Shimano has launched its new road pedal and cleat system, SPD-SLR. The system offers lower weight, lower pedal/cleat stack height, easier engagement and added lateral adjustability relative to the long-running SPD-SL system.The new pedals will be available at Dura-Ace and Ultegra spec levels, and there are new red, blue and yellow cleats with similar degrees of float to the current ones, although the new cleats arent compatible with SPD-SL pedals.There are new shoes at the S-Phyre RC9 and RC8 spec levels, designed to complement the new pedals and cleats. Shimano states SPD-SLR pedals are compatible with its current SPD-SL road cycling shoe range, although it says its new shoes will help realise the full performance benefits of the new system. Shimano says maximum gains come from its new pedals, cleats and shoes working as a system. Theres also a new grey cleat, which is claimed to be compatible with most non-Shimano SPD-SL shoes and offers the same float as the yellow cleat, although without the reduced stack height of the other new cleats.Shimano says the new SPD-SLR system lowers the stack height for the pedals plus cleats by 2.3mm. It also enables easier clipping in with a wider catch area for the cleat and a reduced engagement angle of 10.5o versus 15.5o for SPD-SL. The lower stack height is claimed to increase foot stability, and improve power transfer and control of the bike. Shimano's new SPD-SLR cleats have a different shape from its previous cleats and greater lateral adjustment. Along with the redesigned pedals, the new cleats have a different shape. Theyre lighter because they fix to the base of the shoes without the washers that were needed with SPD-SL. Shimano claims the weight of the cleat plus hardware has been reduced from 71g to 55g. It has added extra markings to help you align the cleats more easily.The 6o of float for the yellow cleats, 2o for the blue cleats and zero for the red cleats is the same as for the SPD-SL cleats. The new cleats offer greater side-to-side adjustability though, so it's easier to alter your stance width. They can also be used with cleat spacers. The new Dura-Ace and Ultegra pedals are superficially similar to their predecessors, but Shimano says they offer a lower engagement angle and easier catchment. As with the SPD-SL system pedals, the new Dura-Ace PD-R9300 pedals have their inner bearing positioned to the side of the pedals top surface, while the Ultegra PD-R8200 pedals have it placed under the pedal platform.This slightly raises the stack height above the pedal axis for Ultegra, to 13.3mm, and reduces pedal stiffness by 11%, Shimano claims. Dura-Aces fancier bearings are also claimed to reduce rotational resistance for the new Dura-Ace pedals by 53% relative to the new Ultegra pedals.Both pedals are made of injection-moulded carbon composite and include steel contact surfaces to reduce pedal wear, as with Shimano's older SPD-SL pedals. The new Dura-Ace pedals weigh a claimed 227g a set and the Ultegra pedals 1g more.Old SPD-SL Dura-Ace and Ultegra pedals were available in two spindle lengths, and the same 4mm-longer option will be available with the new pedals.New shoes to match Shimano has also refreshed its S-Phyre shoes. Along with the new pedals and cleats, Shimano has launched updated shoes. It says the new SH-RC901 S-Phyre shoes are lighter than their predecessors and provide greater cleat adjustability. They have a new Dynalast 2.0 fit that's claimed to reduce foot fatigue.In addition, theres a carbon fibre heel cup for increased foot stability and a new upper design, closed by two Boa Li2 dials, that is claimed to wrap more closely round the foot, increase stability, and improve fit and pedalling efficiency. Theres increased ventilation too. The RC8 shoes have also had an update. Similar features are carried over into the lower-priced SH-RC810 shoes, which also include two Boa Li2 dials and share the new Dynalast 2.0 fit. Shimano points to the hollow-channel carbon sole, which aids ventilation and helps drain water from the shoes in the rain.What are the low-stack-height alternatives?Its not only Shimano that has persisted with a similar pedal design for years, but recently two new pedal systems have stirred up what has been one of the least progressive aspects of bike design. Here are three low-stack alternatives.Wahoo Speedplay Wahoo Speedplay's stack height can be as low as 8mm with the right shoes. