Are SPDs less efficient than "road" pedals?

Are road pedals more efficient? I think many people believe that there must be something inherently more efficient about road style pedals like the Look Keo, Shimano Ultegra SPD-SL, Time, or Speedplay pedals.
But is there any research to support this?
Problem-Solving Programs:
Solve Saddle Pain
bikefitadviser.com/solve-your...
NEW BIKE? Get the right size:
bikefitadviser.com/what-size-...
SOLVE KNEE PAIN on the Bike:
bikefitadviser.com/solve-cycl...
My favorite cycling insoles amzn.to/2G3Sv9n
Here's a Playlist on...
More information at: bikefitadviser.com
Sign up for free as a member and get exclusive content at bikefitadviser.com/index.php?...
*** The usual social links: ***
**** bikefitadviser
**** bikefitadviser
**** johnweirath

[@zbou23]

skip to 10:07 for the actual opinion and takeaway

[@shannontrainer5857]

zbou23 That’s because he ONLY rides mountain bikes. He never owned a single road bike in his life.

[@jbwillson]

He takes longer to say less than almost anyone I’ve ever known.

[@hedleykerr3564]

I said that for yrs. when they came out with aero pedals everybody points their feet at different angles so that a tough ones to sell! Nice job on the presentation!

[@user-qt9vn1yj8x]

I am happy, I have found your channel. Very informative and systematic approach is always welcome. Hope, you'll get more attention soon. As for me, I get used to Shimado SPD XTR pedals + shoes alike SH-XC51 with full carbon outsole. I have tried Look + some lightweight italian shoes (can't remember exactly it's brand) and can't say that there is really that big difference in performance. Road purists could think whatever they want, but oddly enough, I find stiff and steady fixed ankle on full-sized carbon platform far more comfortable, than flexible and thin-skinned road shoes. And btw, SPD MTB/CX shoes with heels, that hides cleats are much more useful in city with many crossroads, like Moscow for example.

[@Combat556]

I’ve recently switched over my road bike pedals from SPD-SL’s to XTR Trail spd’s, and it’s nice not having to flip the pedal to clip side. Clip in is faster and safer in traffic.

[@redseamole]

I ride MTB and road and use SPD M8000 and M9000 respectively. With this: I don't have to use dedicated shoes on each bike, I have the same "feel" specially on release, and the best reason why I use SPD's is that I can walk quietly in and out of the house and my wife will have no idea that I went out cycling ;-)

[@matmabe5223]

Confirmed al of my suspicions from my own research. Soberly delivered, intelligently approached, this video has helped me to make my decision... PDA600s it is. Thank you.

[@clairebinder166]

Having been riding with the Look pedals since the late 1980's I am finally happy again. Look did bring back the Look city, some shoes for look that can be used to walk with. For me the benefit is that all the bikes share the same pedals also on the recumbent I can now ride without a spare pare of shoes. I prefer look because the are lighter

[@tomnewham1269]

Interesting topic especially as I too use mtb spd’s on both my mtb and road bike. The pedals I use on the road bike are the Shimano Spd road version. You can only clip in on one side and have a slightly larger foot print as well. Thanks for sharing.

[@leerigby5735]

6. Walking around/off the bike. This is the big difference between the two. One allows you to walk normally over long distances (mtb) and one doesn't and, in certain scenarios, is dangerous to walk around in (wet on a steep hill for example). I recently broke my arm on my bike and had to walk 3 miles to get a phone signal to call for assistance and I'm very glad I was wearing mtb shoes that day. I'm sure road shoes and pedals are more efficient, but unless you're entering the Tour de France (and let's be honest, you're not!), mtb shoes are what you need.

[@bikefitadviser7012]

+Lee Rigby agreed!

[@jarnedeprins3617]

it isn't only about being able to walk in them or not(I mean, you can always take your shoes off to walk), also about feet/leg anatomy. I need to use road pedals, because mtb pedals are too small for me, and so I can move my knee to much, which can lead to injuries. So you need to take way more into account than performance, and being able to walk. One of the main raisons I'm not allowed to ride my MTB anymore, is because of the pedals, and because you need your knees more to keep your balance. So I need to use road pedals for my health actiully, so you don't just need road pedals to ride the Tour de France, and you don't always need MTBshoes...

[@patthewoodboy]

I dont race anymore so its doesnt bother me if SPD/MTB shoes are less efficient ..just like i dont use a 52 big ring ..can anyone spin out 52/11 who isnt racing ...I use 34/11 as my biggest gear :-)

[@shannontrainer5857]

You'll also need to put a flat handlebar, wide knobby tires and a suspension fork on your bike.

[@shannontrainer5857]

Is it a mtb?

[@_clemens_]

I changed from SPD to SPD-SL...and was one of the best changed I made. You are just so much more connected to the bike. When using SPD I had the feeling everytime I went from pushing to pulling there was a small travel of my shoe relative to the pedal...with SPD SL im just connected very fix and there is no motion in the vertical direction, and I believe this is more efficient. It is surely more comfortable for me. And as the sideways float is also much more limited, sideways movement has also become less. On my MTB I still have the SPD, the few time I ride this it always makes me happy I switched to SPD-SL on my road bike. The only big negative point is the price of the pedals (I got my 105 pedals pretty cheap for ca. 50€) (and a bit the wear of the plastic cleats). I surely will never go back to SPD on my road bike...in the near future I'll test the blue cleats instead of the yellow and see if there are still comfortable enough for me...

