Keep SPD's or go SL?

[Milzy]

When a group of us first started cycling we all got spd pedals & shoes, mainly to be cheap skates & be able to walk around properly when dismounted. Now everyone is buying SL gear & all the others are following like sheep wacking things on the credit card like there's no tomorrow. I could buy the SL stuff now but what advantages am I really going to gain? All I've ever known is the feeling of SPD. I'm sure I could spend the money on something else more worth while.

Talk me into it or out of it.

 

[Hacienda71]

Look Keo's

 

[vickster]

Do you WANT to be a sheep in debt?

 

[Peteaud]

Keep the SPD.

Ive tried both SL and Speedplay, i still prefere, and use, SPD A600 and Shimano Touring shoes.

There is no difference in performance for me (based on simple strava segments) and i can walk in the SPD.

 

[smokeysmoo]

what advantages am I really going to gain?

Depending on the way you ride and the distances you ride you could gain anything from a marginal benefit to the grand total of nowt

SL shoes have stiffer soles than SPD leading to better power transfer, (apparently), but I very much doubt anyone not in the pro ranks would notice.

FWIW I use SL's on the road bikes, but it's just because I always have, apart from a spell using Speedplay Zero's which are superb and if I could afford too I'd get Zero's every time.

 

[simon the viking]

I've switched recently to SL's and the shoes do seem better/Stiffer but that's probably down to purchase price... I find the walking aspect a bit inconvenient but apart from that I prefer the SL's Clicking out is slightly harder (possibly because even after 2 years I still had the SPD's on minimum tension.)

 

[toeknee]

SPD..........

 

[Milzy]

A600's are nice but what about http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...fmKwu10MjyXbtbRFIPG6oRoCx6rw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

These are double sided.

 

[Peteaud]

A600's are nice but what about http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...fmKwu10MjyXbtbRFIPG6oRoCx6rw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

These are double sided.

Can,t knock them for that money, but, the A600's for me are still unbeatable. The hang right for clip in every time, look good and are light. To me worth the cash. Also look at the A520 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-a520-road-pedals/rp-prod28051


Check out the shimano RT shoes to go with them.

 

[raleighnut]

I'd stick to SPD for ease of walking , as for stiffness that's more down to quality/price than 2 or 3 holes in the sole. (even 5 in some cases)

 

[Piemaster]

I stuck to spd when I got the road bike. Partly as I already had them on the other bikes and partly 'cos all the sl fitting shoes I looked at were a bit narrow for me.

 

[Milzy]

Well as seen as I won't have to buy new shoes & I left my spd pedals on a sold bike I'm going to splash out on the SPD A600

 

[Peteaud]

Well as seen as I won't have to buy new shoes & I left my spd pedals on a sold bike I'm going to splash out on the SPD A600

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-a600-spd-touring-pedals/

 

[400bhp]

Can,t knock them for that money, but, the A600's for me are still unbeatable. The hang right for clip in every time, look good and are light. To me worth the cash. Also look at the A520 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-a520-road-pedals/rp-prod28051


Check out the shimano RT shoes to go with them.

Agree and tge a600 are pretty light too.

 

[400bhp]

Depending on the way you ride and the distances you ride you could gain anything from a marginal benefit to the grand total of nowt

SL shoes have stiffer soles than SPD leading to better power transfer, (apparently), but I very much doubt anyone not in the pro ranks would notice.

FWIW I use SL's on the road bikes, but it's just because I always have, apart from a spell using Speedplay Zero's which are superb and if I could afford too I'd get Zero's every time.

I keep hearing this. You can buy stiff soled spd shoes.