Pedals - The differences

Hi wanted to know from road pedal users and preferably those that made the switch from SPD to SPD-SL into whether there is a massive difference and if so what?
I begun life with a mountain bike which I still have and added SPD pedals to it. When I bought my road bike I decided to keep things uniform and so I could wear my shoes with either bike I fitted the road bike with SPD too.
I had road shoes fitted with SPD cleats but I sounded like a tart in heels everywhere I went so I switched back to my MTB shoes.
I can engage and disengage easily and have no issues with the SPD but I wonder whether there are any massive differnces in performance, stability etc that anyone has experienced using road pedals?
The other thing I like with the SPD is that they can be engaged frm both sides whilst all road pedals seem to be one sided. I guess I'd have to forget about the quick take offs from the lights in road pedals!
I begun life with a mountain bike which I still have and added SPD pedals to it. When I bought my road bike I decided to keep things uniform and so I could wear my shoes with either bike I fitted the road bike with SPD too.
I had road shoes fitted with SPD cleats but I sounded like a tart in heels everywhere I went so I switched back to my MTB shoes.
I can engage and disengage easily and have no issues with the SPD but I wonder whether there are any massive differnces in performance, stability etc that anyone has experienced using road pedals?
The other thing I like with the SPD is that they can be engaged frm both sides whilst all road pedals seem to be one sided. I guess I'd have to forget about the quick take offs from the lights in road pedals!
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SPD-SL are a bit censored in my opinion. I've seen 2 people have their ride cut short from cleats failing or wearing out mid ride.
If you want proper road pedals then go for Look or speedplay.
In terms of stability, performace the difference is next to nothing. The only difference I can really detect (other than weight) is that I can clip out of the SPD's by mistake, this has never happened in my speedplays.
I thought Looks were just a different form of the SPD-SL? or am I wrong here?
I also sometimes when putting power down have accidently slipped out of the SPD but then again I have the spring tensins on the lowest setting so is expected.
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I find both SPDs and SLs easy to unclip from. However I do find the SLs a bit trickier to clip in to, not a problem but I have to think about it a bit more.
Walking on SLs is definitely more risky and I nearly went A over T at a cakestop last Sunday.
I do prefer the SLs out and riding though... stiffer and just more solid.
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I am considering Speedplay though.
Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
Allround - Cotic Solaris
-'s Harder to walk in, cleats need replacing more regularly.
I did it a christmas, kinda glad I did, kinda wish I hadn't bothered. It's easier to get overshoes to fit nicely on road shoes, but really not worth it for that.
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Still not sold on road pedals though...power wise I do find a small amount of difference between the MTB fitted with SPD and my road shoes fitted with SPD as the stiffness definitely helps but its not massive.
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I reckon...
They're on a par for getting out of. SPDs are considerably easier to get into in a hurry than SLs. I'd much rather ride in heavy traffic on SPDs than SLs. Steep hill starts are also easier on the MTB flavour.
I find SLs feel more stable than SPDs, and there's a ton less float. I've got to be a fair bit more careful of the knee whilst out of the saddle on SPDs than I do when on SPD-SLs.
SPDs are clearly easier to walk in, and using SLs off road would be moronic for a whole raft of reasons (I did, er, try this briefly, just for interest's sake).
To sum it up, I don't commute, but if I did I'd use SPDs on a road bike. However, because my road riding doesn't involve much of the stuff that plays to SPDs practicality advantages (lots of in-and-out, needing to walk, nasty hill starts) over SPD-SLs, I use SLs on the road bike for the more stable feel.
I did think about a change to SLs but the thought of spending more money on shoes when there's nothing wrong with the ones I've got changed my mind!
aside from a squeak i couldn't figure out on the ride home, i didn't notice anything amiss, pedals turned as usual
once home i checked for what was squeaking, then i found i couldn't turn the pedal by hand, cast my mind back to the last time i'd greased them and figured it was probably time to get out the rebuild kit
*any* pedals could have a bearing failure, considering the degree to which i abused them to reach this point i wouldn't worry about speedplays, just grease them every few months, only takes a few minutes
I use Look pedals (it was a close run thing between them and Look) and have to say I am very happy with them - they are far less grabby than SPD for getting in and out of them and the pedals are much lighter than SPD's - yes the cleats do wear out - but that is only if you are walking around in them.
Yesterday I did a post on my blog about this very thing - read it if you want
http://ukmambo.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/w ... art-3.html
+ 1 for time
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A freind of mine swore by Time pedals for al his bikes. He had MTB pedals on all his bikes but he had both sorts of bikes and was mainly a MTBer.
On longer rides and mainly up hill I began having trouble on my right knee with the SPD with road shoes so he recommended the Time pedals?
Apparently they have loads more float?
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If you were talking about the speedplays then I would say that for the cost I would not expect to have to do as much maintenance as I do with my SPD's and would definitely not expect to get the rebuild kit out...
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Speedplay have greater rotational float, 15 against 10 degrees. But Time also have 2.5mm of lateral float. It can make them a bit weird when you first ride with them, like your standing on glass, but you soon get used to them. If that is better for your knees I don't know, I just couldn't get Speedplays and SPD-SL setup right when I tried them.
There were problems with the iClic cleat wearing very quickly, not sure if they has been sorted out yet? I've not used them, I'm still on the RXS, no such problems with those. The new Xpresso looks cool though. Tempted to get a pair.
I’m using the same pair that I put on my shoes last March - non ‘gripper’ grey cleats – and there’s still loads of life left in them after thousands of miles of riding. If you treat them well they’ll last a long time.
My LBS do a Look fitting which I took advantage of post bike fit. Takes about half an hour - you wear big digital pedals - and it dials you in perfectly.
Never had any problems getting overshoes over my MTB shoes and my overshoes are design for size 6-7 and I am a 9.
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Very similar to the Eggbeaters in terms of float and feeling then?!
Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
Allround - Cotic Solaris
Don't know, haven't tried them. I've only ever used SPD on a mountain bike.
Is this somewhere in london?
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I’m based in Scotland, but any good LBS who stocks Look should be able to offer the system.
Might have a look, would be great to get the pedals and cleats to fit perfectly for my riding.
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Wanna spare pair.?. the pile of creaking crock are on Ebay
Positive feel, on the other hand, is a much more legitimate concern. I'm no engineer but I get the impression that Shimano were more concerned with making the SPD cleats recessable than anything else. I for one don't mind all that much; I would prefer a more solid underfoot feel, but my main bike is my main commuting bike; I value the ability to clip in and out very easily in traffic and walk (etc). I wouldn't use SPD-SLs, though; I'd much rather have Speedplay, Time or Look (which offer more float than SPD-SL)
Fixed TT 2015-2016
Swapped to Speedplay - much better - now use LA pedals and cleats but have inserted the yellow bit from Zero cleats to limit the float a bit - works great - easy in and out, and secure. Do need a bit more maintenance but worth it. Also more flexible for positioning as lots of options for extension plates to move cleat position which can be a bonus on some shoes, especially backwards if you have long feet. Recently switched to 4 hole Sidi shoes which work great with the Speedplay system.