[@matoberry]

Had the same feeling with SPD. I like SPD and use it on MTB and one of my road bikes, but this little microscopic vertical move is noticable, sometimes it even clicks. SPD-SL's don't have that annoying move/click for me.

[@TheGeoffreyDyck]

Up to you, but several pro riders still stay at the 6 float cleats, rather than go down to the 2/0. I believe that shimano made the blues at pro request and it def feels stiffer, but if viviani and terpstra can use yellows we can too. You can always adjust your release tension as well.

[@TheJask101]

Great video as with a lot of your others! I wish you were in the uk I'd be after one of your fittings straight away!

[@olivergroning6421]

Great Video. I changed from the old strap - system directly to the SPD system on my road bikes. I only use the Look system on the track bike for the velodrome. The selection of the pedal (e.g. Shimano PD A520) and shoes (e.g. SIDI GENIUS 5 FIT CARBON) is certainly important as you will have mountain bike shoes which are too soft. Generally I never felt any difference, no pressure spots with the SPD or anything. I like the little more side wiggle with the SPD. I would say that the selection of light and very stiff shoes is greater for the standard road bike pedals. But for the amateur level, there is no reason not to ride SPD. Of course the huge advantage of SPD is you can walk normally.

[@ChildOfDecandence]

My personal experience, I was using my road shoe with an SPD pedal and adapter. Whenever I failed to clip in the SPD scratched/chewed my carbon sole much more than a SPD-R in the same scenario. It's a minor point, but keeping my shoes just a little tidier was enough for me to switch when it was time for new pedals anyway. Another argument that could be made specifically for when using SPD on a road shoe was when you do walk on the SPD-R, the plastic damages the floor less

[@simonmoses4023]

I think the BIG difference is the ease of clipping in and out. I ride XC and race and I ride road and race......you clip in and out way more on a MTB in general. Maybe not so much in XC MTB due to the courses. The float you get on a MTB pedal is important as you move the bike under you a lot more in MTB/XC riding. I guess it's just the different natures of each type of riding that makes the real difference. Nice video!

[@awesumpowerz6805]

I like this guy ... no fluff ... Just great information ... Thanks ... I'm subscribing ...

[@thevitalityproject]

Totally agree. The fact that SPD are double sided is a huge benefit in the real world - never looking down / fumbling pulling away from the lights or in traffic etc. Secondly, walking around off the bike - real world cycling. Road shoes outside of racing for me are pointless.

[@thevitalityproject]

When bike is your main transport, you walk around in them all the time!

[@Mububban23]

MTB pedals are also great for commuting, where you're constantly stopping at traffic lights etc and unclipping. Then when you arrive at work you can walk around without falling over :-) For my next road bike I'm going to get some PD-A600 pedals. Only 286g (same as 105 road pedals), clip on one side, small platform on the other so you can still push off if you miss the clip in. Then I don't have to shell out for another pair of shoes.

[@JH-fk8ow]

those PD-A600 are top notch pedals in every aspect, i dont belive there is better price/performance ratio spd pedal out there+they look pretty aero too haha :D

[@_clemens_]

Most road pedals come in a fixed position when unclipped, so looking down is not necessary when you have become used to it

[@eoinkelly2674]

Ok Mr courier go ride your fixie in the “real world”. Road pedals are harder to get out of but they keep their position better better which “non real world cyclists” prefer

[@hornetluca]

I ride a road bike and I use SPD pedals due to the shoes I use are not as stiff as the road ones so that I can run after who tries to steal my bike 😂

[@hornetluca]

Specky Cyclist 😓

[@ShermanSitter]

I've considered spds for the reason of having 'normal-ish' shoes. but believe it or not, i still use cages on my commuter! actually i like them and I can use ANY shoe. i do like the idea though and still may go that direction one day.

[@benjaminmedina2399]

DFTA (Don't Feed The Animals) b

[@jimmyl1606]

Same here. I prefer spd pedals on my road bike because I like to be able to walk around more easily.

[@sevenrats]

Carry a .380 and you don't have to run at all.

[@toddhoskins4196]

I've had pretty good luck with the Sidi cx shoe, with stiff plate and the:Shimano PD-A600 larger platform. Pretty stiff contact point, but nice rotational freeplay to protect the knees. I don't race so maybe that will be different.

[@rsparker922]

I use SPD's simply because they are usually double sided. No more twiddling the pedal to get the right angle to clip in. I found the smaller surface area tends to press on the ball of the foot after a while so I switched to SPD pedals with the larger surface area and they seem to fit the bill perfectly.

[@frenchbikewrench7451]

Great video! Last year I switched from Look pedals to MTB style SPDs on my road bike and I haven't regretted it. Even if there is truth to the industry claims you list, I'd happily take the drawbacks for the ability to walk comfortably in the shoes! One more argument I've heard against SPDs is that the smaller contact area may cause more pressure and create a hot spot on the sole of the foot (surely the stiffness of the shoe also plays a part here).

[@yorvo]

Great videos! Ive been using xt and 105 pedals and the ONLY difference is that road pedals feel "more secure" when "puling".

[@mdayne1142]

Thank you for this video. It helped me a lot. I found I need the spd pedals because I use my road bike both for training and commuting. I definitely need something to walk in .

[@sk2KLAZ]

GNC UK did a VT on both sides to this story worth a watch! Great Video, I’ve only tried road look classic 3 pedals but would like to try clip less to see if there is a difference!

[@smokeandsweat9990]

I use Shimano SPD for road and trail myself. Easier to walk in and out of a cafe!

[@arjay2002ph]

im plnning to change my road pedals to spd coz of the shoe

[@adamlynch9153]

I miss going to cafes

[@stephenmckeever6912]

Is it difficult to clip it in and how long did it take you to get used to it

[@christopherdavidson17]

I strictly went SPD because I ride Mountain and Rode, I dont want 2 different shoes for 2 different clipless systems... And yes the shoes being walkable in are a huge plus

[@christopherdavidson17]

@@stephenmckeever6912 took me 1 day and about an hour of practice to get used to clipping in and out

[@alanridley2917]

Mate. This is the most comprehensive, honest, unbiased comparison I have watched so far. You have a new fan. I have had Look road pedals and cleats on road shoes for road bikes. SPD pedals and shoes for gravel bikes etc. I now have changed my road bike pedals and my gravel bike pedals to the Shimano PD-M424 pedals which are flat on one side and SPD clipless on the other. I can now ride any bike with a pair of runners or fit my mountain bike SPD clipless shoes to have a clipped in ride. Thanks for the comparison. I look forward to watching your other stuff.

[@seanparker5595]

Nice video. One thing that I have noticed, in regards to point 4 in the video, is that SPDs allow more femoral riotation at the hip and (presumably) elsewhere on the biomechanical chain from ankle to hip joint. Because SPDs have a narrower platform it allows the foot to rock about its longitudinal axis, this allows more external rotation of the femur for any given degree of ankle and knee flexibility, as compared to a road pedal. This can make a massive difference to a rider with hip stiffness or hip pathology.

[@markmoore6077]

Great videos for sure. I agree with point 4 also. The SPDs have more movement which works for my knees and hips. Being a bit less flexible, this added movement is more comfortable and natural. The ability to walk is an added bonus.

[@shauns.6798]

Totally agree. I've done the same 100 mile mixed surface races with both my Specialized Torch/Ultegra road pedals and my Giro VR90/XTR MTB pedals. I didn't notice any real advantages or disadvantages in efficiency, however VR90's do feel a little comfortable on really long rides. Honestly, stuff like the kind of meal I eat beforehand or my choice of tires has much more of an effect on my performance than my pedal/shoe system.

[@groovedigga101]

Im a roadie and ride with SPDs. I switched from the road pedal after 3 months. I found SPDs easier to get in/out as well as easier to walk on.

[@NelsonSherry]

As noted earlier, and as a bike fitter also, the real difference I note is the lateral, side-to-side stability of typical road pedals that provides a much more stable platform for supporting wedging and foot stability and thus knee tracking. For some people that, due to joint alignment, need some rocking as they rotate through the pedal stroke, the more stable spd-sl pedals don't work well.

[@ac55699]

Great balanced presentation. Thank you.

[@rushgrey8140]

Great video! Thank you for being unbiased 👍🏻

[@mg6263]

I have both, and found that SPD pedals created hotspots under the balls of my feet much more quickly than Look pedals. The wider platform of the Look cleat definitely feels like I get stronger power transfer as well, maybe that is because there is a larger degree of float in the SPD pedals, but when pulling up on the pedals I feel connected to the Looks but more like I am pulling at a tiny portion of my shoe with SPDs.

[@markjthomson]

I ride both type, I use the standard SPD on my road/touring bike (so I can get off and walk normal) and I use the 3 bolt SPD-SL on my fixed gear. Only reason for the SPD-SL is when I'm controlling speed through the pedals on the fixed gear I'm happier with 3 bolts rather than 2 holding the cleat on. Don't notice any difference between the two systems. Best thing about the double sided SPD is much easier to clip in if you are riding around town.

[@usman5140]

Great video, I've been riding spd's similar to the ones you have for 2 years (on a cannondale synapse) and just got road shoes a few months ago with my new bike(BMC tmr02). For shorter-medium length rides(20-40), I prefer to ride new bike/new pedals. Anything over 40, old bike/old pedals. The road shoes feel a little lighter, but my feet feel sore when I approach the high 40's-50 mile mark. The mtb. shoes are very comfortable for long rides. Also, I'd hate being caught out there not being able to walk in road shoes in an emergency 40+ miles away.

[@bikefitadviser7012]

usman your experience with the road shoes is a common one -- road shoes often tend to be very low volume shoes and can create problems for some

[@KalvinLo]

exit and entry, i used spd before and cant exit a few time, ended up falling, i switched over to looks classic and this worked great

[@MrTimMifsud]

Thanks for this video. It's a question I have been wondering for ages as I ride mtb spd on my road bike.

[@bikefitadviser7012]

Tim Mifsud Glad it helped....and, for the record, I use SPDs on my road bike as well

[@gregjonglee]

My knee pain after surgery forced me to try speedplay and that was a winner in terms of knee and feet comfort, safety (easy in and release) and convenience. I never thought that flexibility in the feet would mak such a difference in comfort for long rides for the knee and fee.. I would never go back.

[@alec_smith]

My experience has been that riding a petal with a bigger platform decreases the chance of getting hot spots during long rides which could slow you down.

[@shannontrainer5857]

For some strange reason, some people actually love getting hot spots on their feet.

[@harleyss475]

... i have clipped a pedal many times... you are right about aggressive riding... the spindle looks set back so there would be some extra clearance could be a thinner spindle as well... maybe a smaller bearing allowing for a smaller housing etc...

