Shimano SPD Pedal Clipless Pedals

I've used the same style/brand pedals on 5 bikes over 25 years. I've never replaced worn out pedals. I just keep buying these when getting a new bike for myself and other family members or friends. They are great for a road bike and the price for these name brand pedals is super reasonable. They are heavier than high end road bike pedals but they are double-sided making it easier to clip in on-the-go. They are well built and come with Shimano cleats to match. I don't own a mountain bike but am certain these would be great for that application as well. You can spend way more for pedals that can't really work any better than these, at least for my style of riding.

So alot of people have this idea that mountain bike pedals should not be on a road bike. My wife and I (along with about a dozen friends) prefer the SPD style clips/cleats to the hard plastic road shoes that offer no use off the bike. We ride with a group of friends (anywhere from 15-100 miles) and enjoy stops along the way, coffee shops, breakfast, lunch, etc. I'm sure you can adjust to walking on the hard road shoes, but the comfort the SPD style offers is great! My wife was recently ready to progress from standard pedals to clips, and it was a no-brainer to pickup these pedals. The cost through Amazon.com is almost half of what you would pay at your LBS (local Bike shop). I am all for promoting local business and keeping money in the community, but come on, double the price? Lets get real. We all need to save money. These pedals will not be the lightest you can buy, but they are certainly quality built and long lasting (I started with these and have friends who use them). These are a great deal and I recommend anyone who is looking to save your money and go with these. There are "upgrade" models, such as the 540 or even the XT series, but unless you are competitive and looking to save a few grams on your bike (seriously, grams??) then save your money for shoes and other essentials and go with these pedals! Also, if you are new to this, I recommend picking up a set of the Shimano SH56 Cleats - Shimano SH56 SPD Cleat Set as they allow for multi-directional release and are much easier to un-clip from while learning. I still ride with SH56's even after almost 2 years. You won't be sorry. My wife is happy with the setup and she hasn't fallen while stopping thanks to this pedal and cleat combination. We also picked her up a pair of Pearl iZUMi shoes - Pearl iZUMi Women's All-Road Cycling Shoe in black & pink that she is in love with. Happy Wife = Happy Life (and a wife who hasn't fallen and hurt herself only makes it that much better!) Ride Safe & Have Fun!

Key features I really like: PRICE: It's a good economy pedal. CLIPS: positioned on both sides of the pedal so its easy to lock in. I've been on these pedals for about 45 miles so far and they are solid. Clip in and out is fine. Clips are adjustable and come factory positioned right in the middle of the tension range. The factory supplies with these pedals 1 set of SM-SH51 SPD Cleats which have a pretty precise release position (turning the heal outward to release - and may be the source of some comments about release not being very easy). If you are looking for a little more flexible release position or are a novice and need some practice with clipless pedals, then the SM-SH56 SPD cleats offer same quality, but release in multiple positions. These pedals are marketed as a mountain bike pedal, but I'm using them on my road bike with no issues. Overall a very solid 5-star recommendation.

These are nice. They are easy to get out of but don't release you unintentionally. Do get use to releasing your feet by standing over your bike and practicing one foot at a time as per the instructions. I loosened mine up quite a bit.

Little by little, over the past 3 years, I have purchased items in the pursuit of a faster, longer bike ride as I have renewed my passion for the sport. First, I bought a used MTB, then about a year ago stepped up to a nice carbon frame road bike, but at that time I bought it with pedals that were platform on one side, and SPD compatible on the other. I wasn't yet to the point of being comfortable wearing bike shoes with cleats on my rides. Last fall I made that transition, and as I got used to being clipped in, the natural progression was to go with double-sided SPD pedals. These are economical and once I tweeked the spring tension slightly and the position of the cleats on my shoes have worked out great. I hardly have to even think about clipping in and out - very smooth and intuitive. The only reason I gave these 4 stars instead of 5 is because I'm sure the lighter weight of more expensive pedals ultimately does make a difference in speed and efficiency, but I'm not yet to the point of appreciating that difference. As usual, the purchasing experience of these at Amazon was smooth and with no surprises.

