Gone SPD-SL...... err.....

[simon the viking]

It seemed like a good idea at the time!

I've been clipless for a while on SPD mountain bike pedals.... But with a bit of help from my mum for my birthday (a bit early....) I took the plunge and went SPD-SL and bought....

My LBS did me a cracking price on both.... got within a fiver of the best online price for the shoes and matched Wiggle on the pedals (but didn't give me any haribo though) so a big thumbs up to them.... I buy inner tubes in bulk of Wiggle but anything big I talk to LBS and see what they can do.... bought the Defy 2, The Fulrum 7's and tyres off them and now shoes.

Getting used to the slightly different feel and clipping out of the SPD-SL over SPD...... and the not being able to walk around but the style and quality over the muddy fox shoes totally makes up for it. But I'm glad I went for SPDs first for a year or 2 as I think I would have had more 'Moments' if I gone straight to SL pedals

 

[musa]

Lakes cxs if im right good shoes if you can mould em right

 

[simon the viking]

Lakes cxs if im right good shoes if you can mould em right

No they're not the mouldable ones, they're cx175's loving the 'Boa' laces.....

 

[musa]

No they're not the mouldable ones, they're cx175's loving the 'Boa' laces.....

Ahh right good.

 

[Apollonius]

Thought you were going to have a moan at first. Then looked at what you had bought and thought "What's the problem?" And there isn't one. Fine, I don't know for sure, but I think SLs are easier to get in and out of than spd. Would like to know your opinion.

 

[simon the viking]

Thought you were going to have a moan at first. Then looked at what you had bought and thought "What's the problem?" And there isn't one. Fine, I don't know for sure, but I think SLs are easier to get in and out of than spd. Would like to know your opinion.

I find SL's a bit trickier but that's my fault as I left the tension on minimum on the SPD's and the minimum tension on the SL's isn't as sloppy as the SPD's if I had tightened the originals up the change wouldn't have been as bad.... but loving em

 

[simon the viking]

And........ I'm not a snob but the bike looks fab with em.....

 

[Idoru]

I've gone the other way, from SPD-SL to SPD.

I find the SPDs easier to clip in and out of, my SL's were single sided and I seemed to have a lot of trouble ensuring the pedal was the right way up, I stuck at it for a year before swapping to SPD.

 

[simon the viking]

I've gone the other way, from SPD-SL to SPD.

I find the SPDs easier to clip in and out of, my SL's were single sided and I seemed to have a lot of trouble ensuring the pedal was the right way up, I stuck at it for a year before swapping to SPD.

Funnily enough I was talking an old boy when I locked my bike up in town today he was admiring the shoes but he said he'd switched from SL to SPD's for convenience

 

[ColinJ]

I'm keeping SPDs on my MTB and Basso, but have gone back to Look Deltas on my Cannondale ('best bike'). I think the Looks/Sidi shoes do give a bit more support to my feet, and certainly 'Look' better!

 

[simon the viking]

I'm keeping the SPD pedals and shoes because I can feel an N+1 mountain bike coming along soon as little-un is really getting the hang of his bike and wants to start going on 'family friendly' off road trails and Mrs V 'almost' understands the concept that a Road bike doesn't do trails......

 

[DRHysted]

I run SPDs because when I get to work I have to go up metal grated stairs, first time I tried it with SPD SLs I almost fell over when the cleats went trough the grate holes.

 

[Apollonius]

I am a recent convert to SLs from toe-clips (after many, many years). I went for SLs as they spread the load better on the sole and seem more "pro". Most people in our club ride on SPDs as they are easier to walk in, apparently, being recessed into a "normal" sole.
I have never ridden on SPDs so I cannot compare, but I notice I am always the last one to uncleat at junctions etc, which is why I thought they(SLs, that is) might be easier to get out of quickly. I had a moment the other day when I lost control and found a panic break-out no problem. That is why I asked my question above. I sue SLs as I ride a bike to ride a bike, if you see what I mean. I only walk to the bar, and that is no problem on SLs. If I were more of a touring type, I suppose I would fancy the "walk mode" of the SPD. But I'm not.