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

Any system transfers the power to the spindles, that is where it all starts if you ask me

[@johnbouttell5827]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[@MikeBritton]

Switched from SPD to Speedplay and liked them, but too much maintenance. Then switched to Look, and they are very comfortable and light, but much harder to clip into because one must use the foot to flip them upright before entry is possible. I've learned to do this pretty well, but it's still a giant pain in the ass. Shoes are everything; comparing pedals is like comparing crank arms.

[@barrymonaghan6593]

Back in the 80's I had a pair of Aerolights, which looked like liquorish sticks. These were billed as being the worlds lightest pedals. Did many rides on these including a 1000 km randonnee ride. Later on I switched to Time pedals for the Paris-Brest-Paris. Couldn't really tell any difference as far as foot support is concerned.

[@bikefitadviser7012]

+Barry Monaghan it was pedals like those that inspired this video. I don't feel much noticeable difference with my SPDs versus my Look Keos too

[@johnrodgers6049]

I have ridden many mtb and road pedals and shoes. Currently riding mtb/spd pedals on my road bike. I think you are correct that the efficiency is more from the shoe than the pedal. If you think of the physics, if the shoe is infinitely stiff, and the connection to the pedal has no play, then the size of the platform should be superfluous. In the past my problem was with big heavy bulky mtb shoes, but that is not the case as much now. On day long rides, having the ability to walk in your bike shoes is a bonus. Using lace up Giro mtb shoes.

[@tychoMX]

yes - one caveat: for many/most MTB shoes/pedals, the push doesn't occur totally from the cleat and pedal interface, the shoe lugs push first!

[@motorpsykler]

I don't think that is true at all. It would be very difficult to clip in if you had to compress the lugs on the bottom of the shoes. I know for a fact that on my Sidi Dominators the cleat is all that contacts the pedal.

[@tychoMX]

Might not be a problem with your specific system. I had to trim a cheap winter shoe to make the lugs fit, even with the shim provided with the Crankbros Candy. On my (older, camoflage) Dominators to make them work with the same pedals I had to use the contact shims that increases the thickness of the pedal ends to make them meet the pedal lugs better. Directly from the manufacturer's website FAQ: " I'm having difficulty clipping into the pedals. Many mountain bike shoes have thick, variable tread. This can make it difficult to clip into some pedals. If you are having difficulty clipping into crankbrothers pedals, try using the shims provided with the pedals and cleats. The shim is a thin plastic wafer that goes under the cleat. It pushes the cleat out from the shoe sole to allow easier engagement with the pedal. If this does not work, try slightly trimming the shoe tread (in the contact area only). Use a sharp blade or sanding wheel, and please go a little at a time. The tread should make contact with the pedal, but not so much that the tread compresses (which causes difficulty clipping in). " Cyclocross exposes these issues more than MTB because there's so much dismounting and remounting. I'll admit I haven't reached a perfect solution - I am using the Szyzr system now because it's as solid as a road pedal - there's no contact with the shoe at all, not even the area where the cleat attaches. But it doesn't work in freezing temperature snow or mud - can't clear that packing debris as well as the the eggbeaters or Candy. Normally only an issue for 1/2 races per season. Or if you're visually oriented (hope this link works) bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/21765/my-spd-shoes-cleats-wont-clip-in-to-my-spd-pedals

[@nwimpney]

crank bros pedals always seemed less solid that way to me. it seems like they're designed for your shoe to fit on the ends of the pedal to the left and right of the cleat attachment. (they even sell spacer rings to go on the end of egg-beaters to increase the diameter for a better fit. Judging by the grooves that the bars dug into my shoes, the cleat isn't taking all of the weight. on SPDs, it seems that the cleat is supporting it fully, and any other pedal features are superfluous (unless riding a flexy shoe)

[@jasonpeck9100]

John Rodgers correct a mondo. Stiff shoe is what counts for racing.

[@Stepjer75]

I think the main difference is how much walking you are going to be doing, and what percentage of the time you are clipped into the bike: Tour de France riders rarely disembark, whereas sportive riders may well want to walk a bit in the pit stop areas.

[@jubei1000000]

i have spd pedals on all my bikes, this include my track bike. if you blind folded cyclists and just slipped their foot into a super stiff carbon sole shoes already seated, i can gaurantee you they will not be able to tell the difference.

[@BikeriderFIN]

I've got my feet hurt with SPD/Roadshoe combination and I think SPD wasn't support enough my ball because after changing to roadcleats pain also gone away. But I hasn't carbon sole in my shoes.

[@Heavywall70]

I use a flip flop spd/platform on a fixed gear. I like the choices if I just want to hop on for a quick spin or clip in and give it a little more oomph. And I can walk around normally if I get off the bike. I've never come unclipped accidentally. That's my experience anyway.

[@bengt_axle]

I've got both spd (mountain) and spd-sl (road) and shoes with carbon soles. With carbon soles there is not much difference if you are just concerned with power (flex in the shoe). However, I use my road shoes with road pedals because they accommodate shims and wedges (canting the shoe correctly) and also because they are way better ventilated and have a thinner, more curved sole. For rides less than 60km or situations where I will be walking a bit, I think good quality SPD shoes with SPD ROAD pedals (like the Shimano A-520) are the best. For road riding I would not use mountain pedals like the ones shown in the video that are designed for shedding mud, as opposed to best supporting the sole, because there are better road specific SPD pedals.

[@cjansson]

I looked around your channel and could not find a follow up video, did you make one?

[@dpw1989]

I've had plenty of pedal strikes pedaling through corners. What about fixed gear crits/riding?

