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Pedals
Shimano PD-5700 105 SPD-SL Road PedalShimano PD5610L pedal

Shimano PD-5700 105 SPD-SL Road Pedal

8
by Lara Dunn
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Aug 9, 2012

0
£59.99

VERDICT:

8
10
On the weighty side but a solid, reliable and effective road pedal that's easy to use and pleasing to the eye
Weight: 
320g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Shimano's 105 Road pedals are pitched at those starting to look for some real performance from their pedals, without wanting to fork out for lighter, fancier models in the market. Just £15 or so more expensive than the company's entry level road pedal, the 105s mark a huge jump in performance and ease of use.

Available in either silver or black, these are designed to coordinate with the 105 10-speed group set and are visually appealing, with smooth, organic lines.

The body is made of lightweight alloy, with a stainless steel pedal plate for extra durability and the axles are sealed cartridge units for low maintenance.

The pedals are designed to have a broad area for easy and secure feeling contact with the foot and to maximize power transfer, while the low profile is intended to reduce rider stress when cornering aggressively.

In use they provided a reassuring and responsive platform on which to pedal and moved smoothly and quietly. Entry and exit were a breeze, much more so than in the entry level model, with the weighting of the pedal making it much easier to slip the foot in first time, almost every time.

The cleats were effective and easy to adjust, given the open structure of the pedal, and there were no problems at all with the foot popping out at inopportune moments, and likewise no comedy topples at junctions.

The pedals come with cleats with 3 degrees of float as standard, which were comfortable to ride with and caused me no knee trouble at all.

Cleats do wear, how quickly depends on how much walking you do in them, but replacement cleats are available for £19.99 in either the 3 degrees of float or a fixed version.

At 320g for the pair, these are by no means the lightest road pedals on the market, but they are effective, solid and durable, and they look good.

Considering that a pair is just 70g heavier than Shimano's Dura-Ace pedals, you're paying £160 less, which makes these a pretty good bet for those looking for a reliable and solid pedal, offering genuine performance.

Verdict

On the weighty side but a solid, reliable and effective road pedal that's easy to use and pleasing to the eye.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Shimano PD-5700 105 SPD-SL Road Pedal

Size tested: Silver

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Manufacturer says "road pedal for high performance road racing"

It's effective, easy to use and smooth but weight conscious users might look at lighter models.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Alloy body

Stainless steel pedal body plate

Sealed cartridge axle unit

Comes with set of cleats with 3 degrees of float

Replacement cleats are available (3 degrees of float or fixed)

Available in silver and black

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very well made and solid feeling. All moving parts move smoothly.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Easy, quick and smooth entry and exit and a good pedalling platform.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

These aren't going anywhere in a hurry.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
4/10

On the heavy side for a pedal at this price point and level of performance.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

Very comfortable to ride on.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Durable and smooth running so not bad value at all.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Performed very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Smoothness of running, ease of entry and exit, looks.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Weight (but not overly much).

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Definitely.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

A solid, dependable, smooth running road pedal. Not the lightest, but easy to use and attractive.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,

 

Shimano PD-5700 105 SPD-SL Road Pedal
Road pedal
Pedal
cleats
Lara Dunn

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

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