I honestly like using SPD pedals for road riding. The additional weight in the shoe and pedal doesn't make any difference, but the shoes are way easier to walk in haha
I did SPDs for years, still do it for commuting and touring with tent. There's nothing inherently wrong with them. There is a little bit of instability in the roll dimension that I don't like.
After using Speedplay enthusiastically for a few years, I changed my cleats and rented a bike with SPD-SLs. I found that I rode better with controlled float and a solid, wide platform under my feet. My boss was selling his lightly used Time pedals, so that's what I'm using. I like the stack height and float characteristics better but it's had to go wrong with any pedal that uses triangular cleats.
Watching Channel 4 TdF, we saw a clip about Hinault and Lemond and new-fangled Look clipless pedal. Wife said, "Get them." Living on thin air as students, assembled the £60 iirc, and bought the even newer white version with a bit of float. Gamechanger from Christophe clips and Binda straps (I'd just bought a new set as old ones snapped) which I still have in a bits box. Never rode without clipless pedals on any bike except wife's Mezzo for very short rides to work and shops. 2 years ago, got flat pedals for a new urban bike - they're great, don't slip, even work with up stroke. Huge proportion of riding across London as fast as I could go often on fixed gear. Also Tunbridge Wells and back to see parents when alive. Had Speedplays on one bike from 2008 - just yesterday, got the grease gun out, it was empty, off to Screwfix for new grease for house hinges. Should get wedges to cater for bowed legs below knees
Well, the obvious reason is efficiency. Flat pedals are simply less efficient than cleated pedals... because you can only MASH... you can't pull. So, you are expending more energy to travel the same distance when using flat pedals. Also, at least for myself, I feel more connected to the back--and therefore more stable--when clipped in. My feet aren't going to slip off the pedals if I hit a pothole or some other hazard in the road unexpectedly... I can throw the bike around easier to avoid various situations... bunnyhop over things... etc. When touring I use an SPD cleat in a shoe that is designed specifically for walking / hiking but still takes an SPD cleat. And I have some flip-flop pedals that are SPD on one side and flat on the other... in case I just feel like riding clipped out for some reason--without having to change out my pedals.
2 years ago, I got flats for my then new urban bike (Orbea 7-speed). Revelation. No slipping. Pedal full circle almost like clips and straps or clipless on fixed gear - smooth, efficient, fast. I've been almost exclusively clipless from 1985 when I got original Looks to replace Christophe clips and Binda straps. For 10 miles to shops and hospital appointments up and down hills of SE London, they're fine
Might not be the most modern / lightest items, but I still love my Mavic LMS 646 pedals. Bright yellow bodies, adj rotation on the pedal, and adj in/out float and fully rebuildable. Which is why, having bought them around 1992, I'm still using them on 2 bikes! Downside is Look Delta cleat are getting scarce so I've built up a stock...
Same for me. TIME Equipe & Impact models have a lower stack-height (when used with 4-bolt cleats/shoes) and the platform is bigger. I've tried LOOK and Shimano but TIME just feels better for me.
@@tonyg3091 Actually, I won't be surprised at all because I have a TIME VXR frameset and it is my favourite bike - and I have multiple Pinarellos & Colnagos;
SPD are the most versatile you can use them on every type of bike and walk in them no issues my favourite are still SPD-SL the larger platform is more comfortable.
Top content & information again Chris 👏. The small differences in having a correct or incorrect setup is the difference between a comfortable and an uncomfortable bike ride. Use a competent and trusted bike fitter. They are worth it !
@ChrisHallRides definitely food for my thoughts on wider axles pedals Chris......definitely investigating this area 👍 cheers and have a good week ahead!
I’ve only recently got into road riding after being into MTB since the early 90’s and have always used spds when riding my bikes , I have a cyclocross bike which I have an XTR spd system on it and it’s brilliant and I’ve a road bike with shimano Ultegra SL with the longer axle , it’s great when your clipped in as it feels like a lot of surface area under your foot , I know I’m bias but I love the Shimano MTB XTR system I’d fit that on all my bikes , simple to set up and easy to maintain and bulletproof
i just got a commuter bike (i have a 11+ mile commute each way), and i was so sure i was going to switch from flats to clipless, but the flats are just so perfect. no clip out for the constant stop-and-go of traffic, and with good nubbins providing a solid connection, on flat pedals i'm getting about 45 or so degrees of power past the bottom of the stroke. and the research shows that unless you're an actually elite cyclist, you don't get any actual power with the pull up (and i'm definitely nowhere near that). flat pedals are great for even long city commutes, and i'm not going clipless.
Ditto .. I use flat pedals for everything ... unless the situation demands something else. I even use flat pedals for 100 mile rides and they suit me perfect (mind you there are no mountains where I ride). Now when I have to do sprints or go up steep hills, or there's a chance I might slip off my pedals... then I use clipless pedals. For a city commute I would never consider clipless pedals.
The pedal contact/support is almost identical between Look and Shimano road pedals. Shimano cleats are only wider due to the wings for walking when not clipped in.
I use Shimano SPD pedals (Rally pedal) on my gravel bike, Crankbrother Mallet pedals on full suspension bike, and Crankbrother Eggbeater pedal on my aero road bike. Used to run LOOK pedal on the road bike but decided that I prefer the flexibility of walking with MTB XC shoes, and I don’t mind the “float” from smaller SPD/Crankbrother cleats. Actually I really don’t feel any powerloss or feel less locked in using a smaller cleat, like what most biker fitter or road cyclists are claiming. They are mtb pedals that are lighter than road pedals (Crankbrother titanium eggbeater at 160g per set) and the shoes are not much heavier than road shoes and are as stiff (using Fizik X5 Terra), and mtb XC shoes are way cheaper than road shoes.. manufacturers are ripping roadie bikers off by selling road outfit more expensive. I ride with roadie friends often and still finding it amusing to see the way cyclists in road shoes walk 😆
The ‘wider platform” of the road pedals compared to SPDs is a myth in shoes with stiffness 10 and above. In these you don’t feel the pedal AT ALL and the shoe is your platform. Another myth is that the axle of the pedal should be under your 5th metatarsal. Great many of us have found this is not optimal and prefer it further back. The most power can be generated not directly under the ball of the foot but a bit back. In some cases-quite a bit back.
