Shoe plates and pedals – what should I choose now?

Cyclists, gravel riders and mountain bikers all use them: click pedals and with click pedals, there are shoe plates attached. When you start cycling (cycling, gravel biking, mountain biking), you’ll start to get dizzy pretty quickly. You have to buy everything, you have to know everything. You watch on TV and you see riders ‘clicking’. ‘Should I do that too?’ The answer to that question is: ‘yes, I think so’. In this article, I’ll take you along and give you tips on the different types of click pedals and shoe plates. Because it’s quite useful to know what types of pedals there are and which ones you can best use for your cycling adventures: the race bike, gravel bike and mountain bike.

Pedals determine

When you’re buying a sports bike, it almost always comes without pedals. That’s because every cyclist uses their own type of pedals. From flat pedals, which you can wear with your sports shoes, to pedals with a click system. There are several different click systems for pedals in circulation. Each brand has its own system and corresponding shoe plates. Each with slightly different characteristics. As the subtitle says: pedals determine. But where can you choose from?

Producers

In the world of pedals and shoe plates, there are four names you need to remember:

• Shimano
• Look
• Wahoo Speedplay
• Time (Xpresso)

These are four pedal manufacturers, with corresponding shoe inserts. Each manufacturer has their own philosophy, but they all have one thing in common: you can lock your feet into your pedal and thereby put more power into your entire pedal stroke. The result? More speed, but also better control over your bike. Three of the four offer specific ‘off-road’ pedals and inserts. We’ve listed the different types below.

Shimano

Part manufacturer Shimano offers two different types of click pedals:

• SPD pedalsThese are intended for cycling next to the road. For MTB riders and gravelers So. You can also use SPD pedals on the road bike, but they are not designed for that purpose. The SPD pedals have small shoe plates, which makes them a good fit in rougher off-road shoes with studs. Plus, you can also insert them more easily if there is sand between them. Plus: you can insert the SPD pedal on two sides, unlike the race version.
• SPD-SL pedalsThese are the specific ones: race bike Pedals. Intended to be worn under smooth racing shoes and with three points of attachment. There are plastic dots on the three corners that wear off with use. Therefore, you don’t want to walk too much on them. That will wear them down faster. You can adjust the pedals tightly for better power transmission. There are three types of plates in handy colors: red, blue and yellow. Red has the most direct power transmission, because there is no play; blue has two degrees of play; yellow has 6 degrees of play. Most cyclists use the yellow ones to prevent injuries.

The entry-level model is about €50,-, and For €12,- you get some pictures So under €70 you’re gone.

SPD pedals are already available from €39.95 (the shoe inserts are included here). The corresponding shoe inserts are available separately for €16.99 (with or without play).

Wahoo Speedplay

Wahoo has owned Speedplay for some years now. A relatively new pedal manufacturer that gives you a lot of freedom in adjusting the plates and the shoe. Unlike other manufacturers, the click system on Speedplay is under the shoe, not on the pedal. The reasoning: if you need new plate inserts, you also replace the click system at the same time. This keeps you on longer, better cramp in (and pedal harder). The pedals are available in two variants: one that you can click into on both sides and one (the aero variant) that you can only click into on one side. The latter is comparable to its competitors. The main reason people choose these pedals is the ability to adjust everything down to the millimeter without sacrificing power. Plus: when you replace the plate insert, you also replace the click system at the same time. Better so. You can find the pedals here: Wahoo Speedplay Comp. Starting model from €149,-

Look Pedalen

The French manufacturer Look (formerly known as Mavic) makes its own type of pedals. There are two different types, just like its competitor Shimano. An important distinction: Look uses a ‘memory system’ to store its pedals. If you need to replace your pedals, you don’t have to mess with a pen or hope that they will be exactly the same. No, you leave the ‘memory plate’ in place and only replace the click plate. Great!

• Look Keo: these pedals are very suitable for the road bike. They look most similar to the Shimano SPD-SL in terms of appearance. Like Shimano, Look also offers different types of shoe plates. With 0 degrees, 4.5 degrees, and 9 degrees of ‘float’. Exactly what you need. You can also see the difference with Wahoo: there you can adjust everything according to your needs, without fixed, given characteristics.
• Look X-track: These pedals look very similar to the SPD pedals from Shimano and are also intended for ‘off-road’ use. Easy to click in and out on both sides. An adjustable spring, which makes clicking even easier (or harder). Plus small plates that allow you to have less sand between them and can be easier to walk on if you’re doing a bit of ‘hike-a-bike’.

The pedals They are available from €50. The pictures his €20 is therefore In a combo you’re on the road for €70. That’s competitive with Shimano.

Time Xpresso

As part of the big SRAM family, this traditional brand is making its debut on the market. With the Xpresso pedal, they really have only one option. It’s mainly aimed at road cyclists. So, what makes them different? Now, the ICLIC system. I have to say that I don’t fully understand it yet, but when I read it, when I click it, it ensures that the pedal is fully open, and therefore you can then safely click it again. See the visual below.

The pedals are the cheapest of all: €32 for a pedal set. The shoe inserts are €20 at Futurum. For €50 you’re on your way!

What should I choose now?

The question of which pedals you need for your cycling adventure is quite simple. Although all pedals have their unique characteristics, you can safely say that they don't really make much difference. Why?

• You can adjust them all to your footstand. Yes, one might be a little more than the other, but in general there is no difference.
• All the race pedals have one click on one side, except the Wahoo one. That could be a reason to choose Wahoo.
• All off-road pedals are really similar. Two sides to adjust, adjustable, small buttons.
• Shimano has an advantage in terms of availability. Many shops are Shimano Service Centers and therefore usually have the Shimano parts in stock. Wahoo Speedplay is less readily available and for Time and Look you sometimes have to wait in a long line. Especially at the smaller shops.
• There is of course also the choice to choose FLAT pedals, similar to those on a city bike. The various brands, apart from Wahoo, also offer combinations intended for the Mountainbike/Gravelbike. For example: this one from TIME whether it is from XLC, suitable for SPD pedals from Shimano.

My choice

My choice: since I started riding my bike, I have been using Shimano SPD-SL. Why? I can’t say anything but that I am satisfied with them. I have been using the pedals for years without any problems. On my old bike from 2006-2015 (and I think the current owner still uses them), on my bike from 2015 onwards, and on my new bike from 2022 onwards. Never broken, never worn out; the click is fine 99 out of 100 times. Replacing the decals took a little getting used to at first, but it’s more a matter of the shoe than the decal or it’s difficult to adjust it.

What is important to you?

The most important choice most people make is the price. In that respect, the Wahoo Speedplay pedals are definitely out of the range of the others. That’s certainly a stumbling block if you’re just starting out on a bike. If you’ve already spent €1500 on a new (carbon) bike, then €150 extra for pedals, €200-300 extra for a navigation system, €250 for a set of clothes is a lot of money. The helmet also costs €50-75 and a pair of goggles…Well, that’s not easy to put up with. Did I mention shoes already? As mentioned earlier: I don’t really see much difference in the different types of click pedals. If you ride a lot of gravel, it doesn’t matter if you use SPD, Time of Look. For the gravel racers, Speedplay seems to be the best, if we Cycling Weekly can believe it