SPD vs. SPD-SL: Which unclips most easily?












1















I got my first real road bike a few weeks ago, and am now hearing from my local bike club fellows that I should get some clipless pedals.



A quick Internet search reveals that the main types are SPD and SPD-SL, and that shoes made for one type cannot be used with the other. That's not really a problem, since prices seem to be about the same for the whole pedals + shoes package.



Being new to this, I am concerned about not being able to unclip in time to avoid falling over, and for this reason if there is a definite difference in ease of unclipping, I'm heavily in favor of whichever one is easier.



So in the experience of those of you who have used both types, which is easiest to unclip?






pedals-clipless







share|improve this question























  • Depends if the pedal in question has a spring tension adjust or not - the bottom-end Look Keo road pedal has no such adjustment, but most everything else can be tweaked to require more or less force to undo.

    – Criggie♦
    3 hours ago
















1















I got my first real road bike a few weeks ago, and am now hearing from my local bike club fellows that I should get some clipless pedals.



A quick Internet search reveals that the main types are SPD and SPD-SL, and that shoes made for one type cannot be used with the other. That's not really a problem, since prices seem to be about the same for the whole pedals + shoes package.



Being new to this, I am concerned about not being able to unclip in time to avoid falling over, and for this reason if there is a definite difference in ease of unclipping, I'm heavily in favor of whichever one is easier.



So in the experience of those of you who have used both types, which is easiest to unclip?






pedals-clipless







share|improve this question























  • Depends if the pedal in question has a spring tension adjust or not - the bottom-end Look Keo road pedal has no such adjustment, but most everything else can be tweaked to require more or less force to undo.

    – Criggie♦
    3 hours ago














1












1








1








I got my first real road bike a few weeks ago, and am now hearing from my local bike club fellows that I should get some clipless pedals.



A quick Internet search reveals that the main types are SPD and SPD-SL, and that shoes made for one type cannot be used with the other. That's not really a problem, since prices seem to be about the same for the whole pedals + shoes package.



Being new to this, I am concerned about not being able to unclip in time to avoid falling over, and for this reason if there is a definite difference in ease of unclipping, I'm heavily in favor of whichever one is easier.



So in the experience of those of you who have used both types, which is easiest to unclip?






pedals-clipless







share|improve this question














I got my first real road bike a few weeks ago, and am now hearing from my local bike club fellows that I should get some clipless pedals.



A quick Internet search reveals that the main types are SPD and SPD-SL, and that shoes made for one type cannot be used with the other. That's not really a problem, since prices seem to be about the same for the whole pedals + shoes package.



Being new to this, I am concerned about not being able to unclip in time to avoid falling over, and for this reason if there is a definite difference in ease of unclipping, I'm heavily in favor of whichever one is easier.



So in the experience of those of you who have used both types, which is easiest to unclip?






pedals-clipless




pedals-clipless






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 5 hours ago









EvilSnackEvilSnack

39127




39127













  • Depends if the pedal in question has a spring tension adjust or not - the bottom-end Look Keo road pedal has no such adjustment, but most everything else can be tweaked to require more or less force to undo.

    – Criggie♦
    3 hours ago



















  • Depends if the pedal in question has a spring tension adjust or not - the bottom-end Look Keo road pedal has no such adjustment, but most everything else can be tweaked to require more or less force to undo.

    – Criggie♦
    3 hours ago

















Depends if the pedal in question has a spring tension adjust or not - the bottom-end Look Keo road pedal has no such adjustment, but most everything else can be tweaked to require more or less force to undo.

– Criggie♦
3 hours ago





Depends if the pedal in question has a spring tension adjust or not - the bottom-end Look Keo road pedal has no such adjustment, but most everything else can be tweaked to require more or less force to undo.

– Criggie♦
3 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















1














In my experience, Time/Mavic Iclic.



This should, however, not be the reason for decision. Both are easy enough to unclip if you remember to twist your foot instead of just lifting it and neither will unclip if you forget it. Don't believe the people who claim falling is part of learning, just practice leaning against a wall and unclip a couple of hundreds times or until it feels natural.



