shoes with toe clips

Any suggestions on a good shoe for a road bike (Bianchi Strada LX) that has toe clips on the pedals?
I used to have a pair of hard rubber-soled Shimanos that worked well but I've lost them. The road
shoes I find online all are SPD flat-bottoms that don't look like they'd give me enough bite on the
pedal. On the other hand, the mountain shoes look too thick.

Also, I'd like to spend less than $100.

Thanks in advance.

Ian Trontz wrote:

> Any suggestions on a good shoe for a road bike (Bianchi Strada LX) that has toe clips on the
> pedals? I used to have a pair of hard rubber-soled Shimanos that worked well but I've lost them.
> The road shoes I find online all are SPD flat-bottoms that don't look like they'd give me enough
> bite on the pedal. On the other hand, the mountain shoes look too thick.
>
> Also, I'd like to spend less than $100.
>
> Thanks in advance.

You might add a pair of sturdy sandals to your considerations. I currently am riding in a pair of
Brooks sandals. They are not stiff enough, but the sole is grippy enough for my Wellgo pedals, and I
don't use straps with my clips so they work. I'd like (for myself) a sturdy, very robust pair of
velcro sandals that suit my style. Does anyone have any suggestions?

BTW, I just ordered a pair of Zefal "toe cups" for very little $$ . They fit on a pedal like
old fashioned toe clips, but are simple (and short) cups over the toe. I think they will let me
wear whatever shoe I like, and give the stability I need when spinning thru the bumps. Best
regards, Bernie

trontz@aol.com (Ian Trontz) wrote in news:1da74.0306012132.51b68246 @posting.google.com:
> Any suggestions on a good shoe for a road bike (Bianchi Strada LX) that has toe clips on the
> pedals? I used to have a pair of hard rubber-soled Shimanos that worked well but I've lost them.
> The road shoes I find online all are SPD flat-bottoms that don't look like they'd give me enough
> bite on the pedal. On the other hand, the mountain shoes look too thick.

Some companies make "touring" shoes that are like road shoes except with a soft, thin rubber sole
for walking. That should bite your pedals pretty well without being clunky like MTB shoes. Shimano
touring shoes should be widely available at bike shops.

Low end MTB shoes with sneaker-style soles should work as well.

"Bernie" <bmcilvan@direct.ca> wrote in message news:3EDAE74A.188205DD@direct.ca...

> BTW, I just ordered a pair of Zefal "toe cups" for very little $$ . They fit on a pedal like
> old fashioned toe clips, but are simple (and short) cups over the toe. I think they will let me
> wear whatever shoe I like, and give the stability I need when spinning thru the bumps. Best
> regards, Bernie

I had a set of those on my commuter for a while. I hated them. All they do is keep your foot from
sliding forward on the pedal. The pressure on my toes kept me confused all the time because I
wanted to treat them like clips and straps. I'd get rolling, forget that they were just "toe cups"
and promptly lift my foot right off the pedal. I switched back to full clips and straps after a
couple of weeks.

-Buck

Ian Trontz at trontz@aol.com wrote on 6/1/03 10:32 PM:

> Any suggestions on a good shoe for a road bike (Bianchi Strada LX) that has toe clips on the
> pedals? I used to have a pair of hard rubber-soled Shimanos that worked well but I've lost them.
> The road shoes I find online all are SPD flat-bottoms that don't look like they'd give me enough
> bite on the pedal. On the other hand, the mountain shoes look too thick.

When I'm running errands, I've been using a set of SIDI Police "high-tops" which were on sale at
Trips For Kids. They have a smooth enough sole that you can slide them into tight straps without any
cleatage hanging up on the pedal teeth. An added feature is that you don't go sliding across the
tiles at Longs Drugs like an out of control supercharged Zamboni. Although they have the approximate
height of a pair of Chuck Taylors, they are cut down at the heel, and I've done a few hours in them
without hotspots. They also have a lace cover.

Last time I was in TFK, they had a pretty good size run - I think they were in the $35 range. You
might call 'em and see if they can ship you one:

http://www.webcom.com/tfk/thrift.htm

"Ian Trontz" <trontz@aol.com> wrote in message news:1da74.0306012132.51b68246@posting.google.com...
> Any suggestions on a good shoe for a road bike (Bianchi
Strada LX)
> that has toe clips on the pedals? I used to have a pair of
hard
> rubber-soled Shimanos that worked well but I've lost them.
The road
> shoes I find online all are SPD flat-bottoms that don't
look like
> they'd give me enough bite on the pedal. On the other
hand, the
> mountain shoes look too thick.
>
> Also, I'd like to spend less than $100.
>
> Thanks in advance.

Diadora 'Voyager' touring shoes.......

Buck wrote:

> "Bernie" <bmcilvan@direct.ca> wrote in message news:3EDAE74A.188205DD@direct.ca...
>
> > BTW, I just ordered a pair of Zefal "toe cups" for very little $$ . They fit on a pedal like old
> > fashioned toe clips, but are simple (and short) cups over the toe. I think they will let me wear
> > whatever shoe I like, and give the stability I need when spinning thru the bumps. Best regards,
> > Bernie
>
> I had a set of those on my commuter for a while. I hated them. All they do is keep your foot from
> sliding forward on the pedal. The pressure on my toes kept me confused all the time because I
> wanted to treat them like clips and straps. I'd get rolling, forget that they were just "toe cups"
> and promptly lift my foot right off the pedal. I switched back to full clips and straps after a
> couple of weeks.
>
> -Buck

Interesting. Thanks for the post. Will post my experiences when I have them. Bernie

On 1 Jun 2003 22:32:52 -0700, trontz@aol.com (Ian Trontz) wrote:

>Any suggestions on a good shoe for a road bike (Bianchi Strada LX) that has toe clips on the
>pedals? I used to have a pair of hard rubber-soled Shimanos that worked well but I've lost them.
>The road shoes I find online all are SPD flat-bottoms that don't look like they'd give me enough
>bite on the pedal. On the other hand, the mountain shoes look too thick.
>
>Also, I'd like to spend less than $100.
>
>Thanks in advance.

Tennis shoes and Shimano SPD sandals (no cleats) work well for me. It's easier to enter the pedal
with the tennies but I have a little more grip for pulling with the sandals.

-jeff- -jeff- in Acton, MA ** To reply by e-mail: there's no 'x' my address.