Good reasons NOT to fit MTB pedals?

Daz555

I will soon be taking delivery of a Sensa Romagna Custom:



Can't wait.

Anyway I'm looking at pedals and shoes and wondering if there are many GOOD reasons I can't use MTB pedals (M520) with my road bike. I'm no weight weenie and I'll using nice stiff-soled MTB shoes.

I like the idea of only having one pedal setup on my bikes and being able to use the same shoes for both MTB and road.

Thoughts?

Anonymous

No reason why not.
I prefer SPD-SLs. Purists will say that road pedals on a road bike, MTB for commuting/touring/off road etc.

Some say SPDs on road bikes (for long rides 50?+ miles) they give you hot spots as the contact area is smaller. If you have stiff shoes this may not be an issue.

If you get a chance, it is worth putting SPD-SL shoes on your bike, just to see that it does feel different (SLs has a better contact/connection, IMV). I use Shimano and haven't got a bad word to say about them (I can't say the same for Look, which I hated).

pkripper

no reason why you can't, plenty of people do. In the winter I switch to winter mtb boots and swap the pedals. Probably just a weight difference (both pedals and shoes)

redvee

Goes against #34 but I'm guilty of MTB pedals on a road bike. At the time of having a road and MTB money was limited so went with SPDs and had more pairs of shoes to choose from.

ricky1980

MTB pedals have double sided clips, which is very useful as opposed to the SPD-SL. this is the reason why i choose MTB pedal. tho they are generally heavier than the road versions.

nicklouse

ricky1980 wrote:

MTB pedals have double sided clips, which is very useful as opposed to the SPD-SL. this is the reason why i choose MTB pedal. tho they are generally heavier than the road versions.

single sided SPD that are lighter than road pedals are available.

wallace_and_gromit

I did the Marmotte on a hybrid with MTB pedals (with road shoes) and a winter of club runs and the odd sprint finish (if I'd not been dropped - very rare ) on a road bike with MTB pedals and MTB shoes. Any performance issues were limited to the rider's legs and lungs, so I reckon you'll be fine.

Road pedals are marginally more comfortable for long road rides, but on such rides, pains elsewhere are generally more significant than anything my feet throw at me.

passout

As long as your shoe has a stiff sole (not all MTB shoes do compared to road shoes), then you'll be fine. I found road pedals a 'little' better over distance - I guess die to a larger contact area. A small point though.

mikeabanks

I found SPDs with gave me a hotspot until I tried the A520 spd pedal. These seem to support the sole better. I use them with shimano RT82 SPD road shoe.

Daz555

Excellent feedback all.

Well that's me convinced - MTB pedals it is.....and to HELL with the rules!

Ahh, I see that that last statement breaks rule #3. Bugger. 8)

keef66

I came from riding an MTB with SPDs, so just had the bike shop put M540s on my new road bike. I have SPD type touring shoes that look pretty roadie, with the added benefit of being able to walk once I get off the bike.

moonshine

I use SPD SLs on my race bikes but SPD on my fixed commuter bike. The SPD sl are marginslly more comfy on the bike but the benefit of the SPD shoes is one can walk in the shoes easier. The big benefit of road vs MTB pedals are that road pedals are single sided, therefore have marginally more clearance when cornering. You can get single sided SPD. That been said, I use double sided SPD on my fixed for ease of entry

Monty Dog

The main issue is that MTB shoes are quite a bit heavier than their road equivalents due to the relatively heavier rubber sole. The smaller pedal area also means that they don't feel quite as secure when really pushing it. However, for general riding you'll not likely notice. I use my CX race bike with road tyres for longer training runs with MTB pedals and shoes - means you can get to the front of the queue in the cafe a bit quicker too when not doing the duck-walk!

marcusjb

Dedicated SPD user on road bikes (audax bike and fixed wheel bike).

I have been known to ride quite a long way from time to time, and do not suffer from hot foot with SPDs.

I do use a very stiff carbon-soled shoe though (Sidi Dragon 2).

There was never a conscious decision for me to use SPDs other than coming from mountain biking in my youth (and having SPDs in 1990 when they first came out). They work really well for me, zero engagement problems, cleats last forever, secure and no hot foot.

ricky1980

nicklouse wrote:

ricky1980 wrote:

MTB pedals have double sided clips, which is very useful as opposed to the SPD-SL. this is the reason why i choose MTB pedal. tho they are generally heavier than the road versions.

single sided SPD that are lighter than road pedals are available.

i was referring to the double sided ones. yes the egg beater weighs nothing.

daviesee

ricky1980 wrote:

i was referring to the double sided ones. yes the egg beater weighs nothing.

Neither do these - http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... _V4_Pedals. :P

zx6man

another fan of SPD mtb style on both bikes. Makes the rest stops soooo much safer :-)

revvers

I switched from Look to Spd. No problems and saves embarrassment when walking!!