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I've been using MTB SPD's for over 26 years and have them on my road bike too, it's my birthday shortly and was thinking about getting some road shoes and pedals for it. I'm a right leg below knee amputee and I am wondering if it's a good idea or not. With never having used road shoes and pedals, would they be beneficial or should I stick to the MTB pedals?
Thanks.
Alan.
I've used both and decided I'm sticking with my mountain bike pedals and shoes. I use the xt platform ones and fairly firm soled shoes. I can't honestly see that my road shoes and look pedals are any advantage. I intend to do a few club races this year and I'll be sticking with the xt pedals.
Hey Alan,
I've gone from road pedals (shimanos) to mtb (crank bros) on my roady recently and I prefer them because they are easier to walk in off the bike, the float in the cleats doesn't mean i need a precise setup without hurting my knee. (I found I was resting on the road pedal a little so the tuning of the cleat position was more important but the float in the crank bros means it doesnt matter so much.
Personally if its an itch you need to scratch then try it but I dont think you'll find any additional benefits
With road pedals (Shimano ones at least) there is a real knack to flicking the pedal over with your toe and in the same motion stamping down in just the right spot to clip in. I'm not bad at it but still don't get it every time. Without any feeling in your (lack of) foot I'd have thought it would be bloody difficult but I'm only guessing. You could always leave your, erm, missing leg clipped in as you don't really unclip both feet that often on road rides IME, only usually to stop for an overpriced coffee and suchlike.
I use road cleats for time trialling but I doubt there's much in it for general roadying - it could be a difference maker for overall comfort on long rides but that is more the shoe itself than the cleat.
They are a bit cumbersome if you're not that skilled with them - you know the way you can stand your first foot on an spd cleat without thinking about it, even if it's not engaged, and it's no problem because it's metal on metal? You can't do that so much with the keo / shimano road cleats I've used as your foot is more prone to slipping off. Need to engage the first foot quite deliberately.
I use Looks on my "best" road bike. I'm not sure why, I think it's because I've used Looks forever, since before SPD's were invented. I've even got special shoes to go with the Look pedals. All my other bikes have SPD's. If you've got some money to spend buy a nice pair of SPD shoes, something with a nice stiff carbon sole and not too much tread, top end Specialized's or something. Double sided pedals are soooo much easier to clip into and nobody really cares what you use except you.
I stick to road pedals on road bikes, speedplay zeroes. Really like how they are double sided and zero resistance float. Having had knee surgery I think they are probably the kindest pedal on knees there is. Not cheap though.
Need to engage the first foot quite deliberately.
As most clip their right foot in first, this may be a lucky coincidence for the OP, if you could call the situation lucky. Easier to take the time to set up the right pedal properly before pushing off and engaging the left.
Thanks for the replies, my right leg is indeed the shorter of the two! 8O. I've still got the same pedals from 1991, (M520's), and bought another pair for my road bike. (To be honest, I bought some shoes at half price and the pedals were included). As for being lucky, yes, I am, I'm still alive, there are many who aren't.
Thank you.
Flick and stamp? It should be gently hook and press. Can't think of the last time i needed to actually think about it on a road pedal.With road pedals (Shimano ones at least) there is a real knack to flicking the pedal over with your toe and in the same motion stamping down in just the right spot to clip in
But to the OP, in your situation, some spangly new MTB shoes and pedals may be more useful. The only below knee amputee i ride with uses LOOK on his race bike and spends about 15-30 seconds trying to clip back in after every unclip. While pedalling one footed. Lots of swearing. And he was on the paralympian squad, so gets lots of practice (too old now). His training bike uses SPDs and it is, quite literally, just a matter of him standing on the pedal. He also has a special leg which is drilled and tapped to take cleats. So he has lots of spare left hand shoes. 😕
I switched to Shimano road cleats this year and new shoes. There was a clear weight saving and I felt they were stiffer but not by much.