience much. I was way wrong. I definitely feel a larger platform under the foot and it’s a really nice feeling. Sort of an spd-sl feel from an spd style pedal.
I don’t have too many miles on them, but so far so good.
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