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Glenn
Joined: 05 Feb 2005
Posts: 1109
Location: ST Pauls
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 Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 4:57 pm Subject: Road v mountain bike shoes- much difference? |
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I have a very good road bike, but currently use moutain bike pedals and shoes (specialised). I was thinking of moving to road shoes. Does it make much difference in terms of power transfer and cycling effeciency and therefore overall speed?
If it does make a difference, what shoes (and/or pedals) would people recommend.
If it doesn't make that much of a differernce, I will probably stay with what i have.
thanks,
Glenn |
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Mikey-two-Names
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Posts: 4108
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| Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:06 pm Subject: |
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| If they are both stiff quality shoes with soles that can't bend, then I doubt it makes any difference. If you do a bunch of walking in your cycling shoes, then stay with MTB. |
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ed!
Committee Member
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 4465
Location: E R, London
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| Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:03 pm Subject: Re: Road v mountain bike shoes- much difference? |
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| Glenn wrote: |
| I have a very good road bike, but currently use moutain bike pedals and shoes (specialised). |
Now now, don't play up your current pedals...they're half flat, half SPD. I say that these hinder your ability to "take off" on the lights because you need to fiddle about with them to get the right side on.
Try full SPD pedals for a bit (I might* have some that you can borrow)
* I have Tanya's ones, which I think she thought she left at Calshot, but somehow I ended up with  |
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Howard
Joined: 24 Jan 2010
Posts: 336
Location: W2 now init.
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| Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:19 am Subject: Re: Road v mountain bike shoes- much difference? |
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To answer the original question, as I understand it there's no difference in power transfer, but road dedicated shoes / pedals give you advantages in weight (less shoe and pedal needed) and options for "float". But if you need to walk on them be prepared to replace your cleats a lot.
| ed! wrote: |
| Glenn wrote: |
| I have a very good road bike, but currently use moutain bike pedals and shoes (specialised). |
Now now, don't play up your current pedals...they're half flat, half SPD. I say that these hinder your ability to "take off" on the lights because you need to fiddle about with them to get the right side on.
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I have these on both my bikes, and they always flop over when stationary so that the SPD side faces up. Not sure about Glenn's, but I'd expect them to behave the same.
And as I understand it SPD-SL and Look pedals only clip in on one side anyway. Makes me think dual use pedals being a problem is a bit of a red herring.
But if you really are having a problem clipping in at the lights I've heard good things about Crank Bros. Egg Beaters. Or just use flats - I'm not convinced of the need for clipless for commuting - seems more of a hindrance than a help. |
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sol
Child Protection Officer
Joined: 23 Dec 2005
Posts: 1459
Location: on the river
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| Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 5:06 pm Subject: |
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| Speedplay is the way to go! |
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diego
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 414
Location: W2
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| Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 5:43 pm Subject: |
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| sol wrote: |
| Speedplay is the way to go! |
wot Sol said! 
I have them as well and love them
OTOH, walking on road shoes can be such a pain that I often envy Ed and Tanya on MTB ones.
Good (i.e. expensive) MTB shoes have carbon fibre soles and power transfer shouldn't suffer at all with them (not sure about floating adjustment capabilities of the MTB SPD pedals) and you'll probably save some weight on road shoes, which could make it easier spinning your legs at very high cadence if you are in a Pro team, but I doubt it would make a big difference to any of us...
As Ed said, though, if clipping in quickly is your biggest issue I'd give a go to proper SPD pedals and that should sort you out... if you're comfy in MTB shoes I'd stay with them, maybe upgrading to a carbon sole if power transfer is a concern.
Just my two cents... |
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Mikey-two-Names
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Posts: 4108
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| Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:21 pm Subject: |
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| Look pedals are my favourite, I used to use Deltas, but have recently moved to Keos. I don't have much walking on my commute, and I rarely need to unclip since I put a hand down at the lights instead. |
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Glenn
Joined: 05 Feb 2005
Posts: 1109
Location: ST Pauls
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| Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:57 am Subject: |
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Hey thanks guys for your views.
Seems like I'm not going to get that much benefit from simply switching shoes (but switching pedals may make it easier to take off at lights).
Looks like, I'm going to have to pedal a little harder and more often to get the real benefit - in the interim, may be easier just to remove Matt B's cleats next time we go cycling (that will help even things out, though surely not totally). |
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Howard
Joined: 24 Jan 2010
Posts: 336
Location: W2 now init.
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| Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 8:35 am Subject: |
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| diego wrote: |
| sol wrote: |
| Speedplay is the way to go! |
wot Sol said!
I have them as well and love them
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Which ones do you have? I was a looking into getting some but wanted to have a look at some before I put the money down... |
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sol
Child Protection Officer
Joined: 23 Dec 2005
Posts: 1459
Location: on the river
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| Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:48 pm Subject: |
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| I have Zero Cromoly |
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