Do I need/want road bike shoes?

[mariposa]

Hi.

I've been riding for about 3 years now. Old road bike. On this road bike, I have been using Shimano mountain bike shoes with mountain bike SPD pedals. This setup has been very comfortable for me. The shoes are big-ish so I can wear 2 pairs of socks in the cold; and I can walk around in them for hours if need be. (When I go shopping I don't need to change out my shoes once I get off my bike!)

That said, I'm thinking about getting some road biking shoes when I upgrade to a nicer race bike.

Reasons...

a) Feet do get a bit numb on occasion, after 50+ miles. I've been led to understand this *may* be because the mountain bike shoes are a bit too big/not snug enough? And/or they flex too much?

b) I'm moving up to longer bike distances now (centuries; long-course triathlons).

c) Though I'm not particularly competitive, I understand that road shoes will be more pedal-efficient; less wasted motion.

So. What do I need to consider when looking at road shoes/pedal systems? I don't really understand the differences between pedals: Look, SPD, etc. etc.

In case it makes any difference, I occasionally have cycling & running injuries including ITB, hip flexor, piriformis, patella, very mild plantar fasciitis. Currently I have Superfeet insoles in my mountain bike shoes, and that has helped a lot. Injury prevention, to me is way more important than pedal efficiency.

I'm thinking of keeping the mountain bike shoes/pedals on my *old* road bike to use as a commuter/for shopping; and using road bike shoes/pedals on the new race bike.

Thanks!

[mimitabby]

lots of road bike folks are wearing MTB shoes. most the people in my bike club do actually.
You might need new shoes, get new MTB ONES! The loss of traction on your soles makes walking rather difficult. I have SIDI dominator MTB shoes. LOVE 'EM!
further; i bought a pair of road shoes and wore them once only; i didn't like slipping and almost falling while walking my bike out of my driveway!

[OakLeaf]

I've never worn MTB shoes and I don't know how stiff they are. But years and years ago, when I got my first pair of road shoes and stopped riding in running shoes (with toe clips), my speed increased by 1.5 mph. Without doing anything else at all.

[singletrackmind]

I'm very happy with the sidi mtb shoes I have and don't feel a pair of road shoes are a must-have. The only way I'd have a second pair of shoes would be different cleat types, but then that's why I chose the same pedal for every bike I own.

[Andrea]

Road shoes will be stiffer & difficult to walk in, but, as previously mentioned, they can help your pedaling efficiency.
One difference between the types of pedals is the way the cleats mount to your shoe. Most road shoes are set up to accept a 3-bolt mounting pattern (rather than the SPD style). This can help distribute pressure from your pedal over a larger portion of the bottom of your foot. Most road pedals will also have some sort of "float" to them, which may be adjustable, depending on which model you get. The float will help avoid some joint issues & overuse injuries. Some people find that road shoes make their foot numbness worse while others find that it gets cured by switching. It's kind of like saddle choice- everyone will be a little different.
My personal favorites are Speedplays because you can clip in to either side of the pedal, but just as may people swear by Look-style pedals.

[onimity]

+1 for Sidi Dominators. (plus they're on sale at TE...)

I use them on my MTB and road bike, thought it was silly to spend a ton of money on a separate pair of shoes/cleats/pedals. I ride 100+ miles, no problem. And I really like being able to walk into the house with them on without trashing the floor and be able to walk without slipping when I stop at the store, etc.

There is a lot of play in SPDs as well.

Anne

[mimitabby]

uh, my Sidi's have a stiff sole. I don't see how the road shoe could be any stiffer!

[sundial]

...i bought a pair of road shoes and wore them once only; i didn't like slipping and almost falling while walking my bike out of my driveway!

Since I don't plan on trying out for the hockey team, I decided to add traction to my shoes and went with the Specialized mtb shoes. I wouldn't trade 'em for anything.

[Fredwina]

I've done a 300K with Specialized shoes and Mountain bike. I know a lady who did RAAM as a two-woman(and set the record!) with Mountian bike SPD's
So, you're fine with that combo. plus , you don't have to worry about having the wrong shoes....

[flash]

Hi,

I would say that a good quality, good fitting, pair of shoes is more important than whether you have mtb or road shoes. (One exception? If you want to be competitive in triathlons, you will need a tri-specific shoe that's easy to get in and out of.)

I currently have these shoe/pedal combos set up & I honestly don't notice a difference in speed or comfort with any of them. I was supposed to transition to road pedals for my road bike, but didn't want to mess with cleat alignment & don't see the benefit, so I haven't gotten around to it yet (maybe never will). I often ride my road bike (SPD pedals) with my road shoes for club rides and races, but grab my mtb shoes for commuting to work, the grocery store, or our girls' ice cream/pub rides

• Nike tri shoes w/ Shimano SPD road pedals
• Nike Poggio road shoes w/ Shimano SPD (yes, the mtb pedals -- very slippery for walking, also dead easy clip in and out of the pedals b/c the cleats stick way out of the sole)
• Specialized motodivas w/ Shimano SPD

So decide what's important to you (easy walking? large pedal surface to eliminate hot spots? shoe weight? versatility?) If you only want to deal with one pair of shoes, make them good mtb shoes & you can use them for EVERYTHING...road riding, 'cross, mtb, and commuting.

Good luck with your decision!

[KnottedYet]

Speedplay Frogs mtb pedals and Specialized Taho mtb shoes.

On my road bike.