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media Among established brands, Wahoo Speedplay offers the lowest stack height of 8.5mm for a shoe with four bolt drillings, but three-bolt shoes require an adapter plate between the shoe and the Speedplay cleat, increasing the stack height to 11mm.Shimano hasnt provided a stack height for SPD-SLR, but based on the 14.6mm stack height for old Dura-Ace pedals, the claimed 2.3mm reduction would bring this down to 12.3mm still higher than Speedplay, even with an adapter plate.Ekoi PW8 Ekoi's pedals are very light because there are no moving parts, but require a shoe with a compatible sole. Warren Rossiter / OurMedia Ekois PW8 pedal system has a much larger shoe contact area than competitors and the pedals weigh only 105g each, because they have no moving parts, just a replaceable tongue at the rear that engages with the shoes cleat.The system requires a specific Ekoi shoe though, which incorporates the anchor points for the pedals. The cleats come in front and rear parts that bolt to these, resulting in an 8mm stack height.When Warren tested the system, he was won over by the stability of the large platform and ease of clipping in and out. He was less enamoured of the Ekoi PW8 C12 shoes, though or at least their elevated price. Theyre comfortable and fit well, although their weight isnt market-leading at their price.There are cheaper alternatives available from Ekoi now though and, as is typical of the brand, all PW8-compatible shoes are heavily discounted on its site.Q36.5/SRM Q36.5 claims its system increases pedalling efficiency, but it costs 1,000. Q36.5 Q36.5 collaborated with German power meter maker SRM to develop the X-Power Direct pedal system (without a power meter) that it says lowers stack height by over 6mm relative to mainstream systems. It doesnt state an actual stack-height value, but this probably betters Shimanos new SPD-SLR.As with Ekois system, the X-Power Direct pedals only work with specific shoes, in this case Q36.5s Unique Pro 4.0 model.The system is even more expensive than Ekois, with a 500 price tag for the SRM pedals and the same again for the shoes.Why lower stack height? A lower stack height works in opposition to the need to raise the saddle when using shorter cranks. SRAM Q36.5 performed an analysis of the effect of stack height and claims three principal advantages.First, the foot is closer to the centre of pedal rotation, which it claims increases the effective area of force transmission. As with Shimano, it claims this increases foot stability and improves power transfer. It also claims a lower stack height reduces shear forces through the shoes sole.Second, the riders centre of gravity is lower, which enables them to get more aero. This is only going to be by a few millimetres though.Third, Q36.5 suggests, with the trend for shorter cranks, the riders saddle needs to be raised, which in turn raises their centre of gravity. This is counteracted by the lower stack height.It concludes that the further the riders foot is from the centre of force generation, the more shear forces occur, resulting in a greater loss of power. The optimum, it states, would be a pedal system with zero stack or even a -5mm stack.These changes are tiny though and were not convinced they make a significant difference for most riders. Moreover, weve been told by a major pedal brand that its studies dont confirm that small reductions in stack height result in a material increase in pedalling efficiency.

The non-compatible cat is out of the bag... but how's the ride with Shimano's all new SPD-SLR pedals and cleats, mounted to some fresh RC910 shoes? We sent Liam to test them out in secret shortly before the official launch

It is no easy feat to make a name for yourself in cycling if you hail from the Isle of Man. The tiny island boasts a staggeringly rich racing legacy, having produced Mark Cavendish and other top-tier pros including Peter Kennaugh, Mark Christian, Lizzie Holden and Becky Storrie. Yet, Peter's younger brother Tim Kennaugh has forged his own distinct path off the bike, earning a reputation as one of professional cycling's most respected coaches. His elite clientele has included three-time Olympic gold medallist Ed Clancy, Tour stage-winner Heinrich Haussler and Cavendish himself. Kennaugh initially shared his brother's pro aspirations. Representing Great Britain, he won a silver medal at the U19 European Championships. However, a diagnosis of Hashimoto's autoimmune disease during his U23 years prematurely ended his racing career. Pivoting to support roles, Tim joined domestic squad Rapha Condor-JLT as a soigneur in 2013, stepping up to coach a year later. He soon launched his own business, with early clients including his double-national-champion brother. Before long he had moved up to the World Tour, serving as a performance director for EF Education First in 2018, followed by a seven-year stint at Bahrain, including working for a season with Cavendish. Now 34, armed with a master's degree in high-performance sports science from the European University of Madrid, Kennaugh has relaunched his solo business. Alongside amateur and Continental clients, he currently oversees the coaching programme of the EF Education-Aevolo development team. We spoke to Kennaugh to find out more about how he gets the very best from every type of rider, from rising stars to ambitious veterans. A grazed Tim Kennaugh (L) in his racing days, pictured alongside his brother Pete, in 2009 (Image credit: Andy Jones)What was it like to coach Mark Cavendish? I'd known Cav for quite a long time, what with us both being from the Isle of Man. He really supported me in my youth by giving me his old cycling kit and then paying for my rent when I was racing in Italy. We then didn't speak for a number of years, but when he joined Bahrain-McLaren [in 2020] I began coaching him. I was a little nervous, as he's a big personality, and when you're dealing with an athlete as famous as that, you're also dealing with their travel programme, their agent and other commitments that you just don't have with most other cyclists. From a coaching perspective, I couldn't have asked for any more. He did everything I asked of him, committed to every training session and gave good feedback. Why did you leave Bahrain Victorious? I had burnout after so many years working in the World Tour. I loved it but it was time for a reset. I'm happy to be back working in cycling again with the EF devo team and I wouldn't turn down future opportunities to work in the World Tour. What was the personal appeal of coaching? I've always been a people person, and coaching allows me to use those skills. When coaching young kids, I want them to develop as much off the bike as they do on it. Over time you go through a lot with each individual rider, especially if you've coached them for six years as I did with some at Bahrain. It's great being part of everyone's journey and supporting them as much as possible. What are the first steps when you begin coaching a rider? Rather than focusing on the one big goal, it's about breaking it down and working back from that goal and its demands to establish the best processes that will lead to the desired outcome. You have to work out the KPIs [key performance indicators] and what numbers to hit, as well as devise a monitoring programme, such as a regular test to repeat to see if the athlete is on track or not. Then you bring in other members of the performance team nutritionists, physios, strength coaches to make sure everyone's pointing in the same direction. How do you make sure you get the best out of an athlete? By making sure the training plan fits the athlete's lifestyle and this is especially true of amateur cyclists. I can write the most scientifically optimal programme in the world, but if it doesn't work around the athlete's commitments, or where they are in their development, then it's not optimal for them. Take Fred Wright, for example: when he was doing the Classics for the first time, he needed a certain watts-per-kilo figure to get over the bergs, but that wasn't his limiting factor what was holding him back originally was that he was so fatigued when he got to the key bergs that he couldn't produce the power. So what we needed to prioritise first was getting him to the finish, and then once he could stay at the front of the peloton it was time to work on his power on those short, steep climbs. How do you ensure that riders spend the right amount of time at altitude? First of all, you've got to do blood tests to make sure they're fit and healthy before they go, because if they've got any cardiorespiratory illnesses, they should be kept at home. In their first week there, you've got to keep intensity relatively low. Using wearables that test heart rate variability, or devices that measure blood oxygen levels is essential to continue managing load. Altitude works, but it does cause physical and mental stress. How do you improve a rider's durability? The rider obviously needs a strong aerobic capacity first. High training volume helps, for sure, and then it's a case of developing their threshold. From a race-specific