SPD-SL verses SPD?

[GrumpyGregry]

If you're putting your foot down a lot, I'd say no, personally. (Incindentally, the clip out is fine, it's the clip in that's different, and I think trickier than SPD).

My commute has a train journey in the middle, so road cleats are a non-starter for me anyway there because of the amount of walking - it would wreck road cleats. Most weeks, I have 5 rides on SPD, 1 ride on SPD-SL, so I may be a bad example, but personally, I think the clip in is problematic enough on SPD-SL that I'd not use it on short-ish urban rides - I'd also be worried about the wear on cleats on my clip out foot at all the stops, but that may be an unreasonable worry.

On group rides the spd riders have ridden off and away whilst the sl users are still stabbing at their pedals.

 

[simon the viking]

Perhaps I should have posted a poll and gone with a majority........

 

[John the Monkey]

Perhaps I should have posted a poll and gone with a majority........

Ha!

It sounds to me like you've made your mind up - if you're doing longer rides anyway, I say give it a try, and see what you think.

At worst, you relegate your road pedals/shoes to weekend ride duty, with a pedal swap at the beginning and end of the week. Look for pedals &c on ebay (at least for your first set) so you're not spending a fortune to give it a try (or get the dhb R 1.0 shoes, which by all accounts are pretty good for £33).

I'd not use a two bolt cleat on a road shoe, personally (although it's possible, you've no tread to protect the sole).

 

[John the Monkey]

I started off with SPDs, changed after about 3 months to SLs, now gone back to SPDs, may not look as roadie but more practical and I have noticed no difference in power at all since reverting back. Clipping in much easier as well and for me its quicker.

I find the same, but I get hot foot from SPDs if I ride them for too long - on weekend rides (where the only walking I'm doing is to and from the garage) and I'm doing over 20 miles, SPD-SL work better, for me.

 

[srw]

Hot-foot is a function of sole stiffness, not cleat system. If you're spending £100 on a pair of shoes, the sole ought to be stiff enough to prevent it.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Perhaps I should have posted a poll and gone with a majority........

Buy some second hand SPD-SL pedals and compatible shoes.

That way if you don't like them you can sell them on without losing much, or if you decide you prefer SL's you can upgrade and still sell the used ones on, you might even make a little if you buy cheap enough in the first place.

FYI - even if you pick some used pedals up with no cleats the cleats are cheap enough to buy a new pair anyway.

 

[John the Monkey]

Hot-foot is a function of sole stiffness, not cleat system. If you're spending £100 on a pair of shoes, the sole ought to be stiff enough to prevent it.

£100 on SHOES?!?

Heavens above man, you don't know this monkey very well

 

[srw]

£100 on SHOES?!?

Heavens above man, you don't know this monkey very well

It's what the OP specified!

Thinking about all the pairs of bike shoes I've bought, the main difference between the cheaper ones and the more expensive ones has been the sole stiffness - apart, that is, from the very expensive waterproof and warm winter boots I got.

 

[cyberknight]

Have a look at the shimano spd 600 touring pedals much more roady looking,

+1
I use a 600 and a 520 and it is not the cleat /pedal system slowing me down , kept up with the fast club run last sunday till the last 10 miles when my thighs were the thing that stopped me, one of the guys pulling at the front all morning had normal looking double sided mtb spds.
No discrenable loss of power to mere mortals and no hot foot issues with the added bonus of not walking like a duck

 

[simon the viking]

Really undecided now!!!! may just stick with the spds.... and go for a road type shoe though instead of clumpy MTB shoes................... Arrrgggghhhhh

 

[cyberknight]

Really undecided now!!!! may just stick with the spds.... and go for a road type shoe though instead of clumpy MTB shoes................... Arrrgggghhhhh

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-m088-spd-mountain-bike-shoes/
i use decathlon 5 shoes
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mtb-5-mens-mtb-mountain-bike-shoes-black-id_8199399.html
with a 520 s....
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-a520-touring-pedals/

 

[Peteaud]

A600 every time and Shimano RT82 shoes.

 

[Ian H]

Racing pedals/shoes when you're racing. Touring* stuff when you're not.

*SPDs make excellent touring/general purpose pedals. MTB shoes are good for touring, etc.

 

[User33236]

I have SPD on my hybrid and commuter and Look Keo (similar to SPD-SL) on my road bike.

I found the Look Keo Classic pedal I had a total pain to get clipped into as they never seemed to hang right and was always having to spin then round a little bit. When I got my latest road bike I bought new pedals (the colour of the old ones didn't match!) and was very tempted to try something different however in the end I stuck with Look and got the Keo Max 2's. I am so glad I did as they just fall nicely for clipping it I really don't think about it.hopefully they will stay that way lol.

 

[Arjimlad]

I've stuck with SPD and just got some RT82 shoes - I find them very comfortable and a lot less clompy than my old DHB lace-up MTB shoes.