The road pedal debate

DonDaddyD

Yesterday my left pedal, at times, wouldn't engage with the cleat, which was hugely frustrating. I have Shimano 105 SPD-sl road pedaels. While I like Shimano-SPD-sl pedals I bought them at a time when I was new and so simply went with a brand name I was familiar with. Also I very rarely need a reason to upgrade/try something new, lighter, faster these days...

What pedal/cleat combination do you use and why?

Please note:
To make it commuter valid for Spen666, I commute and weekend cycle using the same pedals system on two different bikes (this helps with consistency and ensures I don't forget how to use the pedals on either bike) so they have to be suitable for both commuting and weekend rides (that means walking to the second floor of my office) and they also must fit road shoes.

Thanks in advance.

Splottboy

Crank Bros Quattros, if you can still get em.
Nice wide platform, float etc.

Think you could use em for light off-road if needs be.

gaz545

I use the same, 105 SPD-SL pedals, i would have gotten ultegra to match everything else but couldn't get them anywhere at the time.

I've used SPD-SL for about 5 or 6 years now, and never had any issues, It has many advatages over the smaller mtb style cleat and as a long time user 80% of the time i can clip in quicker that anyone using mtb style.

I also don't have the issues of walking like a chicken or pegion as many people seam to. Heal then cleat, heal then cleat. very simple.

richk

For commuting it's standard SPD (Shimano MT40 shoes) & M520s.

Reason is I need to walk in my shoes (taking son to school two days a week, then cycling on to work).

navt

DonDaddyD wrote:

Yesterday my left pedal, at times, wouldn't engage with the cleat.

Are you sure that perhaps it is the cleat that needs to engage with the pedal and not vice-versa?

il_principe

navt wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Yesterday my left pedal, at times, wouldn't engage with the cleat.

Are you sure that perhaps it is the cleat that needs to engage with the pedal and not vice-versa?

Is the cleat worn?

Anyway for non-commuting road purposes there is no debate; the answer is simply Speedplay.

gabriel959

For commuting I use standard SPDs, they last longer and are easier to click into.

SPD-SLs are for the weekend but I fancy a change soon.

navt

Speaking of which, how relevant are cleats to commuting in central London? Not wanting to hijack your thread DDD, someone did pose this question to me in light of recent central London fatalities.

Like yourself, I have more than one bike and use them interchangeably for commuting and weekends/sportives.

oscarbudgie

If you were happy with SPD-SL until yesterday + had never had a problem why change? It just sounds like a worn or dirty cleat - although odd it should be the left one...

asprilla

For commuting I use SPDs and at the weekends I use Look Keos.

I commuted once in my Keos and it just about destroyed the cleats. SPDs are much more durable and are recessed into my shoes to make walking much easier.

bigmat

I like standard SPDs for the commute, easy to engage and I can walk properly in the shoes. I have Look Keos on the road bikes, they work fine. Haven't tried Time / SPD-SL / Speedplay so can't really compare those. I'm not convinced road pedals have any great advantage to be honest. If you have the tension on SPDs up high and have stiff soled shoes, they feel more or less the same as road pedals to me. They just don't look as good!

fenboy369

I have Shimano Mtb clipless jobbies on my mtb and was using them on the Dew Deluxe (RIP) and found them to be fine. I am looking at getting a new road bike, and a single speed cx bike in the very near future. Its a similar set of questions to DDD's. More of my cycling is commuting miles, but I have all Mtb shoes at the moment. Am I really looking at getting all new shoes and pedals for the road bike? I take it that the 3 bolt road cleats give a better surface area and better power transfer than the mtbs style 2 bolt cleats.
And is better to be using clipless or platform pedals on a fixie? Both seem to be dangerous options, but hey ho!

will3

I keep it simple with SPDs on road, mtb and tandem. Saves having multiple shoe confusion.

Single sided SPDs let me nip out at lunchtime without having to change shoes.

Never tried anything else other than flats, so probably don't know what I'm missing (but don't really care either)

UndercoverElephant

Until recently I was quite happy with my SPDs, that was until I bought some roadie shoes to use them with. Frankly walking in roadie shoes with regular SPD cleats is an experience. I liked the shoes, though.

I bought some cheapie Wellgo SPD-R pedals of eBay which are basically just like SPD, but longer. They work OK, and are much easier to walk in, but I still miss the two-sided SPD pedals. I seem to spend ages clipping in from the lights.

fungus_the_muffin_man

I use speedplay zero's on both the road bike and the commuter. I used to use shimano 520's on the commuter but swapped over recently to the speedplay's. I'm a huge advocate of speedplay's they have the easy double sided entry that spd'd have but all the advantages of a road pedal over an spd pedal. I've even found them easy to walk in and this includes having to carry my bike up and down 2 flights of stairs.

andrewc3142

Another vote for spd's. Work well, easy to clip into and can walk in the shoes.

As above, could be worn cleat or perhaps something stuck underneath it.

asprilla

DDD, is your left pedal the one you always unclip at junctions? If so this has probably work the cleat prematurely.

Rich158

I've had exactly the same problem DDD. I don't think it's worn cleats, 90% of the time with me it's a failure to engage the front portion of the cleat first. I'm convinced it's to do with a slightly stiff pedal bearing no allowing the pedal to hang properly thus makign engaging the cleat a problem.

