” XTR trail versus the XC pedals (for FS XC bike”
First off, what shoes are you to run, why and would you consider anything else?
race style shoes – cageless SPD pedals
something easier to walk in, shimano trail (M530,XT,XTR) pedals are a little better than with cageless SPD pedals for the ‘hot spot’, but the cage bit is useless IMO, its the slight extra area around the axle.
DX,545,424 have a useable cage to pressure relieve if your shoes arent stiff enough to use a cageless pedal like M520,M540,XT,XTR
Am now on M520 and M530, spesh experts (will go back to sports once the experts fall to bits) and tahoes (very flexy, but have chunky tread and spesh 48s fit my feet)
Dropper post. I bought mine because my FS frame with a post chopped to give maximum saddle drop and proper pedalling height/saddle insertion for frame had about 3″ of drop. I knew this before buying but never realised how much my riuding would ‘advance’. Now on a new frame with loads of post/saddle slammable so a dropper post would actually restrict max saddle drop (which I rarely do). Places I ‘know’ its no real biggie as I know where to set my saddle. Its places new to me Ive found Im wanting a dropper again.
“m540 are a chunk lighter than 520s”
IIRC M520 are 280/282g, M540 254g, M770 XT 252g, last gen. XTR were ~320g, latest gen. XTR are ~310g
Wellgo do some for 300g, RRP is £30. I think they’re in the reviews section on mbr, a bit flexy, but if you’re not ‘bulky’, powering out the saddle or through the rough all the time they might suit. Though there are some others for about the same money/weight that have been reviewed terribly. Cant remember which is which
I was sold on M540s (in a shop .. ) when I first went to SPDs for their longer last cartridge bearings. I dont doubt this, but the body wore out before any play developed. M520s have developed play (Ive not serviced them) but the bodies are also going. the ‘body’ play is bvetter with new cleats but its not all that long before the play is back, and yes I keep on upping the tensioning up the springs attempting to compensate for wear. Its obvious wear on the body of the pedal