I have never had any experiance with spd pedals. Can one use mtb spd on a road bike? Is there any reason for one to not use mtb spd on a road bike? I thought I would try to find a cheap set to try clipless out and most of the bay cheap pedals are for mtb.

No reason not to use MTB pedals on a road bike. If you need to do any significant walking, MTB shoes are usually preferable to road shoes. Conversely, my expierience has been that road shoes and pedals are more comfortable on long rides(60+mi) than my MTB setups. YMMV

I use mountain SPD pedals on all of my bikes. Some with Shimano, some with Eggbeaters (need different cleats so I have two pairs of shoes). I'll convert all over to eggbeaters at some point.

The SPD road setup uses different cleats and different shoes. The cleats are bigger to try to prevent hot spots. But even my highly walkable touring shoes I use never give my feet any problems. And all the road shoes - like the "race" MTB shoes - are completely rigid so I don't see where it makes any difference.

If you're just trying them for the first time I would suggest MTB SPD anyhow - you'll probably like the selection of shoes better.

Interestingly I have Shimano road pedals that actually use the MTB cleats. Not sure if they still make those or not. Handy though for not having a different pair of shoes for each bike.

C

The SPD SL road pedals use different cleats. All other SPD pedals work with standard SPD cleats.

My wife bought me a cheap pair of Shimano mtb shoes for Christmas that I intend to use in my clips but the shoes have a place for cleats. I guess I will need to go with mtb pedals anyway. I did not know there was different spd cleats. Just my ignorance.

Be aware that any more Shimano calls ALL of their pedals SPD. Pedals with a model number preceded by an A or M use recessed mountain SPD shoes and cleats. Examples are PD-A530 or PD-M440.

Pedals referred to as SPD-SL with a 4 numeric digit model number are road pedals that take a large non-recessed shoe cleat on road shoes. Example number is PD-6620. To add to the confusion there are also PD-R540 pedals which are SPD-SL road pedals. Cleats of SPD and SPD-SL pedals are not interchangeable and will not fit the same shoes generally speaking.

You can also run into SPD-R pedals on places like ebay. Discontinued pedals and unique cleats are used that do not fit other Shimano pedals. Shimano pedal designs, terminology and compatibility has varied over time and can be confusing.

That is some good info and I am even more confused. It seems that I will need either A or M pedals with these shoes since I think these shoes have the recessed cleats. These are supposedly good for walking but the soles are stiffer than I had expected. I don't really have an issue with them but they are stiffer than expected.

I use my Shimano SPD MTB shoes for all my riding (and MTB SPD pedals on both mountain and road bikes)....I find walking to be no problem once you get used to them. I also appreciate not looking like a roadie with huge noisy cleats on the soles!!

Tatfiend's info is very useful (thanks!).

I think Wellgo still makes a set of inexpensive pedals that have a platform on one side and MTB SPD compatible on the other so you can ride clipped in or not as you see fit....

Mark

You can use any pedal that is "SPD compatible". You don't have to use Shimano. I ADORE my Eggbeaters.

Mtb pedals are double sided. Road pedals are single sided. Thats it.

The Shimano PD A520 uses an MTB style cleat and does not look out of place on a road bike.

I've been using Shimano MTB shoes with Shimano SPD's. I just got a pair of clearance priced ($20) Specialized road shoes, with SPDs. However, the SPD cleat itself is a different size than that on my mountain shoe, and didn't fit. So for about $18 I bought a pair of Shimano replacement cleats for the road shoes. Now when I need to do a lot of walking I can use the MTB shoes, and if I'm just riding a long way I'll use the road shoes. Much cheaper and easier than buying new pedals.

I just set up on shimano M520's on my early 90'sbianchi road bike they are a double sided MTB pedals and I don't think they look out of place on it, or any road bike for that matter that isn't some uber modern serious race bike. honestly I think they look better than the LOOK keo classics I was using for a bit, on a bike of its age.

I think for any purpose outside serious racing and distance riding, where absolutely minimal walking is likely to be required, you will be happier with SPD's or other recessed cleat pedal over one sided pedals. I know I am.

The only guaranteed modern component that will find its way onto one of my vintage bicycles is a set of mountain bike clip in pedals. I have never owned a pair of road pedals and shoes so I cannot say that one is better than the other, but I will say this. I decided to go with the mountain bike shoes because they are easier to walk in thanks to the recessed cleats. But that is just me.

I have used SPD's for quite a while now and have always been happy with their performance. I tried a pair of Shimano SPD-SL 540 road pedals and they just didn't work for me. Wound up taking them off and selling them.

My favorite SPD pedal is the dual purpose Performance Campus pedal which is made by Wellgo. SPD on one side and caged on the other, which allows me to jump on the bike with any type of shoes.

Shimano also makes a dual pedal, SPD clips on one side, platform on the other. I use them on my daily rider so I can just hop on and go to coffee or whatever
errand I need to do.

Thanks for all the thoughts. MTB pedals will be the ones I'll try. If anyone sees me laying along side of the road with a bicycle stuck between my legs please stop and help me get unhooked.

Set the tension to the minimum and practice clicking in and out a bunch of times with each foot before ever starting out. It won't eliminate the fall but you'll know how to get out before too many people gather around to laugh at you.

Two sided (MTB) SPD pedals are a no brainer to get into with just a little practice, hence good for city riding and, off course, mountain biking. I also use them on all my bikes in winter, because the MTB shoes are a lot warmer besides being gentler on the underside of my neoprene over-booties. Once I don't need the booties anymore I switch most bikes over to the classic Look/Delta pedals, since the shoes are so much lighter, cooler and seems to transfer power just a bit more efficiently.

For really long rides (200k+), I still prefer MTB shoes for prolonged comfort

One sided (road) SPD pedals makes no sense to me.

I've got them on my commuter (Shimano A520s). They offer more support when I'm wearing more flexible shoes.

They're a little bit lighter and, as Dan Burkhart said above, they don't look out of place on a road bike. I've got a pair on my one of my bikes and they're still rather easy to clip into (better IMO than the Look Deltas I used to have) and don't look bad, but I'm not sure if I'd get another set. They're not much lighter than two-sided SPD's and aren't as secure of a connection as a true road pedal.

I do use double-sided mountain SPD pedals (currently Xpedo MF3's but have used Shimano's in the past) off-road, and I'm pretty happy. The Xpedo's accidentally unclip a little too often, though, even with the tension pretty high.

Right, I forgot the 'caged' one sided SPD's. Those seem to have a purpose.

I like those A520's that Dan Burkhart posted, I have them on two different bikes, both tourers. They look right on a road bike, and with the right shoes the cleat is recessed so you can easily walk in them.

P.S. Shimano markets them as "touring pedals." They're the Tiagra level Shimano pedal.