road shoes vs mountain bike shoes

[thunderlips76]

so......I've been cycling around two years, from absolute beginner to doing 100 milers. I've always worn mtb shoes mainly because of the advice i got as a beginner. the question is, what are the advantages of road shoes over mtb shoes. It's important to take into consideration that i don't race (i never will) and i'm no where near a pro or serious armature level. Watched a few videos on youtube ( durainrider.....i hate the guy but he knows his stuff) and they all say unless you at a serious level then you don need road shoes and that mtb shoes are the ones to go for. So do you guys have any input into why i should think about upgrading to road shoes?

 

[Big Dave laaa]

Road shoes tend to be lighter and stiffer and also cooler in summer but i shift to mtb shoes for winter rides. I use SPD pedals and my road shoes Shimano R088s take an SPD cleat. I do prefer the feel of a road shoe but its personal preference. Can't say i noticed any performance gain over the mtb shoes.

 

[TheDoctor]

MTB shoes have soles that you can walk in. This is A Good Thing. Road bike soles tend to be slippery and uncomfortable to walk in, so I tend not to use them.

 

[vickster]

Stick with what you've got. If you want to spend some money, get some better MTB or touring shoes

Road shoes aren't an upgrade. Especially if you need to walk any distance at all

 

[Sunny Portrush]

I have a set of each and the only difference I can tell is that the mtb ones are warmer. However, when it`s time for winter riding. you`ll probably have over-shoes too (and about three pairs of socks)

 

[Julia9054]

When I switched over to clipped in, I started with road shoes as I thought that is what I should have.
Have since switched to MTB shoes and have noticed no disadvantages or loss of performance (such as it is!), only advantages. The main one being that I can walk in them. They look like a pair of trainers so if I want to ride my bike into town in normal clothes, no one could tell I'm wearing cycling shoes.

 

[thunderlips76]

well at the minute i've upgraded everything except my shoes, so it's probably going to be a new pair of giro privateers mtbs. Can anyone recommend some mtb over shoes that don't look ridiculous. I'm not into the neoprene baby bootie look. Really liked the look of the velotoze over shoe but can't use them with mtb shoes.

 

[boydj]

MTB shoes are far more practical, even for long-distance cycling, where touring style shoes are readily available.

 

[Wolf616]

Any recommendations for good recessed cleat shoes that look more like 'normal' trainers?

 

[vickster]

Many of the Giro models fit the trainer Bill. http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Giro/Rumble-VR-Mountain-Cycling-Shoes-2015/841G?wmp=544?wmp=544

Or something like a specialized Tahoe is like a walking shoe

 

[Drago]

MTB shoes can be every bit as stiff soled as road ones. Full carbon soled jobs are out there.

Unless youre a sportsman, and a competitive one at that, even the slight weight advantage of the best road shoes is liable to be of no consequence. MTB shoes or 2 bolt touring shoes are probably a more practical choice for most road going use.

 

[ianrauk]

I really don't know why people keep coming out with road shoes = stiffer then MTB shoes.
Complete nonsense.

Edit: Just seen post above mine saying similar.

 

[Hacienda71]

I have mtb spd shoes for my mountain bike and road shoes with Look Keos on my race bike. If I was into touring I would run a touring shoe with a recessed spd cleat.

 

[Citius]

So do you guys have any input into why i should think about upgrading to road shoes?

It's not an 'upgrade'. It would only be an upgrade if road shoes were somehow 'better' than MTB shoes - but they aren't. They're just different.

 

[cyberknight]

I prefer MTB pedals as i have a fair walk at work to the changing areas and i prefer to use just one system of pedals rather than someone i know who has 3 sorts of pedal and different shoes for each !
I use single sided a600/ a 520s on the road bikes and on the MTB i have m 530s which have a clip one side ond flats on the other so i can ride with the family without worrying about a clipless moment as i tend to have the daughter on a trail gator tagalong.
For best i use shimano m065s

Decathlon shoes for general commuting

And just bought these for winter ......