Road shoes and A520 pedals

BlueScot

My girlfriend uses clunky MTB shoes on her road bike with A520 SPD pedals. In an attempt to use something a little lighter, we bought Shimano WR40 women's road shoes:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Shima ... 360040182/
These shoes have both the three hole and SPD two hole pattern on their sole, so in theory would allow her to stick with SPD cleats, but they wouldn't be recessed. A SPD SH51 cleat would stick out making it dangerous to walk. To avoid this I bought her the SH71 SPD cleat with the pontoon:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Shima ... 000000887/
Trouble is, it appears that the A520 is not compatible with the SH71 cleat! The pontoon is a little too thick for the cleat to engage.

I can't find any way to make these pontoons work with her pedals, but she prefers to stick with SPD, so I'm trying to decide the best way forward:
1. Sell the shoes on ebay (they've never been worn but have cleat marks on the soles) and buy a different SPD road shoe. (Any recommendations?) OR
2. Get a different pedal that will work with the new shoe & pontoons and her old MTB shoes?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Chris James

A520s foul on SH71 cleats.

Other SPD pedals without the surrounding platforms will work fine with SH71 cleats.

eg I have old A515 pedals and road winter boots with SH71 cleats and they work ok.

You may be able to hack away at teh pontoons iwth a sharp knife to get them to fit.

Personally I'd get M520s or something similar for about £20.

BlueScot

Thanks for that.
The M520s seem a little smaller and double sided - any down sides to using those on a road bike (for sportives and touring, not for racing)?
At the end of the day, she wants to use a MTB cleat on a road bike, so I suppose it's inevitable she ends up with a MTB pedal! Maybe I should push (or nag) her towards SPD SL or similar

alfablue

No downsides IMHO, double sided are easier. Perfect for all sorts of road riding.

Mister W

I rode for several years, and raced, with SPD pedals and a road shoe with standard SPD cleats. Yes, you have to be a bit careful when walking in the shoes but I didn't have any more problem than I do now with SPD-SL cleats. My wife still uses SPDs on her road bike with MTB shoes as she finds them more comfortable. Yes, they're heavier than road shoes but I can't see any problem with that unless you're a weight weenie.

keef66

I have mtb pedals (M540) with spd cleats recessed into touring type shoes which look more like road than mtb footwear. Never notice any foot discomfort, but 50 miles is as far as I've got so far. Walking is obviously not a problem.

BlueScot

I have some old touring type shoes as well that look quite like road shoes (Shimano RT51). I was quite happy using them until I bought my new bike last year and put on SPD SL pedals. The problem I've had is trying to find a similar (relatively lightweight) touring shoe for women.

daviesee

If you are prepared to splash the cash have a look at Sidi mtb shoes.
I have a pair that look more like touring shoes, the cleat is recessed, they are not heavy, have a stiff sole and work a treat with the A520's :P

Not only that but the shoes are ultra comfy.

However they are a few years old and new models may vary.