Is it worth buying specialist cycling shoes?

Dicki, those look like something my old history teacher would wear to school camp.

lol

... but seriously just get cycling shoes that look like cycling shoes for when you're mostly cycling, then swap your pedals out back to clips + straps if you're doing normal stuff...

Presumably she has a name? Use that.

Not really happy about that, as her name is actually 'fuck bunny', people might not unerstand her parents' sense of humour.

I like Skullette!

Me too, she rocks ;)

If I had a girlfriend, I would refer to her as my Princess.

:(

There must be something wrong with the women of London if they haven't spotted your obvious charms young Balki.

Yep... they must be fuckin mental.

does anyone here still use clips/straps and cleated shoes? as far as i can tell you can just fit them to any modern shoe.

i ask because i use clipless all the time, but wouldn't mind having pedals back on my commuter so that i dont always have to be wearing my sidis. but at the same time i still want to be able to ride it with decent shoes when im going for a bit of a longer commute.

I wore skate shoes with clips n straps in Oz since I had no cycling shoes. They sucked.

Also, in not much distance, the suede was wearing down. I would imagine in wetter conditions my shoes would disintegrate within a few months.

pajamas.. how long do you get out of a pair of shoes riding clips n straps?

Longer than a pair of white jeans I would have thought.

hehe

I've just got a pair of Genetic track pedals to replace the cheap shit that came on my bike. The quality is all there but they are really uncomfortable. The rear part of the cage digs right into my flimsy shoes (Half Cabs) and therefore my feet. Is this something that many people suffer?

I got a pair of the Vans Warners but they were so big they wouldn't even fit in the toe clips and they also looked like special shoes.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=32897
Thinkin about these now but I'm worried they're gonna be stupid big. Anyone got them?

:)

5-10 shoes are huge, at least as big as Nike 6.0's

I got some of these cheap DHB shoes to "try out" clipless, and some cheap spd's and cleats from the classifieds section. I suggest a similar course of action to test the waters. Still using them a year on, and they're great.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/dhb_M1_MTB_Shoes/5360033176/

+1 to those dhb m1's - they are great for the money. V comfy.

Ordinary shoes get the soles cut in half by caged pedals .I used to wreck shoes cycling to school in the 80s using caged pedals and clips and straps

Normally ride Converse or whatever around town but wanted something a bit stiffer and frankly more appropriate for roadyism. Couldn't face changing all my pedals or swapping each ride so went for these as a compromise. May be a bit of a cop out, but got to say, I've been really happy with them so far.

I use the Impact Five-Ten Low with BMX style pedals, the level of grip, comfort and support has been very impressive. But they are bulky, quite heavy and have the capacity to soak up a lot of water. I spoke to FiveTen about alternates, same sort of sole, but lighter and dry faster. They suggested the Savant model which seems like it'll fit the bill for warmer wet weather. For Winter riding I'm using old Timberland boots and some overshoes at present. Planning on getting some lightweight, waterproof, hiking boots with a bit more room for extra socks.

I tried clipless, being an impatient sort I converted 3 bikes at once, hated them, have gradually sold off all the bits. Still have Northwave Mission ATB MTB cycling shoes to offload, size 10, less than 50 miles in dry conditions on them. If anyone has an interest in a cheaper option then send me a PM for info/piccies etc. But if you hate clipless and fall off, it's not my fault.

'I prefer 'fuck bunny' but Andrea doesn't like it for some reason.'
i prefer the term fuck puppet !
had exustar for about 3-4 years...... no probs !

I hated clips and straps. Lasted about a month and punted them. I think it was my big feet that caused the prob.

Also - "The Enemy" is a winner. Just don't get caught (trust me on this one).

Straps get you used to the feeling of having ur foot in one place on the pedal. This is the first thing of clipless riding.
I only got clipless when i bought myself a new bike and I knew Id be on it for more than a few hourrs a day. I rode the new bike for about a month with straps. A friend then gave me some Time pedals and fitted them for me, so all I had to worry about was the shoes.
Not all pedals fit all shoes, so you should pick what you want first and make sure the pedals and shoes you pick will go together.
The best I could get for the budget I had was £15 Time ATAC cleats with Specialized Sport Road Shoes £50-£60. Im not sure what the pedals cost, but a decent set will cost £60-£100, although u can get pedals for £40.
With pedals, with most brands, the more you pay, the more wear, tear n time u get out of them.
This isnt neccesarily so with shoes. My specialized shoes lasted 3 years before they started splitting(as all shoes do), I was a courier, so riding about 8 hours a day and walking around in them for up to 3 hours a day, everyday.
A friend of mine had SIDI shoes and spent £200, after a year of riding roughly the same as I, he had to a new pair cos the shoe was coming away from the sole and splitting aswell.
All good road shoes last a couple of years, but once they start showing bad wear, they go downhill rather quickly.
I dont like the 'shoe' or 'trainer' cycling shoe, if u want shoes or trainers with u wen cycling, either dont go clipless or carry another pair of shoes with you.
This is because road shoes are made to ride, the trainers looking cycle shoe is more for people who dont ride that much, who want to be able to walk around a lot more.
As I said I had proper cycling shoes and they were very comfortable to walk in.
Some of the stiff shoes, with massive cleats aren't comfy to walk in, so have a good walk around in the shop, bearing in mind the cleats wont be fitted till u buy a pair.
The only thing I would then advise, as was advised to me wen I first started.....
When u first ride out in ur new shoes/pedals. Go off-road and have a friend with u. Riding freewheel preferably, click in your right foot(or ur main pushing foot) and keep it in.
Hold yourself up against a wall and with a friend holding u so u dont fall, get used to clipping ur left foot in and out.
Then clip out your left, start to ride, build up a safe slow constant speed and practise clipping in and out.
Most people fall over the first couple of times, cos your brain has to get used to changing from just putting ur foot down to unclipping and putting down. Just like wen we were kids and had our stabilizers off!!
I would say getting shoes, apart from getting a new bike, was the best thing ive done in my cycle life yet. Its hard to explain, you will understand wen u get some!! Good luck.

P.S. You dont have to go to a specialist cycle store, decent and fairly priced evans or cycle surgery kind of shops stock a good variety of shoes and cleats, or get a bike magazine and shop from there, online.

I find these a subtle addition to any Fixie skidder

1 Attachment

I find these a subtle addition to any Fixie skidder

Cool power ranger boots

The only problem I had at first with SPD was the float, I found it a little *too *floaty and in that respect felt more secure side-to-side with clips/straps. Getting used to it though. And yeah Dominators are a bit cold but I don't really mind having cold feet.

The minute I get my road bike sorted out the clipless are going on that and I'm going back to clips and straps for my fixed. It's just too much hassle Monday-Friday (I do most of my cycling at the weekend). I have to carry shoes for a 8 minute ride to work. Fuck that, tbh.

)
http://www.williamlennon.co.uk/footwear/arturo-wide-fitting-cycle-shoe.html