Sheer power is almost always greater with cleat further back. I'm sure I've seen numbers about it. But it loses supplesse and puts other strains into the hips to toes. When I had multiple bikes, I had different setups to ensure variety in my skeletomuscular wear and tear. I learned that from my son's swimming training where they balanced crawl and fly with backstroke to guard against unbalanced development
the wider platform isn’t a myth, it’s a real thing. Of course stiff soles make you not feel how small or large your contact patch is - but the lateral stiffness is much better with road pedals and that is something you do feel
@@fiddleronthebike I am telling you man, I ride those Shimano SPD pedals ES 600 or something-single sided, shaped like road pedals but a bit smaller and I feel absolutely no difference. Shoes are XC902 perhaps that is the reason, dunno.
Since Time bought there pedals in I think 1984 been using this brand ever since no knee issues with there float system & currently using there Xpresso 12’s & 15’s
MKS GR10....With half clip. The quality is insanely high. They made most of Suntours pedals back in the day. Used them for a decade before i finally went clipless in 2020 and honestly...i'm still not convinced about clipless. For most riding I still think it's unnecesary...but they do make you do feel more "pro" 😉👍
@@ChrisHallRides yeah, i'm wondering if i could actually go back myself. Road clipless does have a certain look and feel that's just ..... hard to explain 🤔
MKS urban with Zefal nylon quarter clips. Cycle and then run no shoe change. Just as efficient and effective as clipless. I have some MTB 5 10s for dedicated cycling. Highly versatile and safer. Especially in urban cycling where unpredictable emergency stops can be needed. Road, gravel and touring bikes. With different pedal combos
Shimano SPD (520, 540, etc...) 2 sided for BMX, MTB, Cyclocross, and various casual riding. For road/track my preference is to be almost locked in so I don't unclip during a sprint or hill interval.
For years I had superlight Look Carbon Titanium pedals on my MTB which worked excellently, til needing a service, and I couldn't find a key to open them. So now I use Shimano XTR with a large platform.
@@ChrisHallRides Yes but compared with my present platform pedals, without clamps, they are "heavy" 😄 But I am a tall and 100 kilo man, so I could easily find less expensive ways to loose combined rider weight! And also the new LOOK MTB pedals have changed to the Shimano SPD system.
Tried speedplays. I liked the freefloat, but I didn't like the fact that they are not horizontally flat-stable! Tried Time RXS. So good that I have 4 bikes with them. The sad part is I already broke one pedal body, so only 3 of them now, and they don't make them anymore. I never ever understood people who buy look pedals as the cleats are worn very fast. Time RXS = nearly indestructable cleats. I will probably try SPD-SL in the near future when ordering Favero Assioma (giving up on crank-based powermeters).
I use Look Keo pedals, actually used Look pedals since they first came out in 1984..but for myself the best shoe pedal combo was Time Equipe Pro, best comfort and power transmission, I used them all through the 90's ...
@@ChrisHallRides It's a large style pedal platform, with just the right amount of float for me. The metal cleats lasted forever and easy to adjust ... too bad they fell out of favour
I wonder why nobody talks about Time pedals? They have an even bigger platform than Shimano, they have a smaller stack hight, give a nice amount of rotational movement, are easy to click in - and on top they are extremely lightweight (while well built and durable), ~65 g for the top models. I use them for many years on road bikes as well as on the TT bike and I don’t want to change to any other type
I use SPD on all my bikes so fully interchangeable shoes. They work well, easy in and out and from mt MTB I know they can get full of crud but just work.
Speedplay frogs. Best road/mtb pedal of all time. I have a single pair that has outlasted my last 3 mountain bikes (15 years and still work great, as do my knees)...
Started using straps in 1982, then Look in the early 90’s. Switched to speedplay in the mid 90’s … tried Look Keo briefly in the late 90’s but immediately switched back to speedplay. Doubt I’ll ever switch unless Speedplays are no longer available.
Looks X-track cleats should be interchangeable with SPD, but offer a bit more float (6° vs 4°) even in spd pedals. Also, I have to the rotating the cleat too much, resulting in major lateral knee discomfort and putting me off trying clipless for a bit over a yeah.
@@ChrisHallRides I can see that I completely botched the sentence, as it is something I have done in a misunderstanding on how cleats should be set, and now it is fixed. It is to support his point of making sure one has float on both sides, and more importantly, when you are pedalling and not just at rest.
A little bit of correction coming your way, Chris... SPD pedals (MTB style as we know and love by now) were released around 1990. The Shimano road pedals SPD SL came out around 2003☺
@@ChrisHallRides we are totally in agreement on that one😊 I felt, it came across, in the video, that the Shimano road pedals came out before the MTB ones😇
Considering how quickly I get away from all the hi-viz black clad Lycra louts on my daily commute - they are all a bit crap at the crucial get away from the lights and traffic quickly moments. They all flap and crunch until they clip in.
Kidding aside, a case can be made for flat or two sided flat/spd pedals being the best for riding in thick traffic. Clipless are no go as one small mistake clipping/unclipping and you are dead. Which kinda defeats the purpose and ruins your day.
Look weren't the first clipless pedals - not well known fact is that Cinelli were the first to market them, UK top time trial star Ian Camish used them with great success in the UK time trial scene during the 1980's
If you need a wider stance, spacers are a good option but you can also get many pedals with longer axles. Spacers don’t seem to affect them at all from a performance angle from what I’ve found
I've been riding on Speedplay for about 10 years mainly for two reasons : lower stack height & choice of spindle length..! But now I need new ones but I hesitate to continue with Wahoo because of that 'lateral play'..! Hear people saying that they solved the problem, but is that really the case...?
