Just bought SPD-Sl's but should I have got SPD's?

thegodplato

Just getting back into cycling and have just had delivered from Ribble some Shimano R077 SPD-SL road shoes along with 5700 105 pedals having been advised that SPD-SL'd was the better choice. Daft me didn't realise that the SL's have the cleat on the bottom and so now wondering how easy it is to walk in? Should I have gone for SPD's instead? I'm intending doing LeJog next year so the shoes/pedals have been bought for that ( plus bike obviously!! ).

alihisgreat

thegodplato wrote:

Just getting back into cycling and have just had delivered from Ribble some Shimano R077 SPD-SL road shoes along with 5700 105 pedals having been advised that SPD-SL'd was the better choice. Daft me didn't realise that the SL's have the cleat on the bottom and so now wondering how easy it is to walk in? Should I have gone for SPD's instead? I'm intending doing LeJog next year so the shoes/pedals have been bought for that ( plus bike obviously!! ).

it depends how much walking you want to do? SPD-SLs are fine for the cake stop.. but you don't want to be doing any significant distance on them.

Mike39496

I don't mind walking in the SPD-SLs. As long as you don't walk round a corner too sharply you should be fine. The wear isn't terrible either.

bobbyp

I did LEJOG on SPD-SLs. Well worth it for that sort of distance. You won't be able to walk as easily as other but thats a good excuse to send you mates for cake.

mroli

As above - if you are doing long distances (eg LEJOG), SPD SLs are imho a better choice than SPDs. They spread the contact with the pedal over a wider area of the foot and this provides a wider "push" base.

I wouldn't advise going for a run in them, but they'll get you the odd distances that you don't ride and wear is fairly decent on them. If you were commuting short distances with lots of walking inbetween, or riding/walking in lots of mud then SPDs would be by far the better choice, but for long riding stints SPD Sls all the way.