Hi, I have recently purchased my first road bike (Cannondale Synapse Sora 2011) which came with standard pedals and those plastic toe hooks and straps. Advice I am being given is to upgrade them to pedal clips and get myself some shoes as this will greatly improve my performance. I don;t want to pay a fortune but simarly am willing to pay for something that I know will last. All advice welcome!
what shoes and pedals are right for me?
- Thread starter Bods
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Kiwiavenger
im a little tea pot
- Location
- Carclaze, St Austell
what will you be using the bike for?
i commute and have purchased Shimano M520 pedals and Bontrager ssr MTB shoes as i know i will need to walk a short distance and want my cleats to last! each to there own and most people will swear blind that their combo works but youll really need to find one that you like as shoes/cleats/pedals will all behave differntly with differnt people.
i commute and have purchased Shimano M520 pedals and Bontrager ssr MTB shoes as i know i will need to walk a short distance and want my cleats to last! each to there own and most people will swear blind that their combo works but youll really need to find one that you like as shoes/cleats/pedals will all behave differntly with differnt people.
Main use will be commuting which will need little walking to my place of work once I arrive. Plus some weekend road work (when I get chance). I popped into a local bike shop and they mentioned there to me about MTB shoes are good for protecting the cleats due to the raised lip at the front to aid walking.
xpc316e
Veteran
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK
I would definitely go for MTB shoes if you have any walking in your journey. I recently bought a pair of Specialized BG Pro Carbon MTB shoes: they are 2010 models and were vastly reduced in price. I have other pairs of Specialized shoes and they suit my broad feet. The sizing coincides with my normal shoes, which is not always the case with cycling footwear, e.g. I take a 47, but in Bontrager shoes I need a 49! Some of the Italian makes also require one to size up, so beware if buying online. I'd recommend going to a shop with decent stock and trying them on.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
IMO as you are starting off and if you are walking a fair bit you'd be better off with a mtb style shoe/pedal combo. Depending upon the amount of walking you are doing you can also go for something stiffered soled, more efficient pedalling but less walking friendly. I wear Spesh BG mtb sports which are of the stiffer type, I also own spesh Taho's which are a lot more walking friendly. I also have A520 touring pedals as I find a cage more comfortable on longer rides and IMO they look good on a road bike 
Although they are single sided which might be a pain for a beginner but you get the A530's which are of a similar vein but they are flat on one side, clip on the other; there also other pedals with cages that don't look as good 
Although they are single sided which might be a pain for a beginner but you get the A530's which are of a similar vein but they are flat on one side, clip on the other; there also other pedals with cages that don't look as good 
PaulSecteur
No longer a Specialized fanboy
- Location
- Walsall, West Mids.
Shimano m520 pedals with some shimano RT shoes. the rt 82 are nice and top of the range at about 80 pounds but the rt31 are about 50. They have s recessed cleat like mtb shoe but with road shoe looks and lightness.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Forget M520. If you can afford then pay another fiver or so and get PD A520. They have a cage around the pedal and offer far better support. I may have a pair available secondhand (but barely used,) after the weekend. What size shoe are you?
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I forget where my M520's are, I didn't get on with them an I prefer a pedal with a cage like the A520's on my training bike or the M424s on the town bike, better in traffic for me and no hotspot.
Terry Kay
Active Member
- Location
- Alfreton, Derbys
I started off with M520s on the MTB and a pair of muddy fox shoes for £35 from sports direct..
Liked the SPD's so much got A520s for the road bike and will be picking up some SPD compatible Shimano road shoes when the weather turns nice and I starting taking longer rides..
Though I imagine its fun walking on road shoes with SPD!
Liked the SPD's so much got A520s for the road bike and will be picking up some SPD compatible Shimano road shoes when the weather turns nice and I starting taking longer rides..
Though I imagine its fun walking on road shoes with SPD!
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
- Location
- Devon & Die
Am fine with M520s on all my road bikes. They are fine for me for 100+ mile rides, paired with Shimano RT81 shoes. Don't wear out, the cleats don't wear out, minimal maintenance. Cheap as chips, but do the job.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I've never used them myself, but you get spd plates to make them easier with road shoes.
david k
Hi
- Location
- North West
Terry Kay
Active Member
- Location
- Alfreton, Derbys
Here ya go:
Linky
Few others on the site at a bit less.. Fairly comfortable and they do the job.. Pretty breezy and rain goes straight through them, but then thats what they make shoe covers for!