I have only ever used Shimano Dura Ace & 105 pedals untill this year 2023 in May . Time Xpro 12 & 15 pedals are the best l have used . SL5 Expert & SL7 S-WORKS . Would never ever use another brand again 😅
My main problem, is just having one bike, going on to work everyday and rides on the weekend, using the spd sl system, is a a bit over the top, to come with special shoes everyday in the bag 😅
Had a pair of smart but cheap shoes from TK Maxx in office that never came home. Same with a coat for cold and rainy lunchtimes. For meetings all over London, clipless on Tricross with Topeak rack. Still have Altura suitcase and briefcase for suit, tie, slip on smart shoes, laptop, and papers for meetings all over London. Not seen those panniers online or in shops for at least 15 years. I'd shower in gents and be smartest guy in the room - always created an impression on frazzled colleagues, especially when tube stations were long way from the meeting rooms
Riding a recumbent trike is a different game altogether. You don't want your foot to disengage the pedal as your leg can be trapped under the trike and injured. You also want a pedal that allows you to comfortably exert the force necessary and not cause problems.
Thanks! This was really straightforward and useful. I know its a longshot, is there any reliable way of measuring your body to get a good starting point to determine your stance width? Or will it always be determined by knee tracking?
There is no best, everybody's always obsessed with the question, who is the best woman, who's the best man, what's the best car, what's the best pedal, who's the best midget. There's no best. It all comes down to the type of ride you do and your lifestyle, how many bikes do you own, where do you ride, so many factors to consider. You will always have to have a few bikes which calls for a few pedal systems.
The problem with some shoe brands is that the cleat holes. are too far forward. You can get special wedges to pull cleats back further. bikefitkit.avln.me/c/DzNZFgLSopbG
Why do you need data? They feel better, it's night and day, the foot stays on the pedal for every revolution again and again with no lift off or shuffling. On a road bike it is so much nicer where cadence is king.. On an MTB, I still use flats as I'm constantly moving and like the freedom of being able to put a foot down.
you skipped over xpedo pedals. They are a bit pricey but the set I bought 5 years ago are still in excellent condition. They are, IMHO, very easy to unclip, much easier than shimano. Look KEO cleats will work very well with these pedals.
What is the value of a wider contact patch when you have rigid bottomed shoes? I’m trying SPD-SL and they’re harder to clip in at traffic stops than my SPDs were and I’m struggling to find what I’ve gained.
@@ChrisHallRides I think the problem is my new pedals are one sided and my old ones were double sided. The new ones are also quite slick on the wrong side so my foot just slides off the pedal, quite hard sometimes, if I get it wrong.
You’ve totally missed the best by far for road and off-road and that’s the Time pedals. I’ve used all the brands over 30 years and there’s a clear winner with Time pedals 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽
I am just learning about this, so bear with my possibly obvious question. I am considering replacing my shoes, as they are somewhat worn after 16 years. They are Forte, and have SPD cleats. The cleat is stamped with the code 98A. My question is can I take these cleats off my old shoes, and attach them to the new shoes? I don't want to go with new cleats, as that would mean new pedals. Also, once I adjusted the cleats, I can now easily clip out of them, preventing falling over, which I have done in the past. That's embarrassing, and also hurts. Thank you.
Hello, 98A cleats are Shimano SPD cleats and still readily available. New cleats wouldn't mean new pedals. I would say purchase some new cleats. In terms of the unclipping, check the pedal retention on the pedals. There's a little allen key screw point on them with an arrow which will say plus and minus on each side of it. This is to increase the pedal retention (the plus) which makes it harder to unclip or decrease the pedal retention (the minus) which makes it easier to unclip. Hopefully that helps
I've been thru them all Looks are limiting, thr 4.5 cleat is too big red silly black solid - the Stacks massive, Spdsl's are pretty great blue cleats are a good all-rounder though the pedals wear at the front, Speedplay overhyped + too small and not great for big feet. Time's are the best, that's my personal opinion
I bought a Ridley SLiC and the bike tech at the store looked like he was going to vomit when I handed him a £15 set of Bits PD-S10 steel flat pedals to put on it. Any eventual foot pain was worth it just for the look on his face.
Shimano SPD pedals. Cleats are indestructible. The SPD-SL pedals are good but the cleats at best in my experience they last 2,700 kilometres. I'm at over 18,500 on w set of SPD cleats
You forgot Time pedals. By far the best and the most universal clipless pedal on the market, road or mtb. Takes care of q-factor, angle etc. Don’t need bike shop to “set up”. Using them since 1980s. Time clearly does not have the budget to promote them. Too bad.
I've tried (and still use) just about every type of pedal and cleat over the years. For road riding I definitely prefer Speedplay (X series) pedals... (1) for the massive (unlimited) amount of "float" they have ( a term you curiously didn't use once in your video)... (2) for their ease of entry and exit--but specifically entry--which, again, you curiously didn't mention at all in your comparisons (I'm clipped in and already 10 to 20 yards down the road leaving a stop light compared to any of my friends who are using Shimano or Look-type cleats of any kind--because I don't have to look down and roll the pedal over with my toe to get it in the right position to clip in--I literally just mash my foot down on the Speedplay pedals and I'm clipped in)... (3) cleat life span is also MUCH longer with Speedplays... like 3, 4, 5x longer depending on how you ride. SPD-SL and Look cleats are PLASTIC--and thus wear out very quickly... Speedplay cleats are METAL... and are designed to last longer... so they DO. I've had shoes wear out before my Speedplay cleats did. (But to be fair, Speedplay cleats are 2x more expensive than SPD-SL / Look's... but still a better value due to extremely long life.) If there is a negative to Speedplay pedals it might be their maintenance cycle. They DO require more frequent greasing than Shimanos and Looks... but are pretty easy to service and repair.
No need for clipless pedals I am not racing lol. Many studies show that clipless is just not that much better for a casual bike rider or touring rider . Gcn was also surprised that there was just not that much different power transfer difference , I myself use them because of a ankle injurie they allow me to find the most comfortable place on the pedal. I have a friend who also uses them because of a knee injury. Many people never take up bike riding in there later years because of the fear of falling and breaking a collar bone or wrist. You really don't need these expensive shoes and pedals to ride a bike.
