New bike CAAD9 - what pedals/cleats to buy?

macondo01
macondo01 Posts: 706
edited September 2009 in Road beginners
Have my lovely new bike CAAD9 in liquigas colours (thanks for all the recommendations esp NapD who was chief instigator!). I like it a lot!!

But what pedals/cleats do you recommend? I have been using SPD's and mountain bike shoes on my old steel bike to commute and they work fine now all adjusted no more knee pain.

I have a pair of Sidi Genius 5 to load up with something - what do you suggest bearing in mind it will be used for triathlons, sportives and weekend rides, and I want to look after my knees? LBS said Look or Shimano SPD SL. Or doesnt it much matter at the end of the day? Cheers in advance for feedback.
.
"Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

National Lampoon

Comments

  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    I did use SPD-SL as my intro to road pedals - they are really good - the shimano pedal have a built quality about them which I haven't seen in any other pedals - mainly because they use Alu rather than plastic (carbon re-enforced or otherwise.) - I actually have a set for sale if you are interested (actually two sets - new and old designs + new cleats)

    however - (shooting my sale in the foot) I have switched to Time RSX as I prefer the lateral float as well as the rotational - time are the only pedal (i think ) which offers that and after a couple of knee operations last year I would prefer the safety in movement - of course some people hate that same float.
  • I raced triathlons for over a year using SPDs without any problems. I now use SPD-SL but unless you have biomechanical issues that require large amounts of float or adjustment it doesn't make too much difference which pedals you use.
  • What honesty gkerr4 it's a fine thing read! I really do want to look after my knees so I'll check out the Time RSX and in the meantime run some spd's on to my new shoes. Such has been the effort in getting the positioning right I may even photocopy the shoe shoes of my existing correctly positioned cleats as a template for the future. Sounds a bit daft but it might work to transfer over the positioning. Thanks again guys!
    .
    "Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

    National Lampoon
  • I had stnadard SPD's for 2 years or so just as htats what i had on my mountain bike.

    Recently bought ap air of these:
    Shimano Ultegra 6620 SPD-SL Silver For £65.

    A huge difference in performance and comfort.
    Wish i had changed ages ago.
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    Macondo01 wrote:
    What honesty gkerr4 it's a fine thing read! I really do want to look after my knees so I'll check out the Time RSX and in the meantime run some spd's on to my new shoes. Such has been the effort in getting the positioning right I may even photocopy the shoe shoes of my existing correctly positioned cleats as a template for the future. Sounds a bit daft but it might work to transfer over the positioning. Thanks again guys!

    no probs - some people don't like the floaty feel of the time pedals - but I love them - I can't see me changing brand any time soon (although I am thinking of a tarty-pair of RSX to replace my entry level ones! - the one down side to TIME - they do look and feel a bit cheap - especially compared to the shimanos!)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    These. It just has to be these.

    http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=P0025
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    £107 for the cro-mo ones! - and the cleats wear out every ten minutes don't they?
    :D
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Have you tried them?

    I haven't.
    i don't think the cleats would wear out in 10 minutes though or there would be issues with products being returned after riders were unable to ride 10 minutes in to a ride..
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    NapoleonD wrote:
    Have you tried them?

    I haven't.
    i don't think the cleats would wear out in 10 minutes though or there would be issues with products being returned after riders were unable to ride 10 minutes in to a ride..

    no - i haven't - and they are meant to be excellent.
    they do have a problem with cleat wear though.

    I still think i want the lateral float offered by the times though.
  • FOAD
    FOAD Posts: 318
    Sorry, you are saying that there are issues with cleat wear on Speedplays? This is a joke right?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    I have Look Keos on all my road bikes but after my leg thingy I wouldn't mind a little more float.Changing everything to Times would be expensive though :(

    May try the red cleats rather than the grey ones I use...
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    well the ten minutes bit was a joke - but from what I have read on forums and magazines I was led to believe they wear pretty quickly and are pretty expensive to replace.

    is this not right?
  • FOAD
    FOAD Posts: 318
    I think you will find that out of all the road cleat systems, the speed play cleats last much much longer than anything else. obviously they are around the £40 mark, but because the bit the contacts the floor is metal, they go on for yonks. Had mine for 6 months and barring a few scratches (I use coffee cups for anything more than the walk to the garage) they haven't even worn.

    The owner of my LBS reckons he got nearly two years out of his last set of Speedplay cleats (he had the cleats and I had the pedals from the box for my winter bike) but used to change his Look cleats 4 times a year...sold me straight away when I first got road pedals.
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    FOAD wrote:
    I think you will find that out of all the road cleat systems, the speed play cleats last much much longer than anything else. obviously they are around the £40 mark, but because the bit the contacts the floor is metal, they go on for yonks. Had mine for 6 months and barring a few scratches (I use coffee cups for anything more than the walk to the garage) they haven't even worn.

    The owner of my LBS reckons he got nearly two years out of his last set of Speedplay cleats (he had the cleats and I had the pedals from the box for my winter bike) but used to change his Look cleats 4 times a year...sold me straight away when I first got road pedals.

    see - thats what I mean - "nearly two years" - thats a fast wearing cleat!

    try time - the plastic waling pads wear - but the brass cleat block just seems to last forever!
  • Gorgeous pedals NapD, can I say that about a pedal?, should I say that about a pedal! What's happening to me?! It all started with my new bike and thinking my old red water bottle didnt suit the white and green anyway...

    Well I tried the adaptor for spd's on my sidi's and it all ended up looking a bit odd, nice shoes with an oddly shapen bit of plastic with a rusting spd nipple on underneath. Oops there's a bad image....

    Er hem so in my dreams the speedplay but more likely the Time. Was it the Time RXS first time pedals you were suggesting gk? Merlin has them with cleats for £46 inc postage.
    .
    "Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

    National Lampoon