MTB or Road Shoes

Author
Discussion

Celt

Original Poster:

1,264 posts

191 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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I am looking at getting some pedals and shoes. Been on flat pedals since I got the bike last year, a Pinnacle road bike. I only use the bike for fun never commute or travel on it.

Looking at youtube videos that suggested getting MTB shoes and pedals even for road bikes as you are able to walk in them without sounding like a tap dancer. Should I be going for MTB pedals? I am only ever going to be using them on a road bike and rarely walking in them, only really going into shops for water when I am out.

Any suggestions for shoes and pedals as well? As cheap as possible ideally! Just finished uni and not overly flush at the minute.



ewenm

28,506 posts

244 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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If you're just doing road rides on the bike with no commuting/utility use, I'd go for some Shimano SPD-SL shoes and pedals (road). I have a single pair of shoes I use for road and MTB so use MTB shoes/pedals on both but if I was just a recreational roadie I'd be on road shoes/pedals.

timbo48

688 posts

181 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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I've got an mtb and a road 'bike. Started out on my road 'bike using mtb clip ins and shoes but have now moved over to road shoes and pedals. Pros and cons using these, the worst thing about them is that the pedals are one sided so clipping in isn't as straightforward as the mtb pedals. This shows itself on my urban commute when stopping for traffic, red lights etc when I'm not always able to clip in straight away. And you can't really walk far in them (forget your spare tube or pump and you'll be walking in bare feet after a bit!). However, if you don't commute and use the 'bike for "training" rides etc, then road shoes/pedals would be best. Incidentally, if you go for a xc racing oriented shoe, they're pretty rigid plus you can use double sided pedals......somebody's going to tell me next you can get double sided road pedals as well;-)

TwistingMyMelon

6,385 posts

204 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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I use loads of different combos of shoes and pedals:

If you want to walk anywhere and commute through bad weather then MTB peds/shoes are best

If you are getting quicker and want to maximise pedal stoke: Road systems, such as SPD-SL and a stiff shoe

When I'm really going for it up steep hills I much prefer a stiff shoe, but these are the worst to walk in!

Fugazi

564 posts

120 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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Shimano M520 pedals (double sided) and M064 shoes for me. At just £15 for the pedals, it makes them almost disposable and about £40 for the shoes if you shop around, plus they're more like a road shoe than some of the other SPD shoes. Have used a pair of these shoes for nearly 12 months for commuting and weekend rides, several thousand miles in all and they're still going, bought another pair to replace them earlier this year but I'm still using my old ones to commute in daily.

Steve vRS

4,836 posts

240 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
I'm using SPDs with these:-

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-a520-touring-pe...

Finding them to be a happy compromise. I may change to SPD-SLs in the future but like this set up at the moment.

Steve

SteveSteveson

3,209 posts

162 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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If your not planning on stopping much, go road/Look style. Stiffer and better transfer of power.

I use SPD's as I commute, have to stop a lot when I get to town, walk from the parking to the office and ride off road for much of my ride, but there are times I wish I used road cleats.

Alternatively get something like the Shimano SH-R087G which takes both cleats and try them. The shoes are the expensive bit (as long as you are buying the low end peddles, which work perfectly well).

Jimbo.

3,941 posts

188 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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Why is walking such a consideration? If I'm cycling, I want cycling shoes, therefore buy the most appropriate ones for...cycling!

TwistingMyMelon

6,385 posts

204 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Jimbo. said:
Why is walking such a consideration? If I'm cycling, I want cycling shoes, therefore buy the most appropriate ones for...cycling!
Because I stop at supermarkets on way home from work
I go to pub on way home from work
I walk through office when I get to work

Easier if a shoe is walkable in

When I go out for "just a ride" I wear proper road shoes, I can put up with the pita they are to walk in, but it wrecks them!

Nighthawk

1,757 posts

243 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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I have mtb pedals on both my bikes, The soles on my spesh mtb shoes are plenty stiff enough for my level of road cycling smile

Kell

1,708 posts

207 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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Jimbo. said:
Why is walking such a consideration? If I'm cycling, I want cycling shoes, therefore buy the most appropriate ones for...cycling!
It isn't for the OP. But for lots it is.

I use MTB shoes as my commute has a combination of bike, train and car.

I need to be able to walk (and sometimes run) for my train. Anyone that knows Marylebone station will know it's a fair hike from the barriers to platform 6. Rubber shoes with soles work better. My last pair had plasticised grips, but were MTB. I'm sure they'd be great in mud, but on polished tiles they were lethal and I went on my arse on more than one occasion.

Also, I can drive in my MTB shoes.