Okay, so I am not a pro mtbker, but I ride about twice a week if I can, on regular flats. I just put these on about two hours ago on a 2012 Specialized Rockhopper, and clicked in no problem with my new Pearl iZumi mtb shoes. Sorry I waited so dang long. After reading several hundred reviews both on Amazon and elsewhere, I was convinced that I was going to fall and break my a$$ when coming to a stop and trying to clip out based on all of the horror stories of the "learning curve". I didn't go to some plush meadow with 2 feet of fluffy grass and practice. I just got on the bike in my garage and rolled out right into my driveway, and into the street, on asphalt and concrete. If you think you are going to fall, you probably will so I would get on the grass. However, try this technique: Visualize yourself clicking out comfortably by twisting your heel out - while coming to a stop. Yes, visualizing works. Now I know, old pros with more experience will say, "you just wait yar little grasshopper, you'll be on your bum before you know it" - and I am sure I will be. But hopefully less. Also, and of course, this is a flat surface. I have not been on dirt yet, with a 30 foot drop on either side of the trail wondering when I can click out and where can I put foot down. But serious, I am not sure who can fall of these things left and right in the beginning - and if you are prone to this type and lack of coordination, I would think twice about getting on the trail with any bike let alone any pedal. Incidentally, on my sidewalk, on my street - and right in front of my house - I blazed down the road like I never have before when I made the switch to these pedals, - like zero to sixty fast is the difference betweeen what I used to do, and I have only been on these pedals for about 30 minutes. I actualy felt extreme power transfer to the drivetrain when lifting up and simultanously pushing down on the pedals - does that make sense? I mean, that's virtually impossible on flats - if not actually impossible unless you get the crazy glue out - or buy these pedals. I am being lighthearted here, but serious - if you don't understand it think of it this way - You have latent power in your legs that WILL NOT get used unless switch over to clipless (these type of pedals) it was amazing and I can't wait to hit the trail. I am sure eventually I will have to tighten the tension once I get used the pedals. I will update this in a about a month and honestly let you know how many times I have fallen due to the switch to these pedals and clipless in general. Just buy the pedals and stop thinking about it. Don't worry about the learning curve either, you will probably be just fine. I have not just turned my mtb into a "death trap". Totally worth the $$ and install them yourself with a couple of allen wrenches, just remember, reverse thread, so lefty tighty, righty loosie - from behind the crank arm once the new pedal is placed at the thread. wow, i am beginning to sound like an old pro.

Years ago, one of my first forays into the world of clipless pedals was on an earlier model of this pedal. I bought these a few months back for my commuter bike to replace a set of cheap platforms with cages on them. The cage pedals worked pretty well, but wore out shoes with alarming frequency. While commuting with these means that I have to carry an extra pair of shoes, at least the shoes I carry are preserved, and the increase in pedaling efficiency and comfort has been well worth it. These pedals are solid and easy to clip into and out of, and because they are double sided I spend very little time hunting for the correct foot placement before clicking in. The double-sided feature may be helpful if you are experimenting with clipless pedals for the first time. In addition, for those who are a little nervous about having your feet connected to pedals, these adjust very easily and have a fair amount of float for knee comfort. If you like your pedals very tight these may disappoint, but going from very loose to medium tight is a quick and simple matter of a few turns with an allen wrench. The one drawback for some may be that these use old-style SPD cleats, which have a considerably smaller contact area than clipless road bike pedals. While it has never bothered me, I've heard some complain of hot spots on their feet as a result. Bottom line, these pedals are inexpensive, well built, easily adjustable and easy to use.

Bought a pair of these for my gravel bike and they worked great! About a year of use now before switching to road pedals and they're great for anyone wanting to try out clipless pedals. Easy in and easy out!