I’ve always used flats on an MTB and spd SL on a road bike. Now I mainly ride gravel but I now have PFJS in my right knee which can mean clipping out in a hurry can be awkward and even sore (if it’s a panic) meaning when getting into the more techy stuff I start to get in my own head about clipping out early. So anything like a rooty climb or a sandy dh section. Would you recommend the dual sided spd type Shimano pedal or do I stick with my m520s? Currently I’ve tried flats but notice speed and power seems less. Thanks for your advice
Are you using a good flat pedal with a proper flat pedal shoe? I have a Crank Brothers Stamp and Five Ten freerider shoes on one if my bikes and it does not feel that much less powerfull.
Have you thought about either loosening the retention so you can pull your foot out easier? That’s helped me in emergencies or Shimano also do a pedal which is one side a flat pedal and the other is an SPD. I think it’s called the PD-EH500
The latest cleats and cleat holder (Wahoo type) is definitely not as good, or as sturdy as the original Speedplay versions. This is very noticeable when clipping in and clipping out. Also if you need to get out of the saddle and start putting the power down it is easy to come out of the pedals. The original ones were based on a thick aluminium plate whereas the current ones are just a folded piece of steel, so nowhere near as solid or as sturdy as the original Speedplay versions...
The nicest to clip in and put of are Egg Beaters. Sadly, the quality is risible. They do not last. Most cannot be rebuilt. The cleats are fearfully, pointlessly expensive. I do like them to ride on (both road and MTB), but they are their own worst enemy.
Saying clipless pedals are better/give more power is a big assumption: that everyone pedals the same. There are techniques to pedalling with flat pedals that are more efficient. Different technique, different muscles. Pulling up on a pedal with "clipless" pedals is a waste of energy. You can totally keep your feet in secure contact on flats, it's a thing you can learn.
I honestly like using SPD pedals for road riding. The additional weight in the shoe and pedal doesn't make any difference, but the shoes are way easier to walk in haha
I did SPDs for years, still do it for commuting and touring with tent. There's nothing inherently wrong with them. There is a little bit of instability in the roll dimension that I don't like.
Yeah same here to be honest. I tent to use them all winter and for any touring trips
Yeah I agree with you too. You don’t feel quite as locked in with them
I use SPD as longer time between replace cleats as not plastic
me too
After using Speedplay enthusiastically for a few years, I changed my cleats and rented a bike with SPD-SLs. I found that I rode better with controlled float and a solid, wide platform under my feet. My boss was selling his lightly used Time pedals, so that's what I'm using. I like the stack height and float characteristics better but it's had to go wrong with any pedal that uses triangular cleats.
Watching Channel 4 TdF, we saw a clip about Hinault and Lemond and new-fangled Look clipless pedal. Wife said, "Get them." Living on thin air as students, assembled the £60 iirc, and bought the even newer white version with a bit of float. Gamechanger from Christophe clips and Binda straps (I'd just bought a new set as old ones snapped) which I still have in a bits box. Never rode without clipless pedals on any bike except wife's Mezzo for very short rides to work and shops. 2 years ago, got flat pedals for a new urban bike - they're great, don't slip, even work with up stroke. Huge proportion of riding across London as fast as I could go often on fixed gear. Also Tunbridge Wells and back to see parents when alive.
Had Speedplays on one bike from 2008 - just yesterday, got the grease gun out, it was empty, off to Screwfix for new grease for house hinges. Should get wedges to cater for bowed legs below knees
I use SPD-SL on road. For me, they are like the LeMond of pedal systems, they don't "win" in any individual category, but come out on top overall.
I agree
As a tourer I use flat pedals. I stop and admire the view so often I can't see why I'd go back to cleats. Alao, it just keeps cycling simple.
Completely understandable reasons there for sure
Well, the obvious reason is efficiency. Flat pedals are simply less efficient than cleated pedals... because you can only MASH... you can't pull. So, you are expending more energy to travel the same distance when using flat pedals. Also, at least for myself, I feel more connected to the back--and therefore more stable--when clipped in. My feet aren't going to slip off the pedals if I hit a pothole or some other hazard in the road unexpectedly... I can throw the bike around easier to avoid various situations... bunnyhop over things... etc. When touring I use an SPD cleat in a shoe that is designed specifically for walking / hiking but still takes an SPD cleat. And I have some flip-flop pedals that are SPD on one side and flat on the other... in case I just feel like riding clipped out for some reason--without having to change out my pedals.
2 years ago, I got flats for my then new urban bike (Orbea 7-speed). Revelation. No slipping. Pedal full circle almost like clips and straps or clipless on fixed gear - smooth, efficient, fast. I've been almost exclusively clipless from 1985 when I got original Looks to replace Christophe clips and Binda straps. For 10 miles to shops and hospital appointments up and down hills of SE London, they're fine
@@cuebj For sure. On shorter rides, no urgency... chill bike (7 spd)... flats are perfectly fine.
Might not be the most modern / lightest items, but I still love my Mavic LMS 646 pedals. Bright yellow bodies, adj rotation on the pedal, and adj in/out float and fully rebuildable. Which is why, having bought them around 1992, I'm still using them on 2 bikes! Downside is Look Delta cleat are getting scarce so I've built up a stock...
Wise move having some spare stock!
I use Time road pedals, I find them every bit as good as Look or Shimano, I have used all three brands. Amazed he didn't include them!
I dont think i will ever change from Time pedals again. They work the best for me.
That’s a big part of it, what works best for you.
Same for me. TIME Equipe & Impact models have a lower stack-height (when used with 4-bolt cleats/shoes) and the platform is bigger. I've tried LOOK and Shimano but TIME just feels better for me.
You will be surprised how well Time framesets work too…😅
@@tonyg3091 Actually, I won't be surprised at all because I have a TIME VXR frameset and it is my favourite bike - and I have multiple Pinarellos & Colnagos;
@@jubeeju A man of culture. Nice to see.