I can't afford/don't want to faff about with several pairs of shoes so it's MTB for me.

BadgerBenji

3,524 posts

217 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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MTB shoes, on all bikes, no matter what event I go to, as long as I have packed some does they are going to fit. As for stiffness and efficiency, it's not noticeable in the real world of average cyclists.

AW10

4,422 posts

248 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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Whatever you do don't try to use road SPD pedals with MTB shoes. They clip in just fine. But getting out is a bit difficult!

SteveSteveson

3,209 posts

162 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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AW10 said:
Whatever you do don't try to use road SPD pedals with MTB shoes. They clip in just fine. But getting out is a bit difficult!
Eh? I may be being thick, but as far as I am aware there is no such thing as "road" SPDs or "MTB" SPDs as such. There is SPD (what people are calling MTB) and SPD SL, shimanos "look" style road system, which uses a totally diffrent cleat. All SDP pedals should fit all SPD shoes. SPD SL stuff won't work with SPD stuff at all.

Having said this, they should have used another name. Calling them both SPD can confuse people when buying online.

AW10

4,422 posts

248 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
The cleat is the same but on a road shoe the cleat is proud of the sole and fully exposed and on an MTB shoe it's recessed into sole which is what allows you to walk fairly normally. I tried MTB SPD shoes on my SPD road pedals and they clicked in just fine but there wasn't clearance to twist the shoe to release. I fell over. Had to take teh hoes off and use a screwdriver to get them off the pedals!

AW10

4,422 posts

248 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
One minor point - not sure if I was using black (MTB) or silver (road) cleats at the time of that little incident. The silver cleats release easier (more angles) but having ridden on black cleats for years I prefer how they feel.

Edited by AW10 on Monday 25th May 01:30

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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Great picture of the difference



I have no idea how anyone could wedge an SPD cleat (or what the picture describes as "walkable MTB" into an SPD SL pedal (titled "road" in the picture)

Personally I'd use road pedals and shoes as the difference is huge, mtb shoes are just too flappy and the soles bend which is uncomfortable and inhibits power transfer. If you get off your bike whilst wearing SPD SLs, just invest in some cleat covers to stop them getting trashed and you get some grip too.

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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I think there's been some confusion on this thread recently.

SPD-SL = Road pedal system (large 'plastic' cleats)
SPD = MTB/Touring pedal system (small metal cleats)

MTB shoes = no way you're gonna fit an SPD-SL cleat, as it won't have either the space, or the bolt holes.
High end Road shoes = no way you're gonna fit an SPD cleat, as, despite having plenty of space, it won't have the bolt holes.
Low to mid range Road shoes = often come with bolt fittings for both SPD-SL and SPD cleats. You fit which ones you prefer.

There's no way you can either...
a) confuse them and try to use the wrong pedals
...nor...
b) if you do confuse them, wedge the wrong cleat into the wrong pedal.

I'd strongly recommend NOT fitting shiny metal SPD (MTB/touring) cleats to road shoes. SPD-SL cleats have rubber pads to assist walking (for VERY short distances), whereas SPD cleats on Road shoes = ice skates. Ever the 'pro', I even removed the SPD cleat fittings from my new Road shoes when I bought them, to save the weight... wink
If you feel you must use SPD cleats and pedals on a 'Road' bike, either wear MTB/Touring shoes, or some 'road-style' SPD shoes, or you WILL end up on your arse.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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I use "MTB" SPD shoes on all of my bikes.

On the mountain bikes I usually wear a pair of Specialized Taho and on the commuter and road bikes I wear a pair of Pearl Izumi XC racing mtb shoes which are very stiff and comfortable on a long road ride, with no issues with cleat pressure.

I have used road style shoes and pedals, and didn't really notice any difference when I first jumped onto the bike, but the lack of walking ability put me off.

pembo

1,203 posts

192 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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AW10 said:
One minor point - not sure if I was using black (MTB) or silver (road) cleats at the time of that little incident. The silver cleats release easier (more angles) but having ridden on black cleats for years I prefer how they feel.

Edited by AW10 on Monday 25th May 01:30
You know the silver and black SPD cleats are exactly the same right?

OP for the best of both worlds how about a touring shoe like the Shimano RT32 (£45 at chain reaction) which will fit a recessed SPD cleat which will mean that you can walk a bit more easily and the sole is rubber rather than the hard plastic you usually get with MTB shoes.

They will work perfectly with a set of M520 pedals and get you a decent setup for around £60.

Having seen a few people try to walk in SPD-SL road shoes lately I have no idea why anyone other than those really trying to push faster and faster times would bother. Bambi had less trouble than these guys!!