perspective, you've got to know the duration and difficulty of the effort that'll be required repeatedly in the race, and then you plan training sessions around that. I often test it by comparing someone's fresh power with the same effort at the end of the ride and seeing how much the drop-off in power is. What message do you find yourself repeating? Reminding riders, pros especially, to trust the process. People always want confirmation of how they're going, but it's not about chasing a specific number or peak power it's instead about being consistent. Holding pros back is the biggest challenge as a coach. Rather than adding to a training plan, it's often about stopping them from doing something, or taking something away. It's the reduction that creates the biggest improvement in performance. Adding altitude, heat training or increasing gym work might mean that all of a sudden the athlete isn't recovering properly and isn't adapting as well as they should be. What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a coach? When I first started, I was really quite young and I had imposter syndrome, as I was working with guys older and more experienced than me. Also, I didn't go to university, so I was constantly watching lectures and learning more about physiology, coaching and managing people. Once I got into the World Tour, it became even more demanding. There are so many external experts that sometimes it felt like I was trying my best but just treading water. You get back from races and training camps and you're so busy that you don't have time to keep up with things. Now that I've stepped away, I've had more bandwidth to look into topics that I find interesting. What's one data point you think is underused? RPE rate of perceived exertion. We have so many measurements power, heart rate, lactate, so much data and everyone's always looking at the 1% to improve, but still people don't leave an RPE comment on their training files. There could be a million different reasons for a higher or lower heart or lactate measurement, and RPE is really useful to try to explain that. What's your view on the role of AI in coaching? I think it's great for the general population. If I go to the doctor's or see a specialist, thanks to AI I'm now so much more informed. It's the same when I talk to cyclists I coach they're able to get so much info now that they can ask better questions. I also think a 12-week training plan produced by AI for a beginner is generally not bad. What you'll find with AI, though, is that the more you know, the more mistakes you spot in its recommendations. I see it going the other way: rather than growing dependent on AI, people will crave human connection and want someone on the phone to offer an understanding ear, to hear their tone of voice or disappointment after a race. What's the future of coaching? Because there's now so much data, I think we're going to see more coaches on teams, as it's going to become very difficult for one coach to train eight riders properly. We'll likely go down to three riders per coach, and the coaches will end up being like a GP, referring the athlete to individual specialists who will work alongside them.Kennaugh spent seven years as a coach at Bahrain Merida/Victorious (Image credit: Bahrain Merida)Coach's CV: Tim KennaughAge: 34 Hometown: Douglas, Isle of Man Notable riders coached: Mark Cavendish, Fred Wright, Peter Kennaugh Best achievements as coach: Developing Phil Bauhaus as a sprinter Best achievements as rider: 2nd Points race, U19 European Championships (2009) Favourite motto: Don't run before you can walk Train like Cav with caveatsDon't prioritise heat training: "An amateur athlete can't do everything, and if there were 100 things I could prescribe to an athlete to improve performance, heat training wouldn't be at the top of the list. It definitely works, but if you keep adding additional stresses on top of work and family life, then it will lead to taking extra days off. Keep your cool!" Focus on regularity, not load: "If you've got a slightly easier training plan but it's consistent, then over 12 months you'll see bigger benefits." Don't stagnate: "I see a lot of damage done by riders repeating the same training cycle and structure: a big ride on Saturday and Sunday; easy days on Tuesday and Thursday and rest the other days. That works for a while until you get bored and go backwards as you're not giving your body a different stimulus. Mix things up." Don't forget intensity: "Every four weeks, you want to be including a macro cycle in which you train with greater intensity, before you go into an easier block. If you usually do six hours of training a week, in the fourth week, do eight or 10. Or instead of four sessions a week, do three but make one of them longer." Replicate climbs: "Even if you live in a flat area, you can do torque efforts, sweetspot and FTP intervals at a lower cadence of 50rpm. Alternatively, find routes and training sessions on an indoor trainer that simulate climbing. Use technology to your advantage." This article was first published as part of the 'Masterminds of Performance' series in the 16 July 2026 print edition of Cycling Weekly magazine available to buy on the newsstand every Thursday (UK only) while digital versions are available on Apple News and Readly. Subscriptions through Magazine's Direct.

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has extended the contract of one of its experienced support riders, keeping Ben Zwiehoff with the team beyond the 2026 season. The new agreement gives the former mountain biker another opportunity to combine his work for team leaders with his own ambitions for results. Th...

