Iced up pedals and cleats

[Desert Pollo]

I live in western Oregon and ride in the snow as much as I can, which is a bit tricky because the snow here is usually wet and at that temperature where it sticks to everything including shoe cleats and pedals.   When I put my foot down and then try to ride I end up kicking hard at the pedals trying to dislodge the snow and ice, all the while trying to keep my balance.  Platform pedals and hiking shoes get caked up too in this crud.

Surely there is a way to keep wet snow and ice from clogging pedals.  I've tried WD40, Teflon spray (works on ski bindings), and that sticky bar oil that you use in a chain saw.  Not much luck.  What have you tried that works?

[stumpyfsr]

What pedals do you ride? I use Time for a year and never had such a problem. Time feature self-cleaning design that help a lot. Eggbeaters perform very well too. At least here, in Midwest

[Gcharles]

I use Eggbeaters and all I have to do is run my cleat across the pedal once or twice and anything that is accumulated drops off.  With that said, I am looking at the Times or the new Looks as a way to get a bit more surface area under my foot.

[Desert Pollo]

I use Shimano XT pedals, the trail version.   The small crevasses that form the locking mechanism certainly lend themselves to clogging.  Sturdy buggers though -- they don't break when I kick the crap out of them trying to dislodge the ice. Maybe time to switch to Eggbeaters.

[stumpyfsr]

I use Shimano XT pedals, the trail version.   The small crevasses that form the locking mechanism certainly lend themselves to clogging.  Sturdy buggers though -- they don't break when I kick the crap out of them trying to dislodge the ice. Maybe time to switch to Eggbeaters.

If you're a Shimano user, maybe Candy will work better - same Eggbeater but with wider platform for your foot. Never used Crankbrothers myself but heard some complaints about not wide enough.

[Area54]

How about mallets? Has anyone used them?

I'm evaluating my options now - was going to use my aging M545s and found a seal missing during a prep service for a coming trip. Was thinking mallet 3 with the needle bearings. For use in AK and OR (winter, of course)

[bmike-vt]

Really good luck with Time ATACs on my Fargo (studded tires for winter dirt road and icy trails). And good luck with some Time ATAC Z somethings. The black ones with the big platform on my Pugsley. Occasional build up, but it clears quickly with a few raps of the cleats.

[Damnitman]

I've used Time ATAC and Z Control pedals in all manner of inclement Alaskan conditions...a few "raps" of the cleats, even after slogging through freezing overflow, and it's an easy clip-in.  The CB Mallets are very comparable in this respect but I found them to lack in the durability department...

[Area54]

When you say mallet durability - bearings, cleats, springs, wings?

[Damnitman]

the bearings crapp3d out after a couple months...compared to the 10+ years I have on a pair of ATACs, I was unimpressed...

[bmike-vt]

the bearings crapp3d out after a couple months...compared to the 10+ years I have on a pair of ATACs, I was unimpressed...

i had a pair of atacs that lasted ~7years. we rebuilt them but the bushings were too far gone, they lasted another 3 months.

[Tommi]

I am running a Norco Charger 29er budget bike, with stock parts; Wellgo Alloy Pedals, sprayed with cooking spray such as Pam; clean it off before summer though, as it gums up pretty good. Much different than Oregon, Calgary is the Chinook capitol; one day we can have snow with a nasty -24C wind chill and layers of ice, then a week later we're out biking in runners and a few less layers, through mud and slush. It makes for an all-season kit list. Todays ride was exactly at 0C, with the pictured results that I found as I did a chain lube ['StartLine' teflon based]. I think it formed as I cleaned up the garage, as it appears longer than the chainring.

[Slim]

I would stay away from the Candys if we are talking about filling up with snow/ice. The small platform forms a nice trap for such stuff. They asol don't offer any grip when not clipped in.

The eggbeaters would obviously be best, but they don't offer much support, so, in cold weather you'll need to make sure to have some very stiff soled shoes with good insulating insoles to keep from getting cold spots.

The mallets are better, and if for some reason the clip in doesn't work you at least have some platform size and pins for traction. The new ones are supposed to be better in the bearing life. However, if the OP was stating platform pedals ice up in his conditions, Mallets surely will, even the DH. If you do get them, only the DH version, is even even worth considering, wider platform, bigger pins and much more room for ice to fall out.

To the OP:
What flat pedals where you using that were icing up? Thinner pedals with big openings are much better than thick ones with small openings.

I have very bad experiences with Tioga Zeros, the bearings didn't last two wet rides.

Currently I am using 45NRth Helva pedals. It has been below zero here, so ice-up is not an issue, but I expect them to do alright, they are so thin, and the openings quite large, ice would be hard pressed(pun intended;-) to stick in there.

This should be better than Eggbeaters and even if there is some ice, you still have some grip.

[Area54]

I took Mallet 3's to Alaska and Oregon (winter) with a pair of wolvhammers, very happy with the performance. There was plenty of portage, HAB and pushing on this trip to truly test them.

If I couldn't clip in, the broad platform and pins provided plenty of traction on the boot to pedal. A few twists on the pedal and the cleat was clear enough to clip in.

To service when I got home, remove the endcap, thread in the service port, flush clean with fresh grease from the grease gun, wipe off gungy grease from around spindle, remove service port and refit end cap, put pedals in box ready for next season/race.