[Closed] Roady shoes/pedals vs MTB shoes/pedals, for the road

it comes down to the pedals you prefer IMO. You can get decent, light MTB/spud shoes these days so there's not much in it in terms of shoe stiffness and weight, although roadie shoes do edge that battle if you are proper weenie.

But the pedals are clearly different, and the key for me is the float. Roadie pedals have quite a different feel to the float compared to spuds. For some people they prefer the roadie float, some don't. That'll be the main issue IME.

Yeah, the float thing's interesting; I use TIME ATAC pedals specifically for that (although that's a historic thing I suppose, cos the received wisdom 20 years ago was that 'TIME pedals are better for your knees because they have more float', and I do have dodgy knees). I'd probably use TIME roady pedals if I did swap because, again, they have more float.

Road shoes are indeed less hot but downside is their reduced walkability off the bike.

I do like having road pedals (Look with red cleats) because IME they work better for road riding - the cleat-pedal interface is less sloppy and increased float is nice. Hard to believe that there would be any performance difference but in use my MTB shoes wear lot more around cleat area making the interface more sloppy.

edit. I use Time Speciales on MTB because of the float thing but I feel that Looks are better in this regard. Used to have Time Impacts for the road but they wore out and are not locking correctly anymore.

I bought a pair of DHB Dorika Carbons and Time XPro 10s last year, to replace my 2006 Shimano SHM121Gs and Time ATAC XS Carbons. No more hot spots, better power transfer feel and much lighter.

I know a fair few people who only ride SPD and do huge mileage on road bikes, but I think most now use road-specific stuff, at least in the summer months. If it's just because your feet are getting warm, you can definitely find two-bolt shoes that are well ventilated. I've got some Shimano enduro things that stay good and cool, even if they are hopeless in the wet!

For me, I switched to proper road pedals in an attempt to cure a numb little toe that I had been getting on longer (50 mile+) rides, which was making my life a misery. Someone suggested that the smaller contact area on SPD can cause uneven pressure on the sole of the foot which can lead to various numbing problems. In the end, I switched to SPD-SL (largest cleat platform) with blue cleats and Sidi Mega shoes (wide toebox) and it completely cured my problem overnight. I now have a dedicated pair of road winter boots (Northwave) and don't use anything but SPD-SL on the road bikes.

One thing that you'll discover is that the cleats don't last anywhere near as long as SPDs. A combination of them sticking out of the bottom of the shoe, and being made from plastic means that they wear alarmingly quickly. I probably get through 2-3 sets year (and, now that I'm reminded, need to stick some new ones on ASAP!)

Can't really recommend any system over another, but I like the Shimano SPD-SL ones myself, and my son likes his Look ones, so probably not a lot to tell between them. The Keo Blade pedals that he has are quite a nice design though, so might be tempted by them if I were starting all over again.

Like you OP, I have always used Time pedals on the MTB as they are bomb proof and kind on the knees.

On the road bike, I would recommend road shoes and pedals without hesitation. The stack height is way lower, and the stability is much better. The mtb pedals always feel really skittish when I go back to them.

I've had Shimano SPD-SL and Look pedals, and I've found the Look have more float.

Stuff to think about here then. Which roady cleats have the lowest profile (so, I suppose I'm asking, are the least PITA to walk in)?

I much prefer road cleats + pedals (SPD-SL) to standard MTD SPD on a road bike. It's like night and day. The only downside is walking in them, which is indeed a PITA. For that reason I don't use them for commuting very often.

Some pics of random shoes from the cupboard (sorry for the state of mine - these are my winter boots!):

My son's Look Keo on left, my Shimano SPD-SL on right:

And underneath, Keo on the left, SPD-SL on the right:

No question that Shimano are wider, but I would say that the profile is very similar. Both are horrid to walk in, but why would you not be riding your bike anyway? 🙂

Moving to a smaller house for a while, putting most stuff into storage and going to be restricted to one bike for all duties, a Speech Diverge with 2 prs of wheels. I'll be using a pair of Giro VR-90s - identical to the road shoe with a carbon sole but they have a 2-hole cleat fitting and MTB sole. Given the choice though, I'd still prefer a road shoe and pedal for road use, it just feels more positive and more connected to the bike.

If you're doing much walking when road riding, you're doing it wrong. A walk into the cafe and back is all that's needed 😉

I use Shimano XC5's, they do a good job of road and MTB, they are gravel style i.e look like a road shoe but have some decent tread and grippy rubber on the soles.

Mine are black but are you really going to notice foot temperature when you have wind blowing over your feet? Perhaps sitting at the pub *dreams* you might get hotter feet in the sun...

I do prefer proper road pedals on a road bike - it feels like the shoe is part of the bike, rather than just connected to it. Part of its the wider platform, but also its the feel of the float - in comparison SPDs feel really loose and sloppy (and IME its never that long before the cleat starts to rattle in the pedal, which can get really irritating on a long day).

