So I've been 'persuaded' to do a 100mile road bike race. I've got a road bike, but i've borrowed a better one off a mate, but it's come with the old Look style pedals.
I've been used to racing MTBs with my carbon race shoes, but i have some cheaper Look shoes for road bikes.
is there any reason why I should or shouldn't put my MTB shoes and pedals on the road bike? or is there some benefit to proper road pedals?
you don't need road pedals, but they are a bit better, the real issue is the shoes though, stiffer, better power transfer.
The big downside is walking! but if your riding a road bike why are you walking?
go with the shoes you prefer. Spuds and carbon soles are more than stiff enough for road work. I've just ridden across the Pyrenees in some... 😉
curious about this myself. used to ride my roadbike with my rubbery Spesh Tahoes & SPDs. Started using some proper road shoes recently with SPDs and notice a difference. Don't know if the jump to SPD-SL cleats/pedals would be worth it?
Prefer a road pedal and road shoe on my road bike. I prefer the larger platform area on the pedals feels more comfortable on long rides. On long rides I prefer my old sidi genius non carbon sole shoes to my newer carbon soled shoes.
Ah, but Kev they made you walk like a constipated penguin ... or look like you were doing an impersonation of bambi on ice 🙂
(but given that I ride with flats on my road bike, I'd better shut up 😳 )
yeah well, someone's got to provide the entertainment, seeing that road riding is supposedly so boring and po-faced 😉
i use spds on both my roadie and mtb, slightly differnt pedals, i only have 2 pair of shoes so its handy that they fit whatever bike i get on.
i dont race though.
You'll be fine with the SPDs especially as your SPD shoes are better than your Look compatible ones.
Amen.
Racing- proper pedals, commuting-mtb pedals are easier to find and engage in traffic situations being double sided
Are you really racing? or are you riding a sportive or audax.
I wouldn't worry and wear what you want to wear, particularly if it involves walking around at feed stops and cafes.
Spuds and stiff mtb shoes are perfectly ok, but having recently changed to road shoes & spd-sls, I do find them a bit more comfortable and stable, especially over longer distances.
A big no-no is mtb cleats on road shoes - you will slide across the floor at the cafe stop, taking a lump out of the floor as you go. There is a reason I know this.
Basically I'd go with the road pedals if your shoes are not very stiff - if your soles are stiff then I wouldn't worry - the flexy soles on a small platform may ache your feet over a long distance ?
However if you do use his pedals then I'd practice a bit before you do the race 😉
I used to road race on M959 (old XTR) SPDs and Spesh Carbon MTB shoes, can't say I noticed any problems with them.
Not that I ever won anything like, but I'd be lying if I blamed the pedals...