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Plenty of people use SPDs on road bikes, I will when I eventually succumb to getting one. What's the problem as long as it works for you? Apart from that, I like being able to walk properly....How do you find the ride on your typical British street? I know of people using the Cayo for a commute, but it's more stiff and racey than sportive/fast commute (a la Spesh Roubaix etc) from what I've heard..?
The reviews I have read seem to stack up with what you say. I wanted something 'racey'.
I haven't ridden it far yet, just around the block a couple of times. So with that caveat I will say our local roads are anything but smooth and I'd say it was okay. Certainly not smooth like my Ti bike was but on the other hand only a slight amount of road buzz when riding on a poorly dressed road surface. I was amazed at the amount of forward momentum generated when I pushed off on it. However the effect did not seem so great once I got it upto speed. It's really hard to measure the benefit I'm getting as I don't ride with a computer.
I do see a few people commuting on them in Manchester.
I took the cayo on it's first proper ride today. En route to the start of the club run, I took a gradual climb riding up the A34 over the M60 from Gatley into East Didsbury. Nothing too strenuous, but it does usually bring you into the wind a little bit. I was going steadily saving my legs, so averaging about 15mph prior to this point. I put in slightly less than my usual extra amount of effort riding up the incline and the bike sailed up to 18 mph! I put in just a little more and I reached 20 mph at the summit. I couldn't believe how well it climbed!! I'm delighted with the response this bike gives everytime I push a bit more. Even after ~40 miles, on the way home I was cruising at over 22 mph.
After about three hours and fifty miles in the Saddle, I reckon the bike is comfortable enough for me to easily do a ton. I didn't encounter any road buzz and we rode on a multitude of surfaces. In my limited experience of this bike and other bikes, the only one I have to ride any better was Ti.
