SPD SL Pedals

PTXWHIZZ

I have Shimano SPD pedals on my existing Hybrid, but have been looking at SDP SL pedals
for a road bike I have on order. Do these pedals have the same cleat type? ie can I use my existing shoes on an SPD SL pedal?

craker

different cleat.

spd-sl uses three hole mounting too so check to see if your shoes have got this pattern.

father_jack

Depends some shoes have screw holes for SPD and SPL-SL. No they do not have the same cleat type. SPD are small metal cleats, SPD-SL are large plastic cleats.

twotyred

If you will be using the bike for commuting and will be stopping frequently at junctions and traffic lights I suggest you keep your SPDs as they are double sided and you can just stamp down without looking and engage them. SPD-SL are single sided and you have to make sure the pedal is facing the right way up before you can engage them so its a real faff if you do a lot of stopping and starting on your journey.

If you are using MTB shoes just now its highly unlikely you'll be able to use them for SPD-SL.

dmch2

Last time out I clipped into my SLs perfectly without looking 5 or 6 times (before i got knackered). You just learn how the sit (about 90 degrees off flat on mine) and how to knowck them round and clip in in one go.

I've only had them for 250 mostly traffic light free miles so I think you'd get used to them in far fewer miles with commuting in traffic.

father_jack

twotyred wrote:

If you will be using the bike for commuting and will be stopping frequently at junctions and traffic lights I suggest you keep your SPDs as they are double sided and you can just stamp down without looking and engage them. SPD-SL are single sided and you have to make sure the pedal is facing the right way up before you can engage them so its a real faff if you do a lot of stopping and starting on your journey.

If you are using MTB shoes just now its highly unlikely you'll be able to use them for SPD-SL.

I have single sided A520 SPD's for commuting, no problems fititng in, more comfy for longer rides than MTB STB's. I prefer them over my old M520's

Smirf

I was pretty much in the same situation as yourself.... "Graduating" from a hybrid to road bike.

My hybrid has the M520 pedals, so I wanted to look for a pedal for my roadbike that was compatible with my existing shoes and hybrid pedals as I will alternate the bike during wet commutes. I ended up going for the A520s.

I'm not exactly disappointed with the A520s as a set of pedals. They work well, not had any feelings of having them unclip under harder cycling. Did my first 110km cycle this weekend, and were pretty comfy. Only started getting numb feet near the end, given my experience on the M520s, that would have come earlier! (though might be unrelated to the pedals and just be my inefficiency!)

However, the one thing that I am struggling with is using them daily on my commute into London. I seem to spend too much time flicking them round due to being single-sided, vs the double-sided nature of M520s, which over years of use, became second-nature clipping in.

Saying that, I am going to persevere with them. Hoping that over time it becomes easier to clip in... or I improve my standing balance at traffic lights!!

wulfhound

If you will be using the bike for commuting and will be stopping frequently at junctions and traffic lights I suggest you keep your SPDs as they are double sided and you can just stamp down without looking and engage them.

Depends on the pedals - some hybrids have pedals that are flat on one side, SPD on the other. They're supposed to be an easy intro to riding with cleats, but if anything they're fiddlier than proper SPD-SL - you can only clip in on one side, but they're not weighted so as to go 'right side up' on their own.

gkerr4

no one has touched on the feel of the pedals in use - I agree that if you are going to be going anywhere (and needing to walk) then the standard SPDs are probably better and certainly they probably make more sense on a commuting bike - but the way I read you OP - you have a hybrid for commuting which is staying and the road bike is for more road-oriented training am I right?

In which case - the SPD-SL pedals are much much better for this purpose - the SPD-SL is more solid, feels "stronger" on the bike and when fitted to a stiff set of road shoes will feel much better on a road-training session. clipping in is easy enough and then you are held firmly until you wish to unclip which is also a doddle - agree about the pedals spinning with the clip part down which makes it easier to clip-in as generally the pedal is always sitting in the right place to pick up and clip into.

I used SPD-SL for a couple of years and the pedals are great - high quality, well priced (105) items which will last you well and finish off a bike well - I have since moved to Time RSX which I prefer better still (and I still have SPD on my commuter / general / family use bike) but this is about "road pedals" vs "SPD" and only you can make that call.

John.T

PTXWHIZZ wrote:

I have Shimano SPD pedals on my existing Hybrid, but have been looking at SDP SL pedals
for a road bike I have on order. Do these pedals have the same cleat type? ie can I use my existing shoes on an SPD SL pedal?

No. and -
If your shoes have reccessed cleats then certainly No.
Whether you use SPD pedals on the road bike or go for SPD-SL with new shoes depends on how you intend to use the bike. Most reports of 'hot spots' using SPDs are due to soft soles on the shoes (or poor fit). Good quality MTB or touring shoes with stiff soles seldom give trouble.

PTXWHIZZ

Thanks to every one who replied to my question. I have the answer I needed and a whole lot good advice as well. Cheers

PTXWHIZZ

Thanks to every one who replied to my question. I have the answer I needed and a whole lot good advice as well. Cheers