Shoe Advice

Flycatcher

I looking for a bit of advice for commuting shoes. I commute on a road bike so I wondered if I should really go for road shoes or the mountain types which have some grip for walking to the office. Is there really an advantage using road shoes over MTB shoes?

I've only worn some that I got from Aldi or Netto and they're OK but showing the signs of a winter so I'm looking for some good summer ones for commuting and weekend rides.

Thanks.

snooks

Are you taking about shoes for clipless pedals? If so my man at my LBS recommended MTB shoes for commuting just because you're always having to stop, scoot or get a good push off so I went for a pair of Specialized Sport MTB shoes. They're comfy and I can wear them for off road stuff as well

I've also worn then with toe clips and they were so much better than normal shoes with little or no flex at all...I had then for a year now and they are as good as the day I bought them...well, with a lot more mud on them
.

hugo15

I got some Specialized Taho mountain bike type shoes when I started to commute as I decided I needed something that I can walk in if I have a major mechanical. I also have a fair walk through the site from the bike shed to my office and the Look cleats on my road shoes wouldn't last 5 minutes.

philthyboy

I'd second the Specialised sport MTB shoes, having recently bought a pair to replace my old Sonoma shoes.
The only fault I have found is that the mesh at the toes mean your feet can get a bit chilly on cold days - I regularly have to use a set of overshoes to keep my feet warm in them.

snooks

philthyboy wrote:

I'd second the Specialised sport MTB shoes, having recently bought a pair to replace my old Sonoma shoes.
The only fault I have found is that the mesh at the toes mean your feet can get a bit chilly on cold days - I regularly have to use a set of overshoes to keep my feet warm in them.

I just went for seal skinz

Like cycling in slippers!
.

bear_bearson

Tahos are good, they will also keep you warm without needing over shoes. You can walk with them without worrying about cleats getting fked up.

doyler78

Got Spesh sport mtb shoes as mentioned several times above and agree with philthyboy about them needing overshoes on colder days. Today is the first day in months that I haven't wore my overshoes and my toes were still a little chilly. Really comfortable and a good stiff sole.

Beardy10

Anyone recommend some MTB SPD compatible shoes that are warm/waterproof (waterproof within reason) without having to use overshoes?

ianrauk

I got these, http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360033598&N=Shimano%20MT41%20SPD%20Shoes
They are waterproof and warm. Great shoes imho.
But as with all Shimano shoes it's best to buy a size larger then your normal

TheBoyBilly

Have a look at the MP56 or MP66 from Shimano too. The MP56 is a lot like my Helly Hansen Jaegers (now sadly discontinued) and are ideal for anyone needing to wear bike shoes away from the bike. The MP66 is for cleats.

woodford2barbican

snooks wrote:

Are you taking about shoes for clipless pedals? If so my man at my LBS recommended MTB shoes for commuting just because you're always having to stop, scoot or get a good push off so I went for a pair of Specialized Sport MTB shoes. They're comfy and I can wear them for off road stuff as well

I've also worn then with toe clips and they were so much better than normal shoes with little or no flex at all...I had then for a year now and they are as good as the day I bought them...well, with a lot more mud on them
.

I have been wearing these shoes for two years now and I reckon they have another two years of life in them......if you buy them you will not be disappointed.

doyler78

woodford2barbican wrote:

snooks wrote:

Are you taking about shoes for clipless pedals? If so my man at my LBS recommended MTB shoes for commuting just because you're always having to stop, scoot or get a good push off so I went for a pair of Specialized Sport MTB shoes. They're comfy and I can wear them for off road stuff as well

I've also worn then with toe clips and they were so much better than normal shoes with little or no flex at all...I had then for a year now and they are as good as the day I bought them...well, with a lot more mud on them
.

I have been wearing these shoes for two years now and I reckon they have another two years of life in them......if you buy them you will not be disappointed.

Have them too and they are brilliant but waterproof they aint without overshoes

arc123chief

Hi there

Sorry to hi-jack thread! but I was going to ask a similar question so thought it would be best placed here......

I was looking at some pedals/shoes for commuting also, and do like the look of the Specialized ones that seem to be highly rated. Are there any benefits to going for road shoes over the MB shoes?? And also, what pedals would you reccomend to go with them - in the 'entry level' price range (for both MB and road bike...)

Many Thanks

Andy

Underscore

arc123chief wrote:

I was looking at some pedals/shoes for commuting also, and do like the look of the Specialized ones that seem to be highly rated. Are there any benefits to going for road shoes over the MB shoes?? And also, what pedals would you reccomend to go with them - in the 'entry level' price range (for both MB and road bike...)

I'm another happy Spesh Sport MTB user. I have a range of different commuting routes from 2.5 miles to 15 miles, on- and off-road and can see no benefit to using road shoes. Apparently the larger cleat reduces the chances of "hots spots" on the soles of your feet but I've had no problems with them anyway - the Sport MTB is nice and stiff. The downside of road shoes is that you really can't walk in them.

Regarding pedals, I use Time ATAC Aliums and love them - I bit kinder on my dodgy old knees than SPDs - but, if you do want to go SPD, Shimano's M520 always seems to get recommended as an utter bargain.

HTH,

_

ademort

Hi i commute 32Kms each workday on my racing bike and use clipless pedals and Lake MTB shoes. On arriving at work i have to walk 400M +- and find the MTB shoes ideal. I used to wear race shoes and take a pair of flip flops and leave them in the bike shed but found this to be a pain in the ar@e. The only real difference for me was the weight of the MTB shoes especially when wet, there is no great difference in performance, if MTB shoes slow you down by maybe 0.1Km/h will it matter to you. greetings Ademort

arc123chief

Hi Underscore - I'm a complete newb to this so don't know much about the pedals either! What is the difference between the SPD ones and the ones that you use?? I looked on wiggle, and the M520s are in the XC category - does this make any difference if you put them on a road bike??

ademort - if the shoes slow me down by 0.1hm/h then I won't notice any difference - i'm already pretty slow ;-) Thanks for the info.

Andy

patchy

another vote for spesh sport shoes for commuting. i've even been known to wear mine in the pub.

however, i do recommnend overshoes for really wet and cold days. icy icy.

Underscore

arc123chief wrote:

Hi Underscore - I'm a complete newb to this so don't know much about the pedals either! What is the difference between the SPD ones and the ones that you use?? I looked on wiggle, and the M520s are in the XC category - does this make any difference if you put them on a road bike??

The XC category just means that they are MTB pedal. However, the threads are the same on all cranks so you can put them on any bike you like. In fact, almost all the road bikes that I see parked up here at work have MTB SPD pedals on them.

Time's ATAC pedals a different to SPDs in two ways:

• They don't require adjustment of the spring tension; they just work
• They have some float - so your foot can move slightly sideways and twist slightly in the plane of the pedal, though you can still pull up on them happily. SPDs lock your foot to the pedal, so can cause a little extra stress on the knees

_

sem69

I've got these for my commute and very pleased with them
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 75%20Shoes
Similar to the Spesh Sport MTB but fitted me better.
And Shimano's M520 pedals. Shoes and pedals for about £55.

ianrauk

sem69 wrote:

I've got these for my commute and very pleased with them
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 75%20Shoes
Similar to the Spesh Sport MTB but fitted me better.
And Shimano's M520 pedals. Shoes and pedals for about £55.

I 've got these too, Great shoes that they are, they are not waterproof and also due to the mesh above the toes, not great for the colder days

robhb

I've just bought these

http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/products/M ... Combo.aspx

but I haven't actually got round to fitting the pedals as yet, but the shoes seem comfy