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Shimano Road Clipless Pedal R540 SPD-SL While these are Shimanos entry-level clip in road pedal, we wouldn't recommend anything else under the $100 mark. With a quality SPD clip mechanism and a sealed cartridge bearing, the R540's get you reliability and functionality without the high end price tag. Shimano road bike pedals have earned an enviable reputation over the years for providing durability, strength and no-nonsense performance for road cyclists all over the world. With Shimano SPD pedals, you get quality bearings that are easy to service, adjustable spring tension so you can set them up as stiff or as soft as you like and one of the most refined platforms that just seems to work with all the SPD shoes on the market. Shimano offer a range of SPD-SL pedals across different pricepoints, such as Dura-Ace, Ultegra SL, 105 and R540 pedals, and while you may be able to find lighter pedals out there, you're unlikely to find anything as bombproof as Shimano. SPD-SL Shimano revolutionised the cycling industry many years ago with the Shimano Pedalling Dynamics (SPD) clipless system, though over the years the components have evolved into a road-specific range called SPD-SL that is built around a different platform than the original mountain bike pedal interface. Instead of a wee metallic cleat (the little thing that bolts onto the underside of your shoe), Shimano road pedals use an oversized polycarbonate cleat that securely attaches to your road shoes via 3 bolts, allowing for fore-aft and side-to-side adjustment. The larger cleat also increases surface area between the pedal and shoe to provide a stiffer interface that is more comfortable on your feet on longer road rides, while also maximising power transfer. Using SPD pedals for the first time is actually pretty easy; follow the installation instructions in attaching the pedals to your bike and the cleats to your shoes, then adjust the spring tension on the pedals to ensure the pedal is at its loosest setting. The front point of the cleat is designed to hook into the loop at the front of the pedal, then you simply push down onto the pedal body to allow the clip mechanism to snap over the back of the cleat. To disengage the cleat, simply twist your heel away from the bike and you will hear the cleat "click" out of the pedal. Big on performance, small on price There's a few reasons why Shimano SPD pedals are so popular, but it really comes down to the fact that Shimano have been producing reliable and high quality pedals for a very long time. When you combine that reputation with a sub-$100 pricetag, the R540 pedals become a bit of a no-brainer for riders wanting to step into the world of clip in pedals. Based around the same SPD system that the top of the range Dura-Ace pedals utilise, the R540's get a cro-moly steel axle for strength and an aluminium body to provide a stiff platform. You still get sealed cartridge bearings, so you know they'll last through plenty of foul weather and many miles out on the road. The wide platform on the R540 is what makes them so stiff and secure under-foot and allows you to squeeze every ounce of power from your legs into the rear wheel, whilst also reducing the 'hot foot' sensation that you can get with smaller platform pedals. Like all Shimano SPD pedals, you get adjustable spring tension to fine tune the entry/release feel, though we would encourage beginner riders to start out on the minimum setting (anti-clockwise) to avoid an embarrassing fall at the intersection! The Shimano R540 Pedals feature:
Choose Shimano road bike clip pedals for quality, reliability and functionality without the gimmicks
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