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Holy crap...why are SPD pedals so expensive? (bay area cyclists...stop in!)

B

beer

Lifer
I wanted to get some platform/clipless hybrid pedals for biking around the bay area here. Most SPD pedals are $100 and then another $80 for shoes.

The shoe price sort of makes sense. The pedal price does not.

Does anyone know of any bay area stores where I can get SPD compatible pedals at a more realistic price (something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Clipless-S...VWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem, although I would prefer the pedals that I can clip into on both sides and not just a single side).

Has anyone else found themselves in this situation and will going with cheaper pedals end up being a good or bad idea?

 
Originally posted by: beer
I wanted to get some platform/clipless hybrid pedals for biking around the bay area here. Most SPD pedals are $100 and then another $80 for shoes.

The shoe price sort of makes sense. The pedal price does not.

Does anyone know of any bay area stores where I can get SPD compatible pedals at a more realistic price (something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Clipless-S...VWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem, although I would prefer the pedals that I can clip into on both sides and not just a single side).

Has anyone else found themselves in this situation and will going with cheaper pedals end up being a good or bad idea?
Click to expand...

Do you mean something like this:
http://www.universalcycles.com...hp?id=710&category=389

I think I've got these:
http://www.universalcycles.com...hp?id=712&category=389
hanging around my bike shed somewhere. I didn't use them for long and could sell them pretty cheap if you're interested and I can find them.

But why do you want the platform part and why don't you feel secure while clipped in and climbing hills? You talking toe clips? I find that I have no use for the platforms of the pedals in my links above. Prefer to use the normal spds like sygyzy linked. The platforms make it a little harder to clip in. What with cycling shoes being so stiff, the platforms don't really add anything. Plus, they're not like high-quality platform pedals the DH-ers use, which have pins that let you really lock on pretty well even though you're not clipped in.
 
If you're hoping to find dual-sided platform/SPD hybrid pedals, prepare to be disappointed because they don't exist.

Why, you ask? Simply due to the construction and intended purpose of SPD's.

First, consider what SPD's are and why you won't find dual platform/SPD pedals. SPD's were created for mountain biking.....and while some road bike shoes are indeed SPD compatible in their bolt mounting in the sole, SPD's weren't really meant for road bikes. If you look at most roadies, they're using pedals like Look and Time-styled or Speedplay. The cleats are large and hang off the bottom of the shoes, shoes which are incredibly stiff. They're so stiff, in fact, that they are a beast to walk in, but road bike shoes are not made for walking, only for riding and to maximize energy transfer from your leg/foot into the pedal/crank arm. And, yes, roadies do walk, but duck walk, even if one has the caps for the cleat. So, you have an ultra stiff shoe with the cleat hanging off the bottom of the shoe. (And most roadies don't use SPD's for a real, big reason even if their shoes are SPD compatible.....the small cleat used in SPD pedals can and will give you a hot spot during and after a long ride. Something about having a cleat that's about 1" x 1" tends to concentrate all the pedaling pressure in one tiny spot on the bottom of your foot....and can end up hurting a bit. True road bike cleats, on the other hand, are quite large in comparison and spread out that pressure over a much larger area of your foot.....ends up not hurting.)

Now, contrast that setup to a mtn. bike SPD setup. The cleat is recessed into the sole of the shoe to allow walking. This is due to the fact that while mtn. biking, it may be very necessary to dismount and walk the bike up a climb too steep or slippery to pedal up, or ford a stream too deep to safely ride across, or a whole host of reasons. And since mtn. biking SPD pedals make allowances for dismounting and walking by recessing the cleat into the sole of the shoe, the clipping mechanism of the pedal has to extend upward into the recess in the shoe to engage the cleat. Additionally, the SPD mechanism, being very "out in the open" like they are, are supposed to shed mud easily...a necessary benefit when you're mounting and dismounting and trying to clip in with muddy shoes.

