Road v MTB pedals

redmeat

Hello
Just bought a new road bike and it will arrive without pedals.
Thing is I've mostly been mountain biking the last few years so the pedals on my MTB and commute bikes are SPDs.
So do I just buy another pair of SPDs and stick to the MTB shoes or buy road pedals which means new shoes also?
Mate of mine in work said "you're better off with proper road pedals, more contact area and better feel on the pedal"
Thought I'd ask for some feedback please?
Oh before anyone says you can use road cleats with MTB shoes, you cant with mine. Not enough room between the tread.
Thanks

rake

road pedals hold more secure and keep the shoe closer to the axle. that said i use mtb setup purely so i can walk into shops etc without skidding over. cant say if there are any real differences as ive never used a road shoe. :roll:

rich164h

stick with the spds if you've already got shoes

Frank the tank

Unless you're going to be riding competitively or the cost of a new pair of shoes is not an issue you may aswell stick to your MTB set-up.

John.T

road pedals keep the shoe closer to the axle.

Not too sure about that. I swap my winter bike from SPD-SL to SPD each winter and never have to move the saddle.
Redmeat. If you have no issues with SPD on the MTB then you won't have any on a road bike. The only difference I find is SPD-SL give a slightly more stable platform. If you want something a bit more road orientated fit SPD-A520 or similar.

dabber

John.T wrote:

Redmeat. If you have no issues with SPD on the MTB then you won't have any on a road bike. The only difference I find is SPD-SL give a slightly more stable platform. If you want something a bit more road orientated fit SPD-A520 or similar.

That's the route I'm going to try. SWMBO has bought me the A520s as a Chrissie pressie (I hope). I obviously haven't tried them yet but I wanted to stick with SPD shoes rather than skid around with SPD-SLs.

redmeat

The A520 look perfect for what I want. Look like the best of both worlds.
Thanks for the info I've just bought a pair from Chain for £30 which is not a bad price for pedals.
Thanks again

Buckled_Rims

I have 105 road pedals, but I prefer SPD. Recently bought a pair of Time RXS MTB shoes and put the SPD's on. Almost the same secure feeling of my road pedal/shoe combination but I can actually walk and clip in/out easily.

I've said before, I'll never buy another pair of SPD-SL road pedals again. I might try the A520 someday however.

sfichele

I've been running standard SPDs for the last two years and they're been fine. But just bought a new road bike so I'm gonna make the jump to road pedals just to see what all the fuss is about and whether they really do give you more power/stability - but I'm skeptical.

Buckled_Rims

sfichele wrote:

I've been running standard SPDs for the last two years and they're been fine. But just bought a new road bike so I'm gonna make the jump to road pedals just to see what all the fuss is about and whether they really do give you more power/stability - but I'm skeptical.

There's no doubt in my mind that SPD-SL is more stable (I used to say power transfer) and comfortable for long distances. However, I live in a town centre and need to cycle through heavy traffic at times with traffic lights and junctions aplenty. Clipping in/out is a bit of a hassle compared to ordinary SPDs. Also, the SL cleats don't last long if you walk any distance.

iPete

Stick with SPD IMO. If your happy with them, perfect and you don't have to worry about buying different shoes. I'd put money on me being no quicker with SPD-SL...

paulbox

At the moment I've just stuck a pair of old mtb SPD pedals on my new road bike but have been thinking about getting some of the 520's, do people find the fact that they only have clips on one side a pain?
Thanks, Paul

iPete

PaulBox wrote:

At the moment I've just stuck a pair of old mtb SPD pedals on my new road bike but have been thinking about getting some of the 520's, do people find the fact that they only have clips on one side a pain?
Thanks, Paul

I've just added these to my winter run around. Its no problem at all, if your very used to clipping in you'll do it first time, every time as they tend not to spin. I'll be moving them to my road bike in the summer I'm so impressed.

paulbox

iPete wrote:

PaulBox wrote:

At the moment I've just stuck a pair of old mtb SPD pedals on my new road bike but have been thinking about getting some of the 520's, do people find the fact that they only have clips on one side a pain?
Thanks, Paul

I've just added these to my winter run around. Its no problem at all, if your very used to clipping in you'll do it first time, every time as they tend not to spin. I'll be moving them to my road bike in the summer I'm so impressed.

