Shoes

Try some Strapless Toe Clips on the pedals first.
Many girls I know swear by them, $10 or less a pair. 😉

But if the OP is serious with road biking, then nothing will beat the combo of proper cycling shoes and clipless pedals. It's just that much more pleasant than those flexy jogging shoes.

gclark8 said:

Try some Strapless Toe Clips on the pedals first.
Many girls I know swear by them, $10 or less a pair. 😉

FWIW. I think it is worth the effort to find a pair of metal toe clips (are they still available anywhere besides eBay?).

Although the plastic is theoretically unbreakable (well, that was the claim), several years ago, the one time I stepped ON a plastic clip instead of into it, it cracked ... rendering it useless -- it made a bad day in the saddle worse.

Go for proper cycling shoes and pedals.
The difference amazing. Even if your not going to competed it's still easily worth it.

Matt888 said:

Go for proper cycling shoes and pedals.
The difference amazing. Even if your not going to competed it's still easily worth it.

+1. Once you get the feel for clipping in/out you'll really appreciate having them. It's also nowhere near as frightening as some would have you think when it comes to sudden or emergency stops etc. I even had an instance where a car bumped me on my commute to work where I was still able to unclip and put my foot down so that I didn't fall flat on my face.

For ease of unclipping and security of not pulling out vertically, Crank Brother's Quattro is well worth considering. I've had a few panic stops where I've managed to quickly unclip without drama. The same couldn't be said with the SPDs I had, a situation where the more I want to get out, the more I am stuck.

sogood said:

For ease of unclipping and security of not pulling out vertically, Crank Brother's Quattro is well worth considering. I've had a few panic stops where I've managed to quickly unclip without drama. The same couldn't be said with the SPDs I had, a situation where the more I want to get out, the more I am stuck.

Have been looking at Shimano and Diadora shoes, does anyone know much about these makes? Money isnt really a concern but comfort is

Aussie_Girl87 said:

Have been looking at Shimano and Diadora shoes, does anyone know much about these makes? Money isnt really a concern but comfort is

Shimano has a broader range of shoes (that is, multiple styles & prices amongst the various types [road, MTB, touring/casual]), so if you can find one that fits your feet, then that is probably the better option in the long run because your NEXT pair can be bought through a mail order vendor or eBay if you choose (because your "local" shop may not have the style/model in the size you want, or any other reason).

If you happen to have really narrow feet AND cannot find a Shimano or Diadora shoe that fits, then you may have to get a SIDI ... nice shoes, but generally MORE expensive than most of the other brands.

To state what may not be obvious -- different brand shoes MAY fit differently, so you really want to try them on the "first" time and/or if you are changing brands.

Aussie_Girl87 said:

I have just bought my first road bike, a Giant OCR 2 in the last week and have been riding with my running shoes on, however I am not finding these shoes the best to ride in especially as they are slipping of the pedals quite a bit, would it be best for me to purchase some proper shoes to ride in? If so does anyone have any recommendations?

Jogging shoes are designed to be flexible, exactly what you don't need while riding a bike. If you aren't ready to go the full cycling shoe bit, a pair of Chuck Taylors or lightweight, low-cut hikers with a firm shank, not to thick in the sole, should be helpful.

Aussie_Girl87 said:

Have been looking at Shimano and Diadora shoes, does anyone know much about these makes? Money isnt really a concern but comfort is

I would go to your local bike shop, and try all of the available shoes. Out of 25 or so that I tried, only two or three felt confortable.

knonfs said:

I would go to your local bike shop, and try all of the available shoes. Out of 25 or so that I tried, only two or three felt confortable.

If you go with clipless pedals and cycling shoes, you will at least want to make sure to try some model from the brand(s) you are considering, even if you get a different model. Each company's basic idea of fit and sizing will be a lot different from company to company, but will be more consistent from model to model within that company. (In other words, if one Shimano model fits, the chances are reasonably good that other Shimano models will fit basically the same.)

You can also decide if you want to go whole-hog for road shoes and pedals (giving up so "walk-around" ability in the shoes), or stay with mountain bike shoes and pedals that will let you walk around better in the shoes.

I started racing BMX when I was a kid, I had the toe slips and have tore up many a pair of fine leathers, not to mention i crashed! I invested in a set of Speedplay Frogs at the time...I was 12 years old and loved them!

So when I re-introduced myself to cycling, now on a 24" roadie...of course I was going to look for Speedplay. I've found access when clipping into the pedal is simple with a nice clacking sound to assure you, "You're in."

Clipping out is nearly as simple with a slight 10-20 degree turn of your foot. I would practice in a parking lot, or a grassy field first. Youre instincts when clipped into a bicycle aren't ready...they tell you no, this isn't right. But after much practice, you will soon realize there is no other way to ride a bicycle.

Best of luck!

Aussie_Girl87 said:

Have been looking at Shimano and Diadora shoes, does anyone know much about these makes? Money isnt really a concern but comfort is

Sidi. There's very few negative comments on their shoes on the net. One of the best.

agreed, sidi is the way to go

miSICKLE said:

agreed, sidi is the way to go

Shimano's are very good value in comparison to the high end shoes and they have specific carbon soled ladies models with a lower narrower heel section and a lower volume toe box.

I decided to go clipless on my MTB - it was the best thing I did. I have Shimano MTB style shoes. I now have a road bike and I wear the same Shimano shoes.

It was just practice and preparation. Now it is just second nature when un-clipping. If you fel that you may need to unclip then do so.
Some clipless pedals have the clip access only on one side allowing you to un-clip, flip the pedal over and you have a normal flat platform.
I had the same situation as 1id10t where a car bumped me and I was unclipped in a split second.

I ended up getting a pair of Shimano shoes (SH-RO75) and they are great, had a little bit of practice with the engage/disengage onto and off the pedals but everything is good now and I enjoy this a lot more than the awful running shoes.

- with the shoes/pedals , you can start to learn to spin and maintain high cadences. Will help to give you a good foundation in cycling.
.

good choice. Shimano make some good shoes.