Pedal Recommendations
 

I currently am using spd-sl cleats on ultegra 6700. I commute 23 miles and contend with several lights and many more inconsiderate 4 wheel drivers. I'm looking at being able to clip in and out easier. I'd rather stay clipless to make the ride a little quicker and with a little less fatigue. The Speedplay Light Action Pedals seem to be a good option. But since have only bought one pair of shoes, I'm not very knowlegable what else is out there. Also give me some brands of shoes that is Speedplay compatible. I was looking and either there are very few speedplay shoes out there or I'm not doing a proper search. 3 hole to 4 hole conversion kit not an option. This is going on a KHS 2200 flatbar road bike that I'll be getting in a week and will be using for my winter commute. Thanks.

It doesn't get much easier to get in or out of than eggbeaters. You could stick with your SPD shoes too.

Just curious. Why aren't the adaptors an option? My impression is that there just aren't that many shoes that are compatible with speedplays out of the box. Sidi might be a brand to try.

I've used various SPDs, Crank Bros, old style Time pedals, and yes a set of Ultegra SPD-SLs. To me the one that's easiest to get in and out of is the one you're most used to. ;)

The Times were probably the easiest but they were horrible to walk on. Of the more modern clipless pedals I've tried the differences seemed small as they tend to work the same way. Different tread designs on various shoes made more difference.

SPD-SLs and road pedals in general aren't so great for commuting because they're harder to walk in but I don't find them much (if at all) harder to clip in to.

The current shoe that I have is rigid on the bottom which in a way would be perfect for the eggbeaters, but if I went the route of the eggbeaters I'd rather have a somewhat more flexible sole rather than the hard carbon I have now. Works great on long rides when you don't have to deal with traffic. I guess I'm looking for a good compromise. I don't want too much cushion on the sole since the eggbeaters spindle is where all of your weight will be placed as opposed to being spread out on wider pedals.

I think he's running SPD SL cleats, which are three hole/ Look style, right? Not compatible with Eggbeaters cleats.

I ride both Look and traditional SPD cleats on my various steeds, and I have to say that the two sided SPD pedals are much easier to get clipped in at lights and stops and such than the 1 sided pedals. Clipping out, however, is about same, and is probably far more dependent on pedal tension than style. If anything, I find my Looks to be a much smoother disengagement. The advantage to the SPDs is that they're more forgiving because I only have to get my foot in the right spot -- the pedal is always 'right way up' where the looks are upside down about 1/3 of the time (I know it's probably an operator issue, but when you're trying to start quickly from a light, it isn't cool!)

I imagine the 4 sided egg beaters would be even simpler for clipping in, and I will likely try a set out someday (when my wife has forgotten how many pairs of pedals I own...).

As to your shoe question, from the Speedplay website (http://speedplay.com/index.cfm?fusea...me.lightaction) it appears that any 3 hole shoe will work, though I'm sure it is with some sort of adapter. A quick search of this forum's archive seems to indicate that no one makes 4 hole shoes anymore, though all the references were from 2006/2008. This article seems to indicate that there are new 4 hole compatible shoes out there, but I bet they're all extremely pricey (which may or may not be okay with you) http://www.competitivecyclist.com/re...sole_3995.html

Best of luck.

From what I understand, people who use the adapter plates are the ones who have the most complaints about these pedals. One legitimate complaint about these pedals are they hard to walk in. Not really an issue with me but would keep a set of Kool Kovers with me just in case. These particular pedals(Light Action) are supposedly much easier tp clip in and out of. I want to be able to click out quicker just in case a car cuts me off and I have no alternative except to slam on the brakes and hope I click out before I look like an idiot falling off of my bike at a stop. That's too bad there aren't more shoes directly compatible with speedplay.

My Shimano R087 road shoes can accomadate the SPD cleats, just not very well. Speedplay does sell the 4 hole to 3 hole adapter plate, but there are a lot of complaints about the pedals not working very well with them. Thanks a lot for the helpful replies so far. I'm torn between a cheaper investment in the eggbeater pedals, or a larger investment into Speedplay. Yes the shoes I've seen "ain't cheap."

I've got Crank Brothers pedals on all my bikes, so obviously I like them a lot. I just put Candy 3's on my commuter and am really liking the feel of the solid platform around the cleat (which I never really noticed for some reason with the Candy C and Smarty pedals I've used in the past). For commuting, I wear Pearl Izumi All-Road shoes, which have just enough tread to make walking natural and a soft enough tread to make walking on tile easy.

I like this kind of pedal, which is SPD on one side and plain on the other. I use them in both ways.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...06_-1___202460

http://media.nashbar.com/images/nash...NCL-ANGLE2.jpg

I've used Speedplay Frog pedals and cheap mtb shoes for 12 years now. They are pretty easy to get in/out of and they're not terribly expensive for clipless.

I live on tropical island Guam and use Shimano DX BMX pedals with super lightweight Crocs rubber shoes. The Crocs really stick into the pedal's grip screws. Great for rain and sweat just hose the Crocs down after each ride. No way I could use a proper shoe and cleats--they would stink so bad after a month of use.