Cool, thanks.

If for some reason they did spin and you didn't notice when pulling away from lights for example, is the platform on the reverse side of the pedal sufficient to use for a few strokes?

iPete

PaulBox wrote:

iPete wrote:

PaulBox wrote:

At the moment I've just stuck a pair of old mtb SPD pedals on my new road bike but have been thinking about getting some of the 520's, do people find the fact that they only have clips on one side a pain?
Thanks, Paul

I've just added these to my winter run around. Its no problem at all, if your very used to clipping in you'll do it first time, every time as they tend not to spin. I'll be moving them to my road bike in the summer I'm so impressed.

Cool, thanks.

If for some reason they did spin and you didn't notice when pulling away from lights for example, is the platform on the reverse side of the pedal sufficient to use for a few strokes?

Yup you can still get away ok. They are a little slippy but I have the reflectors fitted which makes the surface much flatter.

robz400

I've just this minute come back from the bike shop to upgrade my shoes and pedals from mountain bike shoes and SPD m520 pedals.

Road pedals have a much bigger contact patch which should help with power transfer and the shoes are much stiffer.

Main reason for doing it is that twice whilst putting the power down to keep up with traffic one side has come unclipped which very nearly had me off. Ive had the tension on max but they just don't cope well with sprinting type efforts.

John.T

robz400 wrote:

I've just this minute come back from the bike shop to upgrade my shoes and pedals from mountain bike shoes and SPD m520 pedals.
Road pedals have a much bigger contact patch which should help with power transfer and the shoes are much stiffer.
Main reason for doing it is that twice whilst putting the power down to keep up with traffic one side has come unclipped which very nearly had me off. Ive had the tension on max but they just don't cope well with sprinting type efforts.

Road pedals do not really have a bigger contact patch than A520s, only a bigger cleat. They do give a slightly more stable platform but there is no difference in power transfer. Softer shoes can give a perception of lower power transfer but good MTB shoes are just as stiff as road ones.
If you are pulling out of SPDs then either they or the cleats are worn or you need to look at your pedaling action. You would probably have the same problem with road cleats with the same float.
I use both SPD-SL and SPD. The SPD (double sided) are for MTB use and are more convenient in winter and when riding fixed. I prefer the more positive feel of the SLs for racing and summer use but don't expect any more efficiency from them.

rake

i filed some spd cleats (time) down for winter for faster release and have not noticed any problems pulling out under load. carbon soles are as stiff as road shoes.

Lagavulin

MTB versions of Spesh Carbon Pros or S-Works are plenty stiff enough and rather bling in white.

itboffin

Stick with the SPD's I switched to Look after 1-2 of SPDS for nothing more than vanity and tore my ITB during a sportive because I rode 100km on badly set up Looks with no float.

What a dick!

That said I now ride SPD's on 3 bikes and Look on 2 - i've learnt my lesson, had a full bike fit and use the maximum float cleats.

like duh!!!

fallingoff

I use M424's(flat~ride)and M520's on my Allez.
I started on MTB's and the Allez is my first road bike (30 miles so far :oops: ) but i opted for MTB's on it purley becasue I like the way they work and I wear MTB shoes only.
I may change them but as I was advised on here I'll echo the sentiment and say that it's up to you what you use.....

simon_e

John.T wrote:

Road pedals do not really have a bigger contact patch than A520s, only a bigger cleat. They do give a slightly more stable platform but there is no difference in power transfer. Softer shoes can give a perception of lower power transfer but good MTB shoes are just as stiff as road ones.

I agree. I use both double-sided M520 and single-sided A520 and found very little difference. The double-sided are better in traffic, stamp-and-go convenience while the A520 needs flipping before you clip in, which can slow progress a little. The larger platform area of the A520 provides only a marginal improvement with my inexpensive Shimano MT40 shoes. I have these set to higher tension on my road bike while the commuter's M520s are easier to clip in and out of.