I've not tried anything else yet, I'd be interested to see how some of the Time pedals fare

Bassjunkieuk

Asprilla wrote:

DDD, is your left pedal the one you always unclip at junctions? If so this has probably work the cleat prematurely.

My thoughts exactly!

Get some new cleats and you'll most likely be fine - could even take a sub to C+ as they are giving away a set of SPD-SL pedals and cleats I think :-)

Personally I'm on SPD's for the bike (I have yet to be able to differentiate between weekend and commute bike :-() and haven't had any issues. Replaced cleats once already on these shoes as I'm using dhb R1's with the road-style SPD cleats which have little metal/rubber arms on either side to allow me to walk "properly".

Buckled_Rims

RichK wrote:

For commuting it's standard SPD (Shimano MT40 shoes) & M520s.

Reason is I need to walk in my shoes........

Exactly the same as me

Use the SPD for commute and road. It just makes life a bit more simpler and has no real disadvantages for me.

chuckcork

navt wrote:

Speaking of which, how relevant are cleats to commuting in central London? Not wanting to hijack your thread DDD, someone did pose this question to me in light of recent central London fatalities.
.

I'd say riding without being clipped in is actually more dangerous, just consider the consequences of feet slipping on wet pedals in heavy traffic! Clipped in you have complete control of your ability to move forwards, you can accelerate harder, pedal with one foot, reverse pedal to get the crank angle set for take off at lights and so on.

vorsprung

I use SPD. All my bikes, weekend and commuting, have Shimano M540 pedals

Clever Pun

Am I the only time user???

ShimaNO.. see?

Aidy

I use SPDs (mountain bike type), on all my bikes.

jonginge

Clever Pun wrote:

Am I the only time user???

ShimaNO.. see?

Nope. They're ace. Got various versions of the RXS on my bikes. I do have spuds on the main commuter but the times are fine in traffic on the pearson etc.

As to the OP, I find cleat engagement can be fouled sometimes when wearing overshoes. Come on spring. Oh, wait

rjsterry

I'd always go for MTB style SPDs for commuting as i reckon you can get your foot out of those as quick if not quicker than toe clips. As a one bike person (+ folding Dahon) I don't really have to worry about which shoes/pedals for which bikes. Mind you, I would have said that the majority of roadie commuters on my run also go for the MTB SPD option.

FWIW I have some VP-104 pedals, which are almost as old as the bike (probably 10+ yrs now). They are Shimano MTB clones, but when I bought them, the bearings were a lot smoother than the Shimano equivalent. Sadly VP were bought out by Exustar and then dropped long ago, so when these pedals finally die (not looking like happening anytime soon [nervous laugh]), I will probably end up going for something similar. I also like the fact that the MTB shoes allow me to walk around more or less normally, even run for a train when the need arises. Never tried SPD-SL or other 'road' clipless, so don't know what I'm missing.

BTW the Crank Bros Quattros have been discontinued, but the Acids are very similar

symo

I have a pair of asics trainers which I have modified to allow them to be used as clipless.

1) Nail 2 (two) kittens to the end of each crank arm.
2) Smear double cream to the bottom of your old trainers
3) Watch as the small animals cling desperately to the food source

Of course the real trick is putting just enough cream on the bottom of each shoe to make sure the kittens release at the office. Too much and the cream will stink your locker out.

will3

symo wrote:

I have a pair of asics trainers which I have modified to allow them to be used as clipless.

1) Nail 2 (two) kittens to the end of each crank arm.
2) Smear double cream to the bottom of your old trainers
3) Watch as the small animals cling desperately to the food source

Of course the real trick is putting just enough cream on the bottom of each shoe to make sure the kittens release at the office. Too much and the cream will stink your locker out.

Why do you need two kittens on each crank arm? Wouldn't one on each be lighter?

UndercoverElephant

will3 wrote:

symo wrote:

I have a pair of asics trainers which I have modified to allow them to be used as clipless.

1) Nail 2 (two) kittens to the end of each crank arm.
2) Smear double cream to the bottom of your old trainers
3) Watch as the small animals cling desperately to the food source

Of course the real trick is putting just enough cream on the bottom of each shoe to make sure the kittens release at the office. Too much and the cream will stink your locker out.

Why do you need two kittens on each crank arm? Wouldn't one on each be lighter?

Double sided. Much easier to use.

symo

UndercoverElephant wrote:

will3 wrote:

symo wrote:

I have a pair of asics trainers which I have modified to allow them to be used as clipless.

1) Nail 2 (two) kittens to the end of each crank arm.
2) Smear double cream to the bottom of your old trainers
3) Watch as the small animals cling desperately to the food source

Of course the real trick is putting just enough cream on the bottom of each shoe to make sure the kittens release at the office. Too much and the cream will stink your locker out.

Why do you need two kittens on each crank arm? Wouldn't one on each be lighter?

Double sided. Much easier to use.

Bing!!

attica

Asprilla wrote:

For commuting I use SPDs and at the weekends I use Look Keos.

+1

I used Speedplay for a while last year but found absolutely no advantage over the Looks (and let's face it Shimano SPD-SLs are a Look copy)

Once you're used to a one sided pedal - which I assume you are - there's no advantage in Speedplay.

A £40 cleat with moving parts in it versus a £15 cleat, hmm let me think which one I'd rather stand in the mud on the roadside in during a sportive pee break?