Road SPD's Vs MTB SPD's

[themosquitoking]

ask me how I know this.

Please, no one do this.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Please, no one do this.

go on... I have photos too.

 

[themosquitoking]

go on... I have photos too.

No. Must resist. 

 

[Andywinds]

Yes I still have the standard cleats that the pedals came with, I will fit these. Thanks

^^^^^^+1 on the 51 cleats, just back the tension off on the pedal when you first fit new ones as they may be tight at first and you can always up the tension later but that may avoid a 'clipless' moment situation (99% of the time these are harmless just embarrassing but sometimes they can really hurt DAMHIKT.)

 

[Apollonius]

I am puzzled as to why so many people think SL (three point road type of SPD) are more difficult to manage than the MTB type of SPD.

In the case of the SL the lock is plastic to plastic (or carbon if you are posh, but that is still plastic) so you can always get your foot out by brute force in a panic. The MTB SPD is a metal to metal lock, so you are not going to overpower it. You have to perform the right action to get out.
The big advantage of MTB SPD for everyday use is that you can buy recessed shoes so that you are walking on rubber when walking in your cycling shoes. The SLs have only a couple of plastic grips at the back of the cleat to walk on and are not designed to get you much further than the bar on foot. I find this enough, personally.
On the other hand, the recessed shoes have their limitations for serious long distance/high speed (comparative you understand, in my case, at least - I am talking 40 miles or so and 20mph tops) road use, and riders often gravitate to harder-soled better road shoes. These are not recessed. Thus riders end up with the worst of both worlds. Shoes you can't walk in very well and small "high pressure" cleats standing proud of the hard sole.
I am in the fortunate position that I don't have to commute - retired - so when I put on my cycling shoes I am only going cycling. SLs suit me well for that reason as I do like a hard powerful sole. Though an OAP, I do like to whizz about a bit. I find the idea of choosing cycling shoes for their good walking characteristics as odd as choosing wellies you can dance in.
Either way, SLs are nothing to be feared. They are easy to get into and out of. Indeed, I recently upgraded to carbon pedals as I found the plastic cheaper ones wore quickly and began to feel wobbly and insecure. One final point: people with small feet find most cleats hard to manage as they don't have the twisting leverage necessary to release the cleat. Even the admirable Speedplays can be a problem for them.
Best of luck whatever you choose!

 

[ianrauk]

On the other hand, the recessed shoes have their limitations for serious long distance/high speed (comparative you understand, in my case, at least - I am talking 40 miles or so and 20mph tops) road use, and riders often gravitate to harder-soled better road shoes. These are not recessed. Thus riders end up with the worst of both worlds. Shoes you can't walk in very well and small "high pressure" cleats standing proud of the hard sole.

As some on who does more miles then most, in total miles cycled and ride length. (anything up to and over 200+ miles per ride on a very regular basis, so I would call that serious). All my miles are using MTB SPD's and MTB Shoes so can say with experience that what you have said is not really true. You can buy many MTB recessed shoes that are designed to be just as stiff as road shoes. (Specialized for example has a shoe stiffness chart). Road shoes are not necessarily better.

 

[Andywinds]

Very useful post thanks. My shoes are ok and are my my pedals, they are both marketed for MTB'ing. At some point I would like to get some new shoes/pedals just for road biking as the shoes can get dirty if I am MTB'ing alot. But with everything it comes down to 'what I need' and 'what I want'.

I am puzzled as to why so many people think SL (three point road type of SPD) are more difficult to manage than the MTB type of SPD.

In the case of the SL the lock is plastic to plastic (or carbon if you are posh, but that is still plastic) so you can always get your foot out by brute force in a panic. The MTB SPD is a metal to metal lock, so you are not going to overpower it. You have to perform the right action to get out.
The big advantage of MTB SPD for everyday use is that you can buy recessed shoes so that you are walking on rubber when walking in your cycling shoes. The SLs have only a couple of plastic grips at the back of the cleat to walk on and are not designed to get you much further than the bar on foot. I find this enough, personally.
On the other hand, the recessed shoes have their limitations for serious long distance/high speed (comparative you understand, in my case, at least - I am talking 40 miles or so and 20mph tops) road use, and riders often gravitate to harder-soled better road shoes. These are not recessed. Thus riders end up with the worst of both worlds. Shoes you can't walk in very well and small "high pressure" cleats standing proud of the hard sole.
I am in the fortunate position that I don't have to commute - retired - so when I put on my cycling shoes I am only going cycling. SLs suit me well for that reason as I do like a hard powerful sole. Though an OAP, I do like to whizz about a bit. I find the idea of choosing cycling shoes for their good walking characteristics as odd as choosing wellies you can dance in.
Either way, SLs are nothing to be feared. They are easy to get into and out of. Indeed, I recently upgraded to carbon pedals as I found the plastic cheaper ones wore quickly and began to feel wobbly and insecure. One final point: people with small feet find most cleats hard to manage as they don't have the twisting leverage necessary to release the cleat. Even the admirable Speedplays can be a problem for them.
Best of luck whatever you choose!

 

[Andywinds]

Wow 200+. Can I ask which shoes and pedals you use?

As some on who does more miles then most, in total miles cycled and ride length. (anything up to and over 200+ miles per ride on a very regular basis, so I would call that serious). All my miles are using MTB SPD's and MTB Shoes so can say with experience that what you have said is not really true. You can buy many MTB recessed shoes that are designed to be just as stiff as road shoes. (Specialized for example has a shoe stiffness chart). Road shoes are not necessarily better.

 

[ianrauk]

Wow 200+. Can I ask which shoes and pedals you use?

Specialized BG Comp shoes and XTR MTB SPD pedals.

 

[Citius]

In the case of the SL the lock is plastic to plastic (or carbon if you are posh, but that is still plastic) so you can always get your foot out by brute force in a panic. The MTB SPD is a metal to metal lock, so you are not going to overpower it. You have to perform the right action to get out.

That statement is both technically and practically incorrect. Both pedals can hold your foot securely and both pedals will release in any direction with enough force.

 

[Apollonius]

Everyone's choices, expectations, needs and experiences are different. I hope I made that clear in my post above. My main point is that people are unnecessarily wary of SL cleats and pedals.

 

[Apollonius]

Both pedals can hold your foot securely and both pedals will release in any direction with enough force.

Happy to be corrected.

 

[Venod]

As some on who does more miles then most, in total miles cycled and ride length. (anything up to and over 200+ miles per ride on a very regular basis, so I would call that serious). All my miles are using MTB SPD's and MTB Shoes so can say with experience that what you have said is not really true. You can buy many MTB recessed shoes that are designed to be just as stiff as road shoes. (Specialized for example has a shoe stiffness chart). Road shoes are not necessarily better.

+1 for this, I also use MTB pedals on all my bikes while not the 200 mile plus rides, over 100 is often riden + 20 mph is exceeded regulary, I have used single sided Look pedals & single sided SPD, but theres no going back, for me MTB SPD are the most convenient and some MTB shoes are just as stiff as road shoes.

 

[Dogtrousers]

the cleats look very complicated, I shall have to learn how to clip in all over again!!

May I suggest that you also learn how to clip out as well

 

[jonny jeez]

May I suggest that you also learn how to clip out as well

That's good advice.