John.T

Simon E wrote:

John.T wrote:

Road pedals do not really have a bigger contact patch than A520s, only a bigger cleat. They do give a slightly more stable platform but there is no difference in power transfer. Softer shoes can give a perception of lower power transfer but good MTB shoes are just as stiff as road ones.

I agree. I use both double-sided M520 and single-sided A520 and found very little difference. The double-sided are better in traffic, stamp-and-go convenience while the A520 needs flipping before you clip in, which can slow progress a little. The larger platform area of the A520 provides only a marginal improvement with my inexpensive Shimano MT40 shoes. I have these set to higher tension on my road bike while the commuter's M520s are easier to clip in and out of.

Not quite where I was going. I was comparing the contact area with road pedals (SPD-SL or Look) with the A520. There is little difference. Shoe sole stiffness will make a much larger difference in how they feel. I have not used A520, only M520 and find them not to be quite as stable as SLs due to the pedal contact only being the cleat and a small area either side of it. Still my prefered pedal for winter riding. That said I would have no problem commuting with SPD-SLs. I can clip in and out just as easily.

Lagavulin

New model XTRs claim a four-fold increase on contact area. They've been pretty much slain in the BikeRadar test due to the cost and poor mud clearance but might be an improvement for those of us using SPDs as a road pedal.

robz400

Road pedals do not really have a bigger contact patch than A520s, only a bigger cleat. They do give a slightly more stable platform but there is no difference in power transfer. Softer shoes can give a perception of lower power transfer but good MTB shoes are just as stiff as road ones.

Tried out my new Look pedals this morning, they do seem more stable, the clip in/out is much more definite and I tried some sprinting type efforts and felt 100% secure. How much of this relates to the new stiffer road shoes I'm not sure.....

In all though I'm very pleased. The M520s will be staying on my winter bike though..

upperoilcan

I posed the very same question a few weeks ago prior to buying my first road bike,i opted in the end to stay with MTB SPD'S purely because i already had the shoes,i also like to be able to walk about with ease should the matter arise.

Have found the pedals to be fine and stable but my shoes are quite stiff so no doubt this add's to the feel of the ride.

Buckled_Rims

Don't forget that there's 2 types of Shimano SPD cleats SH51 and SH56.

I prefer the SH51 for road riding and the SH56 for commute and MTB as they have more float.

Runoutofgears

I’ve been looking to change over to a road pedal system for some time and thought that the speed play system may be the way forward with it’s double sided clip in and adjustable float, but like many others in this thread it’s the change of shoes and pedals on each bike and the convenience of being able to walk in them when commuting and touring that has kept me with mountain bike pedals. I have up graded to carbon soled shoes this year which looks snazzy and may help with reducing pressure points but fundamentally the ability to be able to walk in the shoe matters to me. May be one day when I have some spare cash, I’ll try some speed plays and new shoes.

chrishd883

Tried SPD's and the Look pedal / cleat system, can't say there are any great advantages to either. Stick with SPD's unless oyu really fancy a change. Doubel sided SPD predals can be slightly quicker than single sided systems. Or at least in my experience.

i have SPD's on my winter / cummuting bikes and Look's on the summer bike.

Went for Look's due to low price and low weight!

Only thing I would say is that if you walk around on exposed SPD's change them regularly. I now change mine every year. Had a big "off" when my left foot unclipped at speed! The cleat was working OK, or so it seemed.....

The SPD clesats on my MTB shoes with recessed cleats seem to be fine., despite being a lot older! Look type systems will still wear out, but you'll become aware of the problem when clipping in / out. With SPD's you might not be!

Bar Shaker

It's all about the shoes or, to be more precise, about the stiffness of the soles. If you have carbon soled shoes the method of clipping them to the pedal is irrelevant to power transfer and comfort.

rake

Bar Shaker wrote:

It's all about the shoes or, to be more precise, about the stiffness of the soles. If you have carbon soled shoes the method of clipping them to the pedal is irrelevant to power transfer and comfort.

i strongly concur.