Shoes and pedals

[b0redom]

Hi All,
I'm considering these shoes:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/bg-taho-mtb-shoes-ec011619?query=tahoe shoes

combined with something like this:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/m324-spd-pedals-ec005285?query=pedal one sided

Would anyone care to common as to whether this is a good/bad idea? I commute 10.5 miles each way currently on a Trek 7.2 hybrid bike.

Oh and it's potholed, but paved roads I'm on if it makes any difference.

Cheers....

Tom

 

[Cubist]

I own those shoes, very comfortable, very practical to walk in off the bike.

The pedals are flat on one side so you can ride in ordinary shoes. Do you intend to do that? If not, go the whole hog and get some proper pedals. The link page to the pedals shows the eggbeater C's at the bottom for £34.99. I have those. They're great. If you want to ride in ordinary shoes,keep the original pedals, get a 15mm pedal spanner and swap them before you ride. It takes less than 5 minutes, and you won't be lumbered with great unwieldy blocks of metal at the end of your cranks. Don't worry about learning to clip in and out; the eggbeaters are a breeze to learn on, and clip on all four sides.

 

[MajorMantra]

Once you go clipless you'll never want to ride in ordinary shoes ever again. For about £20 you can get Shimano M520s which are great pedals that are double sided.

Matthew

 

[gavintc]

Personally, I would not get those shoes. Laces and chains do not go well together and they are effectively built like training shoes and will soak up water. I would recommend you look at shoes like these:

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/7808/Shimano-Clothing-M122-MTB-Shoes.html

As for the pedals - only you can tell whether you need the flat bit. I find that for any distance over a couple of miles, I will put on my SPD shoes. For short distances, you can ride reasonable well on SPD with ordinary shoes - not perfect. But you do end up with a double sided SPD that is easier to get into.

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/3297/Shimano-M424-MTB-SPD-Pedals.html
or
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/2532/Shimano-M520-MTB-SPD-Pedals.html

 

[BalkanExpress]

I have a pair of Tahos as recommended by many on here and agree that they are very comfy. However, they are quite wide fitting, at least in comparison to my Shimano shoes (m110s). It would be best to try some on before buying.

One reason for buying the taho was the deep tread patten will be useful offroad. if you need a pair for shoes just for commuting then teh spesh Sonomas have a smoother sole so so less dogsh*t will stick if you have a misfortune around town.

As for the laces there is a velco strap to keep them under contro. When it rains I wear sealskinz socks and they fit inside no trouble.

 

[l4dva]

Once you go clipless you'll never want to ride in ordinary shoes ever again. For about £20 you can get Shimano M520s which are great pedals that are double sided.

Matthew

+1 brilliant pedals!

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain-bike-pedals/shimano-bike-pedals/shimano-m520-spd-pedal.html

 

[Helly79]

can your wear the shoes without having the pedals?

 

[Cubist]

can your wear the shoes without having the pedals?

Yes. the Tahos have a cover over the cleat fittings that you remove to fit them.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I have the M520's on 2 of my bikes - £18.99 from SJS - bargain!
You could also consider single sided such as Shimano A530 so you can go SPD or regular training shoes, etc. I also use these and they're a good pedal too.

 

[b0redom]

If you want to ride in ordinary shoes,keep the original pedals, get a 15mm pedal spanner and swap them before you ride. It takes less than 5 minutes, and you won't be lumbered with great unwieldy blocks of metal at the end of your cranks.

Fitting and refitting pedals is a touch impractical given that I'm only ever likely to use the 'normal' shoes on quick trips of say 2 miles or less.

Do the blocks really add that much weight/inconvenience?

 

[Sittingduck]

Shimano M520's forthewin!

 

[Cubist]

Fitting and refitting pedals is a touch impractical given that I'm only ever likely to use the 'normal' shoes on quick trips of say 2 miles or less.

Do the blocks really add that much weight/inconvenience?

In that case, how long does it take to change your shoes? Sorry,
I don't mean to be rude, but I hate things that pretend to be two things!

My son likes to ride XC and on roads in his SPDs, but occasionally simply wants to ride on bike parks, 4x courses etc, so has learnt to change his pedals to flatties in about 3 minutes, including greasing the threads.

Weight? I don't like to think of myself as a weight weenie, but why bolt what looks like about a kilo of metal to your bike when you could get a pair of pedals weighing less than 300 grammes? (that's about the weight of a modern helmet for reference.)

 

[Helly79]

Yes. the Tahos have a cover over the cleat fittings that you remove to fit them.

Thank you for that I may eventually get both shoes and pedals. But wouldn't be able to get both at the same time, due to money.

 

[coopman]

I have these shoes and pedals (on my hybrid). I have found the shoes very comfy and great to cycle in. Only 1 minor complaint is that in heavy rain you will get wet feet (i use overshoes if it rains). Its the only proper bike shoe I haver ever owned so cant compare that much, but like I say they are really comfy and quite good to walk in as well even with a cleat fitted.
As for the pedals, I like them, they give me the flexibility I like, I quite often jump on my bike in my civvies and any old shoes for short trips to shops etc. They were my first spd's so I like the flat side as well while i was still getting used to spd's, a good learner pedal if you like. I still would keep them on my hybrid purely for their practicality. I certianly could not be bothered changing pedals even if it only takes a few mins. I just want to grab my bike and go whatever I am wearing.
I agree they are not the lightest pedals on the block, but I doubt you will notice it.
All in all I would give both the thumbs up from a more beginner point of view.

 

[colinr]

If shoes are SPDs, they'll go with any SPD pedal right? The road/MTB thing is just how they look? Ideally, I'd like something that looks like (fashion) trainers and not so much like cycling shoes, because I am a tart.

Like the Shimano MP66s, but not them because they're too chunky to wear with lycra.