What to Expect When Transitioning from SPD to SPD-SL?

I should’ve known better.

The old pedals were fine. The shoes were fine. But then, like some cursed siren call, a deal appeared. A pair of sleek Lake road shoes. Ultegra SPD-SL pedals. At a price so good it whispered, Buy me, you fool.

So I did.

And now, here I am. A man about to trade in his trusty, walkable, dependable SPD pedals for something stiffer, more streamlined, and entirely incapable of handling a coffee shop floor without making me look like a newborn deer.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Here’s what I found out.

You Will Feel More Connected, Whether You Like It or Not

SPD-SL pedals have a larger contact patch. More surface area between your foot and the bike. Some say it makes power transfer better. Some say it just feels better.

Me? It felt like strapping my foot to a missile. Stable, sure. But also unforgiving. It was like SPD-SL was telling me: “You commit or you fall.”

Clipping In and Out: Welcome to the Slightly More Annoying Club

SPDs? Click. In. Out. Easy.

SPD-SL? That first ride felt like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, blindfolded, while moving. Clipping in takes more finesse. The pedal doesn’t just guide you in. You have to line it up right, get the nose of the cleat in, then push down like you mean it.

Unclipping? Not that different, except the stakes feel higher when you’re approaching a stoplight and your foot is still locked in like Excalibur in the stone.

Walking is a Joke

Ever seen a penguin try to sprint? That’s you now. SPD-SL cleats stick out like a sore thumb, and they hate floors. Wood floors. Tile floors. Concrete. Doesn’t matter. You will slip. You will look dumb.

Pro tip: Buy cleat covers if you ever want to walk again.

Your Knees Might Have an Opinion

SPDs have more float. SPD-SL? Not so much. If your fit is wrong, your knees will tell you. Loudly.

Lucky for you, there are three cleat options:

• Yellow (6° float): The safest bet. A little wiggle room.
• Blue (2° float): Less movement, more locked in.
• Red (0° float): Hope your knees are made of iron.

Start with yellow. Unless you enjoy pain.

Bike Fit Might Need a Tweaking

SPD-SL puts your foot on the pedal rather than in the pedal. It raises your stack height. It shifts your foot position slightly.

Translation? You might need to:

• Raise your saddle a few millimeters.
• Adjust your cleats so your knees don’t stage a rebellion.
• Accept that it’ll feel weird at first.

Traffic Becomes a Bit More of a Nightmare

Clipping in fast matters when cars are behind you. With SPD, you never thought about it. With SPD-SL, you will. That extra moment of fiddling with the pedal? Feels like an eternity when a truck is coming.

Give yourself time to practice before you take this show to the city streets.

Does It Actually Feel Better?

Yes. No. Maybe.

Out of the saddle, sprinting, hammering up a climb? Yeah, it feels solid. Stable. Like the bike is an extension of you.

Casual rides? Eh. Not that different.

If you race, SPD-SL makes sense. If you ride just to ride? You just signed up for a small but noticeable inconvenience in exchange for a maybe improvement.

Summary Table

It looks like you meant SPD vs. SPD-SL, so here’s a breakdown of the key differences:

SPD vs. SPD-SL

Feature	SPD (Mountain/Commuter Pedals)	SPD-SL (Road Pedals)
Cleat Design	Small, metal, recessed into the shoe	Large, plastic, protrudes from the shoe
Shoe Compatibility	Works with MTB, gravel, and commuter shoes	Works with road cycling shoes only
Clipping In & Out	Easier, especially in stop-and-go situations	Can take more practice, less forgiving
Power Transfer	Good, but less surface area	Better, with a larger contact patch
Float Options	More float, reducing strain on knees	Less float, but options exist (6°, 2°, 0°)
Walking Comfort	Easy to walk in due to recessed cleats	Awful for walking, cleats wear down quickly
Weight	Usually heavier (metal cleats and pedals)	Lighter, optimized for road performance
Best For	MTB, commuting, touring, gravel	Road racing, fast-paced riding

The Real Question is… Why?

I made the switch.

I clipped in. I pedaled. I felt the difference. I appreciated it.

Then I hit a coffee shop, slipped on the floor, and crashed into a display of overpriced energy bars.

Maybe I should’ve just stuck with SPD.

I think I will go back soon…