SPD are the most versatile you can use them on every type of bike and walk in them no issues my favourite are still SPD-SL the larger platform is more comfortable.
Yep I agree
Top content & information again Chris 👏. The small differences in having a correct or incorrect setup is the difference between a comfortable and an uncomfortable bike ride. Use a competent and trusted bike fitter. They are worth it !
Thank you I’m glad you found it useful mate
@ChrisHallRides definitely food for my thoughts on wider axles pedals Chris......definitely investigating this area 👍 cheers and have a good week ahead!
I’ve only recently got into road riding after being into MTB since the early 90’s and have always used spds when riding my bikes , I have a cyclocross bike which I have an XTR spd system on it and it’s brilliant and I’ve a road bike with shimano Ultegra SL with the longer axle , it’s great when your clipped in as it feels like a lot of surface area under your foot , I know I’m bias but I love the Shimano MTB XTR system I’d fit that on all my bikes , simple to set up and easy to maintain and bulletproof
I love xtr pedals! They’re fantastic
I got a pair of Crankbrothers free with a mountain bike 15 years ago and have been smitten with them ever since. I use them for everything!
Nice!
i just got a commuter bike (i have a 11+ mile commute each way), and i was so sure i was going to switch from flats to clipless, but the flats are just so perfect. no clip out for the constant stop-and-go of traffic, and with good nubbins providing a solid connection, on flat pedals i'm getting about 45 or so degrees of power past the bottom of the stroke. and the research shows that unless you're an actually elite cyclist, you don't get any actual power with the pull up (and i'm definitely nowhere near that). flat pedals are great for even long city commutes, and i'm not going clipless.
They make a lot of sense if commuting in a city fore sure
Ditto .. I use flat pedals for everything ... unless the situation demands something else. I even use flat pedals for 100 mile rides and they suit me perfect (mind you there are no mountains where I ride). Now when I have to do sprints or go up steep hills, or there's a chance I might slip off my pedals... then I use clipless pedals. For a city commute I would never consider clipless pedals.
The pedal contact/support is almost identical between Look and Shimano road pedals. Shimano cleats are only wider due to the wings for walking when not clipped in.
always good to use bike grease on the SPD cleat bolts when screwing in
I use Shimano SPD pedals (Rally pedal) on my gravel bike, Crankbrother Mallet pedals on full suspension bike, and Crankbrother Eggbeater pedal on my aero road bike. Used to run LOOK pedal on the road bike but decided that I prefer the flexibility of walking with MTB XC shoes, and I don’t mind the “float” from smaller SPD/Crankbrother cleats.
Actually I really don’t feel any powerloss or feel less locked in using a smaller cleat, like what most biker fitter or road cyclists are claiming. They are mtb pedals that are lighter than road pedals (Crankbrother titanium eggbeater at 160g per set) and the shoes are not much heavier than road shoes and are as stiff (using Fizik X5 Terra), and mtb XC shoes are way cheaper than road shoes.. manufacturers are ripping roadie bikers off by selling road outfit more expensive.
I ride with roadie friends often and still finding it amusing to see the way cyclists in road shoes walk 😆
The ‘wider platform” of the road pedals compared to SPDs is a myth in shoes with stiffness 10 and above. In these you don’t feel the pedal AT ALL and the shoe is your platform.
Another myth is that the axle of the pedal should be under your 5th metatarsal. Great many of us have found this is not optimal and prefer it further back. The most power can be generated not directly under the ball of the foot but a bit back. In some cases-quite a bit back.
Sheer power is almost always greater with cleat further back. I'm sure I've seen numbers about it. But it loses supplesse and puts other strains into the hips to toes.
When I had multiple bikes, I had different setups to ensure variety in my skeletomuscular wear and tear. I learned that from my son's swimming training where they balanced crawl and fly with backstroke to guard against unbalanced development
the wider platform isn’t a myth, it’s a real thing. Of course stiff soles make you not feel how small or large your contact patch is - but the lateral stiffness is much better with road pedals and that is something you do feel
@@fiddleronthebike I am telling you man, I ride those Shimano SPD pedals ES 600 or something-single sided, shaped like road pedals but a bit smaller and I feel absolutely no difference. Shoes are XC902 perhaps that is the reason, dunno.
Since Time bought there pedals in I think 1984 been using this brand ever since no knee issues with there float system & currently using there Xpresso 12’s & 15’s
MKS GR10....With half clip. The quality is insanely high. They made most of Suntours pedals back in the day. Used them for a decade before i finally went clipless in 2020 and honestly...i'm still not convinced about clipless. For most riding I still think it's unnecesary...but they do make you do feel more "pro" 😉👍
In contrast I struggle to not use clipped in pedals any more haha
@@ChrisHallRides yeah, i'm wondering if i could actually go back myself. Road clipless does have a certain look and feel that's just ..... hard to explain 🤔
If I had to have only one for all types of biking disciplin, it would be Shimano SPD. But I LOVE Speedplay for road and Shimano SPD for MTB.
I’d agree. If it was one system I’d go Shimano SPD
MKS urban with Zefal nylon quarter clips. Cycle and then run no shoe change. Just as efficient and effective as clipless. I have some MTB 5 10s for dedicated cycling. Highly versatile and safer. Especially in urban cycling where unpredictable emergency stops can be needed. Road, gravel and touring bikes. With different pedal combos
Great informative video ! 🚴🏼✌️
Thanks for watching!
Shimano SPD (520, 540, etc...) 2 sided for BMX, MTB, Cyclocross, and various casual riding. For road/track my preference is to be almost locked in so I don't unclip during a sprint or hill interval.
Yep that makes a lot of sense to me. I clipping mid effort is scary
Can you do a video on saddles for men who have prostate issues? Its a massive issue, just not spoken about.
I’ll talk with Dan
@@ChrisHallRides thanks
For years I had superlight Look Carbon Titanium pedals on my MTB which worked excellently, til needing a service, and I couldn't find a key to open them. So now I use Shimano XTR with a large platform.