[@vianna1331]

I've ridden the old look delta, Shimano road and MTB pedals, for road/track and bike Polo, and so far, I found that the Shimano road cleats works best for me, even for bike Polo, because of the stability that it provides, and i've seen some BMX racers that also use road pedals for the same reason

[@jkdjose]

I like the SPDs but it's too small of a print for my post stress fractured foot, the only pedals that don't bother me are the speedPlay. No more foot pain.

[@MikeKobb]

Did you ever post that follow-up video testing the pedal systems on the same bike? I didn't find it in your list of videos but perhaps I'm missing it. Thanks!

[@jaykan1002]

I recently brought a pair of speedplays because I really wanted to play around with float, and that I have been told clipping in and out on them are much easier. Well here are some quick thoughts. 1 Float: Yup, love it. I'm so happy that i can adjust my heel out/heel in float independently to suit my preference. I like minimal heal in, but still prefer float for heel out. Yes, I can (and did) point my old cleats towards the toe to get the heel out, but the speedplay is just much easier and accurate to dial in. 2 Clipping in: Maybe because I'm new to speedplay, or maybe because I'm light and didn't get light action, or perhaps just because the spring is new....they have been pretty much in the ass for me to clip in. 3 "efficiency": I brought speedplay with literally no consideration over efficiency due to larger contact or whatever. However, it was pretty apparently to me after a few ride. It's a bit of an odd feeling and I'm not sure how to describe it. It just feels like that area is almost stiffer?? Of course, perhaps part of this is due to the float adjustment. It does feel like the force/load/stress is being distributed over a larger area (larger cleat/4 bolt design??). I have also noticed that I am now getting less hot spot issues. For the record, I first used MTB, then Look style, now Speedplay. MTB is by far the easiest to clip in for me. My particular shoe had too much flex for my liking (both in the upper and the bottom), so that's why I switched it up.

[@caseyturnbaugh9484]

Do you get hot spots in long rides?

[@diq5386]

I use spds. Found some shimano ones that have a wider/longer pedals like the regular road ones, they're really good.

[@joelgabionza6345]

Thank you very much Sir for that video

[@mgsboedmisodpc2]

you did not mention walk ability of a shoe based on the event e.g.L cross riders need to walk some times the course

[@peterandries9143]

In the winter I change my road Speedplay pedals for SPD (Shimano XT) pedals because the spring of the Speedplay is in the cleat which makes the pedals verry sensitive to dirt. It always feels a little bit strange when I switch to SPD. It’s like a heave to learn to make other pedal strokes. I guess it's because of the stack height difference that the circles that my feeds make changes. When I switch in the spring back to road pedals it feels much more natural. Does anyone know about studies that investigate the impact of stack height?

[@leedorney]

I went from a Speedplay zero to a SPD-SL pedal and the size was great though the carbon body wore where the front of the cleat sits so now i'm on Look blades 2. Zero's are good for no more than a size 8/42 shoe size. Taylor Phinney couldnt ride them due a big foot.

[@spadez8278]

The only downside I've found to riding standard SPD is the lack of road oriented shoes for SPD. They're generally more focused to gravel or MTB. That's always a bummer.

[@maxithesnowman]

Spadez I got one Specialized Sport RBX Road Shoes.

[@kubackjeee]

Shimano rx8 are like road

[@katmai7777]

Northwave Ghost XCM looks great on Road bike.

[@AlessandroLepore]

Giro Cadet

[@aubertcordon8606]

I used to have the SPD's on my road bike and switched to SPD-SL. Here is MY reasons. 1.- I had a harder time finding the pedal hole with the small cleat, maybe that was just me, but standing at a traffic light was stressful, especially when there was a lot of traffic. May be psychological, but I definitely can find the pedal and latch it on faster with the SPD-SL. Reason No. 2, Your point #5 was definitely a factor in my riding, and foot comfort. I felt like you have all that force concentrated in that little small area on the SPD's, as opposed to the SPD-SL, where the force is distributed on a larger area. It actually alleviated some discomfort I was having. Maybe because I ride my road bike a lot longer 5 or 6 hours, vs just riding 2 to 3 hours on my Mt.Bike.

[@PeterDawson00]

I recently changed from SPD with MTB shoes to Speedplay with Road shoes. The reason for this was that I was getting really bad foot pain with the MTB shoes. I spoke to a bike fitter and we looked at the MTB shoes and found they were significantly less stiff than the road shoes. This combined with the smaller contact area of the SPD's was what lead to the foot pain. But yes, I would agree, power transfer has far more to do with the shoe/sole stiffness than the pedal type.

[@bikefitadviser7012]

Peter Dawson Yes, with my newer mtb shoes that are really stiff, I can't tell much difference between them and road shoes/pedals

[@ayrtonoc]

I ride SPD SH51 on Gravel, Look Keo gray on road. I've tried SPD on road but with hot spot on feet. So Look on road bike for me are better for comfort and less weight of shoe+pedal couple.

[@bikefitadviser7012]

L G I responded to another viewer below that this was something I considered but didn't make clear in the section about the stiffness in the soles. I mentioned that mtb shoes can be every bit as stiff as a road shoe, however I think on average if you tested 100 road and 100 mtb shoes the road versions would be stiffer overall. I think that's still where the issue of hotspots stems from (and incorrect cleat placement). Thanks for the input!

