You CAN put MTB pedals on a ROAD bike

[@johnbertram]

Been using Shimano MTB SPDs for 15+ years on road bikes (as well as MTB). Never had a problem and it's convenient for cafe stops and so on - commuting by bike would be easier and there are more stylish 'street' shoes available that are compatible. Shoes last longer and tend to be cheaper too. I get that there may be a minor gain in power transfer with road pedals, but it's not something I worry about. Overall I think they tend to be more durable as a system than dedicated road pedals.

[@eleycki]

The extra stiffness of road shoes makes the difference for me. My road shoes are ten years old and fine. I used to run spd cleats for a while, but the sl type are better for me.

[@robertp7209]

And I thought I was the only one👍. They sure didn’t like me on those road bike weekend rides with the club - metric centuries. But heck, I’ve always had to be different. Most certainly a zillion pedal systems out there to buy. No debating that.

[@robertp7209]

Just saying, the opposite here, I always used SPD mountain bike pedals, on my road bike. Double sided. The M747 was the best most expensive ever made, and had a variable pull out cleat option as well as a large angle float with adjustable tension pull out force. The only problem besides being the only rider in the bike club doing it, was shoes. Had to get mountain bike type shoes but I just shaved down the rubber, until more road like shoes became available. And I could walk on the ground since the cheat was recessed without the need for covers some very blocky. I still have those pedals from the 90s, and later versions always double sided. It is said by road pedal bikers one can feel the small cleat, perhaps, never seemed that way to me even on long rides. Sure the shoes were heavier, but heck, can’t have everything. I could walk as far as I want though, on the shoe rubber with recessed cleat. My goal as a runner also was to protect my knees, the huge float range with adjustable pull out cleat did it. Didn’t care what others did. Now at 65 still run and race, had plenty of problems running, but figured out myself how to resolve those with the right shoes and inserts. It took me over 4 hrs to climb Mt Ventu on Zwift, but I made it average speed was not much but elevation gain seemed like I wasn’t making progress. Sweating all the way. And I run mostly 5k races and some 5 milers was never a marathoner, just did halves. Knees and hips good enough at that distance. No lightweight here. Protect your body you need it for the long haul. And when I run races I blast at it, the faster the better and always attack the hills, flats are boring. 😊 Peace.

[@alanbussell7894]

I'm often concerned for the safety of the roadies who enter the tiled floor McD's (other cafés are open for refreshments) with their plastic soles, especially when it's been raining. I ride both disciplines so I use the MTB pedals on both - it's just easier for me and if my road shoes are wet I just use the MTB shoes.

[@LittleBU96]

I prefer using road pedals because it feels more stable and gives better transfer than the MTB pedals

[@alexanderSydneyOz]

Or you could accept the reality that cleats provide no advantage over flat pedals, *unless* you are racing. In which case they keep the shoe on the pedal during extreme manouevres, but do not in fact, provide any efficiency gain. So they are pointless for casual / enthusiast road bikes, but require you to clomp around in cleated shoes.

[@eleycki]

I have always found toe clips were better for riding, since I added clips and straps as a kid. Tight straps are dangerous though, so ‘clipless’ was a huge improvement. Cleats all the way for me.

[@robertp7209]

They do provide an advantage, that is to be able to pull not just push. The Shimano Mountain SPD system is unusual, very different. And since the cleat is small it is recessed in the rubber. Today there are more options in lighter shoes. Pedals can be double sided make sure you order the adjustable pull out cleat separately. It allows for a multi angle adjustable force pull out. It can be set very easy. When you can pull back and up it makes for applying force from parts of your legs and elsewhere, different. Try it, not the road cleat system called SPD, the mountain bike version SPD with the different cleats to order separately. And enjoy walking on the ground, and get the shoes SPD cleat compatible it has two holes that’s it. Hard core mountain bike shoes also work, but are heavier not so nice to see but all rubber no cleat to hit the ground, uncovered. Good traction in snow as well as mud. Get double sided so you dont have to ever look down to easily snap in.

[@larry785]

YES, But, you can't lean into a curve as deep with mountain pedals because you might scrape the ground while pedaling.

[@johnbertram]

Inside foot should be at the 12 o'clock, so it's irrelevant. How much are you leaning??!!