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Not long had my road bike and currently use my old mtb shoes and pedals.
I could quite easily persuade myself that i need some new shoes (but don't really) so should i go all the way and go full roadie.
I commute 14 miles so it worth it, will i notice a difference?
thanks
just for commuting, I'd say don't bother.
For racing and fast training yes - they make a big difference. The physical increase may be relatively small, but I find they feel so much more direct that I'm persuaded to pedal harder!
not much difference, but some - the stiffness of a road shoe can cause some pain as your foot never flexes and you don't get off to walk much.
walking in proper road shoes and cleats is an art though.
I use road shoes to work and put cafe covers on when I get to work - seems to work well and leaves my MTB shoes for trashing in the mud and stones of Dartmoor 😉
TBH - too much flex makes my feet go to sleep so I find it better? For the road at least 🙂
the stiffness of a road shoe can cause some pain as your foot never flexes and you don't get off to walk much.
Completely the opposite for me - and suggest you need road shoes that fit properly!
I use mtb spds and shoes for commuting. My flexi old SIDIs gave me hotspots if I was doing 200k audaxes through, so I got some SPD-SL and stiff carbon road shoes. Bigger contact patch reduces flex and completely alleviated hotspots.
I still find dual sided mtb spds better for hacking round town though. road spec stuff isn't going to make any difference for 14 miles.
I wouldn't bother for what you're doing.
I am getting into it more and i've signed up for a 100km 'race' in October which is great as i have a focus for training so i like the idea of being persuaded to pedal faster, i need all the help i can get!
MTB shoes and recessed cleats are way easier to walk in though 🙂
adh - I've had it with mtb shoes as well - seems I tend to curl my toes up while pedalling and end up with cramp - it's more about me than the shoes - it just seems worse road ridign with stiffer shoes as you're pedalling the whole time, not even standing up for most climbing/downhills etc.
thinking about commute traffic, are they as easy to clip in and out of?
You can set the tension with road pedals the same as with MTB ones.
Just for commuting I'd be tempted to stick with MTB ones, especially if you clip in and out a lot but for doing any proper road riding, definitely go for road shoes and pedals, they're much more efficient.
If all you do is commute I wouldn't bother.
For commuting, no. Not that hey are difficult to lip out of, but they are (laregly) single-sided so can involve a bit extra faff after each set of lights. Also, they road cleats are rather crap for walking around in (or balancing on wet cobbles).
I use CB Candys and an "MTB" style shoe for commuting.
Road shoes/pedals do make a huge difference when you want to be a bit more efficient though.
thinking about commute traffic, are they as easy to clip in and out of?
Yes.
thinking about commute traffic, are they as easy to clip in and out of?
With SPD-SL you need to 'scoop' and engage on the single side. Its easy enough, but it isn't as easy as just smashing an dual sided mtb pedal in. You tend to do an amusing penalty goal kick type action if you miss them too 🙂
wwaswas - seriously, try some different shoes, its all in the fit. I'm a bit of a toe curler too (fnar), so I'm very fussy about fit. Italian made shoes seem to fit me the best. Funky orthotic insoles can help hugely too.