Road Vs MTB Clipless Pedals: Which Are Best For You?

Which type of pedals do you use? 👇

When stopping at aa red light the Mountain bike peddles gives you the freedom to clip in on either side when the light turns green. Mountain bike peddles are the best.

BUT … in case of confort ( numb feet parts, like me) which ones are the most comfortable ??

I agree that the gravel or MTB shoes with their respective SPD Pedals are most practical. One key advantage is the use of SPD MTB system in the city, as it allows one to use both sides of the Pedals. The road shoe&pedal system to me is quite dangerous. At the traffic lights, if I failed to clip on my other side at the start, the road shoe WILL slide off the pedal if on the wrong side. Better yet, Shimano EH500 with one sided clip and flat on the other side is fantastic for city and town. Because the flat side will allow the MTB shoe to lodge into the Pedal's flat side without clipping (little known Shimano EH500 feature). That means one can unclip one side ahead to a stop, yet the MTB shoe won't slip out coming to a full stop or following start.

DAMN, Sy is TWIGGY AF while Manon looks like a marshmallow 😂

SPD all the way. So much easier to get in and out, and the plus of walkable shoes is my selling point.

SPD Every day of the week for me….plus you don’t look like a Duck, walking into the coffee Shop

I have been using Shimano A600 and E600 pedals on my road bikes for years. They are one sided alloy bodied and use SPD cleats. Comfy, support like a road SPD SL pedal, but absolutely indestructible and can use touring shoes.

Road shoes are dangerous on stairs, ouch, ouch, ouch. 😂

What's best if you're commuting in slow-moving traffic (which I see a lot at rush-hour) and have to put your foot down every 10 metres?

There are many other cleat and pedal systems on the market.
Crank Brothers are great 👍🏻

Great explanation! But I still want to know who was the moron that thought it was a good idea calling a pedal with clips, "clipless"? How about strapless, cageless, quick-release. anything but clipless. I get that straps with clips predated "clipless" but still...
Sorry had to get that out of my system.

I once slipped and fell backwards at McDonald's throwing everything onto the ground. SPD-SL and slippery floors are a bad combination.
Recently I got covers for the cleats and they make walking a bit safer and protect the cleats.

flats for the win....flats on mob,flats on road bike(cheapest aluminium wellgo ones on my full carbon weigh a feather and you can walk around. Great when I did the Etape last year, and may rides in the Pyrenees and Alps...

I bought my first pair of cycling shoes recently, not knowing a thing about the differences or that there were different types of cleats. I wasn't intending to get cleats anyway, just have something a bit stiffer for cycling on my flat pedals. By chance, they are mountain bike shoes (I have a road bike) and, from everything I have seen in this and other videos, it looks like I made a lucky pick for when I do get cleats and pedals - as much as I am a bit worried about falling over when going up a hill!

I used to ride SPD's but after a bike for was told I needed the wider axle pedals for more comfort so changed to the Ultegra SPD-SL's with the 4mm longer axle. If they made a longer axle SPD pedal, maybe I'd go back....maybe 🤷‍♂️

One other point in favour of SPD's: for those who go to spin classes most of them (at least here) have SPD pedals (usually flat on one side and SPD on the other)

Lmao I where a 15-151/2 so it’s going to be mtb or gravel. Can’t find a road shoe to fit, plus I don’t like tap dancing. I just put a 2024 domane on hold.

New to the road cycling world and my bike has SPDs paddles but I use it to commute as well. The area is large enough to have good grip in street shoes. And before you all rage, no I don't plan on doing competitive cycling with my Sneakers.

SPDs for recreational cyclists, especially on a budget (or in a coffee shop) are definitely the way to go. The SPD/flat models have great versatility.

Great shoes to ride in just did a 100 mile ride with them and no pain

SPD all the way for me, road, gravel, or MTB.

The fist pedal video that I’ve seen that is actually helpful. Been using cheap mtb shoes which are not stiff, looks like it’s a pair of Gravel shoes for me then..

I have only ever used MTB shoes with the 2 bolt cleats & SPD pedals on my road/TT bike's.
I contacted a local veteran cyclist who had experience in all the cycling discaplines although unsure re unicycling 🤔 to chat about the pedal/shoe options available & other cycle related advice.
I was interested in competing in duathlon events so would need to do transitions, the conclusion was that road shoes would be an issue (as demonstrated in the GCN cafe video) & therefore possibly dangerous to run in.
As also mentioned in the GCN video, there's not much difference in performance with both options using
"stiff carbon soles"
I used specialized MTB shoes circa 2008 which had the single BOA dial with quick release.
On race days I would set up my bike + helmet and MTB shoes in my allocated racking slot & would ratchet the slack out of the foot retaining lace cable so just enough to get my feet snuggley in.
After completing the first run back at my bike slot in transition, off with the run shoes...helmet on & feet straight into the MTB shoes
a few clicks to tighten, then the all important quick "run" out,
mounting my bike & securely clicking into the SPD's after the mount line & would pass countless competitors flapping/pfaffing around looking down,wobbling etc ...trying to secure their feet into their road shoes already clipped into their road pedals as running in them would be quite dangerous as mentioned...
Often way before the transition dismount line the reverse, pfaffing around etc trying to get out of their road shoes whilst I simply clicked out at the dismount line "ran" quite fastly to my rack position quick released out of the MTB shoes, helmet off & straight into my run shoes.
(Note; all sorts of different terrain & distances involved in race transition areas...hence socks & bare feet would be rather uncomfortable)
Please also note that I am describing age group here & mere mortals as elites have pretty much perfected
"road shoe/pedal" setups.

