Look or spd what would you choose

[yello]

It's obvious to me! In fact, I didn't even think of the room for confusion until your little 'rant' mickle!

Perhaps it's an NZ-ism, I don't know, but it's certainly understood usage in both mine and my brother's vocab and has been for many years. Like some people call the vacuum cleaner a 'hoover'... just a generalisation.

 

[mickle]

Call the vacuum cleaner a what?

 

[youngoldbloke]

A 'Henry'.

 

[yello]

There's somewhere (Aus?) that calls vacuuming 'luxing'... wonder if anyone calls it 'dysoning'?

 

[lowerstill]

Just briefly back to the cleat/shoes part I think most things have been said already but I would say that having skidded over and almost through a wall in a cafe & skidded down a set of vinyl covered steps with look cleats I am happier walking about on spds but do miss the full on pulling power of look when riding fixed. Whichever way you go, happy shopping.

 

[youngoldbloke]

If you use Look cleats make sure you get the 'Grip' ones. They really do help avoid the 'walking on ice' experience. But they wear down quite quickly on rough surfaces, and why are they so ludicrously expensive? It is almost like computer printers and ink in that if prices rise much more it will be more economic to buy a new pair of pedals (cleats included), rather than just cleats, when you need new ones.

 

[adscrim]

If you get look get some cleat covers, I've got a 9 month old pair of grip cleat on at the moment and they look as good as new. Previously I was going through a pair every 6 months.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I have cleat covers, just find them a pain to carry, and even more of a pain to put on - so I don't bother .....

 

[lowerstill]

All good ideas, i'm older and wiser now, so perhaps i'll seek out these covers before I venture out on the looks again.

 

[HLaB]

I went for spd-sl as the little rubber pads mean they are easier to waddle in. On my training bike however, I use the aforementioned A520s with stiff soled BG mtb sports; its a combo I much prefer. They look good on the bike but are more practical; the pedals having a cage and the stiffer soled shoes are perfect for distance and I can't perceive any performance issues which out weigh the benefits.

 

[Globalti]

My Shimano road shoes and Look cleats are fantasticially comfortable when standing on the pedals, in a way that MTB shoes and SPDs are not.

 

[henshaw11]

@Mickle - I'm puzzled as to what your issue with (Shimano) SPDs, then? - I couldn't work out what you were getting at...

(I've been using 'em pretty much since they appeared in the early 90's, only complaint I have is my bunnyhops suck partly as a result !)

I've tried look cleats a long time ago - might depend on exactly how the cleats/shoes are made - mebbe different now - but very skiddy...

 

[2Loose]

My Shimano road shoes and Look cleats are fantasticially comfortable when standing on the pedals, in a way that MTB shoes and SPDs are not.

But how are they stood at the fish counter in Te**o? Or running up the stairs at work?

It looks to me as though some decent spd shoes are good for all sorts, but if purely for the bike then there are better systems out here - spd-sl, look, keo etc.

I only have traditional clips and spd's (and different spd shoes make a big difference to comfort, walking and riding) to compare.

 

[mickle]

@Mickle - I'm puzzled as to what your issue with (Shimano) SPDs, then? - I couldn't work out what you were getting at...

(I've been using 'em pretty much since they appeared in the early 90's, only complaint I have is my bunnyhops suck partly as a result !)

I've tried look cleats a long time ago - might depend on exactly how the cleats/shoes are made - mebbe different now - but very skiddy...

Oh, I just hate Shi**no.