Ataks to SPDs - time to change ??

[cyclop]

Ever since switching to clipless 20 years ago,I,ve used time ataks on all my bikes.All my badly worn pedals have been left side but I,ve still had to buy a new set,now £35+.Decided to gradually replace with shimano spd,cost £15 a set.Initial impressions are good,a Fred Whitton ride last week being a good test with only slight discomfort in the last few miles.Anybody else use spd,s?

[freeflow]

Yes. Tried spd-sl but didn't like them. I've always valued being able to walk in relative safety. But then again I've never been a racer a serios time trialler. I have size 11 feet and my biggest issue is getting shoes wide enough to stop hot foot ocurrung. No problems with the supposed small contact area of spd.

[Dynamite_funk]

SPDs give me cramp if I use them for longer/harder rides. I think it has something to do with a smaller contact area. However, for our Tandem they are great as the stoker's feet are less likely to come loose if pedalling gets a bit frantic.

[Brucey]

its mostly in the shoes; some shoes have soles that are not stiff enough.

Another thing that catches people out is the lateral cleat position; ideally the cleat should be laterally positioned where you would find it easiest to stand on your toes when on a sharp edge. Some shoes won't easily allow this, and some people's feet are too wide etc too.

If this is the case then it is best to choose a pedal with an external support such as the PD-A520 model, and to make sure that the shoe is supported by it.

cheers

[cyclop]

Thanks for feedback.Re. walking,I use mtb shoes for all bikes.Sound idea from brucey re.spd with integral platform for longer rides,will invest in a set when the next time ataks give up the ghost.

[531colin]

Just to put a different point of view, I don't like the SPDs with an extra platform.....I find it restricts the free float in the cleats.
But then, I used to have to file out the slots in my old-fashioned shoe plates......

[Brucey]

that is a very fair point. Some manufacturers offer pedals with wide supports but with a PTFE facing, so that you have the float and the support. However I don't think there are SPDs like that and I'm not sure how well it works anyway.

If you might get the cleat central with longer pedal spindles, consider speedplay pedals or with SPDs, think about pedal extenders.

cheers

[tim-b]

Hi
I've used the SPD M520 for several years without a problem. They're cheap at £14.50 a pair
I've also used the SPD M424 pedal (£19.50), which I found useful because you can use "ordinary" shoes, ideal for nipping up to the shop although I didn't notice any support benefits while using cleats

I use the Wiggle own brand shoes, dhb M1 and R1, without a problem

The most important thing for me is positioning the cleat. Your cleat position relative to the "ball of the foot" for walking and pedalling is different and a problem here does cause foot pain

Regards
tim-b

[reohn2]

I've been using SPD's for over 20 years with various shoe throughout that time,I agree with Brucey it's the shoes that cause the problems,if the sole isn't stiff enough you can feel the small contact area of the cleat,with a stiff sole shoe the problem disappears.
I have a pair of well worn touring shoes that are great for about town riding and walking but over 30 miles on the bike become a problem and I can feel the cleat position quite markedly.By contrast I have a pair of completely stiff MTB shoes that never give me any problem at all,they're not quite as comfy to walk in but by no means bad.
Both pair have recessed cleats.

Obviously cleat position is critical so the pedal spindle is in a 'balanced' position on the ball of the foot,and comfortably positioned axially along the pedal spindle,the cleat should be in the middle of any float when pedalling normally.

[AdButton]

Hi All, I wonder if anyone can help? I have just be bought some lovely Shimano SPD-SL road shoes. However my bike does not have cleated pedals... it has the toe clip pedals which came with the bike. At the moment i dont feel confident moving to cleats/clipless pedals (calling the clipless seems odd, when you actually do clip in btw )... so my question is: Are there some flat cleats or cleat covers on the market which can be fixed to my shoes to offer the grip needed to use these shoes with the pedals I have at the moment? Essentially a flat rubber section for the ball of the foot?

Having zero grip without cleats attached, they will slip all over the shop I imagine if i were to use them as they are and no doubt damage the fixinge for when I decide to move to cleats.

Thank you for any help available

[Brucey]

Hi All, I wonder if anyone can help? I have just be bought some lovely Shimano SPD-SL road shoes. However my bike does not have cleated pedals... it has the toe clip pedals which came with the bike. At the moment i dont feel confident moving to cleats/clipless pedals (calling the clipless seems odd, when you actually do clip in btw )... so my question is: Are there some flat cleats or cleat covers on the market which can be fixed to my shoes to offer the grip needed to use these shoes with the pedals I have at the moment? Essentially a flat rubber section for the ball of the foot?

Having zero grip without cleats attached, they will slip all over the shop I imagine if i were to use them as they are and no doubt damage the fixinge for when I decide to move to cleats.

Thank you for any help available

You can buy cleat covers (google ' SPD-SL cleat covers') but you will be left walking like a duck for no good reason (they only fit over cleats) and the shoes (with cleats and/or covers fitted) won't fit into normal pedals.

If it is not too late already I'd suggest that you consider swapping the new shoes for some meant for conventional SPDs instead of the SPD SLs. They are much easier to get on with, you can get pedals with a flat one side and a binding the other, and you can walk in the shoes because the cleat is recessed. The SPD-SL system is aimed at racing and is less friendly for clipless newbies and indeed most 'normal' cyclists in fact.

cheers

[Bonefishblues]

Hi
I've used the SPD M520 for several years without a problem. They're cheap at £14.50 a pair

So much so that my old SPD pedals are about to be discarded since it's (three times) cheaper to buy new ones than buy a tool to disassemble them. Daft.

[531colin]

Hi
I've used the SPD M520 for several years without a problem. They're cheap at £14.50 a pair

So much so that my old SPD pedals are about to be discarded since it's (three times) cheaper to buy new ones than buy a tool to disassemble them. Daft.

Not so.....http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/Shimano-Spd-Axle-Removal-Tool-TLPD40/SHIMTOOL750000000000?utm_campaign=Googlebase&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=Googlebase&gclid=CJ702peIlcACFerpwgod3aYAlQ

[Bonefishblues]

Hi
I've used the SPD M520 for several years without a problem. They're cheap at £14.50 a pair

So much so that my old SPD pedals are about to be discarded since it's (three times) cheaper to buy new ones than buy a tool to disassemble them. Daft.

Not so.....http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/Shimano-Spd-Axle-Removal-Tool-TLPD40/SHIMTOOL750000000000?utm_campaign=Googlebase&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=Googlebase&gclid=CJ702peIlcACFerpwgod3aYAlQ

Oh mine are early versions of (IIRC 535?) with a locknut and another nut under the outer dustcap IYSWIM - I looked at the tool I needed and it looked nothing like that Colin. Will that do the job?

[531colin]

Deleted.....tried again!