I just started getting into cycling this year so am new to this world. I have an old touring bike, Sekai 2500. I would like to do some touring in the future. I have never used cycling shoes before, but have read a book where they recommend them. But then as I look on the web, it looks like clipless may also be the way to go. But I would like to go slow and maybe just try cycling shoes only with the current toe clips I have. I would like to go low-end on cycling shoes, are there any recommendations?
For future reference, I have a question about clipless pedals. Do I have to match the clipless pedal with the cycling shoe. Looking at the Shimano website, it they seem to do that, so I am wondering if I have to be careful that I match them.
Look into touring or mountain bike shoes. They'll be a lot stiffer than regular sneakers, and will still work with platform pedals. Road specific shoes are too slippery to work on platforms. As for matching clipless pedals to shoes, you only have to match the cleat drilling on the shoes.
Look into touring or mountain bike shoes. They'll be a lot stiffer than regular sneakers, and will still work with platform pedals. Road specific shoes are too slippery to work on platforms. As for matching clipless pedals to shoes, you only have to match the cleat drilling on the shoes.
Thanks. I'll look into touring and mountain bike shoes. Right now I am looking at Shimano and Lake since they seem to have low-end prices. Do clipless pedals also provide the cleating for the pedals? Also do all shoes have a standard drilling?
Thanks. I'll look into touring and mountain bike shoes. Right now I am looking at Shimano and Lake since they seem to have low-end prices. Do clipless pedals also provide the cleating for the pedals? Also do all shoes have a standard drilling?
If you're shopping in the low end, check out www.nashbar.com and www.performancebike.com. Their house brand shoes are quite a bit cheaper than Shimano or Lake. They aren't the best, but they'll get you started. MTB and touring shoes are pretty much all drilled for SPD cleats. This is standard for most MTB pedals. While the bolt pattern is standard, the cleats all work a bit differently, so they come with the pedals not the shoes.
Thanks. I'll look into touring and mountain bike shoes. Right now I am looking at Shimano and Lake since they seem to have low-end prices. Do clipless pedals also provide the cleating for the pedals? Also do all shoes have a standard drilling?
Before I converted to clipless, I had bought cheap road shoes with the Shimano SPD hole pattern. I installed cleats made for toe-clips. The cleats had a slot that would fit in the thin end of the toe-clip pedal. It works this way;You insert the foot/shoe into the toe clip. The cleat would wedge into the back portion of the pedal. I would then tighten the toe-clip strap and the cleat would keep my shoes fm slipping out. Disadvantage_ they fix your shoe preventing natural rotation of your foot. It can be good, it can be bad. Ask your LBS to see if they still sell cleat inserts for toe clips.
Before I converted to clipless, I had bought cheap road shoes with the Shimano SPD hole pattern. I installed cleats made for toe-clips. The cleats had a slot that would fit in the thin end of the toe-clip pedal. It works this way;You insert the foot/shoe into the toe clip. The cleat would wedge into the back portion of the pedal. I would then tighten the toe-clip strap and the cleat would keep my shoes fm slipping out. Disadvantage_ they fix your shoe preventing natural rotation of your foot. It can be good, it can be bad. Ask your LBS to see if they still sell cleat inserts for toe clips.
If you aren't sure about clipless pedals at the moment, go with the mtb shoes. Then, you can install mtb clipless pedals on your bike and get matching cleats for your shoes at a later time.
mtb shoes with cleats are still pretty easy to walk around in and many people use them on their road bikes.
I concurr with BBATTLE. I use mountain bike shoes with recessed cleats because I want to be able to walk around easily. You can use your shoes without cleats on toe clips and straps then at a later date get the clipless pedals and attach the cleats to your shoes. I reccommend a bike shop mount the cleats for you so they get postioned correctly since there is play in the mounting to accomadate different sized people.
Thanks for the advice. I read from Touring Cyclist (book by Lovett) that MTB shoes may make coming out of toe clips harder unless they are kept loose, but maybe I don't have to worry about that as long as the MTB shoes don't have too rugged of soles.