The XTR ones are fantastic
@@ChrisHallRides Yes but compared with my present platform pedals, without clamps, they are "heavy" 😄 But I am a tall and 100 kilo man, so I could easily find less expensive ways to loose combined rider weight! And also the new LOOK MTB pedals have changed to the Shimano SPD system.
Tried speedplays. I liked the freefloat, but I didn't like the fact that they are not horizontally flat-stable!
Tried Time RXS. So good that I have 4 bikes with them. The sad part is I already broke one pedal body, so only 3 of them now, and they don't make them anymore.
I never ever understood people who buy look pedals as the cleats are worn very fast. Time RXS = nearly indestructable cleats.
I will probably try SPD-SL in the near future when ordering Favero Assioma (giving up on crank-based powermeters).
I've always been interested in the Faveros too
Good video. Based on the title, I thought it was a sort of pedal 'shoot out' where the host was going to determine which model pedal was the best.
Fight to the death of pedals
I use Look Keo pedals, actually used Look pedals since they first came out in 1984..but for myself the best shoe pedal combo was Time Equipe Pro, best comfort and power transmission, I used them all through the 90's ...
Lots of people talking about Time. I have never used them
@@ChrisHallRides It's a large style pedal platform, with just the right amount of float for me. The metal cleats lasted forever and easy to adjust ... too bad they fell out of favour
I wonder why nobody talks about Time pedals? They have an even bigger platform than Shimano, they have a smaller stack hight, give a nice amount of rotational movement, are easy to click in - and on top they are extremely lightweight (while well built and durable), ~65 g for the top models. I use them for many years on road bikes as well as on the TT bike and I don’t want to change to any other type
I think to be honest because I’ve never actually seen a pair in the UK ever. I’ve heard great things but rarely seem to see them
I use SPD on all my bikes so fully interchangeable shoes. They work well, easy in and out and from mt MTB I know they can get full of crud but just work.
I agree!
Time attack far better than spd and don’t fill with crud 👌🏽
I'm often faffing around trying to clip in with my Look pedals. I always wonder if any of the others are easier.
I’ve not used look much but the one time I did I was not a fan personally.
I could never cope with 1 sided pedals, the SPD mountain pedal was great because it didn't matter. I'm bias I've never used a proper roadie pedal.
Yeah SPD pedals re fantastic for sure
Speedplay frogs. Best road/mtb pedal of all time. I have a single pair that has outlasted my last 3 mountain bikes (15 years and still work great, as do my knees)...
They don’t make them anymore right?
Started using straps in 1982, then Look in the early 90’s. Switched to speedplay in the mid 90’s … tried Look Keo briefly in the late 90’s but immediately switched back to speedplay. Doubt I’ll ever switch unless Speedplays are no longer available.
Could have written this almost word for word myself. Just started with Looks immediately after featured on C4 TdF with Hinault and Lemond
I tried Look for a while and just didn’t get on with them.
I'm using Campagnolo Pro Fit pedals for years and years they last for decade(s), but hard to find lately, but it's a like tank!!
I’ve never heard of them to be honest! Not surprised Campag made pedals at some point though
Looks X-track cleats should be interchangeable with SPD, but offer a bit more float (6° vs 4°) even in spd pedals.
Also, I have to the rotating the cleat too much, resulting in major lateral knee discomfort and putting me off trying clipless for a bit over a yeah.
Might be worth talking with a bike fitter
@@ChrisHallRides I can see that I completely botched the sentence, as it is something I have done in a misunderstanding on how cleats should be set, and now it is fixed.
It is to support his point of making sure one has float on both sides, and more importantly, when you are pedalling and not just at rest.
A little bit of correction coming your way, Chris... SPD pedals (MTB style as we know and love by now) were released around 1990. The Shimano road pedals SPD SL came out around 2003☺
But Look bought out their pedals before Shimano for road
@@ChrisHallRides we are totally in agreement on that one😊
I felt, it came across, in the video, that the Shimano road pedals came out before the MTB ones😇
Considering how quickly I get away from all the hi-viz black clad Lycra louts on my daily commute - they are all a bit crap at the crucial get away from the lights and traffic quickly moments. They all flap and crunch until they clip in.
🥲
Kidding aside, a case can be made for flat or two sided flat/spd pedals being the best for riding in thick traffic. Clipless are no go as one small mistake clipping/unclipping and you are dead. Which kinda defeats the purpose and ruins your day.
Look weren't the first clipless pedals - not well known fact is that Cinelli were the first to market them, UK top time trial star Ian Camish used them with great success in the UK time trial scene during the 1980's
Oh thats useful to know thank you :)
To increase the stance or Qfactor, what do you think of using pedal spacers? I think they are pretty wide though. 15mm and 20mm. Thank you.
If you need a wider stance, spacers are a good option but you can also get many pedals with longer axles. Spacers don’t seem to affect them at all from a performance angle from what I’ve found
I've been riding on Speedplay for about 10 years mainly for two reasons : lower stack height & choice of spindle length..! But now I need new ones but I hesitate to continue with Wahoo because of that 'lateral play'..! Hear people saying that they solved the problem, but is that really the case...?
Honestly not too sure. You’d hope so! I’d imagine worse case they have a good warranty programme
Have you ever tried Keywin pedals from Newzealand they for my mind the best of all worlds for road riding
Never tried them! Will look into them
I have only ever used Shimano Dura Ace & 105 pedals untill this year 2023 in May .
Time Xpro 12 & 15 pedals are the best l have used . SL5 Expert & SL7 S-WORKS .
Would never ever use another brand again 😅
Good to know!
Correct. Proper cyclists use Time pedals 👌🏽
My main problem, is just having one bike, going on to work everyday and rides on the weekend, using the spd sl system, is a a bit over the top, to come with special shoes everyday in the bag 😅
I leave my work shoes in the office!
That’s what I used to do when I commuted too. Left some work shoes in the office
Had a pair of smart but cheap shoes from TK Maxx in office that never came home. Same with a coat for cold and rainy lunchtimes.