[@brunorca]

I've heard about foot numbness on longer rides with these smaller SPD pedals and not on road pedals, I'm really interested in knowing more about that because I'm planning on having a road bike and didn't like the idea of wearing a road shoe who won't let me walk out of the bike, specially on touring, but I don't wanna have a problem with numbness either.

[@shannontrainer5857]

Google cleat covers for road shoes.

[@PaulorPT]

If I may add my 2 cents to the topic (even though I have only used the SPD variant), I think the difference/advantage isn't enough for the vast majority of riders. Given a stiff enough shoe, the efficiency will be the same, as the shoe and pedal become one "solid" object where you apply force by pedalling. What I think could make any difference is precisely how "solid" the connection between them is and how much play it allows to the rider, that you covered in your "cleat float" video. Due to the mechanical contact between the cleat and the pedal, road specific pedals may have less cleat float, which is good to ensure a correct position, but could also lead to fatigue. So, to each its own... But I think if a rider that feels more comfortable in SPD or SPD-SL, it will probably do so in either road bike or mountain bike, so just stick with the one you prefer and forget about road specific or mtb specific pedals. That is just a way for shimano to have you buy 2 different pedals and 2 different shoe types if you ride both styles.

[@andreasbuchmann750]

How do you not come out with a "Yes" or "No" right at the beginning of the vid? I was thinking about switching from normal MTB pedals to road pedals and was asking around if I would notice a difference. I was told I wouldn't notice much. I figured... what the hell... I should just ty it and see for myself. I was shocked at how big of a difference I felt. I LOVE the road pedals...

[@DemoEvolvedGaming]

Good video, but seems like one topic that was missed was how much loose pivot the cleat gives the foot in normal pedaling. I recall there was Black and Red cleats for Look and the red ones would let your foot pivot freely about 9 degrees. Would the pivoting action improve the rider mechanics and reduce fatigue during endurance rides? SPD doesn't support this feature afaik

[@carljansevanrensburg2440]

I changed from road pedals to SPD about 8 years ago, and wear Enduro MTB shoes with carbon insole. More comfortable and efficient than road shoes & pedals.

[@bikefitadviser7012]

Carl Janse van Rensburg that's my experience as well

[@stuartdryer1352]

Me too

[@eoinkelly2674]

‘More efficient’ what are you on about? What shitty road pedals were you using?

[@shannontrainer5857]

I think he also probably change from a road bike to a mountain bike, so...

[@stuartdryer1352]

Shannon Trainer Efficiency was a bad word choice. If the sole is very stiff then the shape of the pedal doesn't matter since either way the exact same force is transmitted through a stiff material to the pedal spindle. So neither one is more or less efficient, assuming stiff soles. SPD for me is a bit easier and quicker to clip in. This is because of dual sided entry on Shimano XTR pedals. So what else is there? Weight and aerodynamics. Road shoes are a little lighter at the same price point. Any aero advantage to road shoes is a very marginal gain. Finally there is a lot to be said for being able to walk if you have to. In return for that I accept the condemnation of Velominati everywhere.

[@maadkid9752]

What pedal do tou recommend if i ride fixed gear Im planning to switch to clipless

[@jaywood8296]

You mention stack height in passing. This could be a factor in efficiency worth a closer look.

[@petyrkowalski9887]

I have two similar road bikes, one with SPD and one with road cleats. I have not tested relative times and power over the same course but they dont really feel all that different.

[@bikefitadviser7012]

Regor Stubrewoz I have the same experience

[@nwimpney]

I think if you have some really flexy road and mountain shoes, the road shoe will be stiffer on the bike, due to the larger interface. A mountain pedal with a platform surrounding the cleat might be quite good too.(assuming it actually takes weight, and doesn't just hover below the shoe) If both shoes are quite stiff, the difference is negligible. I recently bought some road shoes/cleats for my track bike(spd-sl), and a new pair of spd mountain shoes at the same time. They're both Mavic shoes and seem identical, other than the bolt pattern, and lugs on the mountain shoe. On the bikes, they feel pretty much the same. Some mountain/commuter shoes are quite flexible though, so if you're comparing a flexible mountain shoe to a stiffer road shoe, you'll probably find that the road one is more efficient.

[@elleffeff]

I mounted leg length compensation shims under the SPD cleats. Unfortunately, then it becomes more or less impossible to clip in - impossible to locate the exact position to clip in. I hope this will be easier with the much bigger road bike cleat systems.

[@joelberman5981]

When should cleats be mounted at an angle?

[@lennartmeinke8861]

I think the biggest change between the systems might be that road shoes generally have a stiffer sole which is supposed to improve power transfer. On that topic, so could probably use an adapter if you wanted to use MTB pedals on road shoes (whyever you would want to do that). Would the adapter have any influencing except the higher stack? Perhaps there would be a difference in foot angle or something? Or doesn't it matter at all?

[@bikefitadviser7012]

Lennart Meinke agreed that the show is likely the main variable for power transfer. Interesting idea about an adapter...might be hard to execute cleanly but.... And yes, the stack height does make a difference -- the further the bottom of the foot gets from the center of the pedal axle, the more instability is bred into the mechanics of the lower leg -- i.e. it can be more difficult to have good coordination and control over the lower leg and ankle/foot.

[@roamingwolfpack]

I use SPD/platform combo pedals on my road bike, and have adapters on my road shoes and they work great. Long rides I use the road shoes, then for shorter rides I use MTB shoes or just tennis shoes on family rides!