I've never had a major problem walking around in my SPD-SLs - just a bit clacky, but as others have said - the only walking you end up doing is stepping out the house and back in again, plus the cafe stop.

(As an aside, I can't recall EVER having hot feet, and most of the time I would prefer a shoe that's not covered in mesh, holes and random vents!)

If hot feet are an issue, try triathlon shoes - they usually have a bit more ventilation to dry your feet quickly after the swim leg. Of course, they also usually have velcro straps rather than anything flashier like a BOA, but I've used both and TBH it's hard to tell the difference.

I use SPD's on my road bike as I hate the fact that road pedals are always the wrong way up when setting off from traffic lights. I do a fair bit of suburban London riding and trying to track stand with a big red bus behind you is asking for trouble.
I use North Wave road shoes that allow the fitment of either mtb or road cleats. Works for me but I do appreciate that road cleats are more secure.

Giro lace up Empire are my stable - very comfortable for my very narrow (D width feet). With KEO and speedplay, depending on b(tr)ike. For my commuting I reach for an old pair of Shimanos that are too wide. For the 'bent trike and mtbs I ride spds.

Never used road pedals in decades of road riding, but given the clickingvand clacking and unclipping before stopping that I see when a group ride gets to a junction I'm not sure I'll ever bother, they look like a right pain in the arse. Like the op I use time attack pedals and spesh shoes, bought some new ones last year. Do they not do white as well?!!

For well ventilated 2 bolt shoes try giro techne

Use MTB spds on all my bikes never had any feet issues up to 500km a weekend.

Keeps all my bikes the same and means all my bikes take winter boots.

My only complaint is I can't have power pedals(for sensible money) but I just use power crank instead.

I assume no-ones cares how wrong MTB pedals look on a road bike? If it was dark it might be ok, but what if someone you knew saw you?

I run XTR pedals on all my road bikes and use the 2 bolt SPD cleat. My shoes are all Specialzed Body Geometry carbon soled things from 2005ish.

I just prefer the whole recessed cleat concept for walking about off the bike at the start / end of the ride. I don't ever feel the sole of the shoe flexing or feel the cleat when riding, so the shoes are plenty stiff enough.

Still got some of the very first Shimano 2 bolt road SPD pedals somewhere, the magenta and white things from 1990 maybe?

assume no-ones cares how wrong MTB pedals look on a road bike? If it was dark it might be ok, but what if someone you knew saw you?

****s given are minimal.

assume no-ones cares how wrong MTB pedals look on a road bike? If it was dark it might be ok, but what if someone you knew saw you?

**** given are minimal.

too old to even give one, on second thoughts never did

Just put some Bonty road pedals on a old cyclocross bike for the winter bit strange to start with getting use to the float and road shoes after 18months not using shoes but are great once you get use to them yes the bike is only going to be use on road and gravel tracks where I dont need to put my feet down Look cleats are a nightmare to walk in.

I much prefer the feel of road shoes on a road bike, less wibble but more of a faff clipping in, especially when they’re wet.

I especially prefer road shoes in the winter, overshoes and tie covers fit much better than on mtb shoes.

I don’t like how quickly the cleats wear out though, I’ve only one worn out one pair of SPD cleats, but I’ve worn out multiple look and SPD-SL cleats and one exustar pedal body.

My SPD-SL pedals need a service, the left one has some play in and I don’t need a tool so I might have to dig my looks out while I wait for the right tool to come. Or just buy some new ones.

Never used road pedals in decades of road riding, but given the clickingvand clacking and unclipping before stopping that I see when a group ride gets to a junction I’m not sure I’ll ever bother, they look like a right pain in the arse.

Nah, they're really not that bad.

Road pedals are a bit different than SPD to clip in in that they are sided and you need to clip in from the back (the pedals hang down at the back) to get in successfully. I'll admit that it's not a 100% guarantee that you'll get in first time, every time (at least not with me!) but as on a typical road ride you are not clipping and unclipping as often (I think my record is something around 3 hours without putting a foot down!) then it really doesn't matter and any minor inconvenience caused by clipping in is more than offset by the increased comfort and improved connection to the bike that they bring. I reckon it took me about half an hour to be completely happy with them after the best part of 30 years riding SPDs.

FWIW, unclipping is almost the same action as SPD, with perhaps a slightly more positive action required. They never, ever come unclipped accidentally and I'm yet to topple over at lights 🙂

Having had one pair of road shoes in white (Sidi Genius Mega) I’d never have white shoes again. They looked grubby after one ride and the mesh bit looks terrible and grey after a year or so.
I only went white as they were cheaper than black.

how wrong MTB pedals look on a road bike?

My clubmate gained his elite road license with spds. He was winning 2/3 road races with a peak on his helmet 😉

The fabric Giros will keep your feet cool. Lacing is more comfortable and it's not a huge pfaff to put them on.

I have white and electric blue non fabric ones.