Cycle Shoes

[Ianmel]

I have always been a keen cyclist, but recently i have been enjoying riding the country lanes on my mountain bike. I like to do roughly 20-30 miles each Sunday. I wear just ordinary trainers. Looking at some cycle shoes at my local shop i was quite surprised at how heavy my trainers are compaired to proper cycle shoes. One pair, Shimano MO20's caught my eye. My question is, would cycle shoes be of any benefit to me or should i just stick to my own trainers. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Simonb]

Ianmel wrote:

> My question is, would cycle shoes be of any benefit to me
> or should i just stick to my own trainers.

You'll find them much more comfortable. And you'll pedal
more efficiently.

 

[Peter B]

"Ianmel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have always been a keen cyclist, but recently i have
> been enjoying riding the country lanes on my mountain
> bike. I like to do roughly 20-30 miles each Sunday. I wear
> just ordinary trainers. Looking at some cycle shoes at my
> local shop i was quite surprised at how heavy my trainers
> are compaired to proper cycle shoes. One pair, Shimano
> MO20's caught my eye. My question is, would cycle shoes be
> of any benefit to me or should i just stick to my own
> trainers. Thanks for any advice.

Any weight saving will be a benefit as you have to
accelerate pedals/feet in their own orbit as well as carry
the weight as part of the bikes all-up weight. However, the
main benefit will be from having a sole that doesn't flex in
a power sapping way (imagine each time you press down your
foot flexes rather than applying pressure to the pedal with
soft soles) <1> and all things being equal they should be
more comfy too due to the sole. If you also switch to
clipless pedals you should notice a fair increase in
pedalling efficiency. Ignore any horror stories relating to
these, do a Google search for more info. Shimano M520 pedals
are excellent VFM: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/viewp-
roduct.asp?category=Pedals+Clipless&ModelID=3759

<1> Notwithstanding you should be spinning the pedals rather
than stomping on 'em, again a Google search on cycling
groups (as opposed to rec.cottagecrafts) will reveal
more on this topic.
--
Regards, Pete

 

[Gippledocks]

"Ianmel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My question is, would cycle shoes be of any benefit to
> me or should i just stick to my own trainers. Thanks for
> any advice.

Personally I prefer stiff soles cycling shoes to trainers.
I'm no athlete but I kid myself I'm riding more efficiently
by not wasting effort on squashing the trainer's shock
absorbing sole. Plus I found that trainer soles always
cracked from the flexing and got gouge lines from the rat-
trap pedals.

But really my primary motivation in giving up trainers was
to go clipless. That feeling of being connected to pedals
really helped with ankling and generally added to the
pleasure of riding.

--

Richard

--------------------

Individual replies to
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less the Misdirections (and note the underscore after r246)

 

[Simonb]

Simon Brooke wrote:

> If your feet are wide look for Sidi or Specialized shoes.

I found Sidi too narrow as well (Specialized fit me nicely).

 

[Peter Storey]

"Peter B" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Ianmel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I have always been a keen cyclist, but recently i have
> > been enjoying riding the country lanes on my mountain
> > bike. I like to do roughly 20-30 miles each Sunday. I
> > wear just ordinary trainers. Looking at some cycle shoes
> > at my local shop i was quite surprised at how heavy my
> > trainers are compaired to proper cycle shoes. One pair,
> > Shimano MO20's caught my eye. My question is, would
> > cycle shoes be of any benefit to me or should i just
> > stick to my own trainers. Thanks for any advice.
>
> Any weight saving will be a benefit as you have to
> accelerate pedals/feet in their own orbit as well as carry
> the weight as part of the bikes all-up weight.

Unless yours are very heavy trainers, I doubt you will
notice the weight difference. Certainly not on 20-30 mile
rides through the lanes. Far more noticeable will be the
greater ease sliding into toeclips (if you currently use
toeclips).

> However, the main benefit will be from having a sole that
> doesn't flex in a power sapping way (imagine each time you
> press down your foot flexes rather than applying pressure
> to the pedal with soft soles) <1> and all things being
> equal they should be more comfy too due to the sole.

All true, but: (i) the M020s don't have an especially
stiff sole and
(ii) do you find currently that your arches ache or that you
can feel hot spots (or merely the sharp edge of the
pedal) through your trainers? If not, don't spend money
on this non-problem.