[@floydwilliams8595]

I switched to SPD for road and I'm never looking back. I noticed way better power transfer when climbing. And they are Bullitt proof! no wearing out cleats. Whish I had done it much sooner.

[@Pav_1983]

Hi I have recently come across your channel and it is a god send! Could you please let me know if there are any disadvantages to LOOK KEO pedals over SHIMANO SPD SL? I'm thinking about getting Vector 3 PM and until now I was always riding Shimano pedals. Am I going to feel huge difference?

[@shannontrainer5857]

There are walkable cleat covers for Look KEO. www.koolkovers.com/products.html

[@meanodustino9563]

I run SPD however i do find more difficulty in clipping in with the cheaper model as you have i think the edges are too sharp and not rounded enough for the clips to lock in easy i think ill get the $$$ ones again as i had on my old bike rarely had issues with them

[@mikegolfaviation6340]

while doing standing sprint on my road pedals, i tend to be pedaling more on the "hook" of the pedal, like toe down position, cant imagine doing that on SPD mtb pedal

[@patrickparisienne1917]

No difference, the sole of the shoe is the offer factor in power transfer, not the clear....

[@yamcodm2848]

What is the minimum stiffness index for spd to match spd-sl's power transfer?

[@zbigniewandruszkiewicz7703]

Do pedals differ in regards to q-factor?

[@hopfag6555]

Anyone pushing Big watts on spds? I notice sharp pain in my knees and I’m suspecting the big float on spds, could this be an issue?

[@sakthik]

Thanks for this video, could SPD pedals give toe numbness ? I am getting only on right toe on long ride ! So thought of trying road pedal

[@hoser7706]

Yes!!! 100% it can. If your shoes are softer soled and you use classic style smaller SPDs you can get cleat bite on your metatarsal. Happened to me badly. Switched from Shimano SPDs to Time enduro style and wow what a difference!!! Time offer float, no nonsense setup and not bite. You can try moving your cleats back slightly to adjust for numbness too.

[@patrickparisienne1917]

@@hoser7706 agree move the cleats aft!

[@SetigoAndram]

My experience is, I got stronger doing lot road and riding in intense way, my mtb shoes are very good but got old, and I had to buy larger 43 because my right foot touches the end at 42 size, so they got larger and my foots were moving inside shoes, and then I notice that the narrow cleats were making me using more the outer quadriceps if the cleat was placed more to outer side, or more the vastus medialis and inner leg muscles if the cleat was more to inner side. I had put another insole on shoes and they grab now my feet very well, and problem was solved 80% or so, leaving few to improve by changing to road pedals. Today I decided to take use of 2 sides of SPD520, I've tight more one side on each, and paint a bit that side for easy recognize, so when I want them a bit loose .. and safer to uncleat on one crash, or tight that gives sense of more contact stiff and power transfer, I can choose. Also I noticed that SPD cleat over bone uses more the big muscles on lower leg and then we stretch them easy, but if bit back uses lot more all muscles - muscles that are around lower leg and hard to stretch, pain on touch, blood vessels irritated, need massage, so I prefer keep the cleat a bit more forward than new theory's a bit backward because I don't have access to massage neither want problems PRO gain on lower legs. I'll keeping using SPD520 on my 2 bikes, instead of spending about 140€ more, in fact in past I tended to double things, watter bottle, lights, tools, bag, today I recognize its stupid and not economic, so let me stop thinking on road shoes when I already ride as well or much better than my friends. So I agree with this video author opinion. Bike fit is much more important to safe ours knees and ours kneecap bed, I know it by the bad way. Many years ago I got pelvic tilt due to my posture and curved saddles. My mtb seatpost was straight and I thought it was OK my saddle position should be somewhere there. NO. I always got tense muscles near knee and week near butt, and sometimes I've try to compensate putting saddle higher and irritate the ITB an kneecap bed, until I installed 2,5cm lay-back seatpost and find my adequate bike fit. Both my mtb and roadie bike have now similar measures, and flat saddles, and I feel one world better riding them and after riding.

[@josephsieracki]

It seems efficiency comes down more to the shoe and float. I've spent years riding and racing, mainly road, but later mtb too. When I bought my first MTB I Switched to spds(well Candy 2 actually) for both road and mt bikes. Even had spds on another bike at one point. After a few months, I switched the road bike back to my Look cleats, cause when I was fit and racing, I was putting out 1400+ watts and the float in the spds, and especially candy's was too much for me while putting the pedal to the road. I love the rotation for mtbing, helps greatly with balance, but it is a different type of riding. The hot spots thing is kind of an issue with me too. I noticed on longer MTB rides I would feel the cleat a lot more and get hot spots, where that problem would almost never occur on my road bike until hour 4-5. Now, I have to get my fat ass back out there and lose the weight I put on, so none of this matters right now LOL

[@bikefitadviser7012]

Joseph Sieracki thanks for sharing your experience....I too have to find time to get on my bike more!

[@bellezayverdad]

This comment is very spot on. Totally agree with this guy. Thx

[@radiohead1911]

How about egg beaters? Thinking about making the switch.

[@aikidragonpiper71]

The mtb cleat is further back on the shoe ,doesn't that have some mechanical peddling effect. I use road cleats on my roadbike and mtb cleats on my mtb. I have trouble clipping in on my mtb since the cleats are further back.

