Road bike pedals
Discussion
I'm just about to buy a road bike and am looking at pedals.
My MTB has Shimano SPDs and I don't know if its worth getting a set of Looks or SPD-SLs, each requiring a set of shoes to match, or just fit some M970 XTRs and use my existing SPD shoes.
Option 1 will be £200-£250, option 2 is £75.
Is there a big advantage of option 1?
My MTB has Shimano SPDs and I don't know if its worth getting a set of Looks or SPD-SLs, each requiring a set of shoes to match, or just fit some M970 XTRs and use my existing SPD shoes.
Option 1 will be £200-£250, option 2 is £75.
Is there a big advantage of option 1?
Hi I got my first road bike a few months ago (Boardman team carbon) after 20 yrs of MTB'ing. I tried my MTB SPD pedals & (Scott) shoes on the roadie first, but after deliberating same as you I bought some Look Keo 2 Max pedals and dhb (wiggle own brand) R1 shoes for a total of about £115-£120. I absolutely don't regret spending the £120 though can't really put my finger on excacly why - its' just better ! (could even be phsycological)
This comes up fairly regularly 
The soles on MTB shoes are fairly soft making for more inefficient pedalling than compared to stiff road shoes. MTB shoes also tend to be less well ventilated than road shoes
It's almost worth saving the £75 for the SPD pedals and going for a set of flat pedals + metal toeclips and riding in trainers
The soles on MTB shoes are fairly soft making for more inefficient pedalling than compared to stiff road shoes. MTB shoes also tend to be less well ventilated than road shoes
It's almost worth saving the £75 for the SPD pedals and going for a set of flat pedals + metal toeclips and riding in trainers
A much wider range of road shoes as the cleats are different. Look Keo and Shimano SPD-SL are 3 bolt cleats, SPD is 2 bolt.
Other than some Shimano touring shoes, I don't think anyone else makes any
The pedal contact area with road shoes is much bigger to help avoid hotspots in the feet and assist power transfer.
Other than some Shimano touring shoes, I don't think anyone else makes any
The pedal contact area with road shoes is much bigger to help avoid hotspots in the feet and assist power transfer.
Surprised no-one has mentioned that Shinmano used to support the original SPD format on road dedicated pedals... I currently use an Ultegra set on my road bike and a set of jewel like Dura Ace variants on a lo-pro. No issues at all with sole stiffness on contemporary Sidi Genius road shoes, nor with security. No idea if still available but maybe some new old stock out there?
itsnotarace said:
This comes up fairly regularly
The soles on MTB shoes are fairly soft making for more inefficient pedalling than compared to stiff road shoes. MTB shoes also tend to be less well ventilated than road shoes
It's almost worth saving the £75 for the SPD pedals and going for a set of flat pedals + metal toeclips and riding in trainers
Not strictly true... the soles on some MTB shoes are but you can also get rigid plastic sole shoes or carbon... only difference is some extra plastic "knobbles" for grip when off the bike.The soles on MTB shoes are fairly soft making for more inefficient pedalling than compared to stiff road shoes. MTB shoes also tend to be less well ventilated than road shoes
It's almost worth saving the £75 for the SPD pedals and going for a set of flat pedals + metal toeclips and riding in trainers
SPD are fine but SPD-SLs will theoretically hold the shoe stronger, transfer more of the power through and more evenly.
SPDs are far better than toeclips and trainers with any plastic/resin/CF soled shoe clipped in.
I've got an old road bike with no longer made Shimano SPD road bike pedals and tri shoes and one with SPD SL pedals and road shoes. I also have a MTB with SPD pedals and shoes. ALL the shoes I have are quite rigid sole ones.
I don't get the hot spots people talk about after long rides with spd's on a road bike I don't really notice much of a difference from the cleats alone, to me it's the shoe construction and ventilation that differ mostly between mountain bike and road bike style shoes. Obviously that and walking when off the bike.
I expect you could cycle around quite happily with good rigid sole MTB spd shoes on a road bike with MTB spd pedals on it. You'd possibly even be better off with MTB shoes, if you have to get on and off the bike a lot and walk at all. Roadie snobs would possibly frown at you, if that bothers you.
I don't get the hot spots people talk about after long rides with spd's on a road bike I don't really notice much of a difference from the cleats alone, to me it's the shoe construction and ventilation that differ mostly between mountain bike and road bike style shoes. Obviously that and walking when off the bike.
I expect you could cycle around quite happily with good rigid sole MTB spd shoes on a road bike with MTB spd pedals on it. You'd possibly even be better off with MTB shoes, if you have to get on and off the bike a lot and walk at all. Roadie snobs would possibly frown at you, if that bothers you.
Edited by el stovey on Monday 14th June 16:47
el stovey said:
I expect you could cycle around quite happily with good rigid sole MTB spd shoes on a road bike with MTB spd pedals on it. Roadie snobs would possibly frown at you, if that bothers you.
