Best Cycling Shoes for Spin Class
SPD-compatible shoes ranked for fit, stiffness and walkability.
Read → 9 min readUpdated September 2026 · 9 min read
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One decision governs this category: SPD or Delta. Choose SPD unless your studio tells you otherwise — the cleat sits recessed in the sole so you can walk normally, and the pedals are double-sided so you clip in without hunting for the right face. Delta is on indoor bikes largely because Peloton chose it, and any 9/16 inch SPD pedal will replace it. Nothing about a Peloton crank is proprietary.

Quick Picks — At a Glance
BUCKLOS Bike Clip Pedals (Peloton/Delta/SPD)
Best if you're not sure which cleat standard you need
5 Options · Ranked
Venzo's pedals are Shimano SPD compatible and include toe clips, which gives you two ways to ride the same pedal: clipped in with SPD-cleated shoes, or strapped in with ordinary trainers. That flexibility is the correct default for a shared home bike, where not everyone in the house owns cycling shoes. SPD is the right clip standard for indoor cycling because the cleat is small and recessed into the sole, so you can walk normally between the bike and the rest of the house — unlike a protruding Delta or road cleat. Check that your bike's spindle is 9/16 inch, which is standard on almost every indoor bike, and remember the left pedal is reverse-threaded.
Shop on AmazonBUCKLOS builds these as multi-cleat compatible, working across Peloton, Delta, and SPD cleat types. That matters most for households where the bike gets ridden by more than one person with different shoes, or for anyone replacing worn stock pedals without wanting to also commit to a new shoe-and-cleat system right away. Being compatible across standards means you can switch which cleat type you ride without buying a second set of pedals. As with any indoor pedal, confirm the 9/16 inch spindle fits your bike before ordering.
Shop on AmazonThe YBEKI pedal uses sealed bearings, which resist the sweat and moisture that build up under a spin bike over repeated sessions, and it carries a 12-month warranty — a useful signal of confidence from the manufacturer given the price. For riders training several times a week who want a pedal built to hold up rather than the cheapest possible option, the combination of sealed bearings and warranty coverage makes this the more durable pick in this lineup.
Shop on AmazonThis dual-sided pedal covers Peloton, Delta, and SPD cleats and clips in from either face, so you don't have to flip the pedal to find the right side. At just under $36, it's the lowest-cost option here that still covers all three major cleat standards, making it a sensible starting point if you want broad compatibility without paying a premium for it.
Shop on AmazonThis BUCKLOS pedal pairs an SPD-cleat-compatible clip side with a flat platform on the reverse, the same combo-pedal logic that makes sense for any shared bike: clip in with cycling shoes, or ride flat in trainers, on the same pedal without swapping hardware. It's built to mountain-bike pedal standards, which typically means a wider platform than road-oriented pedals — useful if you want a bit more foot support on the flat side during longer sessions.
Shop on AmazonSPD or Delta for indoor cycling?
SPD for almost everyone. The SPD cleat is small and sits recessed into the sole, so you can walk normally from the bike to anywhere else — a Delta or LOOK road cleat protrudes and makes walking awkward and slippery. SPD pedals are also usually double-sided, so you can clip in without flipping the pedal to find the right face. Delta exists on indoor bikes mainly because Peloton chose it; it offers a slightly larger contact platform, which matters for long road rides and very little for a 45-minute studio class. If your studio mandates a standard, follow the studio.
Will any pedals fit my spin bike?
Almost certainly, provided the spindle is 9/16 inch, which is the standard on essentially every indoor bike including Peloton. The narrower 1/2 inch size exists on some very old or department-store machines, so check if your bike is unusual. There is nothing proprietary about a Peloton crank, which is why SPD conversion is straightforward. Remember the left pedal is reverse-threaded — it tightens anticlockwise — and you will need either a 15mm pedal spanner or a 6mm Allen key depending on the pedal design.
Do clip-in pedals come with cleats?
It varies by listing, and this is a common source of frustration. Some SPD-compatible and multi-cleat pedals include cleats in the box; others do not, and some listings show cleats in the photograph without actually including them. Read the product specification rather than trusting the image, and check the seller's listing details before ordering if cleats matter to your budget.
Are clip-in pedals worth it for indoor cycling?
For anything more than occasional riding, yes. Being attached to the pedal lets you apply force through the upstroke as well as the downstroke, which distributes work across more muscle and makes high-cadence efforts noticeably smoother. It also stops the foot sliding forward on the pedal, which is what causes hot spots and numbness in trainers. That said, a well-adjusted toe cage delivers a good share of the same benefit, and is the better choice for shared bikes or anyone who wants to get a foot down instantly.
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