Another pedal/shoe question

One more off-beat question. What exactly should I be looking for in cycling shorts? Somehow we have an unused pair of women’s cycling shorts lying around so I tried them out. They come up to about 5” short of my kneecap. The little gel pad thing seems to be small, but I don’t really mind. Is there any difference between men's and women's shorts that could negatively affect my bits and pieces?😄

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by bigfloppyllama
One more off-beat question. What exactly should I be looking for in cycling shorts? Somehow we have an unused pair of women’s cycling shorts lying around so I tried them out. They come up to about 5” short of my kneecap. The little gel pad thing seems to be small, but I don’t really mind. Is there any difference between men's and women's shorts that could negatively affect my bits and pieces?😄

I've decided on either the Look PP357's or the A3.1's for the pedals, but I'm completely confused on the shoes. I'd love to spring for some nice SIDI's but the price throws me off quite a bit.

edit: why did I quote myself?

You won't go wrong with Look pedals. SIDI shoes are great, but part of what you're paying for is the 5 year + lifespan. So you might want to look at something cheaper.

Ohh sure, Look Peds/Cleats are wonderful as long as you don't plan on getting off your bike and walking thru a recently mopped convenience store floor.

SPD's are the way to go. They even make sandals!

Ehhh it's a personal preference I suppose, but as a hybrid rider (80% road, 20% trails) I've tried both, and as long as you have STIFF soles on your shoes, the SPD's are just as comfortable, and much more convenient.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by coolworx
Ohh sure, Look Peds/Cleats are wonderful as long as you don't plan on getting off your bike and walking thru a recently mopped convenience store floor.

SPD's are the way to go. They even make sandals!

Ehhh it's a personal preference I suppose, but as a hybrid rider (80% road, 20% trails) I've tried both, and as long as you have STIFF soles on your shoes, the SPD's are just as comfortable, and much more convenient.

No walking around in most of my rides. Perhaps a few steps while taking a brief break. Going to the shops tomorrow and see what they recommend, but the shorts issue still stands. Might as well pick up some new ones if it's needed.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by bigfloppyllama
Essentially I’m looking to buy some decent clipless pedals and shoes (road) without spending too much ($150-200 max?). I would place the shoes at less importance than the pedals since my feett are still growing and I’ll have to replace the shoes in about 1-2 years. I’m not one to walk around in the shoes, so stiffness isn’t an issue. The local bike shops have quite an extensive collection of shoes and pedals, so anything you’d recommend I’d be able to try before buying. Thanks for any suggestions.

I started off with toe-clips, then went to Exus E-12's and thought I'd found the most awesome thing on Earth! Then, after learning how to use them properly (and bashing them around a bit in the process!) they broke. I was then forced to go and buy a new pair and found Look 206's for just a little more than I had paid for the Exus. The difference is huge!! The Looks are much easier to get in and out of, but feel 100x more secure! They are Look's entry level pedal, but I've seen no need to upgrade (and proably won't for some time!).

Moral of my story: Don't buy expensive pedals while you are feeling your way into them...an entry level from a reputable manufacturer will make you very happy for a long time to come.

On Shoes: My pair of Simano three - strap road shoes have done me for years, but I would love to buy a nice pair of Sidi shoes one day.

Hope this helps...