[Closed] Darkside - road or MTB shoes/cleats?

if you're calling it the darkside then MTB shoes and cleats, as soon as you stop calling it that then you're ready for proper road shoes

@JoB brilliant answer. TBH tis OH who keeps calling it that. I'm very comfortable with it.

Plenty will scoff, but I ride SPDs on the road bike, and they're more than adequate. And I don't need a different pair of shoes for each bike..

Also, ask yourself if you're going to do any walking, or whether you'll be clipping in and out a lot. SPDs will be more beneficial for both.

If you want to go the full 9 yards, marginal gains, aero feet, lightweight carbon fibre soles...road shoes.

In short, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

mtb ones initially - there's not much in it anyway, and you may hate the [s]dar[/s], err, road

I use light, stiff soled XC shoes and SPDs for touring, winter training, long Audax events, etc. There's very little performance penalty and they are much more convenient for walking in when you stop at a cafe or pop into a shop. Road shoes and SPD-SLs on the racing bikes.

Another spd user here. Same shoes for all bikes.

You can get lightweight spd road pedals that offer a large platform like the A600. I had a pair though they felt excellent but the bearings didn't last.

Now I just use the cheapest spd pedals till they die. which is a fair while even in all year round commuting and road riding.

I use mtb SPD pedals with road shoes.

I use mtb SPD pedals with road shoes.

How is that possible? The cleat mounting completely different..

You cut out the square bit and just screw them into 2 holes.

Time Xpresso road pedals on summer road and track bikes.

Time MTB pedals on gravel adventure bike, so I can walk more easily in MTB shoes.

All shoes are Specialised.

The road setup is in theory stiffer with wider platform though I don't really notice a difference.

Riding a road bike should never equated with adequacy.

You should buy the product that is conducive going the fastest.

Time MTB pedals on the winter bike, so I can use MTB winter boots.

Road shoes and pedals on the others.

I think that Steve Abraham's fella (ultra endurance road/attempt at world distance record) uses MTB pedals.

Use whatever you feel like.

You should buy the product that is conducive going the fastest.

EPO or a motor then.

How is that possible? The cleat mounting completely different..

Some shimano road shoes come with mounting for SPD and SPD Sl.

If using mtb SPD it will make it even more of a nightmare to look after the soles.

I don't race or Strava and like my cafe stops so SPDs are perfect

Thanks for all the advice guys. That kinda confirms where my head was already at. I've three pairs of Mtb spd shoes - two of them are the lightweight trainer looking type. I was thinking they'd be fine on the road bike - at least until I know what I really want. Plus looking at road bike shoes and cleat/pedal options it looks like a minefield. No idea where to even start with it.

Next thing is road helmet and bib shorts. Just gonna go with the road versions of what I wear in the trails and keep it safe. Obviously some roadies may not want to talk to me out dressed like a hybrid but at the moment can't say I care.

Thanks again - appreciate the help.

My Shimano road shoes take MTB cleats fine and I use MTB pedals on the road bike for compatibility with my MTBs.

Crank brother candy user here, no problems with getting clipped in and out, shoes you can walk in. As for losing power cobblers, otherwise top mountain biker xc racers would race in road shoes, done a few crits as well, and never pulled a shoe yet in them.

Mtb spds as well here. I have used both look and shimano road pedals, but for some random reason they knacker my knees. I have got disco slippers which are spd compatible (I think Pearl Izumi tend to have both road and mob drilling on their shoes last time I looked) so if you fancy looking the part once you get in to the road bike then you can hide the fact you are still using spds that way.

Ride what you like is the bottom line, but if you are going to walk anywhere then your mtb shoes will be much better. I actually started wearing cleats when we used to strap ourselves in to thE pedals so anything is better than those massive lumps on the bottom of your shoes 🙂

Mtb SPDs why pay twice

the mtb pedals will be fine - the cleating and pedal isn't the defining factor but pick the shoes with the most secure uppers / strap configuration

a helmet without a peak works better, but no biggie - good bibs are a worthwhile investment because your @rse is on the saddle a lot more than mtb

Road clip less here, they're just nicer and another pair of shoes that don't get caked in shite every other weekend makes the whole experience nicer imho

SPDs on everything for convenience and full interchangeability of shoes.

Spd-sl once you get confidence on your road bike.

Night and day difference in setup potential when bike fitting and foot stability under heavy load.

Spd you have choice of single release or multi release cleat, spd-sl you have yellow (6 degree), blue(2 degree) or red cleats (0 degree) float.

I often ride my MTB before work with spd and then ride road bike to work with spd-sl, tried spd on road bikes and its like pedalling ice cubes in comparison.

Nothing wrong with spd on road bike, if you try spd-sl or time/look with good bike fit you would not go back

Best of both worlds, mtb spd's and carbon soles. Stiff enough and can walk in them easily.

Look pedals (0 degree cleats) on the road bikes with giro factor shoes (I'm on my second pair). That said, I started with my MTB shoes and eggbeaters on my first road bike until I got hotspots (i know not everyone gets them).

Had ridden Shimano road pedals and cleats since day dot.

Swtiched to MTB pedals 6 months ago; can't see myself going back. No disadvantages as far as I can see.

How are your knees? Road spds generally have less float that mountain bike spds

As for losing power cobblers, otherwise top mountain biker xc racers would race in road shoes,

Never thought of that argument before, but has got me wondering given they (road shoes/pedals) are generally perceived to be lighter and better.

I can only assume you're right, or alternatively that while they have no intention of dismounting and walking / running, they might conceivably have to and then the lack of sole would screw them over. So it's a safety net, just in case.

SPD's for me though - but then again I'm not a proper roadie, I've only got a cross bike and I can't stop myself from heading off down farm tracks and pretending it's Paris-Roubaix.

Most people in your situation will ride spd's for a while then at some point try spd sl's and not go back.

Road pedals are actualy much more versatile than mtb as you can ride them quite well in normal shoes for commuting, going to the pub, shops etc.

I'm quite happy on SPDs for 100-mile+ rides. I do use Specialized S-Works shoes, so they're light and plenty stiff; a more flexible sole wouldn't work for me. I like being able to walk if I have a mechanical problem. The only downside I can think of is that roadie overshoes don't fit as well on mtb shoes...

Time ATAC on MTB and road (well, cross really). I ride with Sidi Dominator shoes which look a bit 'road shoe' at first glance. And if you encounter any riders who won't speak to you because of what shoes you wear... Well f*ck 'em, they're idiots.

I bought road SPDs on the grounds that I was going to buy different shoes anyway. I didn't want my road bike shoes to be constantly wet/ muddy, and the fact that they're stiffer and lighter is a bonus too. By the time you're buying different shoes, you may as well get the right pedals for the job.

But yeah, there's not a lot in it. If you're planning a lot of cafe stops then MTB pedals are probably preferable.

Just bought some Northwave road shoes that take SPD cleats with a small modification.

As for losing power cobblers, otherwise top mountain biker xc racers would race in road shoes

Hmmm... let me think about that one... 🙄

treat your feet to a pair of road shoes and proper pedals/cleats. That way you wont look like a beard rinsing pannier carrying cycle touriste.

Here is a nice understated pair that would do as a starter. :/

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