Road vs MTB SPD shoes?

h34e0f

What's the difference? From what I can see the only real difference is looks.. Am I missing something?

piquet

h34e0f wrote:

What's the difference? From what I can see the only real difference is looks.. Am I missing something?

yes!

Road cleats protrude from the base of the shoe and are very difficult to walk on.

mtb/spd's are recessed into the sole and are thus like a trainer when not on the bike.

Plus road shoes will tend to be much stiffer than mtb, which are stiffer than a normal trainer but less then a road shoe. The stiffness is to improve power transfer

unixnerd

Until recently I had Shimano mtb / touring shoes for all my bikes. After 8+ years they're wearing out a little so I bought an SPD-SL Shimano pair for the road bike with new pedals. Don't notice much of a difference to be honest.

One thing I don't like is that the road shoes have a mesh top, this will be useless in winter and I can see the neoprene overshoes getting an earlier than normal airing.

kfinlay

I find a good compromise are good quality mtb shoes such as Specialized Expert Pro with carbon soles (so nice and stiff) with Shimano A520 pedals. Gives you the benefits of easy walking but the stiffness/power transfer of road shoes. The cage on the pedals also helps with comfort/support on long rides.

unixnerd

I had A520s on the road bike and they did the job nicely, look better on a road bike too. Very slightly harder to clip out of than M520s but not by much.

Anonymous

Hmmm. Im also looking at either the A or the M 520s. What is the difference between the 2?

unixnerd

M520 is double sided, A520 is single sided and lighter so it looks more like a road pedal.

Anonymous

What are the recommendations of one over the other?

At the moment I am borrowing some double sided SPDs and they are lovely. Can't really ever see myself doing a proper ride without SPDs, so wouldn't really benefit from the flat side.

I'm sure if I was just pottering I could just wear normal shoes, and wouldn't matter.

My dad has SPD's and some plastic pedals which clip into them on one side if you are wearing flat shoes. Seems like not a bad idea?

Anonymous

What are the recommendations of one over the other?

At the moment I am borrowing some double sided SPDs and they are lovely. Can't really ever see myself doing a proper ride without SPDs, so wouldn't really benefit from the flat side.

I'm sure if I was just pottering I could just wear normal shoes, and wouldn't matter.

My dad has SPD's and some plastic pedals which clip into them on one side if you are wearing flat shoes. Seems like not a bad idea?

kfinlay

M520 double sided so easier to clip in and out but smaller, heavier and possible hot spot/numbness on long rides.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=3759


A520 - suit a road bike better, lighter, cage gives support on longer rides so generally more comfortable but single sided and slightly harder to clip in/out

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28051

you decide what's right for you but I've gone from M520 to A520 and wouldn't go back to the M520 on my road bikes

bendertherobot

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... PDM530.htm

I may well move to these in the depths of winter on the commuter. Seem like the best of all worlds.