MTB shoes v Road Shoes

[Levo-Lon]

Well that is one opinion, another opinion is that there is a difference. I get hot spots when using spds after about 40 miles.

moving the cleat forward stopped that for me..but that seems to be the main gripe with mtb shoes.

 

[Citius]

So I was just wondering what the benefits of cycling in road shoes are?

None. Road shoes are for cycling - MTB shoes are for cycling and walking. Consequently, MTB shoes have recessed cleats and tread, road shoes have no walkable sole because they don't need it. Just choose the shoe that best meets your requirements.

 

[raleighnut]

It was a scorcher..silverstone seems to be a wet weather venue..its rained nearly everytime ive been there for track days or anything else..

always been lucky with Donny..just aviation fuel masquerading as rain..stinks

Yep, it's one of the designated 'fuel dump' areas for the airport, I'm friends with the guy who owns the 'Park Barn Farm Hotel and Campsite' next to the track (It's where they hold the 'Off The Tracks' festival that I've been going to for 20yrs)

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjHm96ZxqvKAhUFtQ8KHROrDJAQFggdMAA&url=http://www.parkfarmhouse.co.uk/&usg=AFQjCNG1lRBHd14MoXGCKPH2DYh8qioBfQ

 

[RemyLeBeau]

Potentially stiffer soles, although you can of course get stiff MTB or touring shoes, lighter in weight...although light not necessarily good in winter. Bigger surface area of cleat may prevent hotspot. Some people prefer the look of the shoes and the pedals on a roadbike

Downside, you can't walk so easily as the cleats aren't recessed

People do long distances in all sorts of shoes, depends what works for you

I looked at SPD-SL but I have awkward wide feet and couldn't find one pair of shoes from any brand that were comfortable!

Also I can't abide single sided pedals, which all road ones are. I ride mostly in traffic and have to clip in and out a lot, the pedals being the wrong way round every time used to do my head in! Shimano M520 ftw

There's a sticky on this which may help https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/clipless-pedals-faq.74358/

I admit I prefer the look of road shoes but like yourself and a few others that have said as much as I can get on the moors in 15 minutes I do a lot of town cycling as well so am constantly stop starting to prefer the double sided pedals.

I can't say I struggle or find a problem with the miles I cover in MTB shoes but I know it's frowned upon by certain cyclists.

Maybe I'll buy a pair to see the difference but so far it seems to be a majority to stick with the MTB shoes

 

[vickster]

Who gives a stuff what anyone else thinks

You'll need to reconsider your bike set up plus change pedals and cleats. Won't get much change from £100 for decent shoes and pedals

 

[si_c]

MTB shoes and SPDs work for me. Most of my mileage comes from commuting, and having double sided pedals and the ability to walk around without looking like a pillock and sounding like a primary school tap dancing club is invaluable. Saw one guy on the ferry nearly go on his arse a few times as he was wearing SPD-SL type shoes and the wooden deck was wet.

I prefer the M530 Shimano Pedals to the M520s, they have a much larger contact patch between foot and shoe, and at a push I can ride short distances in them using trainers rather than "proper" shoes.

Ultimately if you are happy riding with SPDs, then stick with them, from what I understand there is little mechanical advantage from using one system over the other.

 

[fossyant]

Most of my mileage was MTB shoes/cleats as it's far easier for commuting, and walking to and from the bike. If you've got a long traffic free route, then road pedals have the upper hand.

Use what you find easy. The current MTB SPD pedals are quite neat these days (eg XT) and are virtually service free.

Both road bikes have Look pedals.

You can get MTB shoes in poncy colours now anyway - I mean, White MTB shoes - obviously not used off road !

 

[Drago]

I've nothing particular against SLs, but it got to the point where only one of my bikes had them and the rest MTB/Touring SPDs so in the end they gave way to SPDs simply so all my shoes were cross compatible with all my bikes. Certainly for real life use they're more user friendly than SLs, but if SLs give you a trouser tent then go for it. They're your feet.

 

[Levo-Lon]

A trouser tent..

 

[swee'pea99]

Having always ridden with SPDs on my (all road) bikes - not for any reason, just they were the first shoes I bought when I didn't know there was a difference, and I never felt any need to fix what didn't appear to be broken - I was told by quite a serious cyclist that Look shoes & pedals would make a big difference, especially on long rides. So I got some, and I can honestly say....I don't notice any difference. I'm not saying they're worse, just that they're no better either. If anything I find them very marginally more annoying, on account of being one-sided - but it's a knack you pick up reasonably quickly. 6 of one half a dozen of t'other, I reckon.

 

[Hacienda71]

I suspect in general road shoes tend to be a bit lighter. Although you can buy very light mtb shoes. I really can't see the clipping in technique being a problem road cleats are weighted so they are the right way up when you clip in. On my MTB I use SPDs because I am quite likely to need to walk. On the road bike I use Look Keos and get many thousands of miles out of each set of cleats. If I decided to touring I would use SPDs. If you want to ride with SPDs on a road bike, do it, you aren't going to be ridiculed or arrested.

 

[winjim]

I've nothing particular against SLs, but it got to the point where only one of my bikes had them and the rest MTB/Touring SPDs so in the end they gave way to SPDs simply so all my shoes were cross compatible with all my bikes. Certainly for real life use they're more user friendly than SLs, but if SLs give you a trouser tent then go for it. They're your feet.

My road pedals make me go a bit funny I have to admit. They are things of beauty.

 

[Karlt]

Wouldn't dream of commuting in road pedals. Wear out the left cleat in a couple of weeks with all the putting a foot down at the lights and all the other stoppages, and the SPDs are easier to clip back into. Once the distance starts stretching to 30+ miles I find the road pedals more comfortable.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

With platform type SPD pedals such as Shimano A520 the foot has enough support to avoid the hot-spot problem.

 

[vickster]

With platform type SPD pedals such as Shimano A520 the foot has enough support to avoid the hot-spot problem.

But a pain clipping in after lights etc, I got shot of A600s for that very reason