Have you switched from SPD(2 Bolt) to SPD-SL/Look/Speedplay?
Discussion
I'm new to road bikes and really enjoying it so far. I had a hybrid before and ran 2 bolt SPD 'MTB' pedals which I have since put on my road bike and have been using without any real issue so far.
I have done some reading up online and it seems that some people say changing to SPD-SL/Look/Speedplay isn't really worth it, there won't be any noticeable gain in power transfer, only that you'll find them harder to walk in etc. I'm gradually trying to build up to long distance riding, 40-45 mile rides are where I am at the moment, not racing. Not getting any pain or numbness in my feet with the current setup. I am just trying to find gains where I can and if the pedals/shoes are a place where some can be found then I'll take them.
So have you made the switch from SPD to one of the road bike specific pedal types on a road bike and would you say it was worth it?
I have done some reading up online and it seems that some people say changing to SPD-SL/Look/Speedplay isn't really worth it, there won't be any noticeable gain in power transfer, only that you'll find them harder to walk in etc. I'm gradually trying to build up to long distance riding, 40-45 mile rides are where I am at the moment, not racing. Not getting any pain or numbness in my feet with the current setup. I am just trying to find gains where I can and if the pedals/shoes are a place where some can be found then I'll take them.
So have you made the switch from SPD to one of the road bike specific pedal types on a road bike and would you say it was worth it?
Yeah, I started using shimano SPD MTB pedals, which are small, and a pair of Five Ten Hellcats
Moved onto SPD SL with proper road shoes before too long
Much more stable platform, less movement side to side than the SPDs. Just felt a whole lot better in every way
Do you do much walking while out road biking? I dont. Well worth the upgrade IMO.
Moved onto SPD SL with proper road shoes before too long
Much more stable platform, less movement side to side than the SPDs. Just felt a whole lot better in every way
Do you do much walking while out road biking? I dont. Well worth the upgrade IMO.
Bathroom_Security said:
Yeah, I started using shimano SPD MTB pedals, which are small, and a pair of Five Ten Hellcats
Moved onto SPD SL with proper road shoes before too long
Much more stable platform, less movement side to side than the SPDs. Just felt a whole lot better in every way
Do you do much walking while out road biking? I dont. Well worth the upgrade IMO.
No I don't do any walking at all really, only some pottering around while we stop for a break, no real distance at all.Moved onto SPD SL with proper road shoes before too long
Much more stable platform, less movement side to side than the SPDs. Just felt a whole lot better in every way
Do you do much walking while out road biking? I dont. Well worth the upgrade IMO.
I use SPD-SL on my road bike, and SPD on my MTBs and CX bike (which currently is being used as a road bike)
Can't say I notice a huge amount of difference swapping between them. SPD-SL has slightly less float and feels a bit more stable. But once riding it's not something you notice unless you consciously think about it. Don't think it makes any difference to how fast you go. people mention about "bigger contact area" but if you get shoes with decently stiff soles its not an issue. Have done all day rides on SPD pedals with no "hot spots" under my feet. The shoes make more difference than the type of pedal IMO, and a XC race type shoe (rather than an enduro/trail style) is basically just a more durable road shoe with a chunkier sole.
If you're starting from scratch with a road bike I'd say go with SPD-SL but I don't think it's worth the investment to upgrade.
IMO spend the money on a decent pair of tyres or a safer/more aero helmet, more comfortable bibs etc.
Can't say I notice a huge amount of difference swapping between them. SPD-SL has slightly less float and feels a bit more stable. But once riding it's not something you notice unless you consciously think about it. Don't think it makes any difference to how fast you go. people mention about "bigger contact area" but if you get shoes with decently stiff soles its not an issue. Have done all day rides on SPD pedals with no "hot spots" under my feet. The shoes make more difference than the type of pedal IMO, and a XC race type shoe (rather than an enduro/trail style) is basically just a more durable road shoe with a chunkier sole.
If you're starting from scratch with a road bike I'd say go with SPD-SL but I don't think it's worth the investment to upgrade.
IMO spend the money on a decent pair of tyres or a safer/more aero helmet, more comfortable bibs etc.