Component giant promises a lower stack height, faster engagement, lighter weight and simplified adjustments on updated Dura-Ace and Ultegra pedals, and there are new S-Phyre road shoes too

Component giant Shimano has launched a new range of products, marking a move away from SPD-SL, with top-of-the-range shoes, pedals, and cleats announced on Thursday.SPD-SLR represents the first update to the Shimano road cleat system since it was introduced in 2003, with the famous yellow, blue or red-bottomed cleats being refreshed to go with the latest Dura-Ace and Ultegra pedals. The news comes half a year after the prototype cleats were spotted at Paris-Roubaix and were partly responsible for ending Mathieu van der Poel's chances of victory.Given that it's now commonplace for frames to be designed alongside specific components, such as bars and wheels, to create a more efficient and unified system, its perhaps no surprise that Shimano has sought to find a similarly harmonious approach for its shoes, cleats and pedals. The latest generation of S-Phyre shoes, Dura-Ace and Ultegra pedals, and a new cleat system have been engineered together in a quest for a better connection. Called SPD-SLR, Shimano says the integrated platform utilises lower stack height, faster engagement, lighter components and simplified fit adjustments. And rather than redesigning each shoe, pedal and cleat from scratch, it has instead sought to refine "every interface where power is transferred from shoe to cleat, cleat to pedal and rider to bike". The Shimano press release points out: "Every watt begins at the riders foot."(Image credit: Shimano)Its generally agreed that a reduction in stack height, which is the difference between the height of the centre of the pedal axle to the ball of your foot, leads to more power. How much is up for debate, but reports suggest that for every millimeter the height is reduced, the cyclist gains a 1% increase in power. The SPD-SLR system reduces stack height by 2.3mm, which Shimano says not only improves power transfer but also enhances bike control whether climbing, sprinting or riding at threshold."We did a lot of testing; we did testing on bike fit, testing on road with different types of riders," Edoardo Esercizio, product planner at Shimano Europe, said at a launch event. "The real thing that improves is the contact point, and how attached you feel to the bike. You will notice. You wont feel that youre lower, because 2.3mm isnt much. Some riders dont even change the saddle height. "The big improvement is the sensation that you have a connection with the bike, theres basically no wobbling or air gap between the cleat and the pedal. When youre sprinting, you really feel it. Above 500 watts, you dont have the sensation that the cleat isnt really attached. Its one piece. You cant see improvement in watts, as these are marginal gains. Its about the feeling and connection you have with the bike."New cleats(Image credit: Shimano)The system also promises faster engagement. Shimano says that by creating a wider catch zone, as well as narrowing the engagement angle - down to 10.5 from the 15.5 on SPD-SL - it enables riders to clip in more quickly, increasing confidence in the process. They are, apparently, also easier to walk in. The redesigned CL-SL120 cleats, available in three options with float ranging from 0 to 3 degrees, are also claimed to be 22% lighter than the SPD-SL equivalents. The familiar red, blue, and yellow-bottomed cleats remain, with 0, 1, and 3 degrees of float, respectively, but the oblong washers are no more. The new cleats are 24.99/28.99 a pair.Theres also a fourth option designed to help riders using fixed-mount outsoles to transition to the new SPD-SLR system, in grey, with the oblong washer. However, these dont offer the lower stack height or weight-saving benefits. Its also important to note that the SPD-SLR cleats are not backward compatible with SPD-SL pedals, but can be used with existing SPD-SL shoes, albeit without the low stack benefits of the new ecosystem. Unofficially, the new cleats do fit into old SPD-SL pedals, but this is not manufacturer-recommended. The Dura-Ace pedals will be shipped with yellow cleats. The introduction of SPD-SLR does not mean the end of SPD-SL, importantly."Shimano will continue to support the SPD-SL system with a full range of cleats as long as there is a meaningful need from riders and the market, we intend to continue supporting the system," a Shimano spokesperson said this week. "Continued support is important given the significant number of SPD-SL products that have been sold and are still being used by riders worldwide."This is consistent with our approach to other legacy road components. For example, we continue to supply brake pads for previous-generation road brake calipers to ensure long-term support for existing users."SPD-SLR cleat option (Image credit: Shimano)New pedalsThis SPD-SLR system makes it debut on Shimanos new Dura-Ace PD-R9300 and Ultegra PD-R8200 pedals and the low-stack height isnt the only headliner. The Dura-Ace pedals feature an injection-molded carbon-composite body and an integrated stainless steel contact plate designed to add interface stiffness and improve engagement.