Regards to all the GCN team,

Nigel.

I hear you Simon about wearing gravel shoes on road bike,but, I am thinking of changing to gravel shoes because I know I would ride even more. And Isn't that the real goal.

SPD on Gravel, but will fit SPD to the Road bike when I'm climbing in wet conditions just for safety reasons. Have both Road shoes & Gravel shoes for any given condition.

I recommend pinning a comment of the longer form video! I went looking for it as I’m interested but not everyone would! Love the content GCN

I originally started with road bike cleats but eventually switched to MTB ones when after trying it out for a while. No performance difference for me, way more convenient. Then I got mixed pedals with a flat side for commuting and now I find myself using the flag side more often even when I have my cleated shoes on. It is just a bit more comfortable when you can occasionally switch up your foot position a bit and my times seem to stay the same either way...

I have road bike pedals and I'm ditching them. I hate not being able to walk with them.

... and as I often write.... before I worry about minute wattage gains, I'l try to lose some 20kgs myself first.

I prefer mtb pedals I find them easier to clip in and out of

I seem to recall another gcn video that showed the road pedal became useless once it picked up mud and debris.

I have both styles of pedals and shoes, and I much prefer the gravel shoes on my HTC pedals. Even on long endurance rides I'd rather walk like a human at the food stops than like a wooden donkey. My gravel shoes are cooler than my hot road shoes, too. So much easier to clip in...easy out...gravel pedals are the win we all want.

I put my SPD MTB pedals on my road bike for RAGBRAI this year. Walking around the towns at various stops in MTB shoes was much better!

I use SPD pedals on my road bikes as much easier to clip in and out

I use SPD pedals on my road and gravel bikes. I just find them far more convenient and more economical than SPD-SL as I only need one system for both bikes. They're also better for commuting and even popping to the shops. The cleats also last forever unlike the plastic road cleats that wear out.

I seem to have the "in between" model on my road bike. I have ave the small metal cleats on my shoes, but my Shimano pedals are one sided and aero style on the other. Anyone else has those?

Road bike road set up. Off road bike off road set up

SPD/ Flat on my Scott and Canyon. Lake shoes for recreation and any shoe for commuting.

I use deore xt for my gravel and i use ultegra spd es600 for my road so that I don't need to own 2 different type specific shoes.

I'm missing information about the differences stepoing in an out and e.g. the the possible movement of the shoe in on pedal. Anyway: great video.

SPDs for me for my road bike. I can walk on my hardwood floors on the way out without doing damage to me or the floor.

SPDs on my road bike always. I don’t do competitive riding, I ride with local bike clubs and like to do bike touring. Comfort off the bike is everything. You did not mention biking sandals with SPD pedals, they are the most comfortable. I have not worn bike “shoes “ in over a decade. Only biking sandals.

I suggest if anyone is having foot discomfort on MTB/Gravel shoes, try a good insert (G8 etc.). Also, if looking for a more "road look" MTB/Gravel pedal (not that road cyclists care about aesthetics😀), light w/ 1-sided entry, Google images - Shimano PD-ES600.

Road all the way!!! They are big enough for normal shoes. You can’t wear the shoes all the time.

I wear SPDs for comfort and convenience on my road bikes, as I understand that if you are not competing it’s actually not necessary to wear road pedals.

I use the Crankbrothers Eggbeaters 3 for both and they are fantastic.
4 sides to clip in to and they are very light as well.
The grip is good. I’m always thinking about trying the Look Keos but then again I don’t want to give up on the comfort of walking.
I have stiff shoes with carbon soles btw so the power transfer is very good.

I always love the debate regarding weight when they’re speaking of a matter of grams. If you are really concerned with weight, go on a diet and lose 3 or 4 kilos instead.

I always tend to use SPD clips because it clips in and out CCW or CW much easier than the road clipless, just a safety reason.

When I first started cycling I got the Ultegra pedals and cleats I came to stop couldn’t unclog in time and went crashing down! Now I use Mtb double sided pedals and cleats never had a problem much easier all round as a senior cyclist.