REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Sheds mud better than any others
REASONS TO AVOID
No platform
Not adjustable in any way
Lighter retention tension
Crankbrothers Eggbeater 2 Review
Credit: Crank Brothers
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Our Verdict
The Eggbeater 2 is the lightest pedal in our test. Our scale weighed the pair at 100 grams less than the next lightest pedal in our test, the also cageless Shimano M520. (100 grams is 3.5ish ounces if you haven't gone metric.) This fact alone makes this pedal stand out from the crowd, and we gave it a Top Pick Award for saving weight. However, this is also one of the most difficult pedals to clip into, which should be taken in consideration before purchasing.
Our Analysis and Test Results
This minimal, lightweight pedal is Crankbothers original claim to fame. It gets its name from its close resemblance to…an eggbeater.
Performance Comparison
The Eggbeater 2 is a very small and lightweight pedal, an attractive feature for racers and those trying to save weight wherever possible.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Ease of Entry
This is one of the lowest scoring pedals when it comes to ease of entry, and that has nothing to do with the engagement mechanism. The spring on this Crankbrothers pedal is smooth and easy to use. The lack of any platform, however, requires to user to have very precise aim when clipping in. If you don't get it right the first time, your foot is likely to slide off because there is nowhere for your foot to rest as you wiggle the cleat in place.
Clipping into the small Eggbeater 2 requires precise aim. There is no room for error, and no space to rest your foot if you miss clipping in the first time. We found this to be a little tricky at first but eventually got used to it.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Ease of Exit
The upside to the lack of platform is that this pedal is very easy to exit. Once your cleat is out you are essentially off the pedal since there is nothing else to step on or keep your foot in place.
Adjustability
There is no adjustable tension and there are no traction pins to adjust on the Eggbeater. You can slightly adjust the release angle by deciding which pedal to use on which side of the bike. You will notice that one cleat has a small indented dot. If this cleat is on the right side of the bike you'll get a 15 degree release angle. If it's on the left, it gives you a 20 degree release angle.
Like all Crankbrothers pedals, there is no adjustable tension on the spring of the Eggbeater.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Weight
This pedal is the lightest pedal we tested, which is why we awarded it a Top Pick Award for gram-counting racers. Remember that pedal weight is weight you have to move with every pedal stroke, so it can add up to more fatigue than weight other places on your bike.
The two pedals in our test without a platform: the Crankbrothers Eggbeater 2 on the left and the Shimano M520 on the right. Note that even without a platform the M520 provides twice the amount of surface to stand on as the Eggbeater.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Platform
The Eggbeater earned the worst score in our platform ranking. Not only is there no platform, but the spring/clips are somewhat slippery laterally, which makes it even worse for standing on for the second before your cleats engage. Wait, why do we recommend these for cyclocross racers who purposely take a foot off and then attempt to quickly get back in? Well, they are light and can't be beat for mud shedding, and cross is supposed to be about making you a stronger rider anyway.
If you like the Eggbeater but want a little more surface area for easy clipping in, go with the Crankbrothers Candy 2, which is essentially the same pedal surrounded by a small platform.
The Crankbrothers Candy 2 (left) is essentially the same as the Eggbeater 2 (right) but with a small platform to help guide your foot to the clip-in mechanism. This little bit of platform makes the pedal heavier but much easier to use.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Mud Shedding Ability
The Eggbeater is by far the best pedal if mud is your enemy. The open design sheds mud better than any other pedal in our test. This makes this pedal an excellent choice for the muddiest cross races.
Durability
With this minimal pedal, there is nothing to protect the springs whatsoever. This isn't a good choice for rowdy downhill, enduro, or riders who tend to tag rocks with pedals frequently.
Best Applications
This lightweight mud-shedding pedal is ideal for cyclocross and cross-country racing, or for any bike where weight savings matters.
The lightweight Eggbeater 2 is ideal for weight conscious cross-country racers who want to keep their bikes as lightweight as possible.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Value
At $90 this pedal is quite a bit more expensive than the other cageless pedal in our review, the Shimano M520. The M520 earned our Best Buy award for being such a durable, versatile pedal for a low price. By contrast, the Eggbeater is slightly more of a specialty item and the higher cost reflects this.
Conclusion
This stylish pedal will be most attractive to those trying to keep their bikes as light as possible, and we give it our Top Pick Award for weight savings. The Eggbeater allows a rider to clip in and go without any extra bulk or weight whatsoever. The downside to this is that it requires precise aim when clipping in, but this is a technique that can easily be learned.
Recommended Pairing
This pedal is best used with a hard-soled cross-country shoes like the Sidi Dominator 5 Fit or Giro Privateer R. It will feel most at home on cyclocross or XC race bikes. Or maybe your hipster fixie.
Other Versions and Accessories
Crankbrothers makes the Eggbeater in several versions:
Eggbeater 1: stamped steel wings and body, bushing bearings, ($60)Eggbeater 2 (reviewed): cast steel body and outer wings, bushing bearings ($95)
Eggbeater 3: cast steel body and wings and needle bearings ($135)
Eggbeater 11: has titanium components and needle bearings but costs $450! Somehow this version costs even more than the Candy 11, which is also titanium, but only rings in at $375 even though it has more platform. Also note that both of these sets of titanium pedals have a maximum rider weight of 200 lbs. If you weigh 175, we wouldn't recommend hitting any sweet jumps with these puppies.
—
McKenzie Long and Luke Lydiard
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