roguehippie

Hi All,

I've been riding my Kona commuter for some time now and love it. I threw on an old pair of Ritchey MTB pedals, and have been thinking about switching to "true" road pedals. I've noticed that the MTB pedals have essentially two sides; each side has a receiver. The road pedals all seem to have only "one" side, and are shaped much differently. . . asymmetrical.

My question: do road pedals "hang down" when you clip out of them? Since they all seem to be significantly heavier at the rear of the pedal vs. the toe, is this so that when you clip out, the toe is pointing up, making it easier to get back in? That's my one complaint about my old Ritcheys. At the numerous stop-lights, it takes a bit of effort to fit the small cleat into the small receiver while getting the pedal level, and not running in to traffic (honestly, I'm smoother at it than I sound).

I've been trying to narrow down stupid expenditures of money vs. expenditures that will make a "real" difference to my utilitarian, urban ride. So the carbon fork went out the window, and now I'm looking at pedals/shoes.

Any suggestions on good (and inexpensive) road pedals would be appreciated.

d2create

Get speedplay frogs. Easy in and out and they are two sided. And you can wear mtn bike shoes so you can walk around normally in them.
If you are dead set on road pedals for some reason than get the speedplay road version. I have both and like both a lot for the float and ease of use.

roadfix

For commuting, you should be concerned about ease and walkability of Mtb shoe/pedal vs. road shoe/pedal combos. Most road pedal cleats require use of road shoes which I don't think, and most will agree, not desirable for commuting. Do don't want to be walking into your office walking like a duck with road shoes......

Raiyn

For commuting I'd stick with the MTB pedals, do to the walking factor.

max-a-mill

anyone ever seen the roadie style spd pedals? could these be what the poster is referring to?



i can't see the point to only having one sided engagement when you could have two sided for the same price. anyone know why?

i'd go with good old shimano or clone shimano pedals. just got a pair of genuine shimano 515's for 20 bucks on e-bay; shipped. if you search and your patient you can probably get some even cheaper.

time and crankbrothers and whatever else may work better... but i'll take your old shimano pedals when you upgrade and be happy with them cause they work just fine for me!

roadfix

Having two or four sided engagement does not make it any better.... Road pedals are usually weighed at the rear so the engagement side will almost always be facing at a convinient position for you to click into.

SPD road pedals still require use of road shoes. Rubber sole of mtb shoe will interfer with SPD road pedal.

ArtM

I've ridden Ritchey SPD style road pedals with cheap Performance mtb shoes for years with no rubber sole interference.

jslopez

Road pedals/shoes are for the lighter rotational weight factor and as someone has mentioned do come in single sided or double sided (speedplay) forms.

I have a pair of ritchey SPDs which I use during the week to commute then I switch to Speedplays during the weekends longer rides.

There is very little difference betweent the clipping in and out between the two and I do like the play I get with the speedplays.

roadfix

Some mtb shoes will work with SPD road pedals. My experience has been a little surgical work on the sole around the cleat area for that extra clearance.

cryogenic

Well, there's always the eggbeater... 4 sided entrance.. probably no way you could miss the entrance on those things. Probably wouldn't even have to turn the pedal much, if at all, to clip in.

Dutchy

I use Look pedals on my road bike, and when commuting on the MTB. It means I only have to own one pair of shoes.

CHEERS.

Mark

caloso

I commute on a road bike and when the original pedals died I replaced them with 2-sided Ritchey MTB pedals. Just stomp and go. No worries.

ollo_ollo

I'm no expert but the SPD style work fine for me too. I have a pair of ritchey 2 sided and a pair of shimano single sided that are otherwise very similar in style & design the difference is less weight for the single side & that is probably why my other road style pedals are single sided, on road bikes, lighter weight trumps ease of entry.

vincenzosi

That is absolutely unequivocally 100% not true. My SPD pedals are just fine with my Nike all-terrain shoes.

roadfix

OK, I'll accept.