Shoes for my pedals?

[mrsjones]

Hi there. I am currently using Forte Shovel Platform Pedals, but after the misnomered "chill ride" this weekend at Stokesville I decided that I should put my clipless pedals back on for the majority of the riding that I do. I need to by some shoes to work with them (shimano spd); any suggestions?

[halfinch]

everyone loves sidi's, but they're too pricy for my tastes. you can usually find smaller sizes on clearance at performace.

i own three pairs of diadora's and have been quite pleased with their fit and how they've held up.

[eloach]

Don't spend more than $100. Yeah, the $200+ shoes are better, but not twice as good. Shimano makes several pairs for just under $100 that are really fairly comfortable and my pair has lasted a few years.

Check out www.mtbr.com for more reviews. I think you need to actaully try them on as opposed to just ordering some.

[tuba_transport]

Don't spend more than $100. Yeah, the $200+ shoes are better, but not twice as good. Shimano makes several pairs for just under $100 that are really fairly comfortable and my pair has lasted a few years.

I have had a few pair of shoes and none fit nearly as well as the Sidi's. When I needed to replace my last set I drove all over town and tried on everything I could locate. The Sidis just fit literally like a glove. And unlike some of my other shoes, they don't stretch out too much or change shape when they get soaked in sweat or heated up in the sun.

I am on my third year now with the same pair and they are holding up much better than the Specialized pair they replaced.

If they ever finally die I will buy the same things again. Sidi Dominator Mega in size 45.

[ride-n-fall]

I like the Sidi Dominators. Although they are pretty expensive ($229), you can find them on sale if you look. I received a Jenson USA catalog the other day that had them on sale for $169. I have also seen pretty decent sales at Performance for them. I had a cheap pair of Performance shows before getting the Sidis and could really tell the difference.

[markie]

I vote Sidi domminator, too.

The most comfortable shoes I own. They are expensive, but they should last you a long-time.

[CRAIG2]

Yeah, but it just sucks getting those $170 shoes dirty for the first time :D

[jvanbrecht]

I cannot talk about the shimano shoes made today.. but I am still wearing the ones I bought in 96, they look like crap, and are very plain, but they are comfortable, and have not let me down, and I think they cost me like $50 back in 96. I am also not sure who makes performance brand shoes (its most likely one of the major manufacturers being rebranded), but as much as I despise the store, they do have really good deals on clothing and shoes, try them on, if they are comfy, get em.

[Dirt]

Like anything footwear related, comfort and fit are the most important things.

If you've read some of the shoe threads, you'll see that many people really like the Sidis, others find they need something with a stiffer sole. There is a trade-off with sole stiffness. Very stiff shoes are wonderful on the bike, but very uncomfortable and sometimes fragile when you have to walk in rough terrain.

Flexible shoes are more comfortable off the bike and walking up the hike-a-bike at Elizabeth Furnace, but they can be lesscomfy and efficient while riding. Balance is the key.

Specialized tend to be a bit stiffer in the models that I've worn and read about. Sidis are a little more to the soft side of the spectrum. They're not like sneakers by any means, but in the realm of serious cycling shoes, they're a little more flexible. Nike and Shimano have shoe models with a wider range of variety.

Some people have biomechanical requirements that a very stiff soled shoe helps. For your first pair of shoes for clipless pedals, I'd suggest getting something in the mid-priced range ($70-100) so that you get the feel of a quality shoe that will hold up, but you haven't invested a ton in shoes in case you find you need something different after a month or two of riding.

You can feel the difference in sole stiffness when you're walking around in them. Keep in mind that something that feels too stiff to walk round in comfortably will probably feel really good while riding.

If you ride using Speedplay Frog pedals, it helps to have a set of cleats with you to see if they fit easily on the bottom of the shoes. Time, Crank Bros and Shimano pedals will fit on most any MTB shoe these days.

Hope that helps a little.

Pete