SPD vs SPD-SL pedals and stack height, how do you measure?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
SPD vs SPD-SL pedals and stack height, how do you measure?
Hi there
I just switched from Shimano's PD-A600 pedals (one-sided SPD road pedals) which I used with Northwave MTB-shoes to the Ultegra 6800 SPD-SL road pedals which I am using with Shimano R171 road shoes. As it's probably normal during the first days with the new pedals and shoes things feel slightly different and I am wondering if I should adjust the saddle height for the different stack height of the pedals. Problem is, I am not sure what the stack height is.
On the web I found a source that said 13.7mm for the Ultegra pedals (did not mention though if it's the 6800 or an earlier model) and 14.3mm for a Ritchey one-sided SPD road pedal which is the closest thing I could find to the PD-A600. Double sided Shimano SPD pedals are listed as 17mm. Then I guess the shoes play a role as well. I would have thought carbon-soles on a road shoe should be thinner than the sole of a non-carbon MTB shoe, right?
So my questions really are the following:
- Is there any information available on the stack height of specific pedal and shoe models?
- If not, is there a semi-reliable way of measuring it?
- Should I even bother, those couple of mm up or down won't make any difference anyway?
Any advice will be very welcome. Thanks!
Lars
I just switched from Shimano's PD-A600 pedals (one-sided SPD road pedals) which I used with Northwave MTB-shoes to the Ultegra 6800 SPD-SL road pedals which I am using with Shimano R171 road shoes. As it's probably normal during the first days with the new pedals and shoes things feel slightly different and I am wondering if I should adjust the saddle height for the different stack height of the pedals. Problem is, I am not sure what the stack height is.
On the web I found a source that said 13.7mm for the Ultegra pedals (did not mention though if it's the 6800 or an earlier model) and 14.3mm for a Ritchey one-sided SPD road pedal which is the closest thing I could find to the PD-A600. Double sided Shimano SPD pedals are listed as 17mm. Then I guess the shoes play a role as well. I would have thought carbon-soles on a road shoe should be thinner than the sole of a non-carbon MTB shoe, right?
So my questions really are the following:
- Is there any information available on the stack height of specific pedal and shoe models?
- If not, is there a semi-reliable way of measuring it?
- Should I even bother, those couple of mm up or down won't make any difference anyway?
Any advice will be very welcome. Thanks!
Lars
#2
Banned
SPD SL* goes on Hard sole Road shoes the Pontoons stabilize the cleat on the pedal ..
SPD is another Shimano Standard other companies adopted to Get a market Share .
so others should all be consistant to be compatible ..
We Sold shoes with that* cleat for Spinning classes , since their machines used those pedals MTB and Dual side work too .
SPD is another Shimano Standard other companies adopted to Get a market Share .
so others should all be consistant to be compatible ..
We Sold shoes with that* cleat for Spinning classes , since their machines used those pedals MTB and Dual side work too .
#3
Senior Member
Just adjust by feel. I found I was about 5mm higher saddle with SPD & MTB shoes than SPD-SL & road shoes. The problem is that measuring shoes is really difficult, so unless you're planning to use adapters and the same shoes you can't measure the real stack (foot bottom to pedal axis).
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
SPD SL* goes on Hard sole Road shoes the Pontoons stabilize the cleat on the pedal ..
SPD is another Shimano Standard other companies adopted to Get a market Share .
so others should all be consistant to be compatible ..
We Sold shoes with that* cleat for Spinning classes , since their machines used those pedals MTB and Dual side work too .
SPD is another Shimano Standard other companies adopted to Get a market Share .
so others should all be consistant to be compatible ..
We Sold shoes with that* cleat for Spinning classes , since their machines used those pedals MTB and Dual side work too .
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Just adjust by feel. I found I was about 5mm higher saddle with SPD & MTB shoes than SPD-SL & road shoes. The problem is that measuring shoes is really difficult, so unless you're planning to use adapters and the same shoes you can't measure the real stack (foot bottom to pedal axis).
#6
Banned
I just helped customers Buy what is in the store ..
Last edited by fietsbob; 01-27-16 at 11:23 AM.
#7
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SPD-SL is probably half a cm lower, mostly due to the thinner shoes. If you run high end carbon MTB shoes there is not a huge difference.
You are also more likely to want your seat a bit lower on your MTB/cx/commuter with the SPD and MTB shoes, so seat height is about the same at the end of the day
You are also more likely to want your seat a bit lower on your MTB/cx/commuter with the SPD and MTB shoes, so seat height is about the same at the end of the day
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Hi,
I'm sorry I can't help with your question but I was wondering if you had noticed much of a difference (other than the stack height) between using the SPDs and SPD-Ls? In terms of power transfer etc. Thinking of doing the same.
I'm sorry I can't help with your question but I was wondering if you had noticed much of a difference (other than the stack height) between using the SPDs and SPD-Ls? In terms of power transfer etc. Thinking of doing the same.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
In the end I just left the saddle height as it was and I am totally fine, so did not see any reason to change anything in that respect.