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I'm seriously considering buying my first road bike in over 27 years but I have a question about Shimano cleat compatibility.
I don't really want to buy new shoes but for the last 12 or so years, I have used clip less pedals and I'm currently using Shimano SH51 cleats on PD530 pedals. If I buy 105 road pedals (or similar) would the SH51 cleats works with those pedals?
My current Northwave shoes have teeth/studs on the sole and even if the cleats are compatible, the shoes may not allow the cleats to engage (possible clearance issues), in which case I would need new shoes anyway (I obviously find that out the first time I try to engage).
So are there any road pedals you would recommend that would work with SH51 cleats?
Just get some mtb pedals
All ive ever used
Shimano do a roadie-lookin' pedal that is SPD compatible:
[url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-a520-touring-pedals/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=uk&gclid=CJm8ofTglrQCFczHtAodb30AgQ ]Linky[/url]
I use it with my MTB shoes and it's fine.
Having said that I just bought a pair of road shoes that are compatible with SPD-SL or SPDs because I was sure my invariably mud-caked MTB shoes contravened The Rules.
Wot Stef said.... except I use PD600 which make you go faster on a road bike FACT. And the rules say you can have up to four pairs of MTB style SPD shoes including a carbon soled pair and save them for commuting. I think.
Just to be 100% on this any 105/ultegra pedal will be three bolt spd-sl fitting and will not fit.
i have run mtb pedals and my old shoes on my road bike for three years. However my Christmas present is some time iclics and sidi's 🙂
I have one pair of spds (m530) and 2 swap them between bikes, i use these with some shimano mtb spd shoes, (unsure of model but are light enough and do the job well).
When im a bit more flush after xmas then i will look into getting some spd-sl pedals/shoes as i do believe lighter is better but id rather upgrade the wheels first.
Thanks for the advice
took delivery of my first ever road bike today.....have put a nice set of M540 mtb pedals on it. Looks fine.
Need to clean my shoes now....
I bought some of the cheap Shimano mtb pedals (520s?) and currently use my mtb shoes. Shimano do some road shoes that accept both types of cleats so I think I am going to get a pair of them.
I'd like to start a campaign to get rid of roadie cleats. Bad design, they create bad shoe design and they're just very silly indeed.
I've been riding road bikes for at least ten years with MTB cleats, they work a charm and when I'm not on the bike I can actually walk around without looking like I've got ball bearings on my feet.
I've got a pair of Xpedo all titanium 2-sided SPD on my TCR 0.
They weigh 212g.
I can walk in my disco-slippers with MTB SPD cleats.
SPD-R/SL will come up heavier and the shoes are dangerous walking to the cave let alone an emergency walk home.
PaulD
Unless you're buying right at the budget end of the spectrum I'd put aside £50 of the budget for roadie shoes. I only paid £20 for some 2nd hand ones and they've lasted almost 10 years. It just feels all round better. Unless you're tryingto walk in them, but that's pretty rare, in Summer I just leave them on the bike and go barefoot, in winter it's too cold to stop and fanny arround!
When im a bit more flush after xmas then i will look into getting some spd-sl pedals/shoes as i do believe lighter is better but id rather upgrade the wheels first.
Nowt to do with weight, my Egg Beaters are lighter than my Keos (I think, it's close, certainly lighter than the ones on the winter bike), but the Keos feel far better under your foot, much more stable.
MTB pedals work fine, road ones feel better.
I'd not waste your time with A530s personally, just have the convenience of an MTB pedal if you're going down that route.