Yeah I prefer road pedals on cross bikes – don’t ever get off and walk and don’t race so no need for rattly MTB cleats on the road. Power transfer is a lot better and it feels much more like a road bike on the road, which is nice. They’ve lasted surprisingly well off road – they are a year old and have been ridden on some adventurous trails… Just don’t get off and push in the mud.
The geometry is similar to the Kinesis – top tube is identical, angles the same, wheelbase near enough the same, chainstays the same… The differences are the Salsa has 10mm more BB drop and a 15mm longer headtube.