Reddit reviews SHIMANO 105-5800 Road Pedal
We found 4 Reddit comments about SHIMANO 105-5800 Road Pedal. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Carbon-composite bodyExtra-wide platform for maximum efficient transfer of powerDurable stainless steel body plate reduces flex and pedal body wearWide bearing placement for stable; uniform load distributionCustomize the entry and release tension settings
So for the three that you linked, the surface area around the pedal is more for control while technical mountain biking than it is for comfort. In reality, the extra space only helps at those moments when you clip out to put a foot down (or “dab” in mtb speak) and pop your foot back onto the pedal but don’t necessarily have time to clip back in right away. Also helps control when leaning hard on the bike while cornering. For use in an urban environment, there really isn’t much benefit to them over a standard SPD pedal like the M520 in your first link.
As far as surface contact for comfort, a road pedal such as the SPD-SL style 105 pedal has a significantly larger contact area between the cleat and the pedal, which is really what matters. Some will argue that the larger contact area provides better dispersal of pressure, cutting down on the incidence of hot spots or nerve strain at the cleat. Compare that to the relatively small footprint of a SPD mountain bike cleat and you can see why some make that argument. I think this really comes down to personal experience, as many people find no issue with a mtb cleat. Another argument is that you get better transfer of power with the larger contact area, but I don’t think there’s any empirical evidence to support that. Third, and this holds water, one tends to experience far less play in the interface between a road cleat and pedal than between a MTB cleat and MTB pedal. The little bit of play one can find annoying, and while “comfort” is a subjective term, I can say that excessive play in my pedal/cleat interface at the very least makes me psychologically uncomfortable. Fourth, and this one is the one that really matters, you have far more rotational placement options on a road cleat and pedal than you do with a MTB cleat. For people who have pigeon-toes or excessive splay in their stance, the option of rotating their cleat a few more degrees inward or outward can really make a huge difference in ankle and knee comfort.
Take all this with the caveat that it’s easy to walk around in a MTB shoe with the cleat installed. Clunking around on road shoes and cleats is a different matter entirely and something most couriers don’t want to partake in.
Ok. Well, FWIW, I own those basic shimanos, and while they are "perfectly fine" if I had to do it again I'd probably buy the 105s. The 105s will have better bearings, and they will last longer with the metal plate, and they're not much more expensive. The 105s also come with the cleats, so you buy them and the 3-screw road shoes and you're ready to go.
For pedals just get these. They're well-built, light, and work just as well as the more expensive variants (plus that bike is all 105 components so you might as well have the pedals be 105 as well). You'll need a pedal wrench obviously. You'll also need SPD-SL compatible shoes. Get these on amazon to save money. These are a pretty good starter shoe.
Yeah, if you're 6' a 57 should fit. I'd inspect it to make sure shifting, brakes, etc. are in working order and once you have the bike go to a place that does bike fitting (here is a good place to find locations). It'll run you around $100 but they'll be able to adjust heights, swap out the stem for a proper length, etc. Totally worth it to prevent injury (plus your bike will feel much better).
For sure. These are a perfectly solid pedal. Not top end, but very far from low end. They'd last many years.