SPD-SL Dilemma
05-29-18, 06:44 PM
#1
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SPD-SL Dilemma
Fully Italian build on the way with Chorus 11 and I am not going to accept Shimano pedals on the bike!
I use spd-sl cleats on my two other bikes, and would like to avoid buying new shoes just to accommodate Look or Time cleats.
What are my alternatives? So far I have only seen Xpedo Thrust SL pedals which I can use with spd-sl as an alternative to Shimano and those seem pricey for what they are and I have not been able to see any real feedback online.
Please assist with my vanity.
I use spd-sl cleats on my two other bikes, and would like to avoid buying new shoes just to accommodate Look or Time cleats.
What are my alternatives? So far I have only seen Xpedo Thrust SL pedals which I can use with spd-sl as an alternative to Shimano and those seem pricey for what they are and I have not been able to see any real feedback online.
Please assist with my vanity.
05-29-18, 07:10 PM
#3
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Aren't Look and Time, French companies? There are still Campagnolo pedals still floating around. Ebay should have them from time to time. There may be a reason why Campagnolo stopped making pedals...
05-29-18, 07:13 PM
#4
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Fully Italian build on the way with Chorus 11 and I am not going to accept Shimano pedals on the bike!
I use spd-sl cleats on my two other bikes, and would like to avoid buying new shoes just to accommodate Look or Time cleats.
What are my alternatives? So far I have only seen Xpedo Thrust SL pedals which I can use with spd-sl as an alternative to Shimano and those seem pricey for what they are and I have not been able to see any real feedback online.
Please assist with my vanity.
I use spd-sl cleats on my two other bikes, and would like to avoid buying new shoes just to accommodate Look or Time cleats.
What are my alternatives? So far I have only seen Xpedo Thrust SL pedals which I can use with spd-sl as an alternative to Shimano and those seem pricey for what they are and I have not been able to see any real feedback online.
Please assist with my vanity.
05-29-18, 09:04 PM
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I have five Campagnolo road bikes and I just replaced all their saddles with a Pro Stealth one, yes Pro is a Shimano company, but my ass gets the final vote 
Oh and I use Time Expresso pedals
Oh and I use Time Expresso pedals
Last edited by tony2v; 05-29-18 at 09:11 PM.
05-29-18, 09:17 PM
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This would help if I could use spd-sl cleats with Campy pedals, or if Campy even sold pedals anymore. Agreed with the last sentence.
05-29-18, 10:18 PM
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Have you looked at iSSi pedals? They claim to accommodate Shimano systems without being Shimano
05-29-18, 11:02 PM
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Xpedo is the high-end division of Wellgo.
I own Xpedo M-Force 8 Ti pedals which are SPD, not SPD-SL. Based on my experience with these I would not hesitate to use the Thrust SL Ti (168 grams!) on a weight weenie build. I have these bookmarked for a build I'm considering next year.
Many older Xpedo pedals had one cartridge bearing and bushings but newer models moved to a design with three cartridge bearings. They are much more robust and spingles/bearings can be rebuilt if needed. I think a rebuild kit is $15.
Modern Bike and Worldwide Cyclery carry Xpedo products and seem to have the best prices.
The guys at the weight weenie forums would probably know more about these.
-Tim-
I own Xpedo M-Force 8 Ti pedals which are SPD, not SPD-SL. Based on my experience with these I would not hesitate to use the Thrust SL Ti (168 grams!) on a weight weenie build. I have these bookmarked for a build I'm considering next year.
Many older Xpedo pedals had one cartridge bearing and bushings but newer models moved to a design with three cartridge bearings. They are much more robust and spingles/bearings can be rebuilt if needed. I think a rebuild kit is $15.
Modern Bike and Worldwide Cyclery carry Xpedo products and seem to have the best prices.
The guys at the weight weenie forums would probably know more about these.
-Tim-
Last edited by TimothyH; 05-29-18 at 11:06 PM.
05-29-18, 11:21 PM
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Fully Italian build on the way with Chorus 11 and I am not going to accept Shimano pedals on the bike!
I use spd-sl cleats on my two other bikes, and would like to avoid buying new shoes just to accommodate Look or Time cleats.
What are my alternatives? So far I have only seen Xpedo Thrust SL pedals which I can use with spd-sl as an alternative to Shimano and those seem pricey for what they are and I have not been able to see any real feedback online.
Please assist with my vanity.
I use spd-sl cleats on my two other bikes, and would like to avoid buying new shoes just to accommodate Look or Time cleats.
What are my alternatives? So far I have only seen Xpedo Thrust SL pedals which I can use with spd-sl as an alternative to Shimano and those seem pricey for what they are and I have not been able to see any real feedback online.
Please assist with my vanity.
05-29-18, 11:34 PM
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There is nothing you can do. SPD-SL is a Shimano exclusive cleat. If all your cleats are Shimano then either buy shiny new shoes, and a new type of "European" pedal format such as Look Keo, or deal with your moral dilemma, get over it, and buy some Shimano pedals.
05-30-18, 01:51 AM
#14
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One would assume (and hope) that you chose Campagnolo as you believe it functions best. Why not choose your pedals on the same basis?
05-30-18, 03:38 AM
#16
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Exactly this. I run Shimano pedals on both of my Campy bikes for exactly that reason - they're great pedals. Much nicer than Campy ones, for that matter, but you'd hope so given the extra fifteen years of development.
05-30-18, 03:49 AM
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Thats funny. Shimano didn't develop anything. They borrowed Looks pedals and changed them enough so they didn't get sued.
05-30-18, 05:11 AM
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05-30-18, 05:28 AM
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05-30-18, 06:41 AM
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IMHO, if campy or some other Italian company made pedals your dilemma would be more reasonable. I am guessing your full Campy/Italian build has parts from other countries so I think you're overthinking this. Good luck with the new build; it sounds great.
05-30-18, 06:44 AM
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You're gonna build a new Italian bike with Campy and you're going to balk at getting a new pair of shoes? Pffft - amateur.
05-30-18, 07:06 AM
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Get over being silly about the fine details of the custom bike I am building and put some Shimanos on or buy a pair of Sidis.
Last edited by sooni; 05-30-18 at 07:10 AM.