Probably purchasing MTB/touring shoes is the way I will go. I am looking for also the low-end price for shoes. Does anyone have any specific favorites?
Thanks for the advice. I read from Touring Cyclist (book by Lovett) that MTB shoes may make coming out of toe clips harder unless they are kept loose, but maybe I don't have to worry about that as long as the MTB shoes don't have too rugged of soles.
Probably purchasing MTB/touring shoes is the way I will go. I am looking for also the low-end price for shoes. Does anyone have any specific favorites?
I've got Pearl Izumi Vagabonds for the mtb. Comfortable, washable, not too expensive.
I have never used cycling shoes before, but have read a book where they recommend them. But then as I look on the web, it looks like clipless may also be the way to go. But I would like to go slow and maybe just try cycling shoes only with the current toe clips I have.
Guys, I'm not understanding the recommendations to use cycling shoes with toe clips. That would seem to be a waste of money to me (at least until the clipless pedals were installed). What benefit would cycling shoes give over sneakers or hiking shoes when used with toe clips?
My recommendation would be to not buy cycling shoes at all until a person had decided to switch to clipless pedals.
Guys, I'm not understanding the recommendations to use cycling shoes with toe clips. That would seem to be a waste of money to me (at least until the clipless pedals were installed). What benefit would cycling shoes give over sneakers or hiking shoes when used with toe clips?
My recommendation would be to not buy cycling shoes at all until a person had decided to switch to clipless pedals.
Cycling shoes have much stiffer soles than regular sneakers. Even without the pedals, there's a significant efficiency gain.
Cycling shoes have much stiffer soles than regular sneakers. Even without the pedals, there's a significant efficiency gain.
I can see the need for stiff soles on the tiny little clipless pedals (to keep the shoe from deforming around the cleat itself), but with the large surface area of a platform pedal it would seem that the ball of the foot is already supported by the stiffness of the pedal itself. Hmmm....
I can see the need for stiff soles on the tiny little clipless pedals (to keep the shoe from deforming around the cleat itself), but with the large surface area of a platform pedal it would seem that the ball of the foot is already supported by the stiffness of the pedal itself. Hmmm....
Soft-soled sneakers aren't good for long bike rides; your feet will die. Likewise, people that ride horses get boots with stiff soles.
Soft-soled sneakers aren't good for long bike rides; your feet will die. Likewise, people that ride horses get boots with stiff soles.
Not to argue, but I've ridden a few centuries in sneakers with toe clips and didn't have any problems with foot pain. Are you talking about rides longer than that?
I thought boots were preferable on horseback so that your feet don't slide out of the stirrups.
I really don't have any problem with using cycling shoes with toe clips. I've just never seen it done, and would expect anyone who wanted to spend the money on shoes would just go ahead and get the clipless pedals as well.
Guys, I'm not understanding the recommendations to use cycling shoes with toe clips. That would seem to be a waste of money to me (at least until the clipless pedals were installed). What benefit would cycling shoes give over sneakers or hiking shoes when used with toe clips?
My recommendation would be to not buy cycling shoes at all until a person had decided to switch to clipless pedals.
I can answer that. By using cycling shoes you can actually install cleats used for toe-clips. This allows you to pedal more efficiently. You can actually pull with your hamstrings on the upward phase of the pedaling cycle(without the shoe comng off the toe clip). Since the cleats prevent the shoe fm slipping out of the toe-clip, you do not hace to over tighten the strap, therefore is a more comfortable fit. I started that way myself because I was not convinced of the clipless. But once I rode a season with toe clips and cycling shoes, I was ready for clipless. I agree that using the cycling shoes without proper toe-clip cleats will do little to enhance your cycling experience.
I agree that using the cycling shoes without proper toe-clip cleats will do little to enhance your cycling experience.
can't be more correct. I used lake cx200 shoes with no cleats and toe-clips for some time and it was extremely unpleasant. I kept slipping out of the pedals on climbs and on the flat. It is impossible to walk on them without cleats, like socks on ice. I went clipless. best thing i have ever done