Edited by lufbramatt on Wednesday 27th January 09:43
I have both, SPD on my road bike and SPD-SL on my time trial bike. I can't say I notice a big difference between them when riding, I use the Shimano blue cleats (red are 0 degrees float, blue are 2 degrees and yellow are 6 degrees). SPD is easier to clip in, being double sided. But that said, on most rides on my local routes I probably don't stop and unclip more than 3 or 4 times, so the occasional missed clip-in motion isn't really a deal breaker.
I don't notice any real difference in terms of comfort and I don't struggle to get the power down on either pedal. As per lufbramatt's post above, if you have a stiff sole to the shoe, how much efficiency are you losing on the smaller contact patch of the SPD? think the difference between the sets in terms of weight would make f
k all difference for most riders too.
Speed Play pedals seem to have the best of both worlds, but need their own maintenance in a way that other pedals don't, but it's hardly an onerous task.
Ultimately, I will be giving Speed Play a go and will probably convert fully to SPD-SL or Speed Play after that, simply because there is a bigger range of shoes available. Road-style shoes with the SPD fitting are relatively uncommon, with most SPD shoes being bug clumpy MTB things. You can get nice shoes in two bolt fitting, but it is harder than if you are looking for SPD-SL shoes.
I don't notice any real difference in terms of comfort and I don't struggle to get the power down on either pedal. As per lufbramatt's post above, if you have a stiff sole to the shoe, how much efficiency are you losing on the smaller contact patch of the SPD? think the difference between the sets in terms of weight would make f
k all difference for most riders too. Speed Play pedals seem to have the best of both worlds, but need their own maintenance in a way that other pedals don't, but it's hardly an onerous task.
Ultimately, I will be giving Speed Play a go and will probably convert fully to SPD-SL or Speed Play after that, simply because there is a bigger range of shoes available. Road-style shoes with the SPD fitting are relatively uncommon, with most SPD shoes being bug clumpy MTB things. You can get nice shoes in two bolt fitting, but it is harder than if you are looking for SPD-SL shoes.
I'm another in the 'both' camp
SPDs on my commuter - clipping in /out at traffic lights regularly is just easier. Shoes are road based so stiff soles. Cleats ./ pedals at least 4 years old and are bombproof
SPD-SLs on my summer bike - just because - don't notice that much difference apart from on really long rides (Flanders sportive in 2019 so 300kms in the day) where I think the reduced float caused left knee ache.
SPDs on my commuter - clipping in /out at traffic lights regularly is just easier. Shoes are road based so stiff soles. Cleats ./ pedals at least 4 years old and are bombproof
SPD-SLs on my summer bike - just because - don't notice that much difference apart from on really long rides (Flanders sportive in 2019 so 300kms in the day) where I think the reduced float caused left knee ache.
SPD's on all my bikes except the Tarmac. 8000 miles a year on SPD's no issues. Can ride all day/week and walk normally. I'm no racing snake though and SPDs for me are the easiest and most useful. As I'm no racing snake the weight saving is irrelevant, I'll just eat less cake when I do walk into the café unaided ! 
SPD for commuter/winter and Look for best bike.
Definitely more decent options with road 3 bolt cleats, nice light breathable summer shoes... but I find Shimano do perfectly decent SPD ones.
Can happily do long rides etc in the SPD's, but numbness and accidentally unclipping are much more likely when going hard. Actually happened to me 2x this morning doing some high intensity loops. Both when putting effort in up risers
In London find the two sides worth that though, given the number of traffic lights. I am crap at clipping in...
Definitely more decent options with road 3 bolt cleats, nice light breathable summer shoes... but I find Shimano do perfectly decent SPD ones.
Can happily do long rides etc in the SPD's, but numbness and accidentally unclipping are much more likely when going hard. Actually happened to me 2x this morning doing some high intensity loops. Both when putting effort in up risers
In London find the two sides worth that though, given the number of traffic lights. I am crap at clipping in...
Another vote for "both" here.
I rode for years on an old (downtube shifter) road bike, managing for years with regular trainers and toe clips. Then I got a MTB and rode that on flat pedals and regular trainers for years. When I turned 40 I bought myself a new road bike, which is when I first "clipped in" with Look Delta cleats/pedals. Three bolt, similar to SPD-SL. Then I upgraded my MTB and moved to SPDs on that. Kept "road" cleats for road, and "MTB" cleats for off roading for years. Switched my next road bike to SPD-SLs because I got a deal on pedals and shoes with the bike (otherwise I'd still be riding with the Look Delta pedals).
