Based on 2 rides of 15 & 20 miles, I'm liking the X-Alps. I'd have felt some pain with quill pedals, clips, straps, and Nike road shoes (without cleats) on these rides. It feels like the PSI is lower with the SPD pedals and cleats than with the quills and Nikes. The X-Alps' sizing is strange - I wear 44s, 45s, 10.5s in street shoes, but the X-Alps that feel like they fit best are 46s.