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ASK RBA: ASK RC: THE GREAT PEDAL DEBATE, ROAD OR MOUNTAIN
Richard Cunningham
October 28, 2009
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The following letter is in response to Are there any advantages to road pedals over mountain bike pedals?
Do you feel there is any substance to the hot spot effect Mountain Bike shoes and pedals give or don't give due to the smaller footprint of the pedal? I currently use Road shoes and pedals and I am thinking of switching.
Secondly, other than loosing a few seconds in a time trial, the wider Q factor, and the "not cool" factor putting mountain style pedals on my 2009 Madone Trek 4.5, is there any additional reason not to use a mountain bike shoe and pedal with my recent bike purchase. My local bike shop thinks a road shoe and pedal is best vs. my son's pushing the mountain bike version. He rides his road bike to work with mountain shoes and at some times keeps his mountain bike shoes on all day during work. I do not like the penguin walk but I value the expertise of my bike shop. In addition, my son's experience speaks volumes for a mountain style choice.
Finally, I am 61 and did 3K miles this last season in training for long distance rides like RAGBRAI. On a few occasions during RAGBRAI, I did find my road style shoes easily "clogged" with mud making it difficult to easily enter/exit. Not having ever used the mountain bike style, are they more easily clogged due to the indent nature of the shoe-clip location or less since they are designed for the dirty environment of mountain biking?
–Steve Markel
You answered your own question when you mentioned that you ride RAGBRAI. First, however, I’ll tackle the hot spot worry with a big Fagettaboutit! The only way your foot will know what kind of pedal is beneath it, is if it has a flexible sole in that region. In that case, you need better shoes. Both road and mountain shoes have super stiff soles between the cleat and heel area where flexibility will rob power, so you won’t get hot spots for any reason other than your shoe simply doesn’t fit. Some MTB shoes build in a small degree of flex in the front of the shoe for better walking, but most makers opt for a more pronounced “rocker,” which is the name for the curve in the front region of the sole that aids in a smooth step-through when walking. If you never walk, ride a good road shoe and pedal. If you ride RAGBRAI, choose a mountain bike shoe and pedal—you probably ride similar style events throughout the season and you will be happy to have a more versatile shoe.
Contact Richard Cunningham for questions or comments, or just to talk bikes at: askRC@roadbikeaction.com
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