> If you also switch to clipless pedals you should notice a
> fair increase in pedalling efficiency. Ignore any horror
> stories relating to these, do a Google search for more
> info. Shimano M520 pedals are excellent VFM: http://www.c-
> hainreactioncycles.com/viewproduct.asp?category=Pedals+Cl-
> ipless&ModelID=3759

Yes, absolutely. In theory, switching to cycling shoes and
switching to clipless pedals are separate decisions. But
unless you have complaints about your trainers (as opposed
to marketing literature telling you why you should have
complaints about your trainers), they really are the same
decision. That is: under those circumstances, the only real
reason to spend money on cycling shoes is to be able to
mount cleats on them. And Peter B is right: (i) that's a
good thing to do and (ii) the M520s are excellent pedals,
both in absolute terms and as VFM.

 

[Vivian]

I'm thinking about buying a pair, too. My trainers keep
sliding off the pedals when they are wet, which can be a bit
dangerous. The Shimanos look good; I don't want to spend a
fortune either.

Vivian
-------
"We learned more from a three minute record than we ever
learned in school". No Surrender

"Ianmel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have always been a keen cyclist, but recently i have
> been enjoying riding the country lanes on my mountain
> bike. I like to do roughly 20-30 miles each Sunday. I wear
> just ordinary trainers. Looking at some cycle shoes at my
> local shop i was quite surprised at how heavy my trainers
> are compaired to proper cycle shoes. One pair, Shimano
> MO20's caught my eye. My question is, would cycle shoes be
> of any benefit to me or should i just stick to my own
> trainers. Thanks for any advice.
>
>
>
> --

 

[Peter Clinch]

Vivian wrote:
> I'm thinking about buying a pair, too. My trainers keep
> sliding off the pedals when they are wet, which can be a
> bit dangerous. The Shimanos look good; I don't want to
> spend a fortune either.

A pair of Zefal toe cups will stop them doing that, but
cycle shoes are a win in any case because of the
stiffer sole.

Never mind about whether they /look/ good, how do they
feel? #1 Good Point of any footwear is do they fit *you*,
and trying them on against alternatives is the only real
way to get the shoe that fits best. Shimano shoes don't
work for me, they do work for friends. We tried them on to
find out though.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext.
33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177
Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email protected]
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

 

[Velvet]

Vivian wrote:

> I'm thinking about buying a pair, too. My trainers keep
> sliding off the pedals when they are wet, which can be a
> bit dangerous. The Shimanos look good; I don't want to
> spend a fortune either.
>

I found out that my Shimano M037W's (with not insignificant
tread) are terrible in the wet on my metal platform pedals
(serrated edge to the pedal, so very secure in the dry). It
was like riding with a layer of ice between sole and pedal.
VERY unpleasant - but I'd imagine my trainers would feel
exactly the same.

Other than that, they are very good - I found it a lot less
tiring cycling in these than my old trainers. More difficult
(impossible) to get out of toeclips with them due to the
amount of tread on this model though, hence the metal cage
platforms till I graduate to clipless.

--

Velvet

 

[Dave Larrington]

What Pete said. Well I recall a something written by the Wise Mr.
Ballantine:

Wise Mr. Ballantine: I'd like a pair of ski boots, please.
Ski Shop Lackey: And what sort of boots does Sir require?
Wise Mr. Ballantine: Ones that fit.

All questions of style, price and so forth thrown straight
out of thee window.

I personally like Carnacs, but then I'm one of those
deviants who uses Look pedals and doesn't walk far in
cycling shoes.

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================

 

[Simonb]

Velvet wrote:

> More difficult (impossible) to get out of toeclips with
> them due to the amount of tread on this model though,
> hence the metal cage platforms till I graduate to
> clipless.

Are you riding in cycling shoes without any sort of
retaining mechanism? Cycling shoes aren't designed to be
used like that, are they?

 

[Ianmel]

Thank you everyone who took the time to reply to my plea for advice. You have given me a lot of info to ponder on.

 

[davek]

Peter B:
>Ignore any horror stories relating to
these

I would say don't ignore the horror stories, but don't be put off by them. Having been clipless for just a couple of months. I'm already confirmed in my belief that I'm never going back. Yes, I've fallen off a couple of times but the benefits far outweigh any disadvantages.

Ianmel, go for it - you won't regret it.

d.

 

[Peter Clinch]

Simonb wrote:

> Are you riding in cycling shoes without any sort of
> retaining mechanism? Cycling shoes aren't designed to be
> used like that, are they?

Not really, but that doesn't mean they won't improve
matters. Keeping the right(ish) part of one's foot on the
pedal isn't /too/ hard to do and stiff soles make for
more efficient power transfer whether you're directly
attached or not.

