We got a big response to our People's Choice poll for your favourite pedals. People feel strongly about their choices, and can back them with good reasons. The responses make great reading.
We've aggregated the responses into pedal types, as even the most popular single response was for a pedal that's actually available in several models made from different materials to tailor the weight and price.
The envelope, please:
5 Shimano Combination Pedals — 6% (M324 £28.49)
This category includes all pedals that have a Shimano SPD mechanism for two-bolt cleats on one side, and a flat platform for normal shoes on the other. The most popular version is Shimano's M324, a design that's been around for years, but remains popular because it does the job so well. "Perfect as I have space for only one bike," as commenter whars1 put it.
Want something a bit posher? Try the A530 Touring Pedals
Read our review of the Shimano M324 pedals
4 Look Keo — 15% (Keo 2 Max £49.99)
Look's single-sided system isn't as popular as when it was almost the only game in town, but still put up a strong showing. Look makes many versions, but the most popular is the Keo 2 Max chromoly, which is widely available for around £50.
VeloUSA explained the choice: "Chosen over the Keo Blade for the simple reason of adjustable versus preset tension and price range. Good solid wide platform, spins smoothly too. On my 3rd set with three different rides."
3 Speedplay Zero — 19% (Chromoly £71.99)
Light, tidy and with adjustable float, Speedplay Zeros are popular with riders who value the ease of entry that comes from a double-sided design, or who find they help with fit-related joint problems.
steviemarco wrote that they're "a bike fitters dream or so I was told by the fitter who fit me". British Cycling team physiologist Phil Burt agrees. He likes the availability of multiple axle lengths and the adjustable float. "What we do with Speedplays is put people on them with quite a lot of float and then dial them in," he says.
fukawitribe likes the float too, writing: "Speedplay Zero – fabulously easy in and out, serviceable and bags of float. Not cheap but excellent value for money IMO."
Read our review of the Speedplay Zero pedals
2 Shimano SPD-SL — 20% (Ultegra £69.49)
Lance Armstrong's legacy in cycling may be deeply negative but these pedals are one good thing he left behind. Shimano allegedly developed the SPD-SL design because Armstrong insisted on using Shimano's Look-licensed pedals instead of the SPD-R design Shimano was promoting at the time.
Armstrong wanted a mechanism similar to Look's, with a broad platform to support the shoe, but lighter, and that's what Shimano delivered. The design's been popular ever since, and Shimano has continued to make it lighter, switching to carbon fibre bodies a few years ago.
The Ultegra 6800 model seems to occupy the sweet sport of value, weight and function. tjm160 wrote: "I treated myself to Shimano Ultegra 6800 to match the Ultegra groupset on my new best bike and am delighted with them. Such straightforward and positive clipping in and out and adjustable too. Far, far better than my previous Shimano 105 PD-5610's. I also purchased the new Shimano 105 5800 pedals for my wet/winter bike. Whilst perhaps better value, they still don't feel as nice as the 6800s."
Read our review of the Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL pedals
1 Shimano SPD — 25% (M540 £26.49)
Originally designed for mountain bikes, Shimano's double-sided SPD system is very popular on the road too because you can walk around in the matching shoes.
For commuters and less performance-obsessed riders, thats a big advantage. Even sportive and club riders value the ability to get from bike to coffee without having to duck-walk or wear out expensive cleats.
Two models stood out in the voting, the budget M-520 pedals and the slightly more expensive M-540. If it were our money we'd go for the 540s for their nicer finish and replaceable bearing and axle unit.
PhillBrown calls the 540s "the staple/start of everyones cycling career" while leaway2 goes for the 520s because they're "cheap, long lasting, small".
mcockshoot, who goes for the similar but lighter Ritchey WCS Paradigm pedals, says: "The ONLY reason that I would change now (and even this is doubtful) is if I were to seriously compete and the only shoe/pedal combination was not SPD compatible, e.g., some triathlon shoes don't have the holes for SPD cleats."
12 thoughts on “road.cc People’s Choice: Your favourite pedals revealed”
Can’t argue with a set of
Can’t argue with a set of 540s for function or value – and waddling round in cycling shoes is an unnecessary indignity.
Dura-ace. easier to get out
Dura-ace. easier to get out of than Look blades, smoother, overall efficiency. Downside – big old ugly cleats 🙂
My look blade2’s failed eventually – the blade or rear section can fail on some models. Also I fell off a couple of times as there is no way to adjust the tension and I could not unclip easily.
Speedplay Zero for speed but
Speedplay Zero for speed but for everyday it has to be Speedplay Frogs – the easiest in and out of any pedal.
I’ve been very happy with my
I’ve been very happy with my Shimano m520’s, i’ve used them for over 12000km with only a bit of wd40 once in a while. I even wondered what the guy who did my bikefitting would think about them, he didn’t believe how good they still are after so much km’s.
Still using a pair of Look
Still using a pair of Look Quartz spds for ‘everyday’ cycling.
Speedplays on the best bike.
Bear in mind that the M324s
Bear in mind that the M324s are an absolute badger to service as they need an irritating tubular spanner to do the bearings.
But if you’re prepared to buy or borrow one of those, or just treat them as disposables, they’re good and versatile.
I have SPD-Rs that I use on
I have SPD-Rs that I use on my (fixed) commuter bike. Nice big pedal platform, metal cleats that don’t wear out, able to tighten them so that descending on fixed feels safe ….
Wish I’d gone Look with the rest of the bikes though. The SPD-SL cleats are made of cheese and cost many pounds.
i have a few bikes. the combo
i have a few bikes. the combo pedals on my winter bike are definitely the most useful. if pushed to choose one set of pedals, these would be the ones
philtregear wrote:
Agreed. The combo pedals cover all the bases I need.
Shimano PD-T780 XT MTB SPD
Shimano PD-T780 XT MTB SPD Trekking Pedals for me because to be legal at night pedals should have reflectors on them.
My pedal setup is “MKS MT Lux
My pedal setup is “MKS MT Lux Comp MTB Pedals” with “Delta Bicycle Strapless Toe Clips”; it is easy putting my shoes on/off the pedals, including with waterproof fabric overshoes.
Clipless kit looks arkward, expensive, and potentially dangerous to me, even more so than strap toe clips. If not detached for a sudden stop, crash side ways, and in any crash, may be trapped under the bicycle.
Pedal and frame reflectors are an anachronism which may give a false sense of security to idoits who cycle at night without any or bright enough lights.
Which shoes?
I am also in the SPD camp, because when I bought my road bike I already had SPD pedals on my other bikes and fitting shoes.
I am now using Specialized Comp MTB on my road bike, but would like to upgrade to something less flexible and a bit more fancy. Kind of like the Specialized S-Works XC, but ideally not quite as expensive.
As a lot of people seem to be using SPD according to this poll result, what shoes are you using?