Originally Posted by squatchy

There are much more experienced riders on here than I am and usually it takes only a few hours to have lots of conflicting ideas but this is what I was thinking when I said this.

Mountain biking shoes are not as stiff because they are designed to be able to walk better with. While pedaling, when the shoe bends your loosing potential energy that could propel you forward.

Secondly, Mnt bike pedals have a smaller base/platform. I'm thinking this also allows for lost power as well as possible comfort issues on longer rides. I can see where a smaller platform could, ( I said COULD) cause hot foot, ankle issues and the such.

Admittedly, it's probably too small to make a difference unless one rides like some of us do (hundreds of miles a week). In the case of the OP I didn't get the idea that he was riding near that so I seriously doubt any of this would make any difference at all for where he is at currently.

I personally can't ride singletrack near as far as I do my road bikes, so I don't find issue with mnt bike components on my mnt bike. A 40 mile ride on my mnt bike is very far for me. However I would hate to think of riding a century ride with that gear on my road bike. I do however, ride with friends who do ride long rides on road bikes with mnt bike clips/pedals

Maybe Campag4life can chime in here. I think he has some engineering education. Merlinextralight is also very informative with real life experience/ knowledge. Both of those guys have always impressed me much as the best contributors to this forum.