Will SPD SLs make much difference?

[Steve vRS]

I've been using SPDs on my road bike now for almost 3years and my shoes are falling apart. I need new shoes so should I change to big boy pedals?

I'd still need SPDs for my CX racing but wondered if using SLs on my road bike would be worth the investment.

Steve

[anthonysjb]

Nope. Make no difference at all. Unless you're after every last second, the slight extra weight makes no difference. MTB ones are much easier to walk around in too.

Saying that, I use SLs, purely for aesthetics.

[nammynake]

I prefer the feel, as though you're more connected to the bike. When I switch back to using SPDs on my touring bike it feels like me feet are perched up high about the pedals. I doubt SPD-SLs offer any performance benefits though.

[jamiebae]

nammynake said:

I prefer the feel, as though you're more connected to the bike. When I switch back to using SPDs on my touring bike it feels like me feet are perched up high about the pedals. I doubt SPD-SLs offer any performance benefits though.

Same here. I feel more connected to the bike in SPD-SL cleats than the regular two bolt versions, I'm sure there's an element of psychology to it but both bikes run the most basic Shimano pedals so it's not like I'm comparing M520s to carbon Ultegra pedals.

The two bolt versions are massively easier to walk in though, so bear that in mind. Double sided pedals are also easier to use of you're regularly unclipping (in traffic for example).

I still want some Speedplay Zeros though...

[bakerstreet]

Steve vRS said:

I've been using SPDs on my road bike now for almost 3years and my shoes are falling apart. I need new shoes so should I change to big boy pedals?

I'd still need SPDs for my CX racing but wondered if using SLs on my road bike would be worth the investment.

Steve

I did my first couple of years on SPDs and then moved to SPD-SLs. If you do a lot of commuting, SPDs are much easier to live with. The cleats also last longer and are a bit cheaper too. Walking in SPD-SL cleats is a real pain, very un-comfortable and a little unstable.

I do think you feel a bit more connected with the pedals due to the larger contact patch. I keep SPD-SLs on my road bike, but my folder and the CX both have SPDs and will remain that way. I only put the SLs on my road bike because it was a road bike and I felt I should have road pedals on it

You can always buy a cheap set of SL pedals and give it a go. My Shimano road shoes accept SL and SPD cleats.

I have bought Carbon Ultegra 6800 pedals for my new road bike (not bought yet). They are lovely looking bits of kit, but I recon I will still curse them when I'm looking down to clip in becaause they have spun the wrong way!

[yellowjack]

bakerstreet said:

I have bought Carbon Ultegra 6800 pedals for my new road bike (not bought yet). They are lovely looking bits of kit, but I recon I will still curse them when I'm looking down to clip in becaause they have spun the wrong way!

Those Ultegra 6800 pedals are weighted such that they rest slightly back from vertical. You just slide the sole along the nose of the pedal and catch the front of the cleat to engage. It's very intuitive.

Mine are brand new, like yours will be, and the only issue I have is that, even fully 'backed off' on the tension adjuster, they are still a bit of a struggle to unclip from. I seriously hope that a few weeks of use will see them 'slacken off' a bit as they wear in. They do look awesome, though, as they complete the groupset nicely. It's the first time I've bought "current generation" road pedals. Previously I had (dirt cheap) Wellgo copies of the Look Delta pedals, bought as a 'clearance' item, long after most people had swapped to the 'new' Keo design.

By comparison, the SDPs on my 'tourer' are super easy to clip out of, and as others have said, are much better if you need to run errands, and walk while off the bike. There isn't a massive difference in the way they feel when riding, and the differences that are evident are more down to the snazzy shoes the SL cleats are attached to, rather than glaring differences between the actual binding systems.

If I were on a stricter budget, then I'd use SPD (two bolt) pedals and cleats with summer MTB shoes and winter waterproof boots on all of my bikes, expensive carbon fibre road bike included. The real expense with moving to SPD-SL (three bolt) system on your 'proper' road bike will come in having then to invest in some new shoes, and invariably either some overshoes (another £20 to £30) or three bolt 'Road' winter boots, and to be totally honest, at my level, I don't really need the Ultegra pedals (or the groupset, even, to be fair). They are just 'nice to have' if you can afford them, and a (useful) bit of carbon fibre bike-bling.

[bakerstreet]

yellowjack said:

Those Ultegra 6800 pedals are weighted such that they rest slightly back from vertical. You just slide the sole along the nose of the pedal and catch the front of the cleat to engage. It's very intuitive.

Mine are brand new, like yours will be, and the only issue I have is that, even fully 'backed off' on the tension adjuster, they are still a bit of a struggle to unclip from. I seriously hope that a few weeks of use will see them 'slacken off' a bit as they wear in. They do look awesome, though, as they complete the groupset nicely. It's the first time I've bought "current generation" road pedals. Previously I had (dirt cheap) Wellgo copies of the Look Delta pedals, bought as a 'clearance' item, long after most people had swapped to the 'new' Keo design.

By comparison, the SDPs on my 'tourer' are super easy to clip out of, and as others have said, are much better if you need to run errands, and walk while off the bike. There isn't a massive difference in the way they feel when riding, and the differences that are evident are more down to the snazzy shoes the SL cleats are attached to, rather than glaring differences between the actual binding systems.

If I were on a stricter budget, then I'd use SPD (two bolt) pedals and cleats with summer MTB shoes and winter waterproof boots on all of my bikes, expensive carbon fibre road bike included. The real expense with moving to SPD-SL (three bolt) system on your 'proper' road bike will come in having then to invest in some new shoes, and invariably either some overshoes (another £20 to £30) or three bolt 'Road' winter boots, and to be totally honest, at my level, I don't really need the Ultegra pedals (or the groupset, even, to be fair). They are just 'nice to have' if you can afford them, and a (useful) bit of carbon fibre bike-bling.

Overshoes are a consumable too. I recon I get a year and a bit out of a set of overshoes. The constant stretching to pull them on and off tears them eventually. I recon I get about 2 to 3k out of a set of SL cleats, Usually the yellow protector blocks fall off.

Nice SL pedals won't also look terrible when they have had a decent amount of use, My old ali 105 pedals look horrible as all the finish has worn away to reveal bare metal. The carbon ultegra pedals shouldn't do that in theory.

If the OP really want to stick with SPDs, then maybe consider upgrading to the XTR versions. Roughly 130g lighter than the standard 520s, but obviously not as light as Ultegra or 105 5800 SL pedals.

I've just put some XTs on my folder. They are used but only £13 delivered from Ebay

[gazza285]

I've got Shimano A520s on two of my road bikes, I can't see them weighing much more than an SL pedal.

[richardxjr]

I prefer SPDs (can walk in them and use same shoes on all my bikes). A600's in Ultegra Grey are a good price at the mo so I've got a pair on their way to me

[TwistingMyMelon]

I find SLs make a difference when really sprinting and on steep climbs when I am really going for it, I like the larger contact area, especially with stiff shoes

Although the cleat is a pita at times when walking

I like how the cleat wears to your pedalling profile

I commute on eggbeaters though, as I need to walk in the shoes