which pedal system and shoe combination is best for a new road bike rider?

Question

most important are: ease of clipping and unclipping, right float, no hot spots, low maintenance. my research throws up lots of look, shimano SPD, speedplay, crank brothers pedals but i can't discern what's right for me!

Answer 1

Look: one of the more common road pedals, 3 bolt pattern for road shoes only; There are 3 different colored cleats, each color designating the amount of float. Black = 1 degree, grey = 4.5 degrees, red = 9 degrees. Cleats about $16, the ones with the cleat covers included about $20, pedals about $80 up



SPD-SL: Shimano version of Look pedal, 3 bolt pattern for road shoe only. Red/black cleat = about 3 degrees of float, Yellow/black cleat = about 9-11 degrees of float

The pedal is single sided and is weighted to ride nose high so you can nose the cleat in easier. Cleats about $24, pedals about $80 up.



Both of the above use larger cleats which may make getting clipped in easier. They are also single sided pedals and are weighted to ride nose high so clipping in is easier.



Speedplay: Has the X-series and the Zero series. For the X-series there is 28 degrees of float with no adjustment. Of the two, it is recommended for women and smaller riders as it is easier to clip out of. The Zeros series has adjustable float from 0 to about 20 degrees. The cleats for the two are NOT interchangable. Both offer a small pedal & improved cornering as well as a large cleat/pedal surface area to minimize hot spots. Great for those with knee problems (esp the X-series). Cleats about $45, pedals roughly $120. Your cleats contain the binding mechanism not the pedals which is why they are more.



SPD; 2 bolt pattern, can be used with mountain or road shoes. most pedals are double sided with the exception of one (single sided road version). Need to use SH-71 cleats on road shoes as it has a pontoon on either side of the cleat to stabilize foot when walking. cleats: $20-25, SH-71 cleat about $30-35, pedals about $55 up (float is roughly 6 degrees)

Crank Brothers: 2 bolt pattern, mountain or road shoe. Like the SPD, there is a version with the pontoons for road shoes. Float is somewhere between 6-13 degrees, cleats about $20-25, pedals about $70 up



The more float a cleat has the less chance of knee problems because the foot can move thru its normal motion. As far as shoe go: (1) mountain - uses 2 bolt pattern cleats which are recessed into the sole for easier walking; sole stiff but has some flex, Any pedal system not using the 2 bolt pattern cannot be used. (2) road shoe - will handle most pedal systems, very stiff & has better power transfer to pedals than mountain shoe. You balance on heel and the cleat which is where the pontoons come in handy for the eggbeaters & SPD cleats. The Speedplay, Look, and Shimano SPD-SL pedals all have cleat covers to protect the cleat and make walking easier.

Answer 2

That's a hard one - they all work pretty good, and there are so many different shoe/pedal combinations plus everyone has different feet etc.



- ease of clip /unclip - by far the double-sided are best, and of these the best are the ones that have a platform in addition to the cleat. Crank bro's are also good, that's what a lot of cyclocross racers use and fast in/out is critical for them.

The most difficult are the single sided spd road pedals, I see people missing those clip ins all the time. I use Time's which are somewhat difficult to clip in, but I still like their overall feel.



Float is highly personal, so maybe adjustable would be a good idea for you at first?



Hot spots depend more on the shoes than the pedals.



Maintenance - they're all about the same. If you're doing fiar-weather road riding the most you'll ever do is lube the springs now and then.



Good luck

Scott

Answer 3

Looks are very easy to learn and use. That's why they have been around for a long time even if they aren't the lightest, newest, greatest (?). They're tried and true. SPD (original style) work fine except that 85% of people who I see fall over because they couldn't unclip at a stop were using them. And they form hot spots on the feet especially if you use a flexier sole. SPD-SLs perform like Looks, Speedplays are small but use a rigid ceat amd are knee-friendly, noone raves about Time nowadays,Crank Brothers are similar to mountain SPDs. I'd go with Looks or SPD-SL.



Sidis seem to be the best overall especially if your feet are narrow. Soles have some flex. Carnacs have stiff soles, quality construction, wide toeboxes for wider feet but they tend to be a little heavier. DMTs are my fave because they perform like Carnacs but are much lighter and les expensive.



Here is a review of several shoes:

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-1-7-14651-1,00.html

Answer 4

As for the shoe....try them on and see if they are 1) comfortable and 2) you think it looks good on you. My suggestion to you are Shimano shoes - good value and good durability for your money.



As for the pedals....see what your budget is. If I'm not wrong, there are the SPD, LOOK, and the "other" alternatives. Here are some breakdown by advantages. Maybe that would help you.



SPD...can be used recessed (using mountain bike shoes) so you can walk easily off you bike.



LOOK...usually the system used by all pros and are proven in road bike racing. That tells you something.



"OTHER"...these are like the Speedplays and the Crank Brothers. Both use the LOOK platform but uses their own technology to clip in. Both have "double sided" entry advantage.





I use right now, DMT shoes (cost me $320) and Speedplay X2 (cost me $170) pedals. But I compete so I feel I need to spend for optimal technology. But you may not feel that way. As always, if you'd like to move up in your bike in the future, getting a quality shoe and pedal system would be a good way to go, because you can just move them to the new bike later on.



As for your shopping dillema, all pedal and shoe systems are good. Just think to yourself whether you will be just a leisure rider, enthusiast, or want to be competitive. Then see how much you'd like to spend for them right now. And of course, the topper is the aesthetics. But that's your call.



Cheers and welcome to road cycling! You'll love it!

Answer 5

I think it is best to start with a basic pair of double-sided SPDs. They are inexpensive, easy to clip into, and you can walk in the shoes (recessed cleats).