Speedplay pedals

[ndbentrider]

I am planning on using speed play pedals on the new Bacchetta I've built up this winter. Anyone got suggestions on the best type of shoe for this pedal/

Thanks

[mtessmer]

I use the Speedplay Frogs and I wear Shimano shoes and they worked fine. I've also used them with a pair of Sidi's.

[khuon]

My Speedplay Frogs worked best with my Lake CX125 shoes but when I switched to Sidi Energy, I had to mount the cleats using an SPD adapter which was not a very clean setup and there was some noticable flex too. I also ended up doing a lot of trimming with a Dremel tool to enlarge the cleat area on the adapter and was only able to get the cleats mounted in a very limited position. There was very little room for adjustment. The Lake shoes also offered a lot more walkability since they weren't pure road cycling-only shoes and thus offered some actual tread. Of course the Sidi Energy was really designed for road pedal cleats and now that I've switched to Zeros, the cleats mount without adapters and fit very nice and clean. I sometimes do miss the walkability of the Lakes though.

[sch]

You didn't say which type of Speedplay, most responders assumed Frogs, which are the logical ones as they are semirecessed and much more comfortable to walk on and allow the use of shoes with rubberized soles which is important with bents. Shoes with slick soles (road shoes) can slip off the pedals with potentially disasterous leg suck ( leg falling down and catching ground, then rolled up behind -> muscles strained, tendon ruptures, fractures and crashes.) Speedplay website used to have a lot of discussions of specific shoes and potential incompatibilities or problems. Worst cases were invariably large sizes 12 and above with the toe interfering with release. Some shoes need a bit of razor work to clear the sole of obstructions to the cleat with the Frogs. Speedplay makes pedals with extra length axles for large shoe sizes. Steve