"Best" three bolt road pedal

Lumen

My requirements are:

- Low cost of ownership (cheap or super-reliable or both)
- Very low maintenance
- Pleasing to use
- Reasonable but not exceptional float
- No need for double sided or "easy" cleat engagement

Speedplays are out because while I like the float, I don't like the two-part cleat attachment for 3-hole shoes, the use of cross-head cleat bolts, or the cost of cleats.

I suppose I'm really wondering whether some Shimano R550 or 105 pedals would do the job. I don't need them to be particularly light and don't care that they would clash with my Compog.

Horror stories are probably even more valuable than recommendations.

lennymc

I use the cheapest of the shimano spd-sl ones, not that much heavier than the 105 ones, absolutely zero problems with any of the sets I have (and I bought some of them second hand, so they could have astronomical miles on them) One set has about 20k km on them and is still going strong, used in all weathers, winter, rain, salty roads etc. The cleats seem to last a bit, but when I need new ones I generally buy a new set of pedals @ circa 25 quid. As a fit and forget about them pedal I can honestly say they are perfectly, boringly workable.

Low cost of ownership - 25 quid to buy a new set with cleats
very low maintenance - zero maintenance ever without a failure
pleasing to use - they are pedals. They please me when they don't fall off.
Float - I tried putting them in a puddle once, but they sank.

denbatt

Are LOOK keo's an option? I have been using them for years and think they are pretty good. I have a pair of keo easy that your welcome to have.

Lumen

€28 for Shimano R540s.

Will I hate them?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-r540-spd-sl-road-pedals/rp-prod5369

edit: just seen Lenny's review above. Assume these are the sort you go for?

Inquitus

I have used Shimano R540's for racing and training without any issue for 3 years now. They can be had for 20 odd yoyos online.

Darkglasses

I have two sets of look keo compatibles. Really like the "outland" brand ones, made by Raleigh I think. Don't like my Bbb ones. Much cheaper feeling.

Mycroft H

Miche MT4

Not the cheapest but super reliable and very easy to service when the time comes. Easy to clip in and out. Uses look cleats. Hip points for having a cool lesser known name but still a decent product.

Gets decent reviews too

http://road.cc/content/review/6900-miche-mt4-pedals

Ole Rodrigo

Shimano's are also good for riding in your civies.

lennymc

Lumen wrote: »

€28 for Shimano R540s.

Will I hate them?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-r540-spd-sl-road-pedals/rp-prod5369

edit: just seen Lenny's review above. Assume these are the sort you go for?

Them's the ones. I had look Keo before, and I prefered the shimano. I have th r540 on all of my road bikes, race, commute, train with them with no issues.

CramCycle

lennymc wrote: »

Low cost of ownership - 25 quid to buy a new set with cleats

Drop 10 to 15euro on cleat covers and they will last ages, the shimano cleats wear badly if you do any walking (although will still last the guts of a year and maybe all 3 bolt cleats wear badly) the cleat covers though make a huge difference, according to some Audaxers it will prolong the life of the cleats by 4 or 5 fold.

CramCycle

Also to add, I have used the r540s and the 105s, while the 105s look slightly prettier when bought, once scuffed, I could not tell the difference.

WillyFXP

I have 105's and R540's, both great pedals and easy to use/maintain, good cleat float options and as mentioned before are very easy to ride with in plain runners.

AstraMonti

-I am very happy with Look Keo's.
-Not happy with Time.
-Haven't used shimano but I don't really think you can go wrong with 25euro per set.

Lumen

Cheers lads. I went for a brace of cheapy Shimanos from Wiggle.

lennymc

we were only messing. The shimano ones are terrible.

doozerie

@Lumen, I'd be curious to hear how you get on with those. Speedplays are not endearing themselves to me at the moment either but I'm reluctant to make the change. Positive/negative experiences of others making the transition would interest me.

CramCycle

I found the Shimano ones great from day one, the weighted end so the pedal hangs correctly for you to clip into is great for newbies. I went straight out on the road and bar one or two moments of getting stuck on 4 year old pedals (that was fixed with a spray of oil), I have never had issues.