So, now you have a mechanism that is higher than a flat platform.......so if you have SPD mechanisms on both sides of a platform pedal, you'd never touch the platform as the SPD mechanism is higher than the flat platform is. Therefore, you will only find single-sided SPD/platform hybrid pedals. And these pedals, while they work, are miserable for either duty. The pedal is overly heavy, they're not made as well as single duty pedals, be it a platform or SPD, and you're always on the wrong side no matter the instance.....you want the SPD and they're facing down so you have to force the SPD side up. You want the platform side, but the SPD side is heavier, so they're tilted wrong again. A pitiful compromise of a pedal.

You're much better off getting the mid-line Shimano SPD's and a nice set of platform pedals and a pedal wrench. You'll find you're going to use the SPD's more than the platforms anyway, but when you just want to cruise in tennis shoes or the like, it'll take two minutes to take the SPD's off and put on the platforms.
 
$100 for an exotic alloy and you don't like the price, you can understand $80 for 50 cents worth of leather & plastic?
 
Because people will pay. I doubt the R&D and manufacturing costs are very high for things like this. I mean you can buy a video card or a CPU with billions of transistors that can do what is basically magic as far as most of us are concerned, for $100.
 
Originally posted by: Jessica69
If you're hoping to find dual-sided platform/SPD hybrid pedals, prepare to be disappointed because they don't exist.
Click to expand...

You didn't click on the links in my earlier post, did you? 😉

They exist, but I don't much like 'em.
-Compared to normal Shimano spd, they're a bit harder to clip into because of the platform cage, heavier, and don't shed mud as well as the current spd without a platform designs.
-Compared to a good platform, they don't have the spiky pins that let your shoes really lock on (although this also removes the penalty for not wearing shin guards, so for around town this is good).

They do work to let you use spd cycling shoes clipped in or normal street shoes on a platform. I had them on my "doing errands around town bike" for just that reason. However, turns out I'd rather wear cycling shoes and be clipped in even for short trips.
 
Originally posted by: beer
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Why don't you try getting clips instead?

SPD Pedals, Clip Bot Sides - http://www.performancebike.com...24&subcategory_ID=5240
Click to expand...

Clips haven't worked well for me. i have a hard time going up over 5% grades comfortably with clips; I need to feel a bit more secure.

I live on an 8% hill...every time I come up it with clips I think to myself, "holy crap buy the goddamn SPDs." 🙂
Click to expand...

Those are MTB SPD pedals. I ride with those up some very steep hills off road all the time.
 
SPD-SL I assume? Standard SPD pedals are a lot less expensive. Still, I'd spring for the SPD-SL. They are a great pedal system. I always got hot spots with regular SPD pedals.
 
Originally posted by: senseamp
Originally posted by: beer
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Why don't you try getting clips instead?

SPD Pedals, Clip Bot Sides - http://www.performancebike.com...24&subcategory_ID=5240
Click to expand...

Clips haven't worked well for me. i have a hard time going up over 5% grades comfortably with clips; I need to feel a bit more secure.

I live on an 8% hill...every time I come up it with clips I think to myself, "holy crap buy the goddamn SPDs." 🙂
Click to expand...

Those are MTB SPD pedals. I ride with those up some very steep hills off road all the time.
Click to expand...

No, I like this. I was specifically refuting the statement that I should use toe clips. toe clips are a pain in the ass and look terrible unless you're a fixie rider going for the vintage look.

I will go through these links provided in this thread later. I am looking for MTB clipless though, not road clipless. I'll elaborate later.
 
I have these and they clip on both sides. I have no problems with them. When i know I'll be riding muddy, wet conditions or technical single track, i loosen up the tension. They aren't exactly light, but then just means you need to get into better shape 😉

http://www.rei.com/product/752295
 
Originally posted by: Jessica69
If you're hoping to find dual-sided platform/SPD hybrid pedals, prepare to be disappointed because they don't exist.

Why, you ask? Simply due to the construction and intended purpose of SPD's.

