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A few weeks ago I bought a CX bike, spend most of the time on the road rather than off it, mainly when riding with mates. I have a second set of wheels set up with 25mm GP4000s so it's quick and easy to swap between on/offroad modes.
I am currently using a pair of M540 pedals and mtb shoes (Shimano DX or Northwave Celcius) which I will continue to use when taking the bike offroad. On a 40 mile ride yesterday - wearing the shimano shoes - I was starting to get numbness in my feet after about 30 miles. I think the northwaves would have been better as the sole is stiffer and they are more of a true fit to my feet.
How much of an improvement will I see from a set of proper road shoes/pedals over a stiffer set of mtb xc disco slippers?
I'm a fully signed up convert to flats and 5:10s on the MTB, SPDs now feel strange as there's too much float in the cleats that it feels like I'm disconnected from the bike.
In my experience* none. It is more improtant that you have a stiff soled shoe so spread the load. The difference in pedals is actually pretty small.
*I tend to spend more on my road shoes as they last longer. A £150 set of slippers is going to much better than a £75 set. But having said that I notice very little difference on long rides which ever shoes I'm using. I've done 150mile rides on the CX in mtb shoes without feet issues.
Not a huge difference but there certainly is one. A bit more support, a bit more of a secure feel, a bit better power transfer. It's not night and day but it is better.
4 pages.
wilburt - Member
4 pages.
???
Thanks jonba/lunge, shoe wise I'm considering [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/northwave-nirvana-mtb-shoes-2016/rp-prod113209 ]these xc[/url], or [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/northwave-galaxy-road-shoes/rp-prod113203 ]these road[/url] ones. I'm guessing that the road shoes are likely to be stiffer still. Do the SL cleats have less float than mtb ones?
I'm a fully signed up convert to flats and 5:10s on the MTB, SPDs now feel strange as there's too much float in the cleats that it feels like I'm disconnected from the bike.
why not use flats then?
i do.
Because I prefer the efficiency of SPD when riding my CX bike.
12% improvement.
(It's worth having a search for this topic, btw, as it's come up a few times before).
SPD-SL feel a bit more solid, but probably actually no difference. I use road shoes and pedals because there's a better selection of cheap attractive shoes than MTB spds and I don't find single sided pedals any more difficult than double sided.
I'm hoping that over the winter the plastic cleat will be less of a heat sink than the metal Ines, we shall see.
SPD pedals with a platform might help a bit. ie spreading the load on your feet.
In my experience* none. It is more improtant that you have a stiff soled shoe so spread the load. The difference in pedals is actually pretty small.
I have found no differece. They feel different, but performance is the same. Road shoes/pedals feel more "positive"
The only issue is alot of mtb shoes have a flexier sole for walking about etc. I use Sidis which are very stiff like a road shoe.
The walkability and dual sided clip in wins it for me. Also, the cleats last longer on MTB pedals.
Although I keep having the urge to go back to road shoes, I've got several flights of stairs to negotiate before I get on my bike.
There is a difference not loads but definitely some. I take it you do ride the bike off road a bit, or why bother with a cyclo cross bike ? With that in mind I couldn't be bothered changing pedals even infrequently so race spd shoes would be my solution.
taxi25 - Member
I take it you do ride the bike off road a bit, or why bother with a cyclo cross bike ?
I do and although I do more miles on the road than off it (I quite like riding with my mates who have either road bikes or MTBs, only two other friends locally have CX bikes), I think that some new MTB shoes with stiffer soles is probably the correct choice for me. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing out on a massive leap in performance and comfort.
Thanks for the advice
Its not a massive advantage in either but I do find the suitability of spd sl's with flat shoes very useful when you just want to go to the shop or pub.
They actually make half decent flat pedals where as mountain bike pedals are very uncomfortable with anyththing except mtb shoes.
I keep a set of flats and an 8mm on a shelf just inside the workshop where the bikes are stored, it's the work of a minute to swap pedals, besides, I need to drop the seatpost too or the miniMomos are very unhappy by the time I reach the top of my street! 😯
I've got flats on today as I cycled in to work and can't be bothered faffing with a second pair of shoes for a little over 3 miles each way.
I've had numb feet pedalling hard on the road with mtb shoes, and pedalling hard on the velodrome with full roadie shoes. So in my experience, none. (also the rides on track are shorter, but my position more agressive and I'm pedalling harder. I'm not convinced it's anything to do with my shoes/pedals, more likely something nearer hip level.)
I'd stick with MTB pedals if you ever have any inclination of going off road.
The big plastic cleats don't just get a bit worse off road, they just completely stop working.
On the road SPD-SL's are slightly better. But only worth it if you only have to walk very short distances.
I finally gave up on road pedals after one too many cleat sliding off 'wrong' side incidents. I now use m530s which have a cage and possibly give some support but are easy to get in and out of even when adjusted fairly tight .
I have got a pair of XT trail pedals with the cage, but the bearings have died in one pedal, might have to try nd find a replacement to see if that helps too.