MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal

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2009-12-28 1:18 PM

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Subject: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
I currently run the same pedal on my MTB and Road bike. They both use the SPD's, so I can use the same shoes for both also. Is their an advantage to switch to a road pedal and no spd cleat? The weight of the pedals is about the same. 

Thanks for the help!
Matt

2009-12-28 1:36 PM
in reply to: #2580398

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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal

From my personal experience, the SPD mountain pedal is just fine.  I use them for a long time until I bought a tribike and decided to get new shoes, pedals, the works.  I opted for a road pedal then (Look Keos) on the recommendation of my bike shop.  But I still wear the SPDs with my other bikes, when I go on vacation with rental bikes, etc.  They are very common and I like the versatility.

I had a few experiences when that type of pedal and cleat came in handy.  Was doing a road ride on a muddy day and the guys with speedplays quickly got gummed up and couldn't clip in.  I was in good shape with the SPDs.  I also find they are very easy to run in.

mwhitely - 2009-12-28 1:18 PM I currently run the same pedal on my MTB and Road bike. They both use the SPD's, so I can use the same shoes for both also. Is their an advantage to switch to a road pedal and no spd cleat? The weight of the pedals is about the same. 

Thanks for the help!
Matt



Edited by BikerGrrrl 2009-12-28 1:36 PM
2009-12-28 1:38 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
I have both and use mtb pedals on my cross bike and road pedals on tri/road bike.

I think the pedal size makes a difference (mtb is much smaller contact point) and would go with road pedals on tri bike.
2009-12-28 2:01 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal

I think the pedal size makes a difference (mtb is much smaller contact point) and would go with road pedals on tri bike.


But does smaller contact point mean less or inefficent power transfer? If so why would people use speedplays and not cleats with more surface area.
2009-12-28 2:21 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
mwhitely - 2009-12-28 2:01 PM
I think the pedal size makes a difference (mtb is much smaller contact point) and would go with road pedals on tri bike.


But does smaller contact point mean less or inefficent power transfer? If so why would people use speedplays and not cleats with more surface area.


It's not an efficiency issue but one of comfort. A larger contact patch means less chance of hot spots.

Speedplay pedals are the opposite of most other pedals. The "cleat" that mounts on the shoe is actually a socket that the lollypop of a pedal fits into. That cleat/socket is pretty big, thus it gives a good sized contact patch.
2009-12-28 2:28 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal

Another consideration, always a hot roadie topic, is the weight of the pedals and cleats.  You will find some super light pedals and cleats in versions only made for road bikes.  That, along with the contact area, is one thing I like about my Look Keos.  They are very easy to pedal on (HUGE contact area) and the pedals are very light.  

I'm too chubby to bothing going about trying to buy bike speed with ligher equipment, it was just a coincidence.  But that's important to some people.

2009-12-28 4:00 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
I have used, and will continue to for the foreseeable future, SPD compatible (M505/515/520 etc.) MTB pedals on all my bikes: road, track, tri, and MTB.

I like the double sided entry, SPDs are easy (relatively speaking) to walk in, I can find them for cheap when I want new pedals, all my shoes/cleats can go on any of my bikes, and the weight really isn't all that different.

Edited by mmrocker13 2009-12-28 4:01 PM
2009-12-28 4:53 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
I had MTB pedals (shimano 520s) irst and had some hot spots the more I rode. I tried different cleat positions on my MTB shoes that I wore at first, then switched to a road shoe with SPD cleats - I liked the double sided entry a lot! but still had hot spots on the right foot. So - off went the mtb pedals and on went Shimano 105 road pedals with the road cleats. This cured the hot spots and actually felt better while riding. I lost the double sided entry, but I think the gains from the road pedal made it a good switch for ME.
2009-12-28 5:37 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
mmrocker13 - 2009-12-28 2:00 PM

I have used, and will continue to for the foreseeable future, SPD compatible (M505/515/520 etc.) MTB pedals on all my bikes: road, track, tri, and MTB.

I like the double sided entry, SPDs are easy (relatively speaking) to walk in, I can find them for cheap when I want new pedals, all my shoes/cleats can go on any of my bikes, and the weight really isn't all that different.


X2 for me.
2009-12-28 6:01 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
I did about 10 tri's with Shimano SPD MTB pedals, including two HIMs.  I like wearing cycling shoes I can actually walk and run in...I have really bad feet (no arches, basically) and barefoot running out of T1/into T2 really screws me over for the run.  I switched to the Shimano PD-A530 "multi-purpose" pedal for my IM and that went just fine (provides a longer platform than the MTB pedals, but same SPD cleat system).  I know I'm carrying some extra weight (pedals and shoes), but there's only so many ounces I'm up for obsessing about at this point.
2009-12-28 6:34 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
As previsouly stated, the SPD and egg beater (MTB) pedals are double sided entry so you can clip in on both sides.  The Look style and the SPDSL pedals are one sided entry.  If you aren't worried about weight stick with what you got until you need to replace one of the pieces of the system the change every thing out.

2009-12-28 7:28 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
I used to have SPDs all around, but eventually got to the point with road and crit racing that I was getting hot spots on my foot on long and/or hard rides. Now I have Shimano Ultegra on my road bike and SPDs on my MTB/Cross bikes. Double sided entry is nice, but for road & Tri biking you need to clip in and out less frequently than on a MTB.

If you currently have SPDs shoes/cleats/pedals all around then I wouldn't worry about it, until you feel like youv'e "outgrown" the SPDs For me, I no longer felt like the small contact patch and shoes I was wearing was helping my cycling, it was instead holding me back a bit, so I switched.
2009-12-28 7:54 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
Road shoes are generally lighter than mountain...SiDi has a shoe called the Terra which has many Tri-specifi features and is similar to the highly regarded T2, except with 2-bolt cleat mounting and a mountain SPD friendly sole ... marketed towards Xterra racers, but as I am still on mountain SPD's, I'm looking into these shoes.
2009-12-28 9:02 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
When I used my bike for general touring, I used SPD's, so that during the breaks it was easier to walk around.  My current setup uses Looks, with a rubberized rim on the cleat to prevent skating.  I think the larger cleat makes finding the clip a little easier.  I didn't have any issues with hotspots, but except for races, I use socks whenever I ride.
2009-12-28 11:01 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal

SPD pedals only.

Works fine for me.
2009-12-29 3:46 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal

speedplay's are double-side entry too.

If SPD's are what you have now and it works for you, no reason why you can't keep them. If/when you starting having comfort issues (hot spots under your foot, etc) would be the time to think about getting something else.

-ak-

2009-12-29 9:42 PM
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Subject: RE: MTB pedal vs. Road Pedal
I'm a SPD user, love them!  I got a good deal on the pedals and shoes so I took it (shoes also accept Look style).  As a newbie to biking, I really didn't know the difference so when I showed up to my first century event, I thought I was way off the mark looking at other people's setups.  I did 100K with no issues, no hot spots, and it was quick and easy for me to clip in.  I'm used to them now and I've been questioning the same idea as I'm about to pick up my new Tri bike.  I'm gonna stick with my SPDs until something breaks and I'm forced to fork out the replacement $$$.  Good luck!
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