What pedals do you use for serious road use?

sandbag

Sorry, but I done a search and can't find the right advice.

I have been using these pedals(below pic) on my MTB and now recently put on my road bike. The LBS fitted them, when I told them I want to use my MTB on the road. I had assumed they were road pedals. But now i found out they really for MTB off road. They have a small surface area, but I have had no complaints for regular road use.


The Shimano M520 SPD Pedals i have.

I see these new SPD-SL types. Do you all use those? Is the pedals i have, strictly no good for serious road use? What advantages will i get in using proper new type of road pedals? Should i buy new road pedals, shoes and cleats? or service the one's i got?

What's good pedals on a £50 budget? What are excellent pedals for short and long rides and good enough for racing?

Sorry for the number of initial questions but I think you get the idea.

Cheers.

redddraggon

I now use Look Keos

Rich Hcp

Shimano 105s (I think, from memory) SPD SLs

One sided road pedal

I prefer them because i can flip to the dead side in ftraffic to avoid accidental clipping ins

Road pedals suit road shoes which are stiff soled, avoids hot feet

Some people prefer MTB style, double sided, its a personal preference

softlad

if you have no complaints, why not carry on using the SPDs you already have...?

STEFANOS4784

SPD on the cannondale, much better for commuting as shoes have recessed cleats and rubbery sole. SPD sl on road bike, much 'firmer' grip of the shoe, much more positive feel but a bit tricky to walk in and clipping in not quite as easy due to being only single sided. Would go for spd if commuting or road specific if just for leisure.

Massimo

Time RXS (loving the float)

sandbag

softlad wrote:

if you have no complaints, why not carry on using the SPDs you already have...?

Because i into serious road biking. I want to know if i'm at a disadvantage to other riders by using them or could i actually have a advantage by using them.

The ball of my feet are fine with them they don't ache or nothing. I just thought the smaller surface area could mean less power or make the foot tireder. Could it be the power is concentrated by using a smaller pedal or is that nonsense?

They also need servicing that's why i ask all now. They stopped rotating freely due to movemnt in and out, but the end bolt is stuck tight. So i can't workout why there's movement. If i push them inwards towards the crank slightly, they rotate freely. Click them out they sticky. I not sure which is proper position these days. Have they come loose? or are they meant to click in and out slightly and just need greasing? I thinking if they rotate super smooth i can go same speed with fraction less effort.

sandbag

Rich Hcp wrote:

Some people prefer MTB style, double sided, its a personal preference

Yes, but do some serious trained road riders use double sided like mine? or are they just good enough for commuting and leisure and stop there.

Tempestas

Road pedals tend to have a larger contact area, this is better for long term comfort, smaller pedals can cause 'hot spots' on the sole of your foot. For shorter rides off road pedals will be fine though and like previously mentioned have the benefit of sunken cleats for when you need to walk.

STEFANOS4784

I find that my feet have come out of the spd's but never the spdsl(yet) and it's quite hairy when your foot comes out all of a sudden

TommyEss

No - professional riders all use road pedals with road shoes - carbon fibre stiff as you like - they don't unclip til the end of the race so there's no need for recessed cleats to walk in.

Are you looking to actually race, or do you just want to look the part? For longer rides, a single-sided road pedal / road shoe combo are more mechanically efficient than an SPD MTB set-up - but for mere mortals, the difference in efficiency is going to be hard to spot.

The difference in comfort is easier to spot - I get hot spots if I ride my SPDs for long rides - so I only use them for commuting and XC - I have the older style Looks on my road bikes.

If you're not racing and you're not experiencing any discomfort I would argue you've no real need to change.

sandbag

@STEFANOS4784

Yes i like SPD's for the recess and walking. It like they not there.

In the wet they slipped out few times when i applied alot power, my foot has launched forward nearly ending up in the spokes of the front wheel which has been very hairy at speed. Problem solved by tightening them up. It has made me improve my pedal stroke to avoid this.

STEFANOS4784

So there ya go. Never had this with my spd sl's

sandbag

Thanks for the replies.

