At first glance it can certainly look that way when you see the quirky Crank Brothers Eggbeaters on a bike. These are minimal in the extreme, and look unlikely to be able to operate in the intended manner. But operate they do, and pretty well too.
Eggbeaters take their name from the shape which, clearly, makes them look like they're ready to whisk up an omelette. They are a type of 'clipless' pedal (quick precis, there are basically three types of pedal: normal 'flat' style; flats with 'clips' - the little straps that go over your foot to attach you; and clipless, which attach you to the pedal by a variety of methods, culminating in a cleat on the sole of your shoe).
These pedals are aimed at the mountain bike market, though can be used on a daily road bike (as I do) thanks to their simple design and lack of 'clogability' when it comes to mud and grime. As can be seen from the picture they are very open, and a quick kick will loosen any mud - I've even attached myself to them with the mud still all around the pedal, and a couple of pedal strokes later it\'s all gone.
The four 'prongs' are spring-loaded and the cleat on your shoe snaps in between the prongs to give a solid attachment. Being four-sided makes it easy to attach yourself as well, and there's no struggling to make sure the pedal is the right way up. The design also allows you to attach the cleat by pushing downa nd forward, or by pulling back till you hear the click letting you know you\'re engaged. Combined with some mountain bike cycling shoes, with a tread either side forming a channel into which the cleat is recessed, these could not be easier to engage.
While engaged there is a lot of 'float' in the pedals - basically your foot can swivel side to side easily, something which can be important while mountain biking, and getting out doesn't need any real force as you twist your foot past the float. I'm ashamed to admit I've fallen off a couple of times while using these pedals, and despite my main fear of remaining attached to the bike as I tumble, the falling action has naturally twisted my feet out of the pedals leaving no chance of injury.
But while they engage and disengage easily, while saving wear and tear on your knees with the available float, there are a couple of minor problems when it comes to durability.
The cleats for your shoes tend to wear quite quickly. There is a more expensive cleat option which prolongs things a little, but overall a more sturdy design would negate the expense a couple of times a year of having to renew. And the pedals themselves can suffer. Granted I put about 2000 miles into my pedals before one of them broke a prong, and even with that broken I can still attach to two sections meaning the pedal is still usable, but it's worrying that this wear could leave you stuck a long way from home. The pedal design isn't such that it's comfortable or easy to ride on if you're not attached.
I've got used to these pedals. I have the chrome version on my mountain bike and daily commuter, which cost about £35, and there are versions such as titanium available as well which lighten and strengthen the pedal, but also add to the cost rather astronomically, and I feel the law of diminishing returns then comes into play. The pedal that broke will be getting replaced with the same pedal simply because I like the all-round ability of the pedal, the ease of use, and the lack of damage to my knees (I had an op on one a few years back and these cured all post-ride stiffness).
The flaws are an irritant, but as long as you keep an eye on them they don\'t affect the actual performance of the pedal, and that\'s why I would still recommend them to anyone (probably especially someone wanting to try clipless pedals for the first time).
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
