Road Bike Binding Pedal Comparison: Major Manufacturers

Manufacturers to be compared

In this article, we will compare models from four of the leading manufacturers of binding pedals for road bikes.

1. Shimano (SPD-SL)
2. LOOK
3. TIME
4. SPEEDPLAY

Shimano’s SPD lineup is designed for MTB, so it will be excluded from this issue.

Binding Pedals Compared by Weight

What are the lightest weight binding pedals from different companies?

First, let’s compare them by weight, an important factor in road biking.

The SPEEDPLAY NANO, with the smallest pedal size and plenty of high-grade materials such as a titanium shaft, was the lightest. On the other hand, the heaviest pedal was the PD-R9100, Shimano’s top-grade DURA-ACE pedal for road use, weighing 60 g more than the SPEEDPLAY NANO.

Comparison by weight of cleats

Binding pedals should be compared by weight, including the cleats that are attached to the shoe side. First, let’s compare the weight of cleats.

Shimano and LOOK cleats are almost the same shape, so they are almost identical in weight; TIME’s iCLIC is only slightly heavier than Shimano’s cleats. On the other hand, the SPEEDPLAY pedals themselves are lightweight, but the cleats are large and thick, making them about twice as heavy as Shimano cleats.

What is the lightest binding pedal with pedals + cleats?

How do they compare in terms of “pedals + cleats,” which is the weight for actual operation?

When compared including cleats, the KEO BLADE CARBON CERAMIC TI was the lightest binding pedal at 261g.

The SPEEDPLAY NANO, the lightest pedal by itself, weighed 309g with cleats included, but the difference was only about 50g, so hobby racers would not be able to tell the difference. However, the difference is still about 50g, and for a hobby racer, the difference is not noticeable.

These are all top grade pedals, so you will be able to get the best performance from any of these models.

Comparison of different cleat life spans

One of the most important aspects of using binding pedals is the lifespan of the cleats. Since cleats for road bikes are designed to be lightweight and not to be walked on as is, they are often made of brittle materials such as plastic resin and generally do not have a long life span.

SPEEDPLAY’s current cleats are covered with thick rubber, which prevents the cleats from wearing out when walking.

On the other hand, Shimano, LOOK, and TIME’s cleats have an exposed detachable mechanism that wears out with each step, so they have a shorter lifespan. In particular, TIME’s iCLIC cleats are said to have a shorter life span because of their special shape and large bumps.

The life of a cleat is basically determined by the “distance traveled” and the “distance (time) walked on the ground,” so the life depends on how the cleat is used, but it should be used as a guide to how much the strength varies.

Which binding pedals are best?

First of all, it is best to choose based on preference.

Binding pedals have their own unique mechanisms, so each manufacturer has its own characteristics in terms of how they fit on and off the pedals and the fit between the pedals and the shoes.

If this is your first time using binding pedals, it is a good idea to first try out the shape and color of the pedals you prefer. Shimano pedals are usually black or silver, but LOOK and TIME pedals are also available in white or red, so you can coordinate them with your bike.

Binding pedals for road bikes are said to be difficult for beginners, but with the exception of SPEEDPLAY, even beginners can remove and install them with no problem if they make adjustments.

SPEEDPLAY binding pedals have a reputation for being hard, so it is best to try them out in a store before making a choice.

Cleat life and price are also important.

If you are a frequent road bike rider, cleat life is directly related to running costs.

For example, Shimano and LOOK cleats last about a year and cost about $20 new, while TIME cleats last only a few months and cost about $30. For the same binding pedal, TIME’s running cost for cleats is calculated to be more than three times that of Shimano and LOOK.

If you don’t mind spending a few bucks, that’s fine, but if you use them for several years, the difference in running cost can be enough to buy a new set of pedals, so keep in mind that cleats do wear out.

If in doubt, choose Shimano SPD-SL

If you are in doubt about which binding pedals are best for you, the Shimano SPD-SL pedals are the best choice for road bikes.

This is because Shimano is the most distributed bicycle parts manufacturer in the world, so cleats are very available, and you can always get them at a fair price using mail order. Shimano is also a long-time supplier of small parts, so one of the advantages is that once purchased, the parts can be used for a long time as long as they are properly repaired and maintained.

In addition, Shimano’s SPD-SL binding pedals have a wide lineup, from the top-of-the-line DURA-ACE grade models to entry-grade models, and if you include past models, you have a much wider choice of pedals alone.