But if you've got SPuD compatible shoes and you want to go
any sort of distance you might as well put the relevant
pedals on IMHO.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext.
33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177
Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email protected]
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

 

[Dirtylitterboxo]

>I would say don't ignore the horror stories, but don't be
>put off by them. Having been clipless for just a couple of
>months. I'm already confirmed in my belief that I'm never
>going back. Yes, I've fallen off a couple of times but the
>benefits far outweigh any disadvantages.
>
>Ianmel, go for it - you won't regret it.

I agree with the above. I went clipless by default, in that
I was given a pair of Look road shoes as a freebie. Yes, for
this middleagedfatbirdonabike they took a wee while to get
used to and yes, I fell off, thus learning the single
advantage of having a large rear end - cushioning during a
fall ;-) PLus, for a while after first changing to clipless,
I was followed by husband and son on bikes yelling "UNCLIP!"
very loudly ever time I approached somewhere I needed to
unclip, to remind me to unclip before coming to a halt...

Saying the above, I've never regretted for a second
changing to clipless. They really do make cycling
smoother, easier and give less stress on the knee joints
when pedalling - uphills are easier, indeed, I will not
willingly go back to traditional platform pedals. Even in
traffic now, clipping in and out is second nature. If
this middleagedfatbirdonabike can get immense benefit
from them and get used to them *easily* - then pretty
much anyone can

Cheers, helen s
p.s. I no longer require the hints from son & husband to
unclip before stopping...

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get
correct one remove fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$

--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel
is switched off--

 

[Mark McN]

Reply to Dave Larrington
> I personally like Carnacs, but then I'm one of those
> deviants

An advert in Loot this week offered a bike and a pair of
Carnal shoes.

--
Mark, UK. "Does wonders for the cadence, madam." <twirls
moustaches

 

[Velvet]

Simonb wrote:
> Velvet wrote:
>
>
>>More difficult (impossible) to get out of toeclips with
>>them due to the amount of tread on this model though,
>>hence the metal cage platforms till I graduate to
>>clipless.
>
>
> Are you riding in cycling shoes without any sort of
> retaining mechanism? Cycling shoes aren't designed to be
> used like that, are they?
>
>

I'm riding in shimano m037w's with fair amounts of tread
(though no grip in the wet it transpires) without any
retaining mechs, yes.

They're designed to be used with shimano spd pedals, however
they have rubber covers on the base that you remove to fit
the cleats (and put back if you then take the cleats off
again). Apart from the fairly deep tread there's nothing to
stop you using them with either toestraps, or no restraining
mechanisms at all - stiff soles are good just on normal
platform pedals IME - I can keep my foot in a good position
much easier with these than normal trainers (which were a
bit thin-soled, and meant the arch of my foot could feel the
trailing edge of the pedal).

These ones in particular, I would NOT recommend with
toestraps - far too easy for the tread to lock in to the
tag at the back of the pedal on my toestrapped-ones, so you
have to lift as well as wiggle and pull back, very easy to
not get it out through various bits being tangled up with
other bits.

Don't find much problem with feet bouncing off pedals -
never did as a kid either - though if I take all the weight
off the rising foot obviously it'll come adrift, which is
the big plus of spds.

Loved the feel of spd's while the bike's on the turbo, but
not ready for that on the roads yet. The day will come, then
I'll be able to take all the weight off the rising foot and
maybe learn to pull up with it too.

Oh, the tread plus the serrated edge of the metal
cage/platforms means they're actually fairly secure and
don't slide around. The little ripples in the metal edge
settle into the tread of the shoes fairly well and stop them
moving. Unless it's wet.

--

Velvet

 

[Velvet]

Peter Clinch wrote:

>
> But if you've got SPuD compatible shoes and you want to go
> any sort of distance you might as well put the relevant
> pedals on IMHO.
>
> Pete.

Unless you don't fancy the inevitable falling over during
the learning process...

In which case, like me, you'll happily do nearly 50 miles in
them on standard metal cage type platforms ;-)

Velvet

 

[Simonb]

Velvet wrote:

> I'm riding in shimano m037w's with fair amounts of tread
> (though no grip in the wet it transpires) without any
> retaining mechs, yes.

I was thinking of a cycle shoe without tread.

 

[Simonb]

Velvet wrote:

> Unless you don't fancy the inevitable falling over during
> the learning process...

I have never fallen as a result of using clipless pedals,
falling is not inevitable.