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I need a second set of SPD-SL pedals for the trainer. I was budgeting about £20 for this (since that's what PD-M520s cost*), but a quick check of Wiggle and the cheapest ones are £60!
This thread is 90% a moan, but are there any decent other (cheaper) brands that are SPD-SL cleat compatible?
*Turns out even M520s are £35 these days (which is still significantly less than £60).
I've found the same, now looking at speedplays for when the power meter is released. Isn't the tension lower on the RS500.
Do they need to be new for use on a trainer?
I'd have a poke about on eBay £20 should get a servicable pair of SPD SL pedals.
I'm gonna take a guess at 2020.
I've just bought a pair boardman team mtb pedals which are slightly lighter than shimano. They feel just the same when clipped in.
Maybe there's a spd sl equivalent?
Maybe there’s a [Boardman] spd sl equivalent?
Thanks for the tip. It seems that Boardman do make some very reasonably-priced road pedals, but they're Look Keo-compatible not SPD-SL compatible. It's a shame that I need SPD-SL.
This is fishy, though. On Google shopping, the RS500 pedals show up as £30.49 on BikeInn, but when you click through, it says they can't deliver them to the UK because of Shimano's distribution rules. It looks like you can order them from Bikester (who maybe didn't get the Shimano memo) for £33.99 + postage, though. As above, you can also buy these from Decathlon for £45, but it seems like the cheapest SPD-SL pedal that's widely available in the UK is the slightly upgraded R550 which looks much the same but has a bit more metal.
Are we being ripped off here by Shimano geoblocking certain models?
I’m gonna take a guess at 2020.
Yea, that.
But also SPD-SL has always been expensive compared to everything else. Just searched my e-mails and I bought a pair of the old (and they were previous generation even then) alloy 105's in 2012 for £30, so the contemporary version was probably £40, and the current 105 has a carbon body and costs £60 which doesn't seem so bad for 8 years inflation and a pandemic wiping out stock levels.
I’ve just bought a pair boardman team mtb pedals which are slightly lighter than shimano. They feel just the same when clipped in.
I'd be slightly wary if you want them to be cross compatible. I've not used the boardman pedals but boardman cleats are subtly different enough that they bind in shimano pedals. The release tension just seems inconsistently high so at the worst possible moment you need to really wrench your foot to get it released.
the contemporary version was probably £40, and the current 105 has a carbon body and costs £60 which doesn’t seem so bad for 8 years inflation and a pandemic wiping out stock levels.
I looked this up too when I replaced some worn 105's last month.
April 2013.. £38 for the 105 5700 alloy pedal, RRP ~£60
Replaced with the equivalent 105 R7000 at £87 (now £75 on wiggle), RRP £125.
(The £60 carbon pedal looks to be R550 so more equivalent to the outgoing spec £30 pedal)... still in each case that's double the sale price/RPP in 8.5 years.
Wayback machine is quite interesting, it looks like Dura Ace Carbon RRP has only increased by a fiver from £230 to £235 in that same time!
You're right, £75.
Although I suppose it comes down to whether you compare spec or the nominal groupset too. Harder with pedals though as the bearings probably haven't changed and I doubt the injection moulded body is actually any more expensive than the cast/forged one even if it is an 'upgrade'.
Shimano did say a few years ago they wanted to reposition DA as a halo product with Ultegra as the premium choice and 105 as a sort of all you'll ever really need option. Which might explain it a bit though. 105 isn't aimed at "cheap stuff for a turbo bike", hence why the non-groupset stuff exists?
I suppose the thing is that most "Entry level" road cyclists will probably opt for/be given a steer towards MTB SPD pedals/shoes so if you've got £20 to throw at pedals for your first road bike, you would buy some M520 and people aren't expected to "Upgrade" to the RS500 or R7000 SPDs until you've gotten more into road cycling.
in a similar vein I only use the SPD SL on my "Best" (summer only) road bike, my winter/commuter and Gravel bike both have M520s fitted...
I do remember buying my own previous gen 105 (R540) for about £30 back in 2015/16, IIRC those came in 'High' and 'Low' release spring rate settings the 'Low' being less popular.
I do reckon you could score a used pair of R540 on eBay for under £20 today, they don't really age too badly, but you probably want to try and avoid the easy release versions.
I’d be slightly wary if you want them to be cross compatible. I’ve not used the boardman pedals but boardman cleats are subtly different enough that they bind in shimano pedals. The release tension just seems inconsistently high so at the worst possible moment you need to really wrench your foot to get it released
I'm using boardman pedals and shimano cleats. Boardman cleats are in my spares box. I've used 3 different shoes and they've all been fine.