Look, Shimano, or Speedplay?

[bonnypriest]

I'm currently using SPD's, but I'm wanting to make the switch. I was just wondering what you ladies thought & what you prefer to use on your road bikes. Thanks in advance!

[arielmoon]

Personally I love my speedplays! Easy to get in and out.

[Owlie]

Probably not what you want to hear, but I use SPDs on my road bike. I like being able to walk in my shoes.

Having said that, I looked into Speedplays before I bought my pedals because I have strange knee ligaments.

[7rider]

Speedplays.
Easy in...easy out.
Knee friendly.
No muss...no fuss, just stomp-n-go.

[alpinerabbit]

speedplays (had them for a couple months now) are great, the walking not so (get a pair of coffee shop caps), if they could give me the eas of entry on spd(mountain) shoes, I't go for it.

[ny biker]

I just switched from SPDs to Speedplays to help with some knee issues and am quite happy with them.

[tulip]

Why do you want to switch? What kinds of problems are you having with your SPDs (knee pain, difficulty in getting in and out?) That would tell us more information and help in making suggestions.

I've used SPDs since the early 90s when I switched from my first-generation LOOKs that I had had since 1986. I don't know when the notion came into existence that SPDs are not for road bikes. Somehow, I missed that memo.

[withm]

I'm currently using SPD's, but I'm wanting to make the switch. I was just wondering what you ladies thought & what you prefer to use on your road bikes. Thanks in advance!

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I have Speedplay Frogs on all 3 of my road bikes. I would put them on any other bike I come to own in coming years.

[CycleTherapy]

Look Keo's

[warneral]

I love my speedplay frogs. Will get more when I can justify the expense - they are for MTB shoes and I use diadora carbon MTB shoes

[jobob]

Eggbeaters.

[emily_in_nc]

eggbeaters.

+1

[Miranda]

Look Keo's

+1
Yea baby, that's wut I'm talkin bout lol

I actually have Look Keo Elles... they have a lighter release tension.

SPD mtbs were ok until I started riding further distances (over 20mi-ish). Then I found pain in the ball of my foot with the smaller contact surface. Look Keos (or any traditional road bike style pedal, vs mtb, has this) have a wider contact surface, vs mtb pedals. With mtb-ing, you generally also have some unclipping on the trail. Thus, how those shoes are designed with treads for walking when necesary. Steady road biking is more steady pedal contact. Peeps who are bike messengers with alot of on and off to walk are different type of riding on an actual road.

I did not like Speedplays because of how they engaged. I.e. stomp straight down, vs. catch a toe first like spds, and Looks are catch toe in first also... just felt more familiar.

[Bike Chick]

Time Iclic Racers

I'm in the minority here but I switched from SPD's to Speedplay and didn't like them. They are difficult to walk in and you have to be very careful where you walk. I could never get the right cleat adjusted well enough to clip in quickly. I was constantly searching to find it then it was difficult to get into when I did.

I have the Time Iclic's on my road and tri bikes and LOVE them. I still have spd's on my commuter.

[Crankin]

Nobody should try to walk in Speedplays without wearing cleat covers. I thought they came with the cleats, but apparently my DH "knew" to buy them when I got mine, several years ago. Without them, you really run the risk of getting even a teeny bit of dirt in the cleats and then the easy in and out of the cleats is totally gone. I also lube them with a very small amount of White Lightning every week. Sometimes my left cleat is a little finicky, as that's the one I always unclip from. But usually, when that happens, it's time to lube. I'm kind of hard on my cleats, too, for some reason.
I got these cool looking foldable slip ons to wear during a lunch stop or when touring, if I want to really walk around. They are made for camping and cycling, and easily fit into DH's Carradice bag. We used them when we went to Spain. But, on a regular ride, where I am just stopping for lunch or coffee, I don't have any problem walking in my Speedplays, as long as the covers are on. Sure, it's awkward, but it won't kill you. I have campus pedals on my hybrid and my knees hurt every time I use the spds, although I started with them on my first road bike. I am thinking of getting Frogs, since I never ride on the flat pedal side of the campus pedals.