First, consider what SPD's are and why you won't find dual platform/SPD pedals. SPD's were created for mountain biking.....and while some road bike shoes are indeed SPD compatible in their bolt mounting in the sole, SPD's weren't really meant for road bikes. If you look at most roadies, they're using pedals like Look and Time-styled or Speedplay. The cleats are large and hang off the bottom of the shoes, shoes which are incredibly stiff. They're so stiff, in fact, that they are a beast to walk in, but road bike shoes are not made for walking, only for riding and to maximize energy transfer from your leg/foot into the pedal/crank arm. And, yes, roadies do walk, but duck walk, even if one has the caps for the cleat. So, you have an ultra stiff shoe with the cleat hanging off the bottom of the shoe. (And most roadies don't use SPD's for a real, big reason even if their shoes are SPD compatible.....the small cleat used in SPD pedals can and will give you a hot spot during and after a long ride. Something about having a cleat that's about 1" x 1" tends to concentrate all the pedaling pressure in one tiny spot on the bottom of your foot....and can end up hurting a bit. True road bike cleats, on the other hand, are quite large in comparison and spread out that pressure over a much larger area of your foot.....ends up not hurting.)

Now, contrast that setup to a mtn. bike SPD setup. The cleat is recessed into the sole of the shoe to allow walking. This is due to the fact that while mtn. biking, it may be very necessary to dismount and walk the bike up a climb too steep or slippery to pedal up, or ford a stream too deep to safely ride across, or a whole host of reasons. And since mtn. biking SPD pedals make allowances for dismounting and walking by recessing the cleat into the sole of the shoe, the clipping mechanism of the pedal has to extend upward into the recess in the shoe to engage the cleat. Additionally, the SPD mechanism, being very "out in the open" like they are, are supposed to shed mud easily...a necessary benefit when you're mounting and dismounting and trying to clip in with muddy shoes.

So, now you have a mechanism that is higher than a flat platform.......so if you have SPD mechanisms on both sides of a platform pedal, you'd never touch the platform as the SPD mechanism is higher than the flat platform is. Therefore, you will only find single-sided SPD/platform hybrid pedals. And these pedals, while they work, are miserable for either duty. The pedal is overly heavy, they're not made as well as single duty pedals, be it a platform or SPD, and you're always on the wrong side no matter the instance.....you want the SPD and they're facing down so you have to force the SPD side up. You want the platform side, but the SPD side is heavier, so they're tilted wrong again. A pitiful compromise of a pedal.

You're much better off getting the mid-line Shimano SPD's and a nice set of platform pedals and a pedal wrench. You'll find you're going to use the SPD's more than the platforms anyway, but when you just want to cruise in tennis shoes or the like, it'll take two minutes to take the SPD's off and put on the platforms.
Click to expand...

This is one of the most informative posts I';ve seen on ATOT in a long time! I feel like I understand what I'm buying now 🙂 Thanks
 
Originally posted by: Jessica69
If you're hoping to find dual-sided platform/SPD hybrid pedals, prepare to be disappointed because they don't exist.

Why, you ask? Simply due to the construction and intended purpose of SPD's.

First, consider what SPD's are and why you won't find dual platform/SPD pedals. SPD's were created for mountain biking.....and while some road bike shoes are indeed SPD compatible in their bolt mounting in the sole, SPD's weren't really meant for road bikes. If you look at most roadies, they're using pedals like Look and Time-styled or Speedplay. The cleats are large and hang off the bottom of the shoes, shoes which are incredibly stiff. They're so stiff, in fact, that they are a beast to walk in, but road bike shoes are not made for walking, only for riding and to maximize energy transfer from your leg/foot into the pedal/crank arm. And, yes, roadies do walk, but duck walk, even if one has the caps for the cleat. So, you have an ultra stiff shoe with the cleat hanging off the bottom of the shoe. (And most roadies don't use SPD's for a real, big reason even if their shoes are SPD compatible.....the small cleat used in SPD pedals can and will give you a hot spot during and after a long ride. Something about having a cleat that's about 1" x 1" tends to concentrate all the pedaling pressure in one tiny spot on the bottom of your foot....and can end up hurting a bit. True road bike cleats, on the other hand, are quite large in comparison and spread out that pressure over a much larger area of your foot.....ends up not hurting.)

