Spec me some clip in pedals for road bike

jameshurrell

jameshurrell

jameshurrell

Associate
Joined
1 Jan 2013
Posts
178
I've been using old school toe clips for years, but recently bought a new bike and want to switch to clip ins (probably about time). I have a road bike, and go out most weekends on 20-30 mile rides. I know very little about clip ins but talking with a friend who is a serious road bike rider, he suggested using Shimano SPDs with MTB style shoes that would hide the cleat and allow me to walk a bit more easily.

Any thoughts or recommendations?
 
If you want to walk about in the shoes, then yeah, SPDs are a better bet. SPD-SLs are better in terms of the size of the "platform" i.e. the bit that connects with the pedal, and the shoes are generally stiffer, so they're better for power delivery if that matters to you.

I use SPDs for rides of anywhere from 10-50 miles, and I've done a century in them and they were fine.
 
Vonhelmet said:
SPD-SLs are better in terms of the size of the "platform" i.e. the bit that connects with the pedal.
Click to expand...

As well as a slightly better power delivery, the bigger platform should help spread the load and make it more comfortable.
I have bikes with both SPD and SPD-SL, but i dont notice any difference in comfort between them.

Do you expect to walk around in them a lot?
 
Last edited:
I commute in SPD SL pedals, and have no problem walking short distances in these, 50 yards in and out the train station etc, so wouldn't rule them out completely.

If you get more serious about road biking you'll eventually move onto road bike pedals anyway.
 
I only use spd's on all my bikes, mainly so I can swap shoes. Shimano m520's work as well as any of their other pedals and are really cheap if you don't get on with them. I've tried the road spd's (A520's) and they're no comfier and more hassle being single sided.

Shoe wise you basically want something with a stiff sole. I normally ride in mid range Specialised shoes but bought a cheap pair from Sports Direct as a back up third pair, but they've been used once as they're so floppy and uncomfortable.
 
Thanks guys, all valuable advice. I quite like the idea of the Shimano M520/540 double sided pedals, they seem to be pretty durable from the reviews I've read.

As for the shoes and walking - I admit that I do have to get off and push on some the steeper local climbs (south Shropshire), so having some sort of shoe where the cleat is recessed slightly is appealing. Would something like the M064 (not sure if we can link on here) work with the above pedals?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom