Do cycling shoes work?
- Thread starter rugbyluke
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HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Heard people fall over all the time and heard they are pants. Please enlighten me
Somebody is telling some porkies there
If cycle shoes are worn together with clipless pedals: a bit of a mistanoma as you are actually clipped in and occaisionally at low speed folk forget to unclip and have a 'clipless' moment but the benefits of clipless far outweigh this negative and most folk once they have tried them would not go back to flat pedals. If you do a search of the forum you'll find dozens of threads
Paul_L
Über Member
- Location
- Shipley, West Yorks
yes "clipless" moments tend to happen maybe once a year at low speeds or finding you have to stop and un-clip suddenly (and then failing!). A bit embarrasing, but quite amusing at the same time.
I would never consider going back to toe straps.
I would never consider going back to toe straps.
gbb
Squire
- Location
- Peterborough
Hi Luke..
The benefits ?, how often do your feet slip on normal pedals, especially in the wet. Perhaps not often, but it wont happen with clipless pedals and proper shoes, you're at one with the bike so's to speak.
Climbing when out of the saddle, again, you're not going to slip or move about on the pedals, you're fixed in the optimum position.
It is a scary thing to get used to, just about everyone falls or nearly does at first, but once you get mentally used to anticipating the need to unclip, it becomes second nature. Ive been clipless for 6 years maybe, fallen once at first, never again though.
I found as a beginner to them, when approaching potential situations where i might have to unclip, i'd just click one foot out, but leave the foot on the pedal...you can still pedal (gently) as you're perhaps approaching a junction or T/Ls. For me it wasnt the unclipping that was the problem, it was not anticipating the need to unclip soon enough, then trying to do it at the last second.
As most say, once youve got them and got used to them, you'll never go back.
The benefits ?, how often do your feet slip on normal pedals, especially in the wet. Perhaps not often, but it wont happen with clipless pedals and proper shoes, you're at one with the bike so's to speak.
Climbing when out of the saddle, again, you're not going to slip or move about on the pedals, you're fixed in the optimum position.
It is a scary thing to get used to, just about everyone falls or nearly does at first, but once you get mentally used to anticipating the need to unclip, it becomes second nature. Ive been clipless for 6 years maybe, fallen once at first, never again though.
I found as a beginner to them, when approaching potential situations where i might have to unclip, i'd just click one foot out, but leave the foot on the pedal...you can still pedal (gently) as you're perhaps approaching a junction or T/Ls. For me it wasnt the unclipping that was the problem, it was not anticipating the need to unclip soon enough, then trying to do it at the last second.
As most say, once youve got them and got used to them, you'll never go back.
ThePainInSpain
Active Member
- Location
- Malaga, Spain
I have only recently changed to clipless, and find the whole experience much better, the feet don't slip, you're in the best foot position all the time and I somehow find pedaling easier than before.
Not had an actual 'clipless moment' as such.........yet.
Anticipation is the key, and whilst there is a disproportionate amount of slaging off of car drivers on this forum. It is the fact that I have been a driver for a hell of a lot longer than I have been a cyclist, that aids in good anticipation.
I almost had a CM last Tuesday, I was riding a new route and came to a small ford, only about 2mtrs wide, across a stream. The base of the ford was stones covered in algae. Wrong gear, wrong line, wrong speed and bad anticipation. Bike slid from under me, how I unclipped and kept my feet out of the water and never fell off, I will never know, but hey I did.
Not had an actual 'clipless moment' as such.........yet.
Anticipation is the key, and whilst there is a disproportionate amount of slaging off of car drivers on this forum. It is the fact that I have been a driver for a hell of a lot longer than I have been a cyclist, that aids in good anticipation.
I almost had a CM last Tuesday, I was riding a new route and came to a small ford, only about 2mtrs wide, across a stream. The base of the ford was stones covered in algae. Wrong gear, wrong line, wrong speed and bad anticipation. Bike slid from under me, how I unclipped and kept my feet out of the water and never fell off, I will never know, but hey I did.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Standard shoes/boots/trainers are pants.
Road shoes are by far the best for cycling, closely followed by MTB/Touring shoes - the latter allow you to walk in them.
Benefits, much better for power delivery, easier to pedal properly, your feet don't come off when sprinting (how people sprint without them I don't know), make climbing easier.
The only downside is you sometimes forget to unclip and topple over - big deal, comedy moment, get over it. Laugh at yourself. Normal shoes flex, and that puts pressure on the arch and outer area of your foot, exactly where it shouldn't be.
Proper cycling shoes should be comfortable for an all day ride.
If you want an all round use shoe, then opt for MTB/Touring with SPD cleats/shoes/pedals. I use LOOK road system on two road bikes - tricky to walk in, but the SPD system on my mountain bike (for obvious reasons) and SPD on my fixed gear road bike - so I can walk into the office with them.
Road shoes are by far the best for cycling, closely followed by MTB/Touring shoes - the latter allow you to walk in them.
Benefits, much better for power delivery, easier to pedal properly, your feet don't come off when sprinting (how people sprint without them I don't know), make climbing easier.
The only downside is you sometimes forget to unclip and topple over - big deal, comedy moment, get over it. Laugh at yourself. Normal shoes flex, and that puts pressure on the arch and outer area of your foot, exactly where it shouldn't be.
Proper cycling shoes should be comfortable for an all day ride.
If you want an all round use shoe, then opt for MTB/Touring with SPD cleats/shoes/pedals. I use LOOK road system on two road bikes - tricky to walk in, but the SPD system on my mountain bike (for obvious reasons) and SPD on my fixed gear road bike - so I can walk into the office with them.
Banjo
Fuelled with Jelly Babies
- Location
- South Wales
Usually by twisting your heel outwards away from the bike releases the cleat from the pedal.There are some types that will release by pulling in any direction ,I havent used them so cant comment.
I had several falls initially getting used to them but never got a scratch on the bike or any serious damage to myself.
There are several different types but they all fall into 2 basic camps either road shoes or mtb shoes. A lot of people use mtb shoes even on road bikes because they are easier to walk in if you pop into a shop or whatever.Road shoes are more streamlined and lighter but usually the cleat is proud of the sole of the shoe and the sole itself is hard and smooth with no grip making walking awkward .
The purpose of them as well as stopping you slipping is to allow you to improve your pedalling tecnique in that you can pull up as well as push down allowing you to accellerate faster and transmit more power on hills.
I had several falls initially getting used to them but never got a scratch on the bike or any serious damage to myself.
There are several different types but they all fall into 2 basic camps either road shoes or mtb shoes. A lot of people use mtb shoes even on road bikes because they are easier to walk in if you pop into a shop or whatever.Road shoes are more streamlined and lighter but usually the cleat is proud of the sole of the shoe and the sole itself is hard and smooth with no grip making walking awkward .
The purpose of them as well as stopping you slipping is to allow you to improve your pedalling tecnique in that you can pull up as well as push down allowing you to accellerate faster and transmit more power on hills.
Davidc
Guru
- Location
- Somerset UK
Tried so called clipless (SPD type) - hated them, and after about 500 miles decided to go back to real toe clips. I got more on ebay for the SPD pedals and shoes than I'd paid for them so not complaining.
With real clips and sraps proper cycling shoes are useful, they need the hard section under the sole. Especially the case if riding for more than half an hour or so.
I'm still amazed that the best ones I've had in years came from Lidl
With real clips and sraps proper cycling shoes are useful, they need the hard section under the sole. Especially the case if riding for more than half an hour or so.
I'm still amazed that the best ones I've had in years came from Lidl
snailracer
Über Member
Alternatively, there are such things as "toe cups" that will also stop your feet slipping, whilst wearing normal shoes. You will also never experience a "clipless moment". They are not very well promoted because they don't make shops much money.
Make sure your pedals have holes you can screw them to.
Zefal MT45, £6 a pair:
Make sure your pedals have holes you can screw them to.
Zefal MT45, £6 a pair:
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Those toe cups dont let you pull up on the pedal but they are ok for pootling around if you have some nice strong shoes, in my personal experience with my shoes they hurt my toes and added very little to the normal flat pedal experience.
I think clipless is the way to go in most cases, but if I wasnt going clipless, I would recommend Re-strap pedal straps. They work very well, arent very expensive and the customer service is beyond excellent. I had a small issue with the stitching on one of mine (the velcro parted from the strap at on point), they didnt just give me a single replacement strap, they gave me a whole new pair and a lock holster for holding a d-lock on your belt while you ride as an apology for the fault.
I think clipless is the way to go in most cases, but if I wasnt going clipless, I would recommend Re-strap pedal straps. They work very well, arent very expensive and the customer service is beyond excellent. I had a small issue with the stitching on one of mine (the velcro parted from the strap at on point), they didnt just give me a single replacement strap, they gave me a whole new pair and a lock holster for holding a d-lock on your belt while you ride as an apology for the fault.
GrasB
Veteran
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
I'd like to see those deal with 15w on the upstroke alone.... that 12N force back & upwards at 70 rpmAlternatively, there are such things as "toe cups" that will also stop your feet slipping, whilst wearing normal shoes. You will also never experience a "clipless moment". They are not very well promoted because they don't make shops much money.
Make sure your pedals have holes you can screw them to.
Zefal MT45, £6 a pair:
