Current Projects chat and miscellany

Race style MTB shoes and conventional pedals are not a great idea - the studs on the sole always seem to be in exactly the wrong place relative to the pedal cage plate, so you get an effect like an old school slot cleat but invariably in the wrong place, plus they catch on the plates when you're trying to pull your foot out of the toe clip, and the Velcro straps on top snag on your clips/straps.

Before I got some lovely Quoc Pham's for last years Tweed Run, I'd been using Shimano MT22s with clips and straps. They've got sensible laces rather than chunky velcro that gets in the way. I did modify the tread a little to get them to slid in nicely, but because of the shape of the areas on the tread to protect the cleats I didn't get the problem Mr Tester describes. I did get a nice stiff shoe though.
I only use clips and straps on one bike because it looks right (sad, I know). SPDs are really much better for regular use.