[@tychoMX]

There's a massive difference on my end, not all the time but for sprints for sure: when you push on a MTB pedal the contact is with the squishy lugs on the shoe (which allow you to walk and run) and pedal body. Even with the small eggbeateres from crank bros the push goes against the pedal body from the shoe lug. Take a look at your MTB shoes on the pedal. Wiggle them a bit - not left and right, but up and down in diagonal direction. The system doesn't necessarily have play per se, but there is a "squish" where the lugs deform before the force is transferred. This is well known by cyclocross racers that do all sort of things to reduce this as their shoes wear: crank bro's shims, gluing strips to the pedals, etc. Or viceversa: when sponsored shoes/pedals are too "deep", they file or cut some of the material to allow for the desired fit. This is widely understood and accepted in CX/MTB racers - and in fact one manufacturer (Speedplay) advertises itself as the only MTB system that pushes on the cleat/pedal metal interface as opposed to relying on the softer components of the system. Crank Bros pedals will even wear a groove in your sole and carbon shoes are recommended to install a metal shim to prevent wear and breakage. I have measured the effects of this interface differences: on normal, stiff road shoes (Bont as well) my measured power (crank) tops at about 1400 W. On the same bike, with MTB shoes/pedals the top is about 1200. Might not be of importance to you. Ride what's comfortable for you - I prefer the easy float and double sided Speedplay road systems, but they are very clunky for walking and if you happen to stop on dirt they'll be clogged and make it difficult to clip back in.

[@sid35gb]

Rod Diaz so which pro team do you ride for and how many watts per kg can you hold for an hour? And the difference between those numbers will be irrelevant to road cycling because not even top sprinters will be able to push those watts for more then a second after a 200km stage.😉🌶🌶

[@Huttify]

200 watts difference!? That is massive. I guess you have no problem keeping your feet warm with SPDs then. 100 watts on each pedal. Even the best shoe heaters don't go that high :)

[@Morpheus0000]

1400W. Post a video and link it, otherwise that didn't happen

[@binarysun_]

I hear you. I ride Fixed crits and I experienced the same with SPDs and it is horrible. And I really like me some Speedplay Zero track atm for the reasons of stability, power transfer and security from ripping my foot out of the pedal by accident which is a real thing for me on SPDs

[@daddyd6152]

Can i use Shimano rp2 on my xc bike?

[@fmc6338]

I tried spds, and no matter what i did, could not stop feet, knees, and legs from hurting..

[@ebigarella]

I don't like the amount of float you get on the spd's for gravel, which I believe is something particular to this discipline. It's closer to road biking, on an uneven terrain. The float on the pedal with the roughness of the road put the feet (then the knees) into weird position sometimes, but you still want to get 'efficient' as in the road bike. Dunno... on the road bike I use the Shimano blue cleat, so it's very stable and dialed in. I wouldn't use it on the gravel because it feels like you need to enter a password and a pin number to release the foot.

[@sarethums]

I use spds as im a spin class instructor and those pedals are spds but i also have road shoes that are far superior as the fit better than are carbon soled so i think ill switch back and just leave my spd shoes at work.

[@drewquarrie2116]

I use SPD multi-release cleats on my road and MTB shoes I have SPD pedals on my mountain and cyclocross bikes, but I use a single sided wellgo road pedals on my road and triathlon bikes I tried traditional Look cleats/pedals but didn't offer as much float as SPD do and also the axles of the road pedals are shorter causing my feet to rub against the cranks arms

[@mickchaganis6607]

I've been trying to find a proper technical study on this subject and it's all hearsay? Energy doesn't just disappear, the power you put down on any pedal has to go somewhere. I have same Decathlon own brand shoes, they are designed as a raod shoe but with the 2 bolt system and a rubber sole for walking on, brilliant. Thank you 😊

[@rowan8543]

What about the weight difference of the combined pedal and cleat. I have found that SPD pedal and cleat is much heavier than some other brands.

[@chirsd666]

I ride road (solo), road (tandem) and MTB regularly, and use same SPD with MTB shoes on all 3. Even though my tandem bike is a road version, MTB shoes are a must have for stops at red lights and others. A road shoe does not have the traction needed to support the tandem while stopped with the stoker clipped in on the back.

[@sustainart5207]

I use Shimano - PD-M545 allow you to stop in traffic and tackle the big gradients without that how will I un-clip fear. Also the comfort to use most shoes for short rides.

[@buchanan1966]

I use crankbrothers all the time and am really happy that way.

[@bikefitadviser7012]

Buchanan Dunn I'm the same way with my XT SPDs....

[@allgoo1964]

Buchanan Dunn says: "I use crankbrothers all the time and am really happy that way." == Crank brothers cleats wear much quicker than Shimano SPD type cleats because they are made of soft metal similar to brass.(wear from walking, not against the pedal) I used crank brothers for a while but returned to Shimano type.

[@nwimpney]

I used to ride crank bros, because they're easier to jump out of on the fly (for cyclocross, etc). With SPDs, just before they release, the stiffness goes up. With crank bros, they just fall out once you've turned them enough. I also liked that the crank bros cleats are very slightly flatter, so they click less when I walked around. My main complaints with them is that the cleat didn't support the shoe as well, so the bars were digging grooves around the cleat, and also that you can't get cheap compatibles like wellgo, etc, like you can with spds. I've gone back to spds (and knockoffs), and I think for most things I prefer them. I have some nice wellgos with a platform on one side and cleat on the other on my cargo bike, which I can ride with bike shoes, or just normal shoes if it's a short trip. There's not a good way to do that with CBs. You could use the big plastic platforms that click into the cleat, but they have a really high stack height, and they can rattle if you clip in on the opposite side.