I recently bought 2003 Specialized Comp Road shoes. My decision was based on excellent experience
with their 2001 Team mtb shoes. I have a Dura Ace spd pedals, old style (not spd-r). Boy, what a
shock it was when I tried to place the shoe plates where I wanted them, in the so called "neutral
position" (ball-over-the-axle). No way. Max backward position of the ball of the foot that these
shoes allow is 5 mm *in front* of the axle!!! And Specialized explicitly states that their shoes are
compatible with Shimano spd. Well, if they think "compatible" means "screwable", they are right. But
"compatible" means "offering every possibility as original product". But, Shimano R210 shoes offer
generous 10mm *behind" the axle position. Conclusion: Specialized Comp Road shoes are not spd
compatible!
Then I thought: OK, let's try Look pedals with Specialized shoes. The story was the same. When the
plate is pushed max forwards, the ball of the foot still remains 5mm *in front* of the axle. While
Shimano R210 offers generous 10mm *behind* the axle. Conclusion: Specialized Comp Road shoes are not
Look compatible.
Summary: Specialized shoes are nor Shimano not Look compatible. If I lived in America, I would have
sued them for misleading the customer. In Croatia, with the shoes bought in Austria I can only hope
to get my money back.
Dear friends, stay away from Specialized Comp Road shoes.
Happy ride,
Predrag