I've started to up my mileage to a stage where I'm ready to do 3-4 hour road rides. To date I've been using MTB spds and shoes, but I'm starting to feel a bit of numbness and or hotspots after a couple of hours or so.

Is it now worth making the move to proper road pedals and shoes? I'm guessing the larger platform will help?

If so – what is good?

Do it…

I've been using Shimano Ultegra with some Specialized BG shoes (the cheapest carbon soled ones). Definitely feels like there's more power going into the bike and I don't suffer any problems with sore feet (but then I don't with an MTB style shoe/cleat either). We've just got some Look pedals in the shop and they "look" really nice too. I'm gonna give some a go for comparative purposes.

Probably all good geoff. I've always used LOOK so can't comment on anything else.
I do find I can get LOOK cleats anywhere though, and they have a long old race proven history.
I would imagine LOOKs Keo is the most popular road pedal out there.

I think there are some Keo Classics going cheap-ish on ebay at the moment…

I recently converted from SPD / MTB carbon shoes to Ultegra SPD SL / Carbon Road shoes. There's definitely a difference in power transfer so worth the transition. I can't comment on the other many brands as I've always used Shimano.

I'm still getting used to clipping into the SLs as its a little trickier…

1 word speedplay, without doubt the best particularly if you have been used to mtb spd's.

Thanks chaps.

Druidh – these? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Look-KEO-Easy-Clipless-Road-Bike-Pedals-Cleats-NEW_W0QQitemZ360188674322QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR?hash=item53dceb0112&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

There were some new 105s for sale in the classieds for £35 posted but then I'd have to get some cleats as well – another £15 or so?

And to float or not to float?

geoff – have a look for new Keo Classic BNIB – £39.95. They come with cleats of course.

I use look keo classics. Merlin have them in for £39.95 iirc.

Right Keo Classics it will be then – and I suppose Spesh BG shoes, because they fit me best. Time to flex the plastic!

I've got some Nike carbon soled shoes that feel like slippers!

My spesh mtb shoes are pretty comfy as well.

dmr v8s with 5.10 impacts for all riding including mincing around on silly road bikes 😉

Keo cleat don't last anywhere near as long as Shimano ones, particularly if you walk anywhere. I walk about 100 yards across the car park from the bike shed to my office and find my cleats last about 6 weeks.

If I were starting again I'd get Shimanos, which I changed from, they're easier to get in and out too.

But I fear it's too late!

Shoes – Specialized BG
Pedals – Speedplay

My experience after starting with SPDs initially, shifting to Look Keo then trying Speedplay. Not looked back TBH.

Speedplay. They are double sided and have variable float. No more fighting to find the the pedal when pulling away at the lights…

The speedplay stuff looks interesting, but the platforms look small.
Does the cleat make up for it in some way?

the way to look at speedplays is as a reversed pedal system. The pedal is the size of a cleat and the cleat is the size of a pedal.

Only reservation i would have with Speedplay is the amount of float, not sure about that amount of rotational float, and it is expensive if you make a wrong choice. Hence i stick to Time which i like.

geoffj, I'm just going through the same dilemma. Tired of using muddy, wet MTB shoes for commuting.

I have seen these on offer at £45 from Evans.

I'm asuming they will need some overshoes for the depths of winter (or even sooner). The Endura Road neoprene overshoes seem to get good reviews.

plus some 105 pedals from CRC.

I've always used shimano MTB SPD's, but i'm also completely new to this roadie SPD larky.

Silver disco slippers! The real reason I want new roadie pedals! 😉

I'm sure they will knock a good 10 minutes off my commute.

or at least that's what i'm using as an excuse to buy em

Use cleat covers if you go walkies.

Been using some spare XTRs on my road bike which is ideal for the city and 2hrs hard riding but 4hrs+ ocassional hot spots.

Using a road pedal distributes the pressure over larger surface area.

Thing is I could never clip out of my Ultegra pedals -really stuck on the easy release setting.

Anybody know a good release road pedal?

If you are used to mtb spds you will find speedplay the easiest to get in and out of as they are double sided as you are already used to. They also have adjustable float so you can adjust them exactly as you want them no float upto 15 deg ( I THINK).In speedplay its the cleat thats big with the mech rather than the other way round. The downsides are the cleats are expensive, but they wear out slowly, and they are very hard to walk in. BTW I use look keo's but if I was starting riding with cleats and I was commuting a lot and I had used mtb spd I would choose speedplay, no brainer imo.

do Shimano pedals come with cleats, like MTB ones?

rather numpty question but with some of the posts above I'm no longer sure.

Yep – the roadie Shimano pedals come with the relevant cleats

Ta

Using a road pedal distributes the pressure over larger surface area.

Which is pretty much irrelevant if you're using a stiff carbon sole. The important thing therefore being the shoe rather than the pedals – if you get an MTB shoe with a stiff carbon sole, the feel and the power transfer is just as good as with a road pedal and shoe.

I have speedplay frogs & MTB shoes on my road bike – means I can walk

No idea how they compare to the road speedplay pedals

Do road pedals REALLY allow more power to be transferred, or is that all down to the shoe ?????!!? (edit – didn't see aracer's post somehow, but I think I agree)