shoes

jmeadows

hello all, entry level shoes, nike alpen or specialized BG mtb sport?
or will a decent pair of walking boots do? or am i best paying a bit more for a mid-top end pair? any input appreciated thank you. :?

explosifpete

Never seen the nike ones but i've got a pair of the spec sports and they are really good, stiff hard, wearing and they don't look to bad. THey do get a bit cold in the winter tho but then you don't get sweaty feet in the summer

dhutch

explosifpete wrote:

Never seen the nike ones but i've got a pair of the spec sports and they are really good, stiff hard, wearing and they don't look to bad. THey do get a bit cold in the winter tho but then you don't get sweaty feet in the summer

Ive just bought a pair of 661 Launch SDPs.
- I got them because they seamed good, and i wouldnt have minded trying out spds sometime. And they looked nice.
- Unfortuantly there the wrong size, and stiff heavy and you cant readly go back to using them without spds once you;ve cut out the panal for the spd cleat (which i dont have). But they do look nice and feel good. just too big and stiff

So there going back. So im interest in the topic.
- Although im temped to order a pair of 661 Launch Taki's. Hopfully they will be less stiff and heavy due to not having spd mounts and have softer (tacky?) soles. Plus ill get the next size or so down!



Daniel

Marjory Stewart BAxtor

if you';re going flats, here are ben's tips:

1) go to soccer world/sporsts world. very chavvy but decent kit with 80% discount

2) choose something with a stiff sole as you need to translate energy from leg to ball of your foot without wasting too much flex. (my road shoes have a solid one piece carbon fibre sole)

3) choose a shoe with a low back - to answer your points about walking boots, they tend to support your ankle whereas on the peddle you're moving joints the wrong way so they need to be free to do their thang

4) choose material that cleans easily and will withstand the washing machine a few times

5) if it's velcro, make sure the flappy bit goes to the outside. I had a pair that were excellent but the flappy bit pointed inwards so kept unfastening when knocking against th crank arm

6) choose nike. best sportsware all round by about 45645646745656743586 percent

OwenCB

I just got some of these, reasonably priced and well comfy, not used them on a ride yet so don't know how they behave on the pedals but they can't be worse than my walking shoes http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/id42629.html

dhutch

Proberly going to order the launch taki's in 45 to replace the spd's in 47...


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=9512

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=9511



Daniel

jmeadows

cheers people, as usual good advice is always welcome, thanks, i seen the nikes on the bikes and gear review section on the home page of this site. i will get myself out and try a couple of pair on me thinks

artillerydave

try and see if you can get hold of some of the basic shimano shoes mt30 or mt31's they are really good on the bike, last well and don't look so nerdy that when not on the bike you feel like a muppet. good value too, and SPD compatable for when you feel like making the switch which I'm sure you will at some point.

jmeadows

dya rate the spds yeh? have been thinking about making the switch as my riding confidence and luv of it grows. can you use spds on the flats anyway yeh? :?

BlackSpur

jmeadows wrote:

dya rate the spds yeh? have been thinking about making the switch as my riding confidence and luv of it grows. can you use spds on the flats anyway yeh? :?

Yep, you'll be fine with SPD shoes on flat pedals.

jmeadows

do the spds clip out easily enough? suppose its fear of the unknown..
cheers fellas

artillerydave

The SPD's take a little getting used to for the first couple of rides, after that you will never look back. easiest way at first is to set the tension to its slackest setting then lean up against a wall or with a friend and practice engaging and releasing a few times, then give them a whirl in a little while it becomes second nature and the increase in power delivery by being clipped in is immense.

give it a whirl you have got nowt to lose.