(Image credit: Shimano)Shimano says the pedals are 11% stiffer than the PD-R8200 model, thanks to a new axle design with wider bearings that better distribute the load. The heat-treated axle and the refined bearing surfaces help to reduce rotational resistance by a claimed 53%. A pair will cost 199.99 / 229.99 / $300, which is intriguingly cheaper than the RRP for the old top-of-the-range pedals. The Ultegra PD-R8200 uses the same SPD-SLR architecture but swaps the carbon-composite body for a lightweight resin one. The stainless steel contact plate remains, and the Ultegra version will cost 139.99 / 160.99 / $200. New shoes(Image credit: Shimano)The final piece of the SPD-SLR puzzle are the shoes. The range-topping S-Phyre SH-RC910 features a carbon fibre heel cup with Shimanos Anti-Twist tech, a carbon mid-sole and a surround-wrap upper, with two Boa Li2 dials allowing for a precise fit. Shimano says the lower stack height, improved stability, and lower weight make for a shoe that lets the worlds best maintain efficient power delivery from the opening attack to the final sprint. The shoes come with wider lasts, thanks to Dynalast 2.0, with the regular pair widened by 3mm at the front, and 2mm at the back. They also offer more fore-and-aft adjustment underneath. They are available in blue, white, and black, and in wide, narrow, and regular varieties, and will cost 389.99 / 449.99 / $525. (Image credit: Shimano)The SH-RC810 model takes its cues from the S-Phyre model with some shared details, such as the Boa Li2 dials, the same external heel stabiliser and a carbon midsole that features a hollow channel to allow for water drainage and improved ventilation, but comes with a more affordable price tag. That's 319.99 / 369.99 / $400.

Shimano has spent more than two decades changing almost everything around its road pedals without seriously messing with the SPD-SL cleat. That changes with SPD-SLR.The new system brings a redesigned road cleat, new Dura-Ace and Ultegra pedals, and two new road shoes built around a lower shoe-to-pedal connection. Shimano says the complete package cuts stack height by 2.3mm, clips in faster, drops cleat weight, and creates a stiffer connection between the rider and bike. Just dont try to ride your teammates bike with the new SPD-SLR pedals and you have the SPD-SL cleatsask Mathieu Van Der Pol.The pedals are interesting, but nothing wildly different; same goes for the S-PHYRE shoes, but the cleat is where the story is.(All Photos/Shimano)First Change To SPD-SL Since 2003Shimano introduced SPD-SL in 2003. Shimano has updated pedal bodies, bearings, shoes, and even cleat float options. The basic three-bolt cleat-to-pedal interface has remained remarkably familiar. SPD-SLR is the first fundamental rethink of that connection in more than two decades.And, thanks to a tragic attempted bike change at 2026 Paris-Roubaix, we already know why compatibility matters.SPD-SLR: Same Idea Different ConnectionShimano is treating SPD-SLR as a complete system, not a new pedal with a slightly different body. If 2026 had a tagline for bike innovation, it would be think of it as a full system.Shimano developed the shoe, cleat, and pedal together, focusing on reducing movement between the three contact points. The biggest number is a 2.3 mm lower stack height, bringing the foot closer to the pedal axle.Why does stack height matter so much? A couple of millimeters doesnt sound dramatic until you remember this contact point moves thousands of times over a ride. A lower stack can reduce leverage between the foot and pedal axle, give a rounder pedal stroke, and provide a more stable platform under hard efforts.The cleat now sits tighter against the pedal. Shimano claims there is zero gap between the two surfaces as part of the new systems improved stability and power transfer. That also means a better clip-in experience.SPD-SLR = Faster Clip-InShimano has widened the catch area and reduced the engagement