Road bike pedal recommendation

[jamesb300]

I bought a road bike (Scott CR1) towards the end of the summer and am currently using it with ordinary pedals. I've now got a pair of Specialized Road Pro shoes and am looking for suitable pedals. I have never used clip in pedals before so I'm a bit apprehensive about the possibility of not being able to put my foot down easily when I slow down or have to stop quickly. I was looking at the likes of Shimano, Speedplay, Time and Look. I quite like the idea of a pedal with a flatish side that I could use without the cycling shows if I wanted the convenience of being able to pop to the shops in my trainers if that's possible.

Any recommendations out there please?

Thanks, James.

[option click]

Most, if not all, road clipless pedals will be uncomfortable (and potentially dangerous) to ride without the cleats.

You can get MTB SPD pedals with built-up sides to provide a bigger platform, but you'd need to make sure that your shoes will accept SPD cleats (Road and MTB SPD cleat are not the same in design or bolt pattern).

You will also need to consider what float you want (how much your foot can move around in the pedal before it disengages).

It is a very strange feeling riding clipped in for the first time, so practice somewhere quiet until you get used to clipping in and out and can 'feel' rather than having to look down each time.

Most systems can be adjusted to allow differing efforts to disengage - set yours to the lightest setting until your used to clipping in and out, then gradually tighten to suit.

Personally, I use SpeedPlay Zeros which give a large (adjustable) amount of float - I'd recommend them if you have problem knees.

Edited by option click on Thursday 4th December 11:40

[snotrag]

Your Shoes are 3 bolt, correct?

In which case, there is an SPD-SL model that is single sided, that will do the trick.

FYI - Road and MTB cleats use different bolt patterns. I always stuck to MTB pedals and shoes for interchangeability.

Road pedals tend to be single sided also, more 'aero'.



SPD SL - for road use




MTB Style SPD pedal.

Also - do not even think of wearing your road shoes when using a cage/flat pedal, not clipped in. It will almost certainly result in death. Its hard enough just to walk across a kitchen floor.

[jacobyte]

The main two are Speedplay and Look Keo.

I use Look Keo and have no reason to consider anything else. They are very good, and offer different cleats for your preference of float.

Speedplay pedals are lighter and arguably easier to clip into, but the combined weight of the pedals and cleats makes them about the same weight as the Look Keo Carbon, and they have a smaller pedalling platform to the Look.

It's really down to your preference.

[zagato]

If you want to be able to walk normally in your compatible shoes you need SPD style. I went for XTR (on a road bike with dura ace everything else) as they are bullit proof. Many others are not. They are not exciting to look at, but they work 100%.

[sjg]

I use MTB shoes (quite stiff XC race-type ones) and pedals on my road bike, mainly for the "walkability" factor. Road bike shoes are nuts and have zero practicality if you ever use the bike to nip to the shops.

[Nuggs]

Go for a set of 'proper' road pedals, rather than MTB-style pedals.

The Pro Road shoes (great choice, btw - I've been using a pair for the last year) are designed for full-on road pedals. They don't have a recessed sole, and so MTB cleats would sit proud and create issues for you while walking in any case.

Also, the Pro Roads are stiff-as-you-like (hence the cost!), so walking would be an issue no matter what pedals you go for.

The major advantage of road pedals are that they have a larger platform and so are comfier on long rides and encourage better power transfer.

I use Look Keos and they're brilliant. No need for you to go for something ultra-light, so just the Keo Classics (£50ish and bomb-proof) would be fine.

It will take some getting used to. You will probably fall off. However, after a few rides, you'll wonder how you ever did without them.

[mchammer89]

I've got a pair of Keo Easy pedals, got them because they were my first clipless pedal, plus i've just started riding fixed, so it's even more important to be able to clip out easily but i'm gonna stick with them, as they're really light as they don't adjust, i've never had the accidental unclipping issues that others talk about, but if you do have that, you can always just switch to a cleat with more float.

[Nuggs]

mchammer89 said:

i've never had the accidental unclipping issues that others talk about, but if you do have that, you can always just switch to a cleat with more float.

Don't change the float. You should adjust that according to your knees/biomechanics, not on how easy it is to release.

You can tighten the release tension on most pedals.

[mchammer89]

Nuggs said:

mchammer89 said:

i've never had the accidental unclipping issues that others talk about, but if you do have that, you can always just switch to a cleat with more float.

Don't change the float. You should adjust that according to your knees/biomechanics, not on how easy it is to release.

You can tighten the release tension on most pedals.

I was under the impression that accidental unclippings are because peoples pedal in such a way that their foot moves from side to side more than others, so moving from a 4.5 degree float to a 9 degree float would solve it, that said, this is all just speculation as I don't have that problem.

[Saddle bum]

For a full-on road bike, LOOK Keos are the best choice. As for the shoe, get the best you can afford. However you have to consider if you are going to use them all year, which is a definite no-no for top-of-range road shoes by SIDI, Adidas and the like.

There are winter specific shoes which are LOOK compatible, but they are very expensive, an alternative is a cheapo pair and a good pair of overshoes of the thermal variety.

[leggly]

DMR V12

[Nuggs]

Saddle bum said:

As for the shoe, get the best you can afford.

The OP's already bought a pair of Spesh Pro Roads, which are great cycling shoes.

[Carreauchompeur]

I've been using my road bike for commuting a lot recently and haven't been out at the weekends much, so swapped to some flat bear trap pedals. It's a lot easier trying to set off from traffic lights etc. But it's really surprising how much power you lose, and the additional effort required, with no clips...