Cycling Shoes...What are these for?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by buzzy
Ok, I'm a newbee, and I am still using regular shoes. What is the purpose of cycling shoes other than helping your feet stay on the pedals?

"Rat Trap" pedals have 2 parallel contacts that will put pressure on your feet in 2 small areas. They are designed for a cleated shoe to help you apply pedal power closer to 360 degrees.
Cycling shoes have a stiff sole to help distribute the load and a place to mount the cleat. To make these effective you need a "cage" over your forefoot and a strap to hold you foot in place.
Newer pedals are "clipless" and have a mechanism to accept a "system" cleat..... many systems ... some mountain... some road. Cycling shoes will provide for proper mounting of the system cleat and still have a stiff sole.

And they make a WORLD of difference in terms of pedaling efficiency (going faster and further with the same amount of energy expended), and help you develop better musclature for a 360 degree pedal stroke while training. Try them and you'll never look back.

cycling shoes are primarily designed for maximum power transfer and comfort for long days in the saddle.
Logically, the more rigid the sole, the more power goes into the bike. You'll find riding in specific cycling shoes far more comfortable and and a more enjoyable experience.