angle from 15.5 degrees on SPD-SL to 10.5 degrees on SPD-SLR. The smaller angle means less pedal rotation is needed before the cleat finds and engages the pedal.The redesigned cleats are also considerably lighter. Shimano says SPD-SLR cleats weigh up to 25% less than their SPD-SL equivalents. Example: The SM-SH12 cleat set weighs 71g compared with 55g for the new CL-SL120. But weve yet to actually lay hands on the new cleats.Sixteen grams will not transform a bike. However, getting lighter while reducing stack and changing the engagement mechanism is a nice bonus.Four SPD-SLR CleatsShimano is also expanding the road cleat family from the familiar red, blue, and yellow options to four SPD-SLR versions.Red (CL-SL100) is the fixed option with zero float.Yellow (CL-SL110) is the higher-float option, with Shimano showing 3 degrees of rotational movement.Blue (CL-SL120) reduces that to 1 degree for riders who want some movement without much lateral wandering.Gray (CL-SL130), which is a little different.The gray cleat is intended to help riders use SPD-SLR pedals with most non-Shimano three-bolt road shoes. It provides more adjustment range for shoes with fixed cleat mounting positions, but it does not provide the same low-stack or weight benefits as the three core SPD-SLR cleats. Basically, if you want the low stack and low weight, youre gonna have to get on the Shimano shoes. But lets move on to the pedals.New Dura-Ace PD-R9300 PedalsSPD-SLR makes its top-level debut on the new Dura-Ace PD-R9300.Visually, it still looks like a Shimano road pedal. The changes are in the body shape, contact surface, bearings, and the new cleat interface. The pedal uses an injection-molded carbon-composite body with an extra-wide platform and an integrated stainless steel contact plate. Shimano says the plate improves engagement and increases stiffness at the shoe-pedal interface.The axle runs on wider bearings intended to spread load more evenly. Shimano claims an 11% increase in stiffness compared with the PD-R8200. Shimano now heat-treats the axle and has revised the bearing surfaces. In this new process, Shimano claims 53% less rotational resistance than the PD-R8200.Shimanos goal was to reduce losses through the entire connection from shoe to axle. It sounds pretty convincing, but thats only if youre getting on the shoes too.Ultegra Gets SPD-SLR TooThe new Ultegra PD-R8200 uses the same SPD-SLR architecture.It gets a lightweight resin body, stainless steel contact plate, and the same engagement characteristics as Dura-Ace. Riders will trade some of the top-tier refinement for a slightly lower price point, but with the same stack height as the Dura-Ace setup.New S-PHYRE RC910Shimano also built a new flagship shoe around the lower SPD-SLR interface, and its pretty integral to the whole system.The S-PHYRE SH-RC910 gets a new Carbon Hollow Core midsole, carbon-fiber heel cup with Anti-Twist Stabilization, revised surround-wrapping upper, additional ventilation, and DYNALAST 2.0. The SPD-SLR mounting platform should give riders more cleat adjustment range.Shimano says the Carbon Hollow Core construction aims for maximum pedaling efficiency while keeping weight down. The carbon heel structure is meant to keep the back of the foot from twisting under hard efforts. The previous S-PHYRE used nylon heel retention and felt OK to us, but I wouldnt mind carbon if its comfortable.The lower cleat interface is part of the shoe, not something Shimano popped underneath an existing RC903.RC810 Brings the Platform Down a LevelThe new SH-RC810 brings much of the same thinking to the tier below S-PHYRE.It uses dual BOA Li2 dials, DYNALAST 2.0, an external heel stabilizer, replaceable heel pads, and a hollow-channel carbon midsole with ventilation and water drainage.Most importantly, it gets the new SPD-SLR mounting platform and expanded cleat adjustment.That gives Shimano two shoes (at different price points) built around the new interface from launch, while still letting riders with existing Shimano three-bolt road shoes use the new cleats.Where From Here?For a company that rarely changes standards without a reason, SPD-SLR is a notable move. Shimano has decided there were enough gains left between the sole of the shoe and the pedal axle to justify walking away from more than 20 years of road-pedal compatibility.After watching Van der Poel discover that fact in the middle of Arenberg, nobody can say Shimano changed it quietly. But well save our comments until we can experience this new system for ourselves. Until then, remember to check the neutral service bikes next year.