lidl shoes, did i make a boo boo

lookitsme

hi i seen lidl had cycle shoes last week so i got a pair as a cheap way into to clipless cycling, i didn't want to spend a load of money on something i later didn't like. so i bought pedals but cant for the life of me get the cleats on the shoe. the pedals are shimano r540 spd-sl and the lidl shoes are "compatible with SPD system" but i cant get the cleats on. the shoes have (excuse the non technical talk) two threaded holes at the toe end of the shoe and four holes at the ball of the foot, but the cleat seems to be designed to fit the opposite way around. did i buy the wrong pedals or am i just missing something.

here are the pedals/shoes
http://www.lidl.ie/cps/rde/xchg/SID-15284669-3655C495/lidl_ri_ie/hs.xsl/index_32860.htm
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5369

cheers

Darkglasses

I'm afraid so, SPD and SPD-SL are two different systems. You're definitely not the first to make that mistake, it's stupid naming them so similarly.

I believe there are adapters out there, but I have no idea how well they work. I'm sure you could find someone to trade your SPD-SL pedals for a pair of SPD pedals and cleats though. I previously wanted to trade Look Keos for a pair of SPDs and got a good few offers. Try the swaps thread on our adverts forum!

Squidgy Black

Your best bet is to sell the pedals you bought in our classifieds subforum, and buying a set of Shimano m520 SPDs.

Wishbone Ash

Seems you have SPD shoes and SPD SL pedals.

mcgratheoin

PM helimachopter - he's in the market for some sheap SPD-SL pedals.

helimachoptor

I just bought a pair on Wiggle yesterday

el tel

Just return the shoes and/ or pedals and start afresh.

531

I have some old but perfectly working spd pedals you can have for postage.

Or where are you based?

the boss of me

Lidl offer a 60 day no quibble return so I would return the shoes .

catweazle

yes Lidl and Aldi to their credit hardly even look at the return, they just paid up straight away the two times I did it

Squidgy Black

I'd return the pedals before the shoes, new set of shoes will cost you at least 60 quid.

Tonyandthewhale

Yeah, hold onto the shoes. Decent cheap spd shoes are a lot harder to come by than decent/cheap spd pedals. You've already been offered a set for the price of postage in this thread. Return the spd-sl pedals or sell them unless you're really set on spd-sl over spd.

Get In There

stetyrrell wrote: »

I'd return the pedals before the shoes, new set of shoes will cost you at least 60 quid.

Not on sportsdirect. I've a pair of muddyfox rbs200 that I got for 22e. It's basic enough but perfectly functional for me. the shoes on sports direct would probably meet the budget of the OP.

Thargor

Get In There wrote: »

Not on sportsdirect. I've a pair of muddyfox rbs200 that I got for 22e. It's basic enough but perfectly functional for me. the shoes on sports direct would probably meet the budget of the OP.

Sorry for the noob question but I dont have a clue about clipless, always been on flats but want to try it out now that Im extending my range out in the Wicklow mountains, for a pair of shoes like those:

http://www.sportsdirect.com/muddyfox-mbs100-mens-cycling-shoes-144013

Are they already set up to clip into a pedal like this:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-m424-spd-pedals/

As in are the cleats on them already or do they come with the pedals and you attach them to your shoes or what? Totally clueless sorry.

Squidgy Black

No, the cleats come with the pedals and you attach them to your shoes.

studiorat

I wouldn't bother with the big pedals in those shoes. You won't be riding unclipped with those shoes.

They look very similar to the Lidl or Aldi ones I got the other day. The Soles are really really hard and shiny, so they are very slippy when out of the clips.

Decent shoes but lethal when not fully clipped in!

I'd be looking for something with a softer out sole like the Shimano AM31. You can unclip and the soles are still a bit grippy.

Thargor

Interesting thanks, hadnt considered that, I think Ill just have to go into the shops and see on this one.

lookitsme

Thanks for all the replys. I should have done my homework before i purchased. Maybe i might get lucky with 531's pedals other then that back to the drawing board.

MrJetlag

Well I fell over for the second time in my new lidl shoes.
1st on Sunday at roadworks about 30 mins after getting them installed I didnt clip out in time and keeled over.
Today - stopped in traffic , shifted my weight to the right and just keeled over.
I'm sure car behind me had a chuckle
My avg times have slowed down as I'm still nervous in them and still not fluid clipping in my left foot but its all part of the learning experience

Thargor

BUMP - How did you get on with these SPDs in the end or anyone else who bought them? I see they're on again this day week, might pick up a pair if theres nothing fatally flawed about them...

http://www.lidl.ie/cps/rde/SID-09E02231-E36E12FE/www_lidl_ie/hs.xsl/Offers.htm?id=48

idiottje

I think on average your going to fall at least three times. I fell off when a pedistrian steppd out infront of me, and could not unclip. Clattered into the kerb, and really cut myself up badly. If the cleats you have are black, you can only unclip in one direction. I bought these Shimano SPD's SM-SH56's.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-spd-mtb-cleats/ (Select the gold pictured ones!)

They are gold or silver. They unclip in three directions. I had to set the tension a little higher, but I feel more secure knowing that it is quicker to unclip because I don't have to think for that fraction of a second.

I am looking to get a second pair of shoes, (got pissed on one day and my Shimano's took 2 days to dry out!), so would be intrested to know what the Lidl ones are like. Just using them for the commute.

MrJetlag wrote: »

Well I fell over for the second time in my new lidl shoes.
1st on Sunday at roadworks about 30 mins after getting them installed I didnt clip out in time and keeled over.
Today - stopped in traffic , shifted my weight to the right and just keeled over.
I'm sure car behind me had a chuckle
My avg times have slowed down as I'm still nervous in them and still not fluid clipping in my left foot but its all part of the learning experience

le petit braquet

idiottje wrote: »

I am looking to get a second pair of shoes, (got pissed on one day and my Shimano's took 2 days to dry out!)

What size do you take? I have a pair of Shimano size 46 for sale here which are Goretex but vulnerable to leakage through ankle - only €40

I also have a pair of Size 43 LIDL shoes I bought as a spare to keep in the office and are unused and available for €15

Sorry for the hijack,

LPB

lookitsme

I have the lidl shoes and I think they are grand. They are my first cycle shoe so maybe I might not be the best judge but I am fairly happy with them. Don't be like me and rush out and buy the wrong pedals in the excitement to go for a spin, make sure you get the right ones. As for falling of, its not a case of if, but more a case of when and how often. My first voyages were at night the way nobody would see the inevitable falls and there were many, nothing to series just slowly coming to a stop and then falling over. I did notice an increase in speed and pain in muscles I hadn't used previous to the clipless shoes. If I were you I would buy them,

Has anybody used the bike stand? any good.

Harrybelafonte

It's not a case of if or when, practice clipping and unclipping a few times and you should never fall off.

@lookitsme Do a search for the stand on here, it's being talked about in another thread and most seem happy with it.

lookitsme

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

It's not a case of if or when, practice clipping and unclipping a few times and you should never fall off.

never say never

Harrybelafonte

lookitsme wrote: »

never say never

If I ever fall off a bike trying to stop and unclip, I'll stop cycling.

bcmf

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

If I ever fall off a bike trying to stop and unclip, I'll stop cycling.

Ha ya said it now.
I'll take first dibs on your kit when you do fall over.

Harrybelafonte

bcmf wrote: »

Ha ya said it now.
I'll take first dibs on your kit when you do fall over.

That's cool. Most of it was yours at some point anyhow. Though, I've asked to be buried in my Sundrive kit.