Originally Posted by
Tandem Tom
How much more "efficent" are the non SPD pedals? The kind that the road bike crowd uses?
There is no efficency difference- you won't pick up a mph in average speed on your regular loop.
But the road pedals are more comfortable since more of the foot is supported. Also, road shoes are often stiffer than MTB shoes, which makes them more comfortable for pedalling, but less suited for walking.