Clipless pedals - now I'm a convert which ones are best?
Discussion
I bought a set of Shimano M-520 pedals for my road bike just to try them out and see how I got on as I've never ridden clip less before and had some shoes which would accept the 2 screw cleats but not the 3 screw ones. I'm now a total convert and debating some better shoes (mine are cheapo Lidl ones which look like walking shoes and weigh about 274kg) so I could put the SPDs on my MTB and get some road specific pedals instead but I don't really know the advantages of them over my theoretically MTB ones.
At the moment it feels like I have a bit too much float, but I like being able to walk in the shoes rather than skating around and ruining the floor under me with the cleats like I would with roadie shoes.
Any advice would be appreciated!
At the moment it feels like I have a bit too much float, but I like being able to walk in the shoes rather than skating around and ruining the floor under me with the cleats like I would with roadie shoes.
Any advice would be appreciated!
for clairty, I'm using SPD to mean generic mtb style pedals and SPD SL -as generic road pedals (to include look, time etc)
The fundamental question is will you want to walk around in the shoes further than 50 yards if you get off the bike, if the answer is yes, go for the SPD shoes with the recessed cleat. if the answer is no, go for SPD-SL with the cleat bolted to the sole of the shoe...
Shoe brand preference is up to you and what is comfortable. I'd recommend something with a click-lock ratchet strap as you generally get a better fit compared to just velcro straps.
Float is adjustable at the pedal, its trail and error but expect to hit the floor whilst clipped in at least a few times whilst experimenting. I have one looser than the other, preferring to stop at junctions wit hmy left foot down.
Louis Garneau look ok and arent too pricey, the Shimano and DHB shoes around £70 are very good value for money too.
The fundamental question is will you want to walk around in the shoes further than 50 yards if you get off the bike, if the answer is yes, go for the SPD shoes with the recessed cleat. if the answer is no, go for SPD-SL with the cleat bolted to the sole of the shoe...
Shoe brand preference is up to you and what is comfortable. I'd recommend something with a click-lock ratchet strap as you generally get a better fit compared to just velcro straps.
Float is adjustable at the pedal, its trail and error but expect to hit the floor whilst clipped in at least a few times whilst experimenting. I have one looser than the other, preferring to stop at junctions wit hmy left foot down.
Louis Garneau look ok and arent too pricey, the Shimano and DHB shoes around £70 are very good value for money too.
i use these:
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/PEEXLK/exustar...
They're cheap and lightish.
Shoes wise i bought some shimano ones. They seem very good. PX had some good offeres on. My missusbought some Carnac ones which are also really good.
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/c/q/shoes
Single sided pedals take a little bit more getting to use to but they're defo better than SPDs.
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/PEEXLK/exustar...
They're cheap and lightish.
Shoes wise i bought some shimano ones. They seem very good. PX had some good offeres on. My missusbought some Carnac ones which are also really good.
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/c/q/shoes
Single sided pedals take a little bit more getting to use to but they're defo better than SPDs.
jamiebae said:
I don't really know the advantages of them over my theoretically MTB ones.
At the moment it feels like I have a bit too much float, but I like being able to walk in the shoes rather than skating around and ruining the floor under me with the cleats like I would with roadie shoes.
Any advice would be appreciated!
There aren't really any advantages other than perhaps saving 50g between a pair of pedals. Top level XTR pedals will have much better float control and will last longer than your bike, but cost around £85. I have found these are worth the extra for the weight, the bearing quality and the clip in positive action (which is still the same as when I bought them 3 years ago). At the moment it feels like I have a bit too much float, but I like being able to walk in the shoes rather than skating around and ruining the floor under me with the cleats like I would with roadie shoes.
Any advice would be appreciated!
The real issue is the quality of the shoes you buy. If you can get good high spec shoes with carbon fibre soles, so they are really stiff but light too, then what cleat they use to connect to the crank arms is totally irrelevant. If you need to save money somewhere, get the cheapest SPD pedals and the most expensive SPD shoes.
pablo said:
I have one looser than the other, preferring to stop at junctions wit hmy left foot down.
Louis Garneau look ok and arent too pricey, the Shimano and DHB shoes around £70 are very good value for money too.
Ditto Louis Garneau look ok and arent too pricey, the Shimano and DHB shoes around £70 are very good value for money too.
Only for me it's my right foot. Shimano 105 pedals are pretty good. I have had mine for a few months and they have been fine.
DHB's R2.0 are only £90 and they are Carbon too, which is important for the vital bling factor
My advice would be to just get some lighter/better shoes and keep using what you've got pedal wise.
We'd all like to believe that we need carbon soles and all that cr*p, but frankly unless you're pushing a *lot* of power, it's going to make naff all difference to you. Road SPD-SL is a definite step up in the faffing stakes - harder to walk in, clip in and out, etc. Yes, you'll have more control over float, but if your feet are floating, you probably need the float? I'd tidy up the pedal stroke first, not constrain it with the cleats.
But that's just my 2p..
We'd all like to believe that we need carbon soles and all that cr*p, but frankly unless you're pushing a *lot* of power, it's going to make naff all difference to you. Road SPD-SL is a definite step up in the faffing stakes - harder to walk in, clip in and out, etc. Yes, you'll have more control over float, but if your feet are floating, you probably need the float? I'd tidy up the pedal stroke first, not constrain it with the cleats.
But that's just my 2p..
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