How to service Shimano SPD pedals — video | Bike Flat Pedals

Yeah I guess within the garment industry it is an extreme guarantee but it’s one that a lot, if not most, cycling companies offer. It’s actually a…

The biggest difference between the two when it comes to pedaling is the float. The Time has the added float laterally, and your foot feels like it is pivoting from the center of the cleat. The Look’s float is all in the rear as it pivots off the front-cleat contact point. This difference doesn’t seem like much, but they each offer a very different and unique outcome.

The wheels felt quite good in the aero sense. Not as fast as my own wheels with 60mm deep rims, but they held high speeds easily. They were laterally stiff. No rubbing or other issues to report (and at 90kg, I tend to induce such behaviour in susceptible wheels).

If you do ride with a narrower stance though, it may be worth considering the S/M size that shrinks the width down by 10mm. The other option is the new Saint M828 flat pedals, which may be the Goldilocks size with a claimed 110mm length and 105mm width. I’ve just started riding with a set of these, so check in at a later date for my review on those.

By the way, I’d suggest adding the Deore XT PD-T780 or PD-T8000 pedals – they’re top dog as far as trekking SPD+FLAT pedals are concerned. My pair of T780s has been excellent since day one.

The simplicity and double-sided nature also mean they’re easy to get into and they’re light, too.

“I was skeptical when the Blades first came out a few years ago, but I’ve liked them so far. I’ve used Look or Look-compatible pedals for most of the time I’ve been riding, with a couple of forays into Time and (Shimano) SPD-SL.”

Such is the seeming demand for open-toed cycling footwear that CyclingAbout.com (an excellent resource for budding cycle tourers) has gone as far as writing a buyer’s guide for them.

Actually, I needn’t have worried. The trails soon venture into the woods proper, and traction issues largely disappear. All that chalk is hidden under layer upon layer of leaf mulch, and as lacking in traction as it is, it’s much more of a known quantity for my delicate Northern sensibilities – and it’s no match for the tyres. It’s gratifying to be able to lean the bike over into corners and accelerate out the other side without worrying (too much). The trails are everything I’d imagined them to be – a happy flowing middle ground where there’s fun to be had riding them gently, and fun to be had riding them hard. Short, flattering climbs lead onto flowy, bermy descents. A short, steep chute gives a few of us pause, before we decide that our collective confidence is up to the task, and we ride it anyway. And, once again, grip was there in unexpected but welcome profusion.

decathlon do a good value version of the spd one side / normal other side pedal which is SPD compatable as well 

Can you handle that? No-one here is saying Surly sucks and didn’t know how to use Speedplays. So don’t take offence. We’re not saying we’re more skilled than you, or more technical than you, or better riders than you. We just got on with them, you didn’t.

Shimano’s cheapest double-sided pedals can be had for less than the cost of a cheap night out. The excellent PD-M520 pedals are supposed to be £37, but can sometimes be found for as little as £20. The only thing they give up to more expensive versions is a bit of weight.