phx1973

Hi everyone, my apologies for asking a question that I know probably comes up all the time. I'm looking for suggestions about new pedals for my relatively new road bike (about 150 miles is all but I'm using it more and more). I've used SPD Mountain Bike pedals on different bikes in the past - both M520 and PD M324's and got along with both just fine. I no longer have either of those bikes/pedals, but still have the mountain bike shoes that I used with them. So just wondering if I should get another set of SPD's and just use the same shoes, or a whole new system, like the SPD-SL road pedals, which would require a new pair of shoes, of course. Some have told me the mountain bike style are easier to clip in and out of and that the difference is negligible for a beginner road cyclist (aka., slow rider) like myself. Here's the detail on my gear / usage / interest:


The bike: Giant Contend 3 2019 (entry level components like Claris, relaxed Geometry, but works well for me). Right now the bike has platform pedals with toe clips and straps. Decent quality but I am not a huge fan of the clips and straps.


My use: As you could probably guess from the line above, I'm not a racer and probably won't be. Will be using this bike for alot of solo rides around town (some traffic, intersections, some trails, residential neighborhoods, etc.). Would like to get involved in the local cycling clubs for longer group rides, maybe something like century rides way down the line. But right now mostly city and trail rides anywhere from 1 to 3 hours long.


Outside of this I probably won't spend too much time or money trying to upgrade the bike.

Bottom line: I definitely don't want to stick with the flat. Just wondering if I get some mountain bike pedals (which I'm familiar with) and use the same shoes I have. Or is it really worth it to go with a road pedal/style knowing I'm not really a racer nor that concerned with speed/weight. I almost always use the mountain bike shoes now, even on the flat pedals, just because they are reasonably stiff and feel good on rides.

bruce19

As a recreational rider I don't think you would be sacrificing anything going with Mtn bike pedals.

caloso

Even if you were racing, you wouldn't be sacrificing much either.

alfordjo

I use SPD Pedals on both my road bikes. PD-A600 & XT PD-M8020

I walk around some when on rides is the reason I use SPD.

If you are concerned about clipping out, get SH-56 cleats. They are easier to release than SH-51.

You will fall over at least once. Usually slow speed (pulling up to a stop) where the only thing that gets hurt is your pride.

MrAwesome

I am not a racer or an expert on the minutia, but I have been using SPD pedals for years. I recently got road SPD pedals for my steel FG/SS bike just so I could use the same shoes with both bikes. The road pedals are OK, but they are only one-sided, so it's kind of a PITA to get into sometimes while my mountain bike pedals are two-sided. I assume they did this to save weight, but I can't imagine it's much weight, and for people like us won't make any difference to wind resistance, weight, etc; so I don't see the point. I probably should have just gotten MTB pedals and I would have not noticed a difference except it would have been easier to get in. The road pedals do look a little more sleek so style-wise they match the bike a little better than I imagine MTB pedals would, but I don't think that would have mattered to me either. I have never used any other type of pedals before except for flats with clips. I have actually thought about switching to clips for my FG/SS just so I could wear any type of shoes, but I really prefer clipless especially when riding fixed.

Iride01 

SPD unless you have some overwhelming need to change. If someone gifted me a pair of dual sided Garmin Vector 3's, that might be overwhelming enough for me to change from SPD. <grin>

Gconan

SPD’s all the way! Easy to clip in. Easy to clip out. But most of all you can walk around in them! I have crossed streams in them. Walked across logs and been down steep banks in them. There just to useful.

blakcloud

If you have decent shoes already I agree with everyone else, SPD. If you were buying new shoes and pedals, then my answer would be different.

Glenn6870 

Been riding my Giant Contend SL2 Disc Road bike for over two years with SPD pedals. I have a size 15 shoe, so it was easier for me to find MTB shoes than Road, so i opted for the SPD when i started. I ride for health and fun, not a racer. I see no reason to switch to Road Shoes. You won’t be missing on anything.

Rides4Beer

This. I've raced my bike with SPD pedals and have no issues. (clarification, I meant my road bike, but I've also raced my gravel bike, which also has SPD pedals lol)

I've done centuries, won sprints on the A group ride, etc. The pedals are not holding me back, they're easier to use, and I can walk in the shoes. I'm running double sided XT pedals on the road bike.

eduskator

The only bad thing I heard about SPDs is that the rider's weight is concentrated on one specific area of the shoes' sole since the cleats & clip-in section of the pedals are smaller than SPD-Sls, and this results in an unpleasant pressure point. I actually never tried SPDs for very long so I can't tell if it's true or not, but it does make sense.

As I said above, I would only get these if I were city riding a lot. It's clearly a better option for someone who needs to clip/unclip a lot and walk with its shoes.

tagaproject6

I use SPDs on all my bikes. No pressure points.

Tacoenthusiast

That can certainly be a problem if you are using spd sandals!

Rides4Beer

I've done 8+ hours on SPDs, with no hot spots or pressure points. On both of my SPD setups (and most I believe), the sole of the shoe contacts the pedal on either side of the cleat, helping distribute the pressure, I guess I could see it if the cleat was the only contact point.

You also hear that SPD-SLs are better for power transfer due to the larger contact patch, but I've never been able to find any actual data to support this.

illdrag0n

I'm running xc701 shimanos with 8020 XT pedals on my roadie and commuter and see no reason to move to spd-sl. No issues at all. Always a hoot watching my roadie mates ice skating around at the wet cafe stops

tankist

I used to ride in SPD mounted on Sidi shoes. They were OK. Then I changed to the Look system and never looked back (pun intended). Much better feel for power transfer.

justonwo

I guess I'll be the voice of dissent, having ridden mountain bike pedals on the road (and on the mountain) for many years. SPDs are great because they are simple and easy to get into and out of. I still use them on both my mountain bikes, as do most of the kids on the high school MTB team I coach. I used them for road riding for 3-4 years before I switched over to dedicated road shoes and pedals in 2010. I find the power transfer and stability to be much greater with dedicated road shoes and cleats. I've been using Speedplay pedals on multiple bikes for about 10 years. With SPDs, I don't like how my foot moves all over the place when pedaling steady on the road. Are dedicated road shoes and pedals a must-have? No. Are they better than MTB cleats and shoes? For me, they are. I find Speedplay's walkable cleats to be usable enough, but I don't spend a ton of time walking when I'm wearing them. Maybe to stop at a cafe for lunch or something like that, but I don't go hiking in them or for long walks.

jfranci3

Speedplay Frog or SPD (moutain bike pedals). Much much much easier to clip back into than road pedals with plastic cleats. No down sides with good shoes (Shimano XC5 )