SPD or SPD-SL

Kevincavan83 · 08-03-2015 5:53pm #1

Which shoes are best for a road bike?
Mainly for commuting and odd leisure cycle.
I like the fact Spd are typically recessed into sole and you can walk around in MTB style.
But what are other proples opinions?

Lumen · 08-03-2015 5:56pm

SPD-SL feel better on the bike.
SPD feel better off the bike.

not yet · 08-03-2015 6:07pm

I use the spd on my road bike, you get the best of both worlds with these coupled with mtb shoes. I have a pair of crona mtb shoes and they look and feel like road shoes.

Kevincavan83 · 08-03-2015 6:14pm

First time user of cleats so dont wanna buy incorrect type.
I want a pair that are easy to unclip from and easy to walk in

Lumen · 08-03-2015 6:23pm

Get SPDs then. They are worse though :-)

PCX · 08-03-2015 6:37pm

For commuting it has to be the SPDs if there is any walking involved. If i was you I'd start with them.

It actually doesn't take that long to switch the pedals on a bike so if you wanted to switch over to SPD SLs for your long weekend spins you could easily do that.

Kevincavan83 · 08-03-2015 6:43pm

PCX wrote: »

For commuting it has to be the SPDs if there is any walking involved. If i was you I'd start with them.

It actually doesn't take that long to switch the pedals on a bike so if you wanted to switch over to SPD SLs for your long weekend spins you could easily do that.

Cheers

kuro_man · 09-03-2015 2:49pm

with the advent of stiff, light road-like SPD shoes, i think the disadvantages of 2-bolts over 3-bolts are getting less and less. I use both and I think I'll eventually switch to spd's for everything.

OldBean · 09-03-2015 6:24pm

I've a stiff pair of road/touring SPD shoes that are great - I've no doubt there's more give in them than the SPD-SL, but I find them great. Being able to hop off and walk around no problem is great apart from being the one sent into every cafe/shop to get stuff for my mate who uses Look and doesn't want to waddle/damage her cleats.

Kevincavan83 · 09-03-2015 9:09pm

OldBean wrote: »

I've a stiff pair of road/touring SPD shoes that are great - I've no doubt there's more give in them than the SPD-SL, but I find them great. Being able to hop off and walk around no problem is great apart from being the one sent into every cafe/shop to get stuff for my mate who uses Look and doesn't want to waddle/damage her cleats.

Lol

Ryder · 09-03-2015 9:26pm

Kevincavan83 wrote: »

Which shoes are best for a road bike?
Mainly for commuting and odd leisure cycle.
I like the fact Spd are typically recessed into sole and you can walk around in MTB style.
But what are other proples opinions?

If it's mostly commuting then spds are best. Commuted in them for years and found them plenty stiff for training and easy to walk on......even had to jog home in them once.

The only benefit with the sl is that they permit more rotation which might be helpful if you have any knee issues. I've been commuting in spdsls for 2 years now and have no difficulty with my 500m walk to and from the bike.

padyjoe · 09-03-2015 9:53pm

Reading this topic leads me to more confusion! :-( I've a MTB pedal on my roadie with runners at the moment. I've get MTB shoes to get any use of the cleats. (I'm hard on pedals, wheels, everything.:-D) If once I'm <90 kg then it's time for SL's. Am I right or wrong? I think doing the right thing.

Ryder · 09-03-2015 11:25pm

Spd sl are a completely different pedal to the spd. Road versus mtb. The spd sl has a larger platform for power transfer.......The sl isn't for super light.....If that's what you thought.

Don't know what weight you are but I'd be surprised if you were so heavy that you couldn't get the proper shoes for your spd pedals

SPD or SPD-SL

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