clipless ?

I have SPD-SL's on both of my road bikes and really like them.

One advantage that other people on here like about the 2 hole SPD type is that the cleats are recessed on some types of shoes to make walking easier. If you like to get off your bike during the ride to stroll around a bit, you might consider those.

My SPD-SL's have the larger 3 hole style cleat and aren't very easy to walk in, but I don't walk any farther than across my garage to my bike, so it's no big deal to me.

Putting the pedals on your bike is really easy, don't forget to smear a little grease on the threads of the new pedals before you put them on. Pay attention to which way the threads run, the threads are reverse on one pedal ( the left one I think ).

I had a little trouble getting the cleats adjusted correctly on my shoes, so I stopped by my local bike shop they got those adjusted in a couple of minutes. I had them too far forward.

Some folks recommend loosening the release tension on the pedals till you get used to them, I say just leave them set the way they are from the factory if they are Shimano pedals.

If you practice clipping in and out, I propped myself up next to a wall first and then rode up and down my street clipping in and out, you'll get used to them pretty soon and they'll loosen a bit just through usage.

So yes, I think the ones you're looking at will work well for you.

The shoes should last you many years, so you want to make sure you get a comfortable quality pair that fit you well. I bought Shimano road shoes with my first set of pedals and I really like them, so when I wanted clipless pedals on my other road bike, it was a no brainer for me to choose the same style pedal so I could use those same shoes.

Thanks. I don't plan on walking much but the ease with the SPD is a nice-to-have I guess. Maybe my real question should be, would a beginner like me notice a difference between SPD and SPD-SL. From my research, it seems like the SPD-SL has a bigger contact area with the cleat/shoe which would allow for better power transfer.

On shoes, I guess they should feel snug but not tight? Do they tend to stretch out much?

WrongWay, for your type of riding I think that "style" of pedal woud be great. Nice to have both the clipless and platform option. My wife has the predecessor to the pedals you are considering on her MTB/Bar bike. They look more like a standard pedal on one side and clipless on the other. They are very handy.

If you are budget concious I have a pair of these on my commuter bike

Forté Campus Pedal - Performance Exclusive Pedals___

[IMG]performancebike.com00 1473 NCL ANGLE.jpgOpen ↗[/IMG]

The bearing is very nice in them and for the current sale price of 29 bucks you simply cannot beat them in my mind. Every bit as nice as my wife's Shimano version of them at less then 1/2 the price.

Good luck!

wrongway15 said:

Thanks. I don't plan on walking much but the ease with the SPD is a nice-to-have I guess. Maybe my real question should be, would a beginner like me notice a difference between SPD and SPD-SL. From my research, it seems like the SPD-SL has a bigger contact area with the cleat/shoe which would allow for better power transfer.

On shoes, I guess they should feel snug but not tight? Do they tend to stretch out much?

I really don't have any evidence about the power transfer aspect, but I was told that the wider contact patch of the SPD-SL's would be more comfortable, and mine have certainly been very comfortable.

My Shimano R130 road shoes are over 6 years old now and they haven't stretched out any that I can tell. I bought them to fit me comfortably, neither snug nor loose, and they haven't noticably changed.

I think you should buy these shoes like you do any type of shoes:

Your feet might swell a bit during the day or during exercise, so do your shoe shopping at the end of the day to allow for this.

Either wear, or bring with you, the same type of socks you will be wearing with these shoes when you try them on.

If a shoe is uncomfortable overall, or has any points of discomfort, I wouldn't buy it thinking it'll break in...it should feel comfortable when it's brand new. The most you might have to do is replace the insoles with another brand that has more padding, but I didn't need to do that with mine.

I'm sure some of the other folks on here can add a lot more on purchasing the best shoes. Shoes are one of the most important purchases you will make, so I think you should choose carefully.