Now, contrast that setup to a mtn. bike SPD setup. The cleat is recessed into the sole of the shoe to allow walking. This is due to the fact that while mtn. biking, it may be very necessary to dismount and walk the bike up a climb too steep or slippery to pedal up, or ford a stream too deep to safely ride across, or a whole host of reasons. And since mtn. biking SPD pedals make allowances for dismounting and walking by recessing the cleat into the sole of the shoe, the clipping mechanism of the pedal has to extend upward into the recess in the shoe to engage the cleat. Additionally, the SPD mechanism, being very "out in the open" like they are, are supposed to shed mud easily...a necessary benefit when you're mounting and dismounting and trying to clip in with muddy shoes.

So, now you have a mechanism that is higher than a flat platform.......so if you have SPD mechanisms on both sides of a platform pedal, you'd never touch the platform as the SPD mechanism is higher than the flat platform is. Therefore, you will only find single-sided SPD/platform hybrid pedals. And these pedals, while they work, are miserable for either duty. The pedal is overly heavy, they're not made as well as single duty pedals, be it a platform or SPD, and you're always on the wrong side no matter the instance.....you want the SPD and they're facing down so you have to force the SPD side up. You want the platform side, but the SPD side is heavier, so they're tilted wrong again. A pitiful compromise of a pedal.

You're much better off getting the mid-line Shimano SPD's and a nice set of platform pedals and a pedal wrench. You'll find you're going to use the SPD's more than the platforms anyway, but when you just want to cruise in tennis shoes or the like, it'll take two minutes to take the SPD's off and put on the platforms.
Click to expand...

This is one of the most informative posts I';ve seen on ATOT in a long time! I feel like I understand what I'm buying now 🙂 Thanks
 
Got my SPDs today!

I will commute with them tomorrow. Anyone want to take bets that I don't make it all 4 miles without falling?
 
Originally posted by: beer
Got my SPDs today!

I will commute with them tomorrow. Anyone want to take bets that I don't make it all 4 miles without falling?
Click to expand...

Should practice clipping out of them on some grass first.
 
Originally posted by: beer
Originally posted by: Jessica69
If you're hoping to find dual-sided platform/SPD hybrid pedals, prepare to be disappointed because they don't exist.

Why, you ask? Simply due to the construction and intended purpose of SPD's.

First, consider what SPD's are and why you won't find dual platform/SPD pedals. SPD's were created for mountain biking.....and while some road bike shoes are indeed SPD compatible in their bolt mounting in the sole, SPD's weren't really meant for road bikes. If you look at most roadies, they're using pedals like Look and Time-styled or Speedplay. The cleats are large and hang off the bottom of the shoes, shoes which are incredibly stiff. They're so stiff, in fact, that they are a beast to walk in, but road bike shoes are not made for walking, only for riding and to maximize energy transfer from your leg/foot into the pedal/crank arm. And, yes, roadies do walk, but duck walk, even if one has the caps for the cleat. So, you have an ultra stiff shoe with the cleat hanging off the bottom of the shoe. (And most roadies don't use SPD's for a real, big reason even if their shoes are SPD compatible.....the small cleat used in SPD pedals can and will give you a hot spot during and after a long ride. Something about having a cleat that's about 1" x 1" tends to concentrate all the pedaling pressure in one tiny spot on the bottom of your foot....and can end up hurting a bit. True road bike cleats, on the other hand, are quite large in comparison and spread out that pressure over a much larger area of your foot.....ends up not hurting.)

Now, contrast that setup to a mtn. bike SPD setup. The cleat is recessed into the sole of the shoe to allow walking. This is due to the fact that while mtn. biking, it may be very necessary to dismount and walk the bike up a climb too steep or slippery to pedal up, or ford a stream too deep to safely ride across, or a whole host of reasons. And since mtn. biking SPD pedals make allowances for dismounting and walking by recessing the cleat into the sole of the shoe, the clipping mechanism of the pedal has to extend upward into the recess in the shoe to engage the cleat. Additionally, the SPD mechanism, being very "out in the open" like they are, are supposed to shed mud easily...a necessary benefit when you're mounting and dismounting and trying to clip in with muddy shoes.

