Cleats

[ramses]

Hi all,

As some of you may have read from my previous two threads, I have just got a road bike, first one in absolute years.
Was a little lad when I last had a road bike.

Things have moved on a lot since then, and I am looking to get some cleats. Seen some shoes that I like, but it does seem a bit confusing.
What appears to be numerous makes and systems, or is it?

Can anyone help, advise, recommend? I have heard of floating or fixed cleats, and as I understand it, I think floating would be for me, for a little movement.
What are the systems like, I used to hear about people getting their feet stuck and falling over whilst still attached to the bike!

Do I go for a snap in or a twist out set, sorry for the non technical terms, I am trying to catch up!

Do I do for Shimano SPD or something else. Are most shoes compatible with most mechanisms?

I need to get some pedals too, so obviously I need to get the right system here as well!! I quite like some of the Shimano race pedals.

I'm sure it's not as difficult as I am imagining it, but a few pointers would be appreciated.

 

[colinr]

Shimano do SPD and SPD-SL. The former typically go on MTB style shoes that are recessed so you can walk around easily, the latter goes on road style shoes and has a larger protruding cleat for a stronger grip and bigger surface area which is less likely to cause 'hotspots' on long rides.

Some shoes will be set for both styles, some not. You don't have to run SPD-SL road pedals on a road bike, SPD (MTB style) is fine and many choose them for the shoes you can walk in easily.

There are other systems such as Look but I'm not familiar with them.

There is a strong chance you will at some point fail to unclip and fall over with the bike. However, my repeated experience is that you'll only injure your pride - it only happens when people are watching

 

[Wardos]

I've just bought (via c2w) a new road bike. Also my first for many many years & I am new to the whole cleat/SPD thing.

I ended up going for a set od Shimano M324 pedals which are for MTBs, but as posted above I prefer the MTB style shoes that you can walk around in as the cleats are set higher up into the shoe sole. These pedals also have a flat reverse side, so if I just want to pop down the road to the shops I can without having to put the bike shoes on at all.

 

[corshamjim]

I went for the ordinary SPD pedals on my road bike too. I prefer the shoes and I put the two-sided (flat one, clip the other) on my cruiser-style bike so I can use the same shoes or just ordinary ones.

 

[fungus]

A couple of questions: what shoes have you bought? & what type of cycling are you going to be doing?

 

[ramses]

A couple of questions: what shoes have you bought? & what type of cycling are you going to be doing?

As yet I haven't bought anything. I was looking at:

Pedals: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-r540-spd-sl-sport-pedals/

Shoes: http://www.rutlandcycling.com/30771/Northwave-Vertigo-Pro-SBS-Road-Shoes---Red-White.html

But I don't know if they are compatible or not.

 

[fungus]

As yet I haven't bought anything. I was looking at:

Pedals: http://www.wiggle.co...l-sport-pedals/

Shoes: http://www.rutlandcy...-Red-White.html

But I don't know if they are compatible or not.

They will be compatible & you will need these cleats
Shimano SPD SL Cleats

(you should be able to get them cheaper than wiggle) & you will need the yellow ones for float, they are good cleats (I use them) and are pretty easy to walk in having rubber round the front & sides. I personally would fork out another £10 & buy the new shimano 105 pedals http://www.google.co...gZmNNf5em6EGMJg, the footplate is metal (longer lasting) & they are wider = more comfortable & better power transfer. The bolts that come with the cleats are not very long so you may want to buy some of these http://www.boltmeup....x-10-2854-p.asp
I see from previous posts that you have suffered with hot foot, maybe you should consider some specialized bg shoes, cycle store has some comp road shoes from 09/10 with 36% off at the mo http://www.cyclestor...&categoryID=217
I used spesh s/works on the end2end, just under 200 miles a day, scorching hot & no foot problems at all (pity about the rest of me).

 

[ramses]

They will be compatible & you will need these cleats
Shimano SPD SL Cleats

(you should be able to get them cheaper than wiggle) & you will need the yellow ones for float, they are good cleats (I use them) and are pretty easy to walk in having rubber round the front & sides. I personally would fork out another £10 & buy the new shimano 105 pedals http://www.google.co...gZmNNf5em6EGMJg, the footplate is metal (longer lasting) & they are wider = more comfortable & better power transfer. The bolts that come with the cleats are not very long so you may want to buy some of these http://www.boltmeup....x-10-2854-p.asp
I see from previous posts that you have suffered with hot foot, maybe you should consider some specialized bg shoes, cycle store has some comp road shoes from 09/10 with 36% off at the mo http://www.cyclestor...&categoryID=217
I used spesh s/works on the end2end, just under 200 miles a day, scorching hot & no foot problems at all (pity about the rest of me).

Hi Thanks for the info.

It was actually specialised bg that gave me hot foot! But then I'm not normal!!!

 

[ramses]

Hi Thanks for the info.

It was actually specialised bg that gave me hot foot! But then I'm not normal!!!

I am selling these on E-Bay if anyone is interested.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160556661554#ht_500wt_1156
Thanks for all your help everyone, I have nailed it down now, and will be ordering, once the wife gives me the nod!

 

[ramses]

Got the nod from the wife!

I ordered the Shimano 105 5700 SPD-SL Pedals, and some Floating Cleats, which arrived today! Very nice.

I also received the longer bolts as advised. So just waiting for my shoes to arrive now. I ended up going for some black and white Northwave Aerolite 3's

So as soon as the footwear arrives I will change the pedals and practice getting my foot in and out, so that I can try and avoid the

! of falling over!

As I managed to save some pennies by shopping around on the web I treated myself to an extra purchase of 2 new Cannondale drinks bottles to go with the bike.

So all round a good shopping trip on the sofa!

Thank you all for your help and advise!!

 

[fungus]

Cool

Shoes look lovely!!

 

[zacklaws]

Cleats Why so many choices!?

That's life, why so many different makes of bikes, clothes cars etc. Life would be a bit dull if there was only one choice of everything and as we are all different, what suits one person may not suit someone else. Variety is the spice of life.

 

[the_mikey]

Most of my cycling is done without cleats, I'm not racing, and I like to be able to get off the bike and walk occasionally without carring a spare pair of shoes in a bag, I do use cleats on one bike that I use on a 10km loop. I have Look KeO classic pedals and look keO cleats, and have no problems with them.

 

[citybabe]

I bought the m324 pedals to go on my road bike with SPD shoes. I find them much better on the flat side for just going into town or slower cycle rides with other half and friends.

I've seen other cyclists walking in road shoes and slipping when the paths are wet so I decided MTB shoes were going to be best for me

 

[ramses]

Cool

Shoes look lovely!!

LOL! Yeah they are nice, they will go with the bike, which is white/black/red, I am a self confessed bike tart!

I generally don't care to much about matching stuff up, except when it comes to my bikes. The only down side being my HTC top (Cavo fan), it is balck and white, with yellow and green! aaarrrgggghhhhh! I still wear it though!