SPD Pedal Choice

[Trekhawk]

You don't need road shoes. Most people wear mountain shoes because they're easier to walk in when you're off the bike and you don't risk having your foot slip out from under you if you have to unclip quickly.

I had the Forte Campus Pedal for a short while, it was just too slow to flip the pedal and clip in. I use Speedplay Frogs now and love 'em.

I think choice of which shoe you wear is very personal. I dont think most people wear mountain shoes on a road bike I would say its half and half. I have both mountain and road shoes but prefer to use mountain on my mountain bike and road on my road bike. As far as walking goes on road shoes well I dont walk a lot in mine so I dont find that a problem and I have never had my foot slip out from under me.

LLB is right try to keep your straps a little looser and see if that helps.

[sundial]

I use Speedplay Frogs and mtb shoes and I'm really happy with it. When my foot starts going numb, I do a check to see how I'm pedaling. When I focus on the upstroke, the numbness in the foot usually goes away.

[coyote]

I thought about the shoe too tight thing and the pulling up on the pedals. I also have changed the way I pedal. I've tried with and without shoe inserts. I thought about shims. Do you just buy them and try them out? Or do you go to some sort of cleat expert?

[wavedancer]

I have been using the A520s on my road bike and have not had any problems with them. Being one-sided, I sometimes have to flip them over when I'm clipping in on my second foot, but they have a nice platform for quick starts without being clipped in. I haven't had any numbness or hot spot issues with them.

[RolliePollie]

I have Crankbrothers Quattros and Sidi Zeta road shoes. It's a good combo for me, but there are so many choices out there that it's hard to know where to begin. The Quattro pedal platform is double sided, and although I have had some numb toe/hot spot issues, I blame it on my old shoes and not on the pedals and cleats. My road shoes are not slippery and they're ok for walking around. They have rubber heel pads and the Quattro cleats have a plastic thingie that recesses the cleat and give you a surface for walking (as well as providing a larger area for your shoe to interface with the pedal). I am also on a budget, but I found the Quattros on clearance from Sierra Trading Post and last year's Sidis on mega-clearance from Nashbar. Definitely try loosening up the straps on your shoes. I wear mine a lot looser than I did at first and it has helped a lot with foot comfort issues. Especially on longer rides where your feet might tend to swell a bit!