Northwave used to make Speedplay compatible shoes. From what I recall you didn’t need to use the adaptor plate, you could just install the cleat directly (but I could be wrong of course). Are there any brands making similar shoes?
Lake has some models. The 403 for certain
Off the top of my head I don’t know any others.
Thanks!!
I have the Lake 403 Speedplay Compatible. They are a really big step up from the 402 and are an awesome shoe! The cleat can be mounted directly on the shoe, but they doing need the very thin metal plate between the shoe and cleat.
I’ve never had Speedplay specific shoes, but have used the pedal/cleat system for around 13 years. I just use the adapter for 3 bolt, and it seems to work fine. Maybe I’m missing out, but I feel it may limit your shoe choices to only look for Speedplay compatible shoes.
I am sure it will severely limit them but doing a brief Google search.
- Buy non Speedplay shoe
- Install with cleat adapter
- Ride for few weeks to make sure cleat position is good
- Use cleat adapter as a drill template, drill shoe.
- Install without adapter, nuts under sole inside shoes.
- Profit.
- Buy non Speedplay shoe
- Install with cleat adapter
- Ride for few weeks to make sure cleat position is good
- Use cleat adapter as a drill template, drill shoe.
- Install without adapter, nuts under sole inside shoes.
- Profit.
I like it!
Perfect timing
I’m just about to put new speedplay cleats on new shoes
Any particular type of drill bit? Size?
- Buy non Speedplay shoe
- Install with cleat adapter
- Ride for few weeks to make sure cleat position is good
- Use cleat adapter as a drill template, drill shoe.
- Install without adapter, nuts under sole inside shoes.
- Profit.
I like it!
Perfect timing
I’m just about to put new speedplay cleats on new shoes
Any particular type of drill bit? Size?
Small enough to fit through the adapter plate holes. Then remove adapter plate and step up the drillbit size to match the screw you wind up using. Use a thin nut inside shoe under the insole with loctite. Will have to play with screw lengths to get just right.
Just more work to swap cleats or clean and lube as you have to unlace the shoe and remove the insole to get at the 4 little nuts you use.
Bont does as well. No personal experience but I’m considering them for my next pair.
- Buy non Speedplay shoe
- Install with cleat adapter
- Ride for few weeks to make sure cleat position is good
- Use cleat adapter as a drill template, drill shoe.
- Install without adapter, nuts under sole inside shoes.
- Profit.
I like it!
Perfect timing
I’m just about to put new speedplay cleats on new shoes
Any particular type of drill bit? Size?
Small enough to fit through the adapter plate holes. Then remove adapter plate and step up the drillbit size to match the screw you wind up using. Use a thin nut inside shoe under the insole with loctite. Will have to play with screw lengths to get just right.
Just more work to swap cleats or clean and lube as you have to unlace the shoe and remove the insole to get at the 4 little nuts you use.
Can also use proper riv nuts in the place of regular nuts. See Amazon.
- Sidi
- Lake
- Vittoria
- Bont (I had the Zero+ I’m 4 bolt)
- Gaerne (currently use the G.Kona in 4 bolt)
If you can, get a 4 bolt shoe. I don’t know if it’s hard carbon soles vs soft plastic adapter, but all my bikes have speedplay pedals and 4 bolt shoes always felt more solid than 3 bolt. Especially noticeable when you clip in.
I had the Sidi, Speedplay-specific shoes for a while. But I could not use the Speedplay-extender plate on it. Which meant I could slam the cleat all the way as far back as I could on the 3-hole shoes. Finally went back to the non-SP shoes.
Good idea…its apparently difficult to find 4 bolt shoes, at least when I search on Google. I will poke around some more.
I went with Bonts a little over a year ago. Have to go semi-custom, nonreturnable.
I spent a ton of time using their feet measuring system, got a recommendation from them and went with it. Shoes fit awful. Sized them way too big for me.
I paid a ton for them. Then a ton on a bunch of inserts to try and fix them. Finally gave up and went to Look pedals with Rapha shoes. Much happier.
I concur to just go with a 3bolt shoe and adapter. My last two speedplay specific shoes were awful (lake Tri shoe before the bonts).
I was in speedplay a for a long time before deciding to try something different at same point of getting a new shoe.
I went with Bonts a little over a year ago. Have to go semi-custom, nonreturnable.
I spent a ton of time using their feet measuring system, got a recommendation from them and went with it. Shoes fit awful. Sized them way too big for me.
I paid a ton for them. Then a ton on a bunch of inserts to try and fix them. Finally gave up and went to Look pedals with Rapha shoes. Much happier.
**I concur to just go with a 3bolt shoe and adapter. My last two speedplay specific shoes were awful (lake Tri shoe before the bonts). **
I was in speedplay a for a long time before deciding to try something different at same point of getting a new shoe.
Your issues had nothing to do with bolt configuration though. Bonts were terrible for me too. Would’ve been the same with 3 bolts. Gaerne fit me amazing, and that wouldn’t change with 3 bolts either.
If a shoe that fits you well exists in 4 bolt and you know you will run Speedplays, get them. It’s lower stack, lower weight, and feels a bit better
Yes - you are right. If a shoe works, bolt pattern doesn’t matter. I should have said don’t worry as much about direct mount as correct shoe. The latter is way more important than the former.
- Sidi
- Lake
- Vittoria
- Bont (I had the Zero+ I’m 4 bolt)
- Gaerne (currently use the G.Kona in 4 bolt)
If you can, get a 4 bolt shoe. I don’t know if it’s hard carbon soles vs soft plastic adapter, but all my bikes have speedplay pedals and 4 bolt shoes always felt more solid than 3 bolt. Especially noticeable when you clip in.
There’s one potential problem with the list. Lake’s 4-hole shoes all use their race last, which is quite narrow by the numbers. Sidi tends to fit narrow. Bont we all know fits strange, although at least it isn’t narrow. No idea about Vittoria and Gaerne, but those are Italian brands, and absent other info I would expect them to fit narrow.
I have relatively wide feet (was instructed to get wide last from Bont) and Gaerne are very comfortable for me. My Specialized S-Works 6 have more height in the toe box but similar width. I wouldn’t consider Gaerne narrow by any means, and chose them because there are plenty forum discussions stating they are wider than other Italian brands.
So if Lake is too narrow, then Gaerne should work. That’s two great options.