What you should consider is:




  • SPD-R and road systems in general are very uncomfortable to walk in. They are compatible with some very nice and lightweight road shoes, work very well with shoe covers and have some roadie credibility


  • SPD is walkable (but uncomfortable, has loud crunching sound on pavement/rocks and destroys floors), compatible with MTB shoes including waterproof and insulated ones and has credibility among grumpy stackoverflowers. There are some SPD shoes that look like road shoes but are in general heavier and less stiff.







share|improve this answer































    1














    All road and mountain style clipless pedals are actually easy to unclip from if you twist your heel outwards. You need to build muscle memory so you unclip without thinking about it when you need to get your foot down. What I advise people to do is 'unclipping drills' - ride around in a safe area and repeatedly unclip and touch the ground with alternating feet, say every few crank rotations. When on 'real' rides be mindful to unclip early when you need to stop.



    You can make a decision between road and mountain shoes and pedals. In addition to the points ojs made, road pedals are generally lighter and offer more support underneath the foot, but they are harder to get into as they are one sided.






    share|improve this answer
























    • Also note that it sometimes happens that you (unintentionally) install the shoe plates cockeyed so that the shoes cannot easily be twisted out. Or sometimes the plates were not fastened tightly to the shoes and slide back and forth when twisted. It may take some study of your particular shoe/plate/pedal combo (and the crank arm too) to work out the best adjustment.

      – Daniel R Hicks
      1 hour ago













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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    1














    In my experience, Time/Mavic Iclic.



    This should, however, not be the reason for decision. Both are easy enough to unclip if you remember to twist your foot instead of just lifting it and neither will unclip if you forget it. Don't believe the people who claim falling is part of learning, just practice leaning against a wall and unclip a couple of hundreds times or until it feels natural.



    What you should consider is:




    • SPD-R and road systems in general are very uncomfortable to walk in. They are compatible with some very nice and lightweight road shoes, work very well with shoe covers and have some roadie credibility


    • SPD is walkable (but uncomfortable, has loud crunching sound on pavement/rocks and destroys floors), compatible with MTB shoes including waterproof and insulated ones and has credibility among grumpy stackoverflowers. There are some SPD shoes that look like road shoes but are in general heavier and less stiff.







    share|improve this answer




























      1














      In my experience, Time/Mavic Iclic.



      This should, however, not be the reason for decision. Both are easy enough to unclip if you remember to twist your foot instead of just lifting it and neither will unclip if you forget it. Don't believe the people who claim falling is part of learning, just practice leaning against a wall and unclip a couple of hundreds times or until it feels natural.



      What you should consider is:




      • SPD-R and road systems in general are very uncomfortable to walk in. They are compatible with some very nice and lightweight road shoes, work very well with shoe covers and have some roadie credibility


      • SPD is walkable (but uncomfortable, has loud crunching sound on pavement/rocks and destroys floors), compatible with MTB shoes including waterproof and insulated ones and has credibility among grumpy stackoverflowers. There are some SPD shoes that look like road shoes but are in general heavier and less stiff.







      share|improve this answer


























        1












        1








        1







        In my experience, Time/Mavic Iclic.



        This should, however, not be the reason for decision. Both are easy enough to unclip if you remember to twist your foot instead of just lifting it and neither will unclip if you forget it. Don't believe the people who claim falling is part of learning, just practice leaning against a wall and unclip a couple of hundreds times or until it feels natural.



        What you should consider is:




        • SPD-R and road systems in general are very uncomfortable to walk in. They are compatible with some very nice and lightweight road shoes, work very well with shoe covers and have some roadie credibility


        • SPD is walkable (but uncomfortable, has loud crunching sound on pavement/rocks and destroys floors), compatible with MTB shoes including waterproof and insulated ones and has credibility among grumpy stackoverflowers. There are some SPD shoes that look like road shoes but are in general heavier and less stiff.







        share|improve this answer













        In my experience, Time/Mavic Iclic.



        This should, however, not be the reason for decision. Both are easy enough to unclip if you remember to twist your foot instead of just lifting it and neither will unclip if you forget it. Don't believe the people who claim falling is part of learning, just practice leaning against a wall and unclip a couple of hundreds times or until it feels natural.



        What you should consider is:




        • SPD-R and road systems in general are very uncomfortable to walk in. They are compatible with some very nice and lightweight road shoes, work very well with shoe covers and have some roadie credibility


        • SPD is walkable (but uncomfortable, has loud crunching sound on pavement/rocks and destroys floors), compatible with MTB shoes including waterproof and insulated ones and has credibility among grumpy stackoverflowers. There are some SPD shoes that look like road shoes but are in general heavier and less stiff.








