Road Cycling - Do I need a new set of shoe and cleat for SPD-R pedals?

I am getting a road bike that comes with shimano R-535 pedals and I am wondering if I can still use my SPD mountain shoes and cleats. If not, most likely I'll swap the SPD-R with SPD.

Thanks

Best to get rid of the SPD-R. You will need shoes that wll accomodate the cleat and not many companies offered that. New SPD-SL use more conventional cleats thus any shoe in the market willwork.

Of course your MTB shoes will only accept SPD cleats.

You won't be able to use your SPD shoes/cleats. SPD-R is (1) no great shakes, (2) being obsoleted by Shimano, (3) somewhat harder to get shoes for, and on top of all that (4) R-535 is the bottom of the SPD-R line.
You're much better off swapping the pedals for SPDs. If (or when) you opt for road pedal and shoes, a Look-compatible shoe/cleat/pedal system offers the most bang for the buck. There are many, including Shimano SL.

Funny i have the 535's and the cleats fit my old shoes fine,2 bolts and the R 535's are easy to get in and out.I like them enough to put them on my next bike.

Maybe I wrong, but I thought all SPD R's had three bolts? Your shoe may need this thid hole if I'm correct.

I steped up to Ultegra SPD R from an SPD pedal and have to say I'm unhappy with the chioce. It's not the worst pedal but a little clumsy to get into (read: watch the pack pull away).

Funny, that the design was quickly changed right after I got a great deal on them :mad: .

Two holes,checked.

But on SPD-Rs, one is in front, the other in back, whereas standard SPDs (what firebolt has, if I understand) are side-by-side, no?

Some shoes will accomodate several pedal bolt patterns, but I suspect firebolt's won't. Best thing to do is take the shoes to the shop, let them check.

SPD-R 2 Bolt, side-by-side. Approx 1.5 cm apart (a bit less that 1/2 inch). Just checked mine.

Is this the same as SPD's? Just checking in case I think about upgrading someday.

If your shoe used spd,it should have enough bolt patterns for spd-r.Cleats are a big difference.

Just to confirm what everyone else is saying. SPD and SPD-R are not the same cleat. SPD-R has 2 bolts 35mm apart (approx 1 3/8 in) in a forward & rear configuration.

Cheers,

Ed

Originally posted by shokhead
Two holes,checked.

You are correct, Sir.

Before writting my first post I guess I could have walked to my shoes first.:D