For meetings all over London, clipless on Tricross with Topeak rack. Still have Altura suitcase and briefcase for suit, tie, slip on smart shoes, laptop, and papers for meetings all over London. Not seen those panniers online or in shops for at least 15 years. I'd shower in gents and be smartest guy in the room - always created an impression on frazzled colleagues, especially when tube stations were long way from the meeting rooms
Riding a recumbent trike is a different game altogether. You don't want your foot to disengage the pedal as your leg can be trapped under the trike and injured. You also want a pedal that allows you to comfortably exert the force necessary and not cause problems.
Ooh ok so what pedal would you use on a recumbent?
@@ChrisHallRides Catalyst One pedal is popular. Much longer than other pedals that allow more foot contact and power transfer. Expensive.
I still have the original Look Delta pedals on all my road bikes, along with Black, "fixed" cleats.
Cool!
Thanks! This was really straightforward and useful. I know its a longshot, is there any reliable way of measuring your body to get a good starting point to determine your stance width? Or will it always be determined by knee tracking?
I don’t think there’s particularly an east way to know to be honest. Worth reaching out to Dan on Instagram. His handle is @ukbikefit
@@ChrisHallRides thanks a lot! I'll try to reach him.
There is no best, everybody's always obsessed with the question, who is the best woman, who's the best man, what's the best car, what's the best pedal, who's the best midget. There's no best. It all comes down to the type of ride you do and your lifestyle, how many bikes do you own, where do you ride, so many factors to consider. You will always have to have a few bikes which calls for a few pedal systems.
Best midget is easy
Is shimano cleats can adjust more backward than look keo cleats? My shoes cleat hole is too far forward and i use look keo cleats
The problem with some shoe brands is that the cleat holes. are too far forward. You can get special wedges to pull cleats back further. bikefitkit.avln.me/c/DzNZFgLSopbG
xpedo, using the same set for over 17k km on MTB.
That’s pretty mega
Had Shimano Ultegra pedals for 95.000 km then they were worn. Acceptable durable I would say.
That’s a good level of use for sure
That’s quite a bit.. my (left side) shimano ultegra on my bad weather/winter bike was worn in less than 5 years/24000km. Rust devil..
has anyone questioned are clipless better than flats? any test or just B/S
Why do you need data? They feel better, it's night and day, the foot stays on the pedal for every revolution again and again with no lift off or shuffling. On a road bike it is so much nicer where cadence is king.. On an MTB, I still use flats as I'm constantly moving and like the freedom of being able to put a foot down.
Horses for courses. Recently switched to flats for urban bike and found them a revelation allowing smooth pedalling despite no clip or strap
I’ll talk to Dan and see what he says
Shimano XTR MTB pedals on my road bike.
What is your view of like Shimano SPD Vs crankbrother SPD (whisk pedal)
I’ve never personally used the crank brother pedals but I’ve heard they are really good for very muddy conditions
The crank brothers seem less durable. Maybe they've been improved?
you skipped over xpedo pedals. They are a bit pricey but the set I bought 5 years ago are still in excellent condition. They are, IMHO, very easy to unclip, much easier than shimano. Look KEO cleats will work very well with these pedals.
Good call!
Speedplay lollipops for the win. :)
🍭
What is the value of a wider contact patch when you have rigid bottomed shoes? I’m trying SPD-SL and they’re harder to clip in at traffic stops than my SPDs were and I’m struggling to find what I’ve gained.
Have you played with how tight the pedal retention is? Maybe that’ll help?
@@ChrisHallRides I think the problem is my new pedals are one sided and my old ones were double sided. The new ones are also quite slick on the wrong side so my foot just slides off the pedal, quite hard sometimes, if I get it wrong.
You’ve totally missed the best by far for road and off-road and that’s the Time pedals. I’ve used all the brands over 30 years and there’s a clear winner with Time pedals 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽
Unfortunately we didn’t have any at the time of filming. Will discuss in another video sometime too
I am just learning about this, so bear with my possibly obvious question. I am considering replacing my shoes, as they are somewhat worn after 16 years. They are Forte, and have SPD cleats. The cleat is stamped with the code 98A. My question is can I take these cleats off my old shoes, and attach them to the new shoes? I don't want to go with new cleats, as that would mean new pedals. Also, once I adjusted the cleats, I can now easily clip out of them, preventing falling over, which I have done in the past. That's embarrassing, and also hurts. Thank you.
Hello, 98A cleats are Shimano SPD cleats and still readily available. New cleats wouldn't mean new pedals. I would say purchase some new cleats. In terms of the unclipping, check the pedal retention on the pedals. There's a little allen key screw point on them with an arrow which will say plus and minus on each side of it. This is to increase the pedal retention (the plus) which makes it harder to unclip or decrease the pedal retention (the minus) which makes it easier to unclip. Hopefully that helps
@@ChrisHallRides Makes perfect sense, thank you
Missing Crankbrothers‘ system in the comparison😊
Great shout!
MKS Bear Traps...wiv sandals. Guvnor.
I've been thru them all Looks are limiting, thr 4.5 cleat is too big red silly black solid - the Stacks massive, Spdsl's are pretty great blue cleats are a good all-rounder though the pedals wear at the front, Speedplay overhyped + too small and not great for big feet. Time's are the best, that's my personal opinion
I've never used Time. Hardly ever see them in the UK with people I ride with too. They look cool though
@@ChrisHallRides The movement is very slightly self-centering, tho adjustable.. 👍
Oh damn, I didn’t realise Aaron Mooey was into cycling!
😂
I bought a Ridley SLiC and the bike tech at the store looked like he was going to vomit when I handed him a £15 set of Bits PD-S10 steel flat pedals to put on it. Any eventual foot pain was worth it just for the look on his face.
😅
Speed Play options have decreased since Wahoo has taken over and very expensive and smaller platform, much fussier.
That’s a real shame
Shimano SPD pedals. Cleats are indestructible. The SPD-SL pedals are good but the cleats at best in my experience they last 2,700 kilometres. I'm at over 18,500 on w set of SPD cleats
Yeah you’re completely right!