Lumen

doozerie wrote: »

@Lumen, I'd be curious to hear how you get on with those. Speedplays are not endearing themselves to me at the moment either but I'm reluctant to make the change. Positive/negative experiences of others making the transition would interest me.

I can supply a bag of Speedplay spares to keep you going in the meantime :pac:

CramCycle

doozerie wrote: »

@Lumen, I'd be curious to hear how you get on with those. Speedplays are not endearing themselves to me at the moment either but I'm reluctant to make the change. Positive/negative experiences of others making the transition would interest me.

I have a spare pair of SPD-SL pedals if you want to take them for a trial run (the cleats you will need to sort your self though). swimcyclerun have them at a good price at the minute: http://www.swimcyclerun.com/cleats/shimano-sl-spd-cleats.html

dave_o_brien

FWIW, I've been very happy with Look Keo's of various types, but at the cheapest end of the market, the Shimano R540's or the R550's are a far better constructed set than the Keo Easy's or the horrific Keo Flex's.

doozerie

Lumen wrote: »

I can supply a bag of Speedplay spares to keep you going in the meantime :pac:

Ha! I'm coming to believe that a bag of spares is an inevitable consequence of using Speedplays. For such tiny pedals there are an awful lot of bits and pieces that seem determined to bite the dust with them.

If you do have spares that you are looking to sell on though, I may be interested.

doozerie

CramCycle wrote: »

I have a spare pair of SPD-SL pedals if you want to take them for a trial run (the cleats you will need to sort your self though). swimcyclerun have them at a good price at the minute: http://www.swimcyclerun.com/cleats/shimano-sl-spd-cleats.html

Thanks for the offer but I'll stick with Speedplays for a while yet. Partly because I have so much invested in them at this stage that I'm reluctant to back out quite yet (worst reason ever, for anything, admittedly).

Besides, I think my Campag groupsets would never forgive me for mixing them with Shimano and, being italian, they might get very emotional about the betrayal. Last thing I need on a relaxing spin is hysterical bike parts.

eoin88

I'm finally planning to switch from SPDs to proper pedals on my road bike (already had half flat/half SPD on the hybrid and didn't have the cash for a second pair of shoes). Is there much difference between clipping into (and more importantly out of) the various different brands? I have kinda dodgy knees so I like the float afforded by the SPDs as well, any thoughts on which road pedals might have a reasonable amount of float?

doozerie

@eoin88, I found Look pedals reliably easy to clip in and out of. Speedplays are similarly easy but can be more prone to issues (e.g. dirt in the cleat can make them hard to remove, if the cleat is too tightly attached to shoe they are hard to remove). Compared to SPD's, with their metal cleat mating with metal pedal mechanism, Look and Speedplay have in general proved to be "better" for my knees when it comes to clipping in and out.

One point on Speedplays though, you'll find a lot of stuff online advocating Speedplays for anyone with knee issues. My experience with them is that they've not proved any better in that respect than Look pedals. They may well be better for certain types of knee issue, I can't say one way or the other, but beware of the broad glowing generalisations that they seem to attract on that score.

Lumen

Fitted the cheapo SPD-SLs today and went for a short spin after clearing up the vomit induced by the clash of Compog and Shimano.

The cleats were nice and easy to fit compared to Speedplay, as expected.

Problem is, they're too quiet! Looks clack, Speedplays click, SPD-SLs just sort of thunk quietly. I had to check I was properly attached.

Are the expensiver ones (e.g. DA) louder?

Cee-Jay-Cee

I've Shimano R550's and 105's on my bikes. The 105's clip in a little more 'snappily' than the R550's but I prefer the look of the R550s and so have them on my good bike and the 105's on my winter/wet weather bike.

I've previously used Look keo's and Keo Easy's but much prefer the SPD-SL as they have a wider platform and clip in is 'nicer'

TiBoy

I have 105's, Ultegras and Ultegra Carbon's. They all feel the same to me. I have'nt had any issues.

Juan More Time

I hear the latest version of the look keo is very prone to out of plane rocking.

Lumen

Juan More Time wrote: »

I hear the latest version of the look keo is very prone to out of plane rocking.

?