Forgive me for asking dumb questions but here goes. I bought a Kona Dew Deluxe and I want to get clipless pedals for it, but I am confused as to what type I need.
What is the difference between the Shimano Road (PD-R540) and MTB (PD-M540) pedals (aside from the road pedal having a little platform)? If I ride mostly on street and a little on dirt trails, which ones should I get? (No mud or serious dirt riding on 700c wheels) Do the different types of pedas (SPD vs SPD-SL) require very different types of shoes?
What is the difference between the Shimano Road (PD-R540) and MTB (PD-M540) pedals (aside from the road pedal having a little platform)?
As you inferred later on in your post the PD-540 are the entry level SPD-SL road pedal. While the PD-M540 are double sided MTB pedals with the SPD cleat system. The SPD and SPD-SL systems are completely different cleat designs. See:
Mostroad shoes will take either cleat bolt pattern. (The SPD uses a two bolt pattern, while the SPD-SL uses the Look-style 3-bolt pattern) IMO the SPD-SL is infinfitely superior for pure on road use. The SPD design with its smaller cleat can, however, be recessed into the sole of some MTB shoe designs allowing for a more walkable shoe if that is desired.
SPDs are good for MTBing and Touring when combined with the MTB shoes, you can actually walk around in them.
I'm mainly a road rider so I got Looks first time round, couple of days getting used to them and they are absolutely fine, really easy to get used to using etc(though I did fall off a few times, get to a junction, stop, put foot down. Nope, its attached to the pedal, fall over). When I toured Lands end to John O'Groats there were definitely times when I could have done with shoes with recessed cleats in them though.
SPD's take longer to get used too, but are probably more versatile especially with MTB shoes and recessed cleats.
The shoes and pedals really depend on what you'll be doing. The bike you have suggests that you'll be doing mostly leisure rides. In that case I suggest getting mountain shoes because they are more well suited for getting off the bike and walking whereas if you went with a road shoe you could walk in them but you would ruin the cleats quickly.
That was the lecture I was given when I got into clipless pedals.
For road pedals I suggest the Dura-Ace 7800's. They have 6 degrees of float and are not as narrow as the lower model road pedals from Shimano meaning you have less chance of catching the road with your pedal when you do a high-speed turn. If you want a dirt cheap spot to get the Dura-Ace Pedals I suggest going to probikekit.com. I got them for about half price from what the LBS was sellin them for.
sounds like SL's are better pedals, but hard to walk in the shoes vs the SPDs with more comfortable shoes. i guess i'll get the SPD pedals for now. sounds like they will work for now.....thanks for the input guys!!