You forgot Time pedals. By far the best and the most universal clipless pedal on the market, road or mtb. Takes care of q-factor, angle etc. Don’t need bike shop to “set up”. Using them since 1980s. Time clearly does not have the budget to promote them. Too bad.
I've tried (and still use) just about every type of pedal and cleat over the years. For road riding I definitely prefer Speedplay (X series) pedals... (1) for the massive (unlimited) amount of "float" they have ( a term you curiously didn't use once in your video)... (2) for their ease of entry and exit--but specifically entry--which, again, you curiously didn't mention at all in your comparisons (I'm clipped in and already 10 to 20 yards down the road leaving a stop light compared to any of my friends who are using Shimano or Look-type cleats of any kind--because I don't have to look down and roll the pedal over with my toe to get it in the right position to clip in--I literally just mash my foot down on the Speedplay pedals and I'm clipped in)... (3) cleat life span is also MUCH longer with Speedplays... like 3, 4, 5x longer depending on how you ride. SPD-SL and Look cleats are PLASTIC--and thus wear out very quickly... Speedplay cleats are METAL... and are designed to last longer... so they DO. I've had shoes wear out before my Speedplay cleats did. (But to be fair, Speedplay cleats are 2x more expensive than SPD-SL / Look's... but still a better value due to extremely long life.)
If there is a negative to Speedplay pedals it might be their maintenance cycle. They DO require more frequent greasing than Shimanos and Looks... but are pretty easy to service and repair.
I'd love to know where you're getting your speedplay cleats for only twice as much as Shimano/Look, sounds an absolute bargain.
@@peejmeista SPD-SL cleats are generally about $25... Speedplay X-series cleats are generally about $45. It's not magic. It's just the internet. :)
Time Xpro spanks the lot. 👌
Road Shimano. MTB crank bros egg beaters either with or without mallet
You missed the best pedals. Time. Always the best, great float and durable as hell
Yeah totally! They were pretty hard to find in the uk to be honest when we filmed this but seem to be more readily available
I can remember when look pedles came out it was a great leap foward but the quality was rubbish😮
i stocked up on time rxs carbon pedals. they're really superior. too bad they never caught on
Never tried them!
No need for clipless pedals I am not racing lol. Many studies show that clipless is just not that much better for a casual bike rider or touring rider . Gcn was also surprised that there was just not that much different power transfer difference , I myself use them because of a ankle injurie they allow me to find the most comfortable place on the pedal. I have a friend who also uses them because of a knee injury. Many people never take up bike riding in there later years because of the fear of falling and breaking a collar bone or wrist. You really don't need these expensive shoes and pedals to ride a bike.
Each to their own after all right? More people on bikes ultimately is a good thing
I agree. You don’t NEED clipless pedals to ride a bike. For that purpose any pedal will do and then it is a matter of personal preference.
I’ve always used flats on an MTB and spd SL on a road bike. Now I mainly ride gravel but I now have PFJS in my right knee which can mean clipping out in a hurry can be awkward and even sore (if it’s a panic) meaning when getting into the more techy stuff I start to get in my own head about clipping out early. So anything like a rooty climb or a sandy dh section. Would you recommend the dual sided spd type Shimano pedal or do I stick with my m520s? Currently I’ve tried flats but notice speed and power seems less. Thanks for your advice
Are you using a good flat pedal with a proper flat pedal shoe? I have a Crank Brothers Stamp and Five Ten freerider shoes on one if my bikes and it does not feel that much less powerfull.
@@MAGAIVER thanks for the reply. Nukeproof flats with RC shoes
Have you thought about either loosening the retention so you can pull your foot out easier? That’s helped me in emergencies or Shimano also do a pedal which is one side a flat pedal and the other is an SPD. I think it’s called the PD-EH500
@@ChrisHallRides hi Chris, yes running at the easiest setting. Left side is fine, it’s just due to my right knee.
I’ll check out those pedals. Thanks
What about time pedals
Great shout we just didn't have any unfortunately
The latest cleats and cleat holder (Wahoo type) is definitely not as good, or as sturdy as the original Speedplay versions. This is very noticeable when clipping in and clipping out. Also if you need to get out of the saddle and start putting the power down it is easy to come out of the pedals. The original ones were based on a thick aluminium plate whereas the current ones are just a folded piece of steel, so nowhere near as solid or as sturdy as the original Speedplay versions...
No love for Time Pedals?
Unfortunately didn’t have a set to talk about
@@ChrisHallRides Maybe worth a part 2 with time, Crank Bros etc?
The nicest to clip in and put of are Egg Beaters.
Sadly, the quality is risible.
They do not last.
Most cannot be rebuilt.
The cleats are fearfully, pointlessly expensive.
I do like them to ride on (both road and MTB), but they are their own worst enemy.
They look cool though
speedplay O lolipop titanium.. untochable ..
Love a lollipop 🍭
@@ChrisHallRides click.. click..
DMR VAULTS 2 IS THE BEST
1. Dial back on the pastry !
2. Buy a good shoe with a stiff sole. Then you won’t have to fiddle with your cleats at all.
I don't think you're right there..
What about time?
We unfortunately didn’t have any and they’re not that common in the UK at the moment. Would love to try them
Had a brief time using speedplay and I mean brief, terrible system
I’ve never tried them personally
Saying clipless pedals are better/give more power is a big assumption: that everyone pedals the same. There are techniques to pedalling with flat pedals that are more efficient. Different technique, different muscles. Pulling up on a pedal with "clipless" pedals is a waste of energy. You can totally keep your feet in secure contact on flats, it's a thing you can learn.
get urself a fat flat pair of pedals made of metal for 10 bucks from china
Cycling to national championships? To Glasgow..was good thumbnail, while it lasted.
Saw a mistake in the video so needed to take it down.. will be coming still don’t worry
Lake shoes and Time pedals for me.
I’ve never used time pedals
They didn't include Time??? ......I have had almost every brand and Time have been the best pedals I have ever used in my life !!!!