That's my set-up, and to be honest, the 1% advantage to be gained from a dedicated road-bike set-up would be totally lost on me. I'm not riding to win the Tour de France, just riding for pleasure, commuting or fitness.el stovey said:
I expect you could cycle around quite happily with good rigid sole MTB spd shoes on a road bike with MTB spd pedals on it. Roadie snobs would possibly frown at you, if that bothers you.
My wife does just this. She rides a Boardman Team Carbon and gets a 50+ mile ride in every weekend. She has Ritchey SPD pedals and uses Shimano WM60/80(?) shoes. She has these as she also uses them for spin classes at the gym, where they use SPD pedals. I use a more 'trainer' orientated Shimano shoe so my wife's are lighter but neither shoe can be bent in the sole. I have never noticed any foot aches after a 3 hour hard ride but the point about ventilation is well made. My feet can get hot.I can see there is more choice in SL or Keo shoes so am likely to go this route although the ability to walk around in cleated shoes is greatly under-rated. Anyone who has had an un repairable puncture whilst being being tantalisingly close to civilisation/a pub will know what I mean.
john_p said:
What improvement is possible with SPDs etc? On road and off road.
I understand the potential downsides
A friend I cycle with switched from trainers and toe-clips to SPDs on his roadbike. He noticed a massive difference immediately and finds climbs much easier now. He has noticed the very stiff soles allow him to put a lot more power through the pedals with little extra effort.I understand the potential downsides
I use MTB shoes (knackered old ones) on my road bike as I use the same pedals on my mtb and they are still much better than trainers.
I'm a biking newbie, only having got into it over the last few years but spent about 6-12 months cycle commuting with "the pedals that came with the bike" and a pair of trainers before getting some reasonably decent Shimano shoes and SPD-SL pedals.
Lots of improvements.. the solid plastic sole on the shoes makes my feet feel much more comfortable. Going back to a traditional pedal / trainer combo I found the soles of my feet hurting after a 20 mile ride at the two points on my feet where the raised metal parts of the pedal were. Additionally, you can pedal as furiously or as hard as you like and know that it's quite unlikely your feet will slip off the pedal - a real bonus on a steep climb for example when you want to put all your weight down but are always on the side of caution in case your foot slips! Also, depending on how serious you are, if you're clipped in it means you can apply power on the upstroke as well as the downstroke. I'm not that much of a serious cyclist tbh, but if you are, you'll see benefits there too
I really did notice an improvement though and really like having them on my geared road bike.
Downsides? Only a few. The most obvious one being if you forget to unclip, you fall off. They say that everyone will have three clipless moments.. I've had one very near miss and one outright when I toppled over in a queue of traffic, because my legs were too tired to unclip after a long day at work. I just pulled up to a stop and fell over! You will get used to it, but the first few rides and the "near misses" will stick with you
Lots of improvements.. the solid plastic sole on the shoes makes my feet feel much more comfortable. Going back to a traditional pedal / trainer combo I found the soles of my feet hurting after a 20 mile ride at the two points on my feet where the raised metal parts of the pedal were. Additionally, you can pedal as furiously or as hard as you like and know that it's quite unlikely your feet will slip off the pedal - a real bonus on a steep climb for example when you want to put all your weight down but are always on the side of caution in case your foot slips! Also, depending on how serious you are, if you're clipped in it means you can apply power on the upstroke as well as the downstroke. I'm not that much of a serious cyclist tbh, but if you are, you'll see benefits there too
I really did notice an improvement though and really like having them on my geared road bike.Downsides? Only a few. The most obvious one being if you forget to unclip, you fall off. They say that everyone will have three clipless moments.. I've had one very near miss and one outright when I toppled over in a queue of traffic, because my legs were too tired to unclip after a long day at work. I just pulled up to a stop and fell over! You will get used to it, but the first few rides and the "near misses" will stick with you
If you're coming from MTB Spds to SPD-SL type. The hardest thing you'll find is that the pedal is only one sided. And the reverse side has next to no grip (albeit it with my R105 shoes) so pulling away, realising you aren't clipped in and trying to pedal to get a bit of speed up to maintain balance is a 1 legged affair. 
However, I would recommend them to anyone. The pedal-in-circles and overall comfort more than justifys the price. Though I wonder just how much better the Dura Ace items are over the 105's I have.
However, I would recommend them to anyone. The pedal-in-circles and overall comfort more than justifys the price. Though I wonder just how much better the Dura Ace items are over the 105's I have.
Rich_W said:
If you're coming from MTB Spds to SPD-SL type. The hardest thing you'll find is that the pedal is only one sided. And the reverse side has next to no grip
+1I've got the SLs on my road bike and SPD on the folder. Double-sided ones so much nicer to use. The road ones never seem to 'just click in' the way the MTB ones do.
Chicane-UK said:
Totally missed in the original post that you'd already ridden with SPD's and were just considered roadbike equivalents - I worded my post as if you'd never ridden clipless before. Apologies!
Ha, no problem.I've just ordered M183s and XTR pedals. Now to go and get the bike!
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