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Road pedals or SPDs. Is there an advantage to the road versions?

by tugglesthegreat
Wed, Oct 11, 2017 13:11
40

I’m thinking of joining a cycling club and at the weekend I went on a intro ride for a local club.  Most of my recent riding has been either solo or with mates.  We are all from the off road back grounds and so use SPDs or similar.  I was quite shocked by how long it took some of the guys on the club ride to clip in with their road clip in pedals.

Is this normal?  If so what are the benefits of riding with road clip-ins rather than SPDs?   

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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40 comments

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tugglesthegreat | 7 years ago
1 like

Thanks guys.  I think I suspected it was something to do with stability and comfort. 

It seems I’m not missing out too much by using SPDs.  For those out for marginal gains on road, I guess a full road set up would be more appropriate.

I do get hot spots on long rides so a firmer sole may be the answer.  I am probably going to get some new shoes but they will probably be off road ones, I was split between getting an off road flexible one or a stiffer shoe that can take CX studs.  Possibly try the Giro Privateer.

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Dicklexic | 7 years ago
3 likes

For me personally I use both. SPD's on the MTB and CX bike, and SPD-SL 'road' cleats on the road bike, and I don't find road cleats any harder to clip in. Road pedals (Shimano SPD-SL/Time/Look etc.) tend to have a bigger platform and in my experience spread the load across the foot more so you're less likely to get the hot spots you can sometimes get with SPD type pedals, and usually feel more connected and stable on the pedal too. That may however have as much to do with the shoes. MTB shoes usually have softer more flexible soles to make them more sutable for walking, and this can allow the smaller presure point of SPD pedals to cause the discomfort on long road rides. Road shoes usually have much stiffer soles so don't suffer the same issue. My point is you could probably use stiffer soled road shoes with two-bolt cleat drillings (like many 'touring shoes' eg - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-rt82-spd-touring-cycle-shoes/ ) and SPD pedals on a road ride and not get the pressure point problem. It can certainly be useful having shoes you can walk in more easily, especially for commuting or touring/sightseeing rides where you're likely to be stopping/walking a bit more.

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Grahamd | 7 years ago
7 likes

Is it just me or is the sound of everyone clicking in on a group ride one of the most satisfying sounds?

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Dnnnnnn replied to Grahamd | 7 years ago
1 like

Grahamd wrote:

Is it just me or is the sound of everyone clicking in on a group ride one of the most satisfying sounds?

For me, it ranks with the sound of a cork being pulled from a wine bottle (using an old-fashioned corkscrew)

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missionsystem replied to Dnnnnnn | 7 years ago
2 likes

Duncann wrote:

...an old-fashioned corkscrew...

Campagnolo?

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Redvee replied to Grahamd | 7 years ago
2 likes

Grahamd wrote:

Is it just me or is the sound of everyone clicking in on a group ride one of the most satisfying sounds?

Usually drowned out by the beeping of Gamins starting.

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macrophotofly replied to Redvee | 7 years ago
0 likes

Redvee wrote:

Grahamd wrote:

Is it just me or is the sound of everyone clicking in on a group ride one of the most satisfying sounds?

Usually drowned out by the beeping of Gamins starting.

Or the sound of Mike swearing, .....who despite cycling for tens of years and doing it everyday, just sometimes forgets where he is ....and topples over at the stop, feet still cleated in yes

 

On a more serious note for the OP, I see no reason to use anything more than SPDs for most people. The convenience and double-sided entry with no hot spots if you have stiff soles wins the day. If you have knee problems then whichever system relieves that is the one to alternatively move to (I get some knee pain when grinding up long (20km, 1000m+) hill/mountain climbs so I have Speedplay on my summer bike and I am pain free now). However come winter riding I switch back to SPDs (Shoes for SPDs tend to be available in warmer formats too).

I do ride SPD-SLs at the cycling gym I go to mid-week (Static "real" bikes) and I find they are a pain to clip in and difficult to clip out - thankfully as the bike can't topple over its not an issue but i would hate them on a real bike

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tugglesthegreat replied to macrophotofly | 7 years ago
0 likes

[/quote]

On a more serious note for the OP, I see no reason to use anything more than SPDs for most people. The convenience and double-sided entry with no hot spots if you have stiff soles wins the day. If you have knee problems then whichever system relieves that is the one to alternatively move to (I get some knee pain when grinding up long (20km, 1000m+) hill/mountain climbs so I have Speedplay on my summer bike and I am pain free now). However come winter riding I switch back to SPDs (Shoes for SPDs tend to be available in warmer formats too).

[/quote]

Thanks macrophotofly

I've got to agree, SPDs are the best option for most riders.  I'm definately going to get some stiffer soled shoes and they will be SPD MTB ones.  It was just a surprise to go on a ride with so many other riders and be in the minority with regards to pedals. 

Maybe roadies have a lot to learn from MTBers and MTBers have a lot to learn from roadies. 

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Welsh boy | 7 years ago
1 like

As beigemaster says, roadies are very conservative, they will use what their father used unless they can use what their grandfather used!

As a roadie myself, i have used both SPD and road pedals and i do find the road version a little bit more stable and they have a more secure feeling.  I think your experience may reflect on the club riders rather than the pedal/shoe choice, i can almost always clip in immediately (within 1/2 a crank revolution) with my road pedals, like most things, it comes with practice.

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beigemaster | 7 years ago
3 likes

Something about "The Rules".......smiley

 

Jokes aside, we roadies are a bit of a conservative lot, when I bought my first road bike I bought the road versions because- that just what you did right? 

 

Could never get on with them, couldn't get my foot in the correct position and could never clip back in on steep hills with junctions (of which there are many where I live).

 

Switched to MTB SPDS and feel much better and always clip in first time which (in real world situations) makes you much faster IMO. 

 

Perhaps if you can hold 6 wtt/kg up your long local climb then you might benefit from some of the extra energy efficiency, but I suspect for us mere mortals we wouldn't really gain much of an advantage being on the road clips. 

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