SPD or SPD_SL?

bluedoggy
bluedoggy Posts: 285
edited August 2012 in Road buying advice
Can anybody give some advice on which i should go for? Whats the benefit of each etc?
Will it also limit my shoe choice if i go for SL? or are there adapters for shoes.
Not sure what to go for??
Wilier cento uno.

Comments

  • What are you using them for?

    Although SPD_SL's aren't exactly tricky to get in and out of, SPD's are marginally easier. I use SPD_SL's on my weekend bike but think that for commuting the ease of use of double sided SPD's outweigh any drawbacks.
  • TommyEss
    TommyEss Posts: 1,855
    Really depends on what you're using them for.

    As londoncommuter says - if you're predominantly commuting, lots of stopping at lights, walking to and from the bike etc, then SPDs all the way - the cleats are smaller and recessed, so a lot easier to walk in.

    Lots of 100+ mile rides, you're probably more likely to develop hot spots (painful soles) with SPDs over SPD-SL, Look (basically road 3 bolt cleats)

    As for compatibility - most road shoes have bolt holes to accept both 2-bolt MTB cleats (SPD, Egg Beater, Time ATAC etc.) as well as 3-bolt road cleats (SPD-SL, Look Keo, Time I-Clic etc.).
    specialized_elite_road_cleat_600.jpg

    However, MTB shoes won't have 3-bolt holes for road cleats - they won't fit between the tread anyway.
    lake-mx235c-mountain-bike-shoe.jpg

    And some road shoes (normally the top end expensive ones) only have 3-bolt holes - since they (rightly) judge that if you're spending that much on race road shoes you're going to be on road pedals, not MTB pedals.
    prord-solefront2.jpg
    Cannondale Synapse 105, Giant Defy 3, Giant Omnium, Giant Trance X2, EMC R1.0, Ridgeback Platinum, On One Il Pompino...
  • bluedoggy
    bluedoggy Posts: 285
    I will be commuting and weekend touring etc. Think i will go for the SPD then.
    I have a budget of £40 max on SPD's. Any recommendation's??
    Wilier cento uno.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Bluedoggy wrote:
    I will be commuting and weekend touring etc. Think i will go for the SPD then.
    I have a budget of £40 max on SPD's. Any recommendation's??

    M520s with cleats online from the likes of High on Bikes for £20. No need to spend more.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • bluedoggy
    bluedoggy Posts: 285
    Rolf F wrote:
    Bluedoggy wrote:
    I will be commuting and weekend touring etc. Think i will go for the SPD then.
    I have a budget of £40 max on SPD's. Any recommendation's??

    M520s with cleats online from the likes of High on Bikes for £20. No need to spend more.

    I was looking at these and they seem to be very popular. Good qaulity for the price!
    Thanks!
    Wilier cento uno.
  • TommyEss
    TommyEss Posts: 1,855
    Rolf F wrote:
    Bluedoggy wrote:
    I will be commuting and weekend touring etc. Think i will go for the SPD then.
    I have a budget of £40 max on SPD's. Any recommendation's??

    M520s with cleats online from the likes of High on Bikes for £20. No need to spend more.

    Second that - these are incredible value for money, and should be on a few websites at the £18-20 price mark (rrp is almost double!)

    Mine have lasted well - I suppose I could/should service them - but they're still working fine after a couple of hard winters. (And if this winter kills them I'll probably toss them and get a new pair!)
    Cannondale Synapse 105, Giant Defy 3, Giant Omnium, Giant Trance X2, EMC R1.0, Ridgeback Platinum, On One Il Pompino...
  • Rolf F wrote:
    Bluedoggy wrote:
    I will be commuting and weekend touring etc. Think i will go for the SPD then.
    I have a budget of £40 max on SPD's. Any recommendation's??

    M520s with cleats online from the likes of High on Bikes for £20. No need to spend more.

    I got cyclesurgery to price match chain reaction who are doing them at £18 at the mo...plus they also price matched me a pair of shimano MO77 shoes to go with them - £39.99 reduced from £69.99 - btw shimano shoes come up small and I needed to go 2 sizes bigger to fit me.

    Only bought them saturday and haven't had time to fit them yet so cant say how good they are, online reviews seem very good though
  • nbuuifx
    nbuuifx Posts: 302
    I've got a mix at the moment.

    I've got SPD-SL Road shoes, with MTB cleats on, and XT SPD pedals. They work well and do the job well but I can't walk in the shoes. I don't really know why they put the cleat holes in the road shoes, they may as well keep road shoes for road pedals, and MTB shoes for MTB pedals.

    My plan is to get a pair of SL pedals for the road bike and stick with the road shoes. I think I'll then get some MTB shoes and put the MTB pedals back on the MTB. Then I've just got to decide which bike to use for commuting
  • bluedoggy
    bluedoggy Posts: 285
    Can you where MTB boots on a road bike? Does it make any difference when you ride?
    Wilier cento uno.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    The basis of many 'performance' bike shoes is much that same between road and MTB i.e. same upper and midsole design, just that the MTB model has the lugged rubber sole moulded to it and so it adds some weight. The key decision is whether you are planning to walk about a bit in your bike shoes - if the answer is yes, then stick with SPDs. There is a slight difference in the feel between a road pedal and mtb/spd due to the size of the cleat i.e. the small SPD cleats do allow the foot to 'rock' a bit more so don't feel quite as positive if really cranking - I'm talking race-level efforts, not general riding. I use a pair of carbon-soled MTB race shoes for commuting - a good compromise
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..