They be for training and race riding but not for competition racing. I do have wide feet so i think SPD-SL would help distribute the weight better among more feet muscles so it get less tired perhaps, good for longer rides.. I get no hotspots on 50+ mile rides though.

Although i'm so used to SPD. I suppose SPD-SL might even be quicker to get in and out which would be a benefit in quick starts from junctions and lights.

redddraggon

Look Keo cleats are more robust than SPD-SL

sandbag

Is Look system different to SPD-SL?

redddraggon

sandbag wrote:

Is Look system different to SPD-SL?

It's similar,

sandbag

Ok i'm sold. I think it would help me more slightly and not just be bigger clumsier pedals. .I won't upgrade just yet, as it means I now need to get new shoes and cleats as well .

ride_whenever

I'd agree that keeping what you have is sensible, just because for £50 you're unlikely so see a noticeable difference!

Maybe get the m540 pedals as they've got better bearings and sealing. If you get good mtb shoes then you'll find the difference in power transfer/comfort is negligible (almost unnoticeable) and you only need one pair of shoes for both bikes (and can spend twice as much on them 8) )

sandbag

So you think i should go for LOOK outright?

How does the float compare between LOOK and SPD-SL?

I'm currently using silver SPD cleats at moment.

Are these SPD-SL too basic for serious use?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=5369

TommyEss

Look red cleats have 6 degrees of float IIRC - they do grey ones with no float if you're a masochist.

But you're looking at ~£50 for pedals and ~£50-100 for road shoes - the cleats come with the pedals not the shoes - so you won't need to set any aside for your first set of cleats anyway.

redddraggon

TommyEss wrote:

Look red cleats have 6 degrees of float IIRC - they do grey ones with no float if you're a masochist.

Grey = 4.5deg float
Red = 9 deg float.

STEFANOS4784

Haha, quality avatar redddragon by the way 8)

redddraggon

The plastic plate on the cheap SPD-SL wears out really quickly and will drive you crazy.



The newer SPD-SL pedals like this are better.

sandbag

sandbag wrote:

Although i'm so used to SPD. I suppose SPD-SL might even be quicker to get in and out which would be a benefit in quick starts from junctions and lights.

Ermmm come to think of it, probably not if they only one sided :shock:

TommyEss

redddraggon wrote:

TommyEss wrote:

Look red cleats have 6 degrees of float IIRC - they do grey ones with no float if you're a masochist.

Grey = 4.5deg float
Red = 9 deg float.

Sorry - yep - my numbers are for the old deltas aren't they!?

Mog Uk

sandbag wrote:

Yes, but do some serious trained road riders use double sided like mine? or are they just good enough for commuting and leisure and stop there.

I ride SPD year round on the commute and on the winter bike for club runs/chaingangs yada yada, can't say they slow me down or put me at a disadvantage..

I tend to agree with ride_whenever, spending £50 on pedals will not make you a better rider. Training will

sandbag

ride_whenever wrote:

I'd agree that keeping what you have is sensible, just because for £50 you're unlikely so see a noticeable difference!

Maybe get the m540 pedals as they've got better bearings and sealing. If you get good mtb shoes then you'll find the difference in power transfer/comfort is negligible (almost unnoticeable) and you only need one pair of shoes for both bikes (and can spend twice as much on them 8) )

I notice you both into road and MTB bikes. Something else i need to tell you. I'm using MTB shoes which appear quite a stiff sole to me.

So instead of the new road pedals, you suggesting the M540 MTB pedals will be superior over the MTB pedals i can service back to new? Are you saying just in life span or spin quality factor? The SPD pedals i got have lasted me for years so far. If i upgrade to more SPD i be in the same style of boat won't i.

sandbag

What i'm asking is 2 pro road riders of similar abilty. One trains on SPD and the other on SPD-SL. Would the SPD guy be at a serious disadvantage from the beginning. Never mind if you can't answer that.

and what are eggbeaters? are they referring to SPD-SL and LOOK or something else?

redddraggon

Performance wise there is very little difference between all the clipless pedal systems.

If you are a strong sprinter you might find you are able to pull out of the like of MTB pedals though, and even road pedals if set at a low tension.

sandbag

Not that i consider them but these are like a cross between the 2.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=28051