The Difference Between Mountain Bike and Road Bike Pedals
Mountain bike and road pedals serve the same purpose: to keep you securely connected to your bike and improve pedaling efficiency. Each pedal system design is tailored to meet the unique demands of putting out steady power on the road or putting a foot down in sand or loose rock. When it comes down to it, choosing between mountain bike clipless pedals and road bike pedals is about performance, preference, and efficiency.
Mountain Bike Pedals and Shoes
Mountain bike pedals are designed to handle grit, impacts, and tougher conditions. They use a much smaller cleat recessed into the rubber molding of a mountain bike shoe. The pedal itself is symmetrical, with the option to clip in on either side. That's handy for quickly clipping in after remounting your bike in the woods – hey, we all end up walking at some point.
Mountain bike shoes have spots for two bolts on the bottom and have molded rubber or plastic soles to provide grip for walking. Most mountain bike shoes are a bit more flexible than road shoes, making them much more comfortable to walk in.
What Are the Best Mountain Bike Pedals?
The most popular mountain bike pedals are made by Shimano and use the company's "SPD" system. The cleat is about a quarter of an inch thick and has a noticeable point to the front. Some top-selling brand names and models are:
· Shimano XT/Deore
· Crank Brothers Eggbeaters
· Crank Brothers Candy
· Time ATAC pedals
Road Bike Pedals and Shoes
Road pedals are noticeably bigger (about the size of the palm of your hand) and are a distinct U-shape, with a thicker section closing the U. It's rare to clip out of your pedals on road rides except at stop signs. As a result, road bike pedals are designed to be light, wide, and secure.
You can usually spot road pedals and shows by two key characteristics:
One-side clip-in. Only one side of the pedal has a spring-power binding mechanism. That makes comparably priced road pedals considerably lighter than mountain bike pedals.
Smooth shoes. Road shoes are designed for riding, not walking. The bottoms are smooth and slick, with no rubber moldings. That also leaves plenty of room for a wide triangle-shaped cleat; when you see a cyclist waddling around off the bike, odds are they're wearing road shoes.
What Are the Best Road Pedals?
Shimano is the most common type of road pedal. Their road SPD pedals and cleats are available at a wide range of prices, and they're known to last a very long time. Other popular road bike pedal brands are Look and Time.
MTB vs. Road Bike Pedals: Which Are Better?
It's all about what you're doing. Most road riders do opt for a dedicated, road-specific pedal system, but folks who commute or bike tour lean toward mountain bike pedals.
Road pedals are lighter, more secure, and more efficient for long, fast rides on pavement.
Mountain bike pedals are easier to walk in, more versatile, and perform much better in wet and dirty conditions.
Can I Just Use Mountain Bike Pedals on My Road Bike?
Of course! If you're not racing or have multiple bikes, using mountain bike pedals on all your bikes can be much easier. Plenty of Race Team members use mountain bike pedals on their gravel and road bikes, so they only need to buy one pair of shoes. That also means you may be able to spend a little more on one pair of shoes, so get the ones you really want!
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On the road or in the woods, Norte Youth Cycling is committed to building a strong, active community in northern Michigan. Our in-school and after-school bike programs serve more than 1,400 area youths per year. Learn more about what we do and stay in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter!