What pedals do the pro's use?

Secteur

I assume its not SPD-SL's?

Only they seem to be able to clip in and out extremely easily (probably lots of practice) and the cleats seem to be recessed.

nferrar

I'd imagine all the top end pedals are covered across the peloton, certainly SPD-SLs are used. Speedplays are probably the most popular though and are the ones with recessed cleats (the clip mechanism is actually in the cleat not the pedal)

sheffsimon

Secteur wrote:

I assume its not SPD-SL's?

Only they seem to be able to clip in and out extremely easily (probably lots of practice) and the cleats seem to be recessed.

I daresay plenty use SPD-SL's, Look, Time etc. I think you have answered your own question regarding practice.

Pseudonym

Secteur wrote:

I assume its not SPD-SL's?

why would you assume that..?

rick_chasey

Armstrong was a big fan of shimano, including their pedals.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/02/ ... als_103764

Secteur

Pseudonym wrote:

why would you assume that..?

Not sure - they just seem really clumsy and fiddly, and being so cheaply available to mere amateurs like us, I just imagined they'd have some other fancy space-aged solution!

marcusjb

Also remember that a pro doesn't have to do things like put their foot down waiting at a junction or anything - also no need to walk anywhere in the shoe. So no need for anything recessed.

As others have said - it's all the same stuff as we can use - SPD-SL, Speedplay etc.

Pseudonym

Secteur wrote:

Not sure - they just seem really clumsy and fiddly,

no offence, but they're only clumsy and fiddly if you don't know how to use them. My kids are 7 & 10 - they are both on SPDs and they manage fine...

Keith1983

I had my first experience of spd's last night. I've got a modest set up of 105 pedals and some shoes that are at least one size too big for me. Even with that I thought they were amazing! I felt so much more efficient in getting what little power I have to the wheel. Had a couple of wobbles when coming up to junctions but this was more due to my brain not being prepared early enough to initiate the disengaging of the foot from the pedal!

thegreatdivide

Look Keo 2 Max Carbon has been a popular choice in the peloton and the Keo Blade is now used by the likes of Beefy Contador and several climbers because of its large contact area.

hammerite

Pseudonym wrote:

Secteur wrote:

Not sure - they just seem really clumsy and fiddly,

no offence, but they're only clumsy and fiddly if you don't know how to use them. My kids are 7 & 10 - they are both on SPDs and they manage fine...

SPDs are different to SPD SLs though.

My lad (also 10) uses SPDs wouldn't have him on SPD SLs or Looks as he'd be going through cleats like no tomorrow for the moments he's not on his bike.

Pseudonym

hammerite wrote:

SPDs are different to SPD SLs though.

true - but the principle is the same, in as much as you are locating your foot into a sprung clip on the pedal. If anything, SPDs are more difficult, because the cleat & contact area are smaller...

t5nel

Pseudonym wrote:

hammerite wrote:

SPDs are different to SPD SLs though.

true - but the principle is the same, in as much as you are locating your foot into a sprung clip on the pedal. If anything, SPDs are more difficult, because the cleat & contact area are smaller...

Not wanting to be argumentative but I'd have to disagree with that.

(I freely admit that I have 15 years experience of SPD and about 15 rides of SPD-SL so........ however I have devided to go SPD-SL on road bike and these are my opinions)

1)SPD are normally double sided so you can clip in whichever way it lands!
2)smaller contact yes, but, there is no requirement to 'hook' the pedal as with SPD-SLs so you can normally slide the pedal on no problem
3)I find a disengaged SPD pedal much more stable than a disengaged SPD-SL though this may have something to do with shoe as well
4)SPD-SL droop slowly back to a home position. SPD tend not to rotate on their own as they do not have enough out of balance mass sufficiently far from the axle centre. Whilst in theory this means you know where SPD-SL's are, I find that in practice if you 'miss' the pedal once it can be in a very awkward rotational position.

Pseudonym

the benefit of SPDs is that you can (in theory) just stamp on them, clip in and off you go - all of which is very useful in MTB or CX situations where you are mounting/dismounting frequently. Same deal for commuting/riding in traffic, I guess.

I don't agree that SPD-SL or Look/Time type cleats are any harder to clip into though. Once you have learned the 'hooking' technique then they no more difficult than SPDs. The assumption is that you will not be stopping/starting so often with road pedals anyway - and if you are, then go for SPDs instead.

cougie

Double sided are easier than the single sided - but really its all about practice.

I probably fluff a pedal entry about once per ride on a sunday out of a few dozen stops I'd guess ?

Pros are just better at it as they ride far more miles than us.

lostboysaint

Rick Chasey wrote:

Armstrong was a big fan of whichever manufacturer gave his team the kit!

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/02/ ... als_103764

Corrected for accuracy.

mattshrops

top end sl's are certainly not cheap-dura ace carbon rrp £219.

You'd have to go with lostboysaint on this(and not just for armstrong) as a sponsored team they presumably use whatever they are given.

rick_chasey

lostboysaint wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Armstrong was a big fan of whichever manufacturer gave his team the kit!

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/02/ ... als_103764

Corrected for accuracy.

That's not strictly true. I remember reading somewhere that he's always been keen on Shimano and insisted US Postal/Discovery etc stick with it.

Contact points are usually exempt from team kit sponsorship > saddles, handlebars/handlebar tape/ pedals.

But anyway, the point is, the highest profile rider ever at the peak of his career used them, so yes, pros use SPD SLs.