So, now you have a mechanism that is higher than a flat platform.......so if you have SPD mechanisms on both sides of a platform pedal, you'd never touch the platform as the SPD mechanism is higher than the flat platform is. Therefore, you will only find single-sided SPD/platform hybrid pedals. And these pedals, while they work, are miserable for either duty. The pedal is overly heavy, they're not made as well as single duty pedals, be it a platform or SPD, and you're always on the wrong side no matter the instance.....you want the SPD and they're facing down so you have to force the SPD side up. You want the platform side, but the SPD side is heavier, so they're tilted wrong again. A pitiful compromise of a pedal.

You're much better off getting the mid-line Shimano SPD's and a nice set of platform pedals and a pedal wrench. You'll find you're going to use the SPD's more than the platforms anyway, but when you just want to cruise in tennis shoes or the like, it'll take two minutes to take the SPD's off and put on the platforms.
Click to expand...

This is one of the most informative posts I';ve seen on ATOT in a long time! I feel like I understand what I'm buying now 🙂 Thanks
Click to expand...

actually shimno did make a dual platform/spd pedal: 636, it was for DH/BMX. I believe the platform had some kind of spring load action to allow the SPD's to be recessed.

I still have my trusty 535's.
 
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Originally posted by: beer
Got my SPDs today!

I will commute with them tomorrow. Anyone want to take bets that I don't make it all 4 miles without falling?
Click to expand...

Should practice clipping out of them on some grass first.
Click to expand...

I practiced today. Needless to say I'm wearing shitty jeans tomorrow to work, assuming I'll bite it somehow...
 
Originally posted by: beer
Got my SPDs today!

I will commute with them tomorrow. Anyone want to take bets that I don't make it all 4 miles without falling?
Click to expand...

The first time I rode my Eggbeaters, I was on the sidewalk since there was no bike lane available. There were some children on the sidewalk waiting for the school bus. I thought that had seen me but by the time they finally did, I was going too slow. Clipped in, on the sidewalk on my side. The moral of the story, practice unclipping and clipping in before you do your commuting.
 
Best place to practice just clipping in and out, to get the feel of SPD's or any other clipless pedals for the novice user, is your home's hallway. Yep, just get into your hallway, mount your bike, and then just practice clipping in and out to your heart's content without any fear of falling over....the close walls will give that security. But this practice is important to get that "feel" of what the pedal and shoe feel like when you're in the right position to clip in, and what the release move feels like. Naturally, at first, which you've probably experience already, the "feel" is horrible. This will pass, though. I know right now the SPD shoes feel like you have boards of wood strapped to your feet and "How the heck does anyone feel where your foot is and where the clip in spot is?" The "feel" will come with time....just get used to the fact that you're going to fumble with clipping in right now as you develop a feel for the cleat/pedal interface....it will come.

But, on your first ride or two, count on forgetting to unclip when you come to a stop.....it's not a natural action at all and must be learned. After a few days of use, though, and the clipping in and out action will become second nature. And when you fall at a stop (tip over to the side), which you invariably will, at least it'll be a slow fall and easily controlled with one hand to break your fall.

Couple of other hints......first, pick one foot to be your down foot at stops and one foot to be your on-pedal, ready to go foot....and then be consistent about it. That'll just make commuting life much easier. When you're commuting, you'll rarely have to use both feet to balance yourself....instead, you'll find that just removing one foot from its pedal and using that one for balancing at a stop sign or light or whatever is about all you need to do. Doing it this way also gives you the ability to take off quickly without having to fumble around with trying to clip into both pedals from a standing start.