        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 4 hours ago









        ojsojs

        11.5k22141




        11.5k22141























            1














            All road and mountain style clipless pedals are actually easy to unclip from if you twist your heel outwards. You need to build muscle memory so you unclip without thinking about it when you need to get your foot down. What I advise people to do is 'unclipping drills' - ride around in a safe area and repeatedly unclip and touch the ground with alternating feet, say every few crank rotations. When on 'real' rides be mindful to unclip early when you need to stop.



            You can make a decision between road and mountain shoes and pedals. In addition to the points ojs made, road pedals are generally lighter and offer more support underneath the foot, but they are harder to get into as they are one sided.






            share|improve this answer
























            • Also note that it sometimes happens that you (unintentionally) install the shoe plates cockeyed so that the shoes cannot easily be twisted out. Or sometimes the plates were not fastened tightly to the shoes and slide back and forth when twisted. It may take some study of your particular shoe/plate/pedal combo (and the crank arm too) to work out the best adjustment.

              – Daniel R Hicks
              1 hour ago


















            1














            All road and mountain style clipless pedals are actually easy to unclip from if you twist your heel outwards. You need to build muscle memory so you unclip without thinking about it when you need to get your foot down. What I advise people to do is 'unclipping drills' - ride around in a safe area and repeatedly unclip and touch the ground with alternating feet, say every few crank rotations. When on 'real' rides be mindful to unclip early when you need to stop.



            You can make a decision between road and mountain shoes and pedals. In addition to the points ojs made, road pedals are generally lighter and offer more support underneath the foot, but they are harder to get into as they are one sided.






            share|improve this answer
























            • Also note that it sometimes happens that you (unintentionally) install the shoe plates cockeyed so that the shoes cannot easily be twisted out. Or sometimes the plates were not fastened tightly to the shoes and slide back and forth when twisted. It may take some study of your particular shoe/plate/pedal combo (and the crank arm too) to work out the best adjustment.

              – Daniel R Hicks
              1 hour ago
















            1












            1








            1







            All road and mountain style clipless pedals are actually easy to unclip from if you twist your heel outwards. You need to build muscle memory so you unclip without thinking about it when you need to get your foot down. What I advise people to do is 'unclipping drills' - ride around in a safe area and repeatedly unclip and touch the ground with alternating feet, say every few crank rotations. When on 'real' rides be mindful to unclip early when you need to stop.



            You can make a decision between road and mountain shoes and pedals. In addition to the points ojs made, road pedals are generally lighter and offer more support underneath the foot, but they are harder to get into as they are one sided.






            share|improve this answer













            All road and mountain style clipless pedals are actually easy to unclip from if you twist your heel outwards. You need to build muscle memory so you unclip without thinking about it when you need to get your foot down. What I advise people to do is 'unclipping drills' - ride around in a safe area and repeatedly unclip and touch the ground with alternating feet, say every few crank rotations. When on 'real' rides be mindful to unclip early when you need to stop.



            You can make a decision between road and mountain shoes and pedals. In addition to the points ojs made, road pedals are generally lighter and offer more support underneath the foot, but they are harder to get into as they are one sided.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 3 hours ago









            Argenti ApparatusArgenti Apparatus

            34.6k23686




            34.6k23686













            • Also note that it sometimes happens that you (unintentionally) install the shoe plates cockeyed so that the shoes cannot easily be twisted out. Or sometimes the plates were not fastened tightly to the shoes and slide back and forth when twisted. It may take some study of your particular shoe/plate/pedal combo (and the crank arm too) to work out the best adjustment.

              – Daniel R Hicks
              1 hour ago





















            • Also note that it sometimes happens that you (unintentionally) install the shoe plates cockeyed so that the shoes cannot easily be twisted out. Or sometimes the plates were not fastened tightly to the shoes and slide back and forth when twisted. It may take some study of your particular shoe/plate/pedal combo (and the crank arm too) to work out the best adjustment.

              – Daniel R Hicks
              1 hour ago



















            Also note that it sometimes happens that you (unintentionally) install the shoe plates cockeyed so that the shoes cannot easily be twisted out. Or sometimes the plates were not fastened tightly to the shoes and slide back and forth when twisted. It may take some study of your particular shoe/plate/pedal combo (and the crank arm too) to work out the best adjustment.

            – Daniel R Hicks
            1 hour ago







            Also note that it sometimes happens that you (unintentionally) install the shoe plates cockeyed so that the shoes cannot easily be twisted out. Or sometimes the plates were not fastened tightly to the shoes and slide back and forth when twisted. It may take some study of your particular shoe/plate/pedal combo (and the crank arm too) to work out the best adjustment.

            – Daniel R Hicks
            1 hour ago




















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