SPD versus road pedals

scapaslow

I'm wondering about switching from double sided spd pedals to "proper" road pedals and cleats. What are the main advantages over spd's ? Any recommendations for a decent first set? Is it advisable to change to a new pair of shoes? I've got a basic pair of Shimano mounatain bike shoes.

Obviously they are more difficult to walk on but are they easier or more difficult to clip in/out of?
Are they more efficient?

xbenhanleyx

The flatter pedals supposedly give you a wider platform to deliver power and you will get a bit more clearance on tight corners.

I tried using Shimano MTB SPDs and LOOKs before sticking with the TIME Impacts (Now TIME RXS). They give you plenty of float and are easy on the knees. You will need to check the bottom of your shoes to see if they are compatible. Most road pedals will fit shoes with 3 screws in a triangular layout - not the two screws on the mountain bike SPDs.

Clipping in and out always takes a bit of getting used to. I can safely say that of all the shoes I tried, the TIMEs are the easiest to get out of.

leonlikestrees

these are a good half-way house:

http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/UAN/654/v/1/sp/

I use them on my road bike as due to knee troubles, I am very intolerant of changing foot position. I now just have one pair of top-end carbon soled MTB shoes whch I use o all bikes.

They are not as positive feeling as a pair of looks, but at least they look better on a road bike, and they do offer a bigger platform (not that I can tell the difference - I think it's cleat size on the road shoes that makes the difference)

Niland

I have the spd (520 I think?) and 105 spd-sl road pedals. The most obvious difference is it's easier to unclip with spds. The 105s are a better for putting down the power and you don't get those unexpected pop-outs that spds give, they also float (twist) a bit more (if you have the float-cleats) before they start unclipping. Final point is the stack height is a lot less, which changes your riding position a fraction and makes cornering a bit less fraught,

Logically thinking the best system is the speedplay one, but something like the shimano 105 spd-sl is a good starting point. I like mine well enough, just be aware if you're used to spd you have to be a lot more focused on unclipping. Also bloody annoying to walk in.

scapaslow

Thanks for the replies.

I've got Shimano A520's on my fixed wheel bike and M520's (double sided) on my geared bike. I find the single sided pedals a real pain to clip in and out of as the weight of the mechanism makes the pedal hang on the 'wrong' side and i have to keep flicking the pedal over to reclip. Does this happen with the other pedals as well? They all seem to be single sided.
I also found that i had great difficulty with the SH51 cleats supplied and find the SH56 cleats much easier to clip in/out with.

The TIME pedals sound good - are they really as easy to clip in/out as spd or just relatively easy? The extra float and wider platform would be beneficial. I find the M520's a bit narrow and easy to miss when reclipping.

The main reason i went for spd's was the fear of being stranded somewhere and unable to walk. This has only happened once when the chain snapped (it was in bad condition though). I once saw someone fall flat on their face with proper road cleats on which also put me off!

Niland

hmm, with the sided thing obviously speedplay wins because they are double sided. The spd-sl are weighted to point up so when you push off as the pedal comes around you clip in without any fuss.

leonlikestrees

Look pedals hang in just the right position.

I had to walk 2 miles once in Look cleats, so I ended up just taking my shoes off and walking bare foot! At the end of the day, road shoes are for cycling in, not walking. Great if you do long rides and come home, less good for commuting, or picnic rides!

Even if I could still ride with different shoes, I'd use SPD's for commuting and audax-style riding.

Leon

xbenhanleyx

I don't think the Times are any harder to get in to than other cleats, you will just need some time to get used to them. I usually find that as long as I keep one foot clipped in, getting the second in is not too difficult... Getting out the Times is very straight forward and easier than any other system I have used - there is no spring based resistance, so you just need to turn your heel about 15 degrees and the cleat just pops out.

I have never been badly stranded with the bike, but if I have much walking to do, I just take the shoes off if its not too wet and there is smooth tarmac. For social rides, I just switch back to SPDs for the day.

John Stevenson

Proper road pedals also put your foot closer to the pedal axis which is supposed to make the whole shebang more stable.

Speedplay FTW. Review by me:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... zero-11507