Second.....about taking off from a stop when you've unclipped one foot.....don't make the novice mistake of trying to clip in immediately when the pedal first comes up when you have given the bike one pedal stroke. You're moving extremely slowly at that point and your balance is at its worst......not to mention you're probably either in traffic or trying to get across a street with traffic moving on it. Instead, just slap your unclipped foot onto the pedal and just pedal a few strokes unclipped.....then, once you get a little speed up and you're moving along with good balance, coast for a second and clip your foot into the pedal and continue on. Many, many novice SPD/clipless users make the mistake of trying to clip in too soon with the inevitable crash happening because they're fumbling with the unclipped foot trying to find the pedal's and shoes' cleat clip in mating point. Their speed drops so much that they have to either stop or tip over.....because panic frustration are setting in. Just pedla off and clip in when you've gotten some good forward momentum built up. It'll make your life a lot easier. As you get more experienced, the speed by which you clip in will get faster, but even very experienced commuters who use clipless pedals will clip in after they get across the street or after a few pedal strokes.

Third, SPD pedals have, typically, a tension control on them. The tension control is to make the mechanism on the pedal that holds the shoe's cleat easier or harder to pop out of them......very aggressive riding will require a higher tension than just flat land riding......but as a rookie with SPD's, I'd suggest you set the tension to the looser end of the scale. While this may make it easy to unclip when pedaling, it will also make it easy to snatch your foot straight off the pedal in an emergency situation without having to do the heel kick move to release from the pedal. As you get more experienced, begin to tighten the tension so you can put more force into pulling up on your pedaling stroke.....another advantage of clipless pedals. You can pull up as well as push down in pedaling....or even one foot pedal, always good for a laugh or stare from the unwashed non-riders out there as you pedal by with one foot hanging loose....

Good luck....and don't get discouraged. There is a learning curve to clipless pedals. Endure it and you'll never want to ride a bicycle without them....they're so much more efficient.



Oh, and Dirigible, I did look at the linked pedals you showed.....and I'm surprised Shimano is still making them today. They're about the worst abomination of SPD pedals on the market and very few people actually ever buy them, much less use them.....as I notice you are included in this group, too, with your "I think I've got a set hanging around my bike shed somewhere. I didn't use them for long and could sell them pretty cheap if you're interested and I can find them," comment. I think that pretty much sums up what almost everyone that actually falls for the look and promise of them ends up doing with them.....taking them off, ditching them in the garage or closet, and either returning to pure platforms or pure SPD's instead of those bastard pedals. And one can ride SPD's with tennis shoes if one has to.....wouldn't do it for long distances myself, but have done it for a quick trip to the corner store.
 
Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
[

The first time I rode my Eggbeaters, I was on the sidewalk since there was no bike lane available. There were some children on the sidewalk waiting for the school bus. I thought that had seen me but by the time they finally did, I was going too slow. Clipped in, on the sidewalk on my side. The moral of the story, practice unclipping and clipping in before you do your commuting.
Click to expand...


Actually, the real moral of that story is don't ride on the sidewalk! Hint: The word WALK should give you a clue, despite the fact that a bicycle is considered to be a vehicle by all 50 states and has to follow the same rules and regulations that other vehicles follow....jsut like a car, truck, or motorcycle.

True, there are instances where bikes are allowed on walks......rare places but they do exist. But in the main, bikes and sidewalks are not made for each other and your "The kids didn't see me." comment is an excellent example.

On a sidewalk, peds are not looking nor expecting a vehicle moving at 10-15mph from behind or towards them. Walking pace is typically 3mph, so your speed, even at 10mph, is over3X faster, giving a very fast closure rate and usually surprising the ped....

Even worse, riding a sidewalk that has entrances/exits for cars, etc., from parking lots can lead to even worse ends. Drivers usually don't look down the sidewalk for a bike....only a ped. So, the driver only looks at the immediate area around the entrance for a ped.....and then begins to scan the roadway for moving traffic, and will typically miss the bike rider moving on the sidewalk, in a completely unexpected area to the driver, and pull right in front of him.


Why do I rant about this? Because sidewalk bike riders tend to give those of us that actually use the bike as it should be a bad name. I've been zoomed around too close for comfort by an inconsiderate bike rider on a sidewalk......

Sidewalks are for walking.....if you ride a bike, it's in the street, bike lane or no bike lane. You're on a vehicle.....
 
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