More recently (maybe five years ago) I bought a pair of winter boots, by Northwave. They were two-bolt SPD mount only. For a couple of years I kept them for MTBing only, persevering with overshoes for winter road riding. Then I got wise, and got another set of SPD pedals and took the SPD-SLs off my "best" road bike during the cold and wet winter months. So I chop and change between the two. I've quite happily ridden 120 milers wearing the Northwave boots on two-bolt SPD cleats in winter, but in summer I'll do the same sort of distance wearing three-bolt SPD-SLs. To me there's bog all difference in the pedals/cleats. It's more about wearing the best shoes/boots for the weather. If I didn't already own the SPD-SLs then (based on my personal experience) I wouldn't bother buying them.
I rode for years on an old (downtube shifter) road bike, managing for years with regular trainers and toe clips. Then I got a MTB and rode that on flat pedals and regular trainers for years. When I turned 40 I bought myself a new road bike, which is when I first "clipped in" with Look Delta cleats/pedals. Three bolt, similar to SPD-SL. Then I upgraded my MTB and moved to SPDs on that. Kept "road" cleats for road, and "MTB" cleats for off roading for years. Switched my next road bike to SPD-SLs because I got a deal on pedals and shoes with the bike (otherwise I'd still be riding with the Look Delta pedals).
More recently (maybe five years ago) I bought a pair of winter boots, by Northwave. They were two-bolt SPD mount only. For a couple of years I kept them for MTBing only, persevering with overshoes for winter road riding. Then I got wise, and got another set of SPD pedals and took the SPD-SLs off my "best" road bike during the cold and wet winter months. So I chop and change between the two. I've quite happily ridden 120 milers wearing the Northwave boots on two-bolt SPD cleats in winter, but in summer I'll do the same sort of distance wearing three-bolt SPD-SLs. To me there's bog all difference in the pedals/cleats. It's more about wearing the best shoes/boots for the weather. If I didn't already own the SPD-SLs then (based on my personal experience) I wouldn't bother buying them.
Thanks for all the responses.
One of the reasons I was asking this is I am about to get some overshoes as well and I didn't want to get overshoes suitable for my MTB shoes (there is a much more limited choice of overshoe available for the MTB type of shoe by the way) only to decide shortly after that I will be switching to SPD-SL.
I don't have the luxury of a winter/summer bike at the moment, the same bike will be used all year round but I will get a full strip down and clean service when the weather starts to dry up to get the bike in top shape for summer.
I think I will stick it out with the SPD/MTB shoes for now considering that the consensus seems to be that it's not going to be a night and day difference switching to SPD-SL/road shoes and when it gets nearer to summer I may decide to get some SPD-SL/road shoes then that I only use in summer. So I'll have a winter and summer set of shoes, the latter only being used during the "dry" months.
These are the MTB shoes I have, I appreciate the sole is probably not that stiff but as I am new to road riding I think they will do for now while I build up my fitness and ride duration/distance.
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/cycling-clothing/...
One of the reasons I was asking this is I am about to get some overshoes as well and I didn't want to get overshoes suitable for my MTB shoes (there is a much more limited choice of overshoe available for the MTB type of shoe by the way) only to decide shortly after that I will be switching to SPD-SL.
I don't have the luxury of a winter/summer bike at the moment, the same bike will be used all year round but I will get a full strip down and clean service when the weather starts to dry up to get the bike in top shape for summer.
I think I will stick it out with the SPD/MTB shoes for now considering that the consensus seems to be that it's not going to be a night and day difference switching to SPD-SL/road shoes and when it gets nearer to summer I may decide to get some SPD-SL/road shoes then that I only use in summer. So I'll have a winter and summer set of shoes, the latter only being used during the "dry" months.
These are the MTB shoes I have, I appreciate the sole is probably not that stiff but as I am new to road riding I think they will do for now while I build up my fitness and ride duration/distance.
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/cycling-clothing/...
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