What pedals do you use for serious road use?

sandbag

redddraggon wrote:

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.

Right, but the road type looks like you could get more leverage due to it being wider. Wouldn't that give you more advantage and for up hills?

ride_whenever

I seriously doubt a strong sprinter could pull out a pair of xtr spds...

It depends, if you mtb and road bike, it is madness to buy two pairs of shoes, just run mtb pedals on both. The performance difference is tiny, and pretty much irrelevant for amateurs, unless you suffer badly from hotspots. I personally dont.

The m540 will last a bit better and are a better constructed, so a pair of those will last longer on a road bike. they are only about a fiver more. Depending on what you have currently, i'd look at having spds on both bikes, and one very nice pair of shoes.

That way you have spare cleats too!

redddraggon

ride_whenever wrote:

I seriously doubt a strong sprinter could pull out a pair of xtr spds...

Well, I've no experience of XTR SPDs, but I have pulled out of both m520s and 105 SPD-SLs, granted the tension wasn't up as high as it is now on them.

Track sprinters have been known to pull out of pedals when they are starting - apparantly SPD-Rs are the best for not pulling out - according some source British Cycling bought up all the NOS of 7700 SPD-Rs.

STEFANOS4784

Well my ones are fairly basic i think and not that old, but with tension right up i have come out but i am not a strong sprinter by any means so mine are maybe duff, might change to spd xtr if they're that good. The shoes are really much more practical.

Sorry sort of thinking out load there :roll: :arrow:

sandbag

I never pulled out going over 40mph pedalling downhill. Only in the wet due to less friction and then a couple of turns tighter solved that. Granted sprinting for the line is another thing, the feet are at lots of different angles.

It sounds like put up with what i got, or go for pedals of far better quality starting at Shimano 105. What about Time and Excustar makes?

Somebody once told me get cycling shoes that are really tight, Is that true?

Thanks, you been really helpful.

sandbag

ride_whenever wrote:

I seriously doubt a strong sprinter could pull out a pair of xtr spds...

Right. Maybe they can pull out a couple of eggbeaters, bake a cake and win the race, all thanks to the extra carbs .

ride_whenever wrote:

It depends, if you mtb and road bike, it is madness to buy two pairs of shoes, just run mtb pedals on both. The performance difference is tiny, and pretty much irrelevant for amateurs, unless you suffer badly from hotspots. I personally dont.

The m540 will last a bit better and are a better constructed, so a pair of those will last longer on a road bike. they are only about a fiver more. Depending on what you have currently, i'd look at having spds on both bikes, and one very nice pair of shoes.

That way you have spare cleats too!

I sell MTB. I just be using road bike. One pair of shoes needed. I walked into a Specialized shop and there road shoes seemed very expensive even at lower end.

I service the SPD's for now. Later on get some good quality shoes and road pedals. Thankfully i get a pair of cleats with them. that way i got both to compare. Definitely red cleats.

I might as well get proper stiffer road shoes. Surely that will be another advantage over decent MTB shoes

redddraggon

sandbag wrote:

I never pulled out going over 40mph pedalling downhill.

But were you sprinting? if you are pedalling seated, you shouldn't pull out of pedals anyway.

ride_whenever

Eggbeaters are pretty rubbish, the cleats are too soft and the tension is only good with fresh ones. But they are however very pretty and clear fast.

That said they explode far too easily.

There is very little stiffness difference between a top end mtb shoe and an equivalent priced roadie one.

sandbag

redddraggon wrote:

sandbag wrote:

I never pulled out going over 40mph pedalling downhill.

But were you sprinting? if you are pedalling seated, you shouldn't pull out of pedals anyway.

I see your point. I was pedalling fast in a straight line sat. ride_whenever thinks you wouldn't even in a sprint. Maybe if i had a series of hardened cowpats along the way. You can do them so tight if wished. To a racer abit more danger...

If you used SPD, you will know that you pull out very very very rarely once you got them adjusted to your needs, yet still be safe and can pull out easily when needed.

STEFANOS4784

Yes. Interested to know here too, xtr ones are rather pricey.......

sandbag

I see the eggbeaters now but no instant cake mix supplied.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=46409