Look fittings on a MTB style shoe for road commuting

Leedsblue

Looking for recommendations for my road biking commute.

I want Look fittings/cleats on a MTB style shoe that will keep my feet warmer than my road shoes and I can walk a few yards in them.

Currently I am wearing my Shimano shoes but my feet are feeling the cold already and I need to put a pair of flip-flops in my rucksack to walk from the bike shed across the car park and through the entrance area which is covered in very shiny and slippery tiles.

Ideally I don't want to spend more than £50-60 either. Not much to ask is it.

Cherrs

John

Jonathan M

Do you mean a shoe with a treaded sole that take Look cleats? Not sure if they exist.

I know North Wave do some toasty boots http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/North ... 360032088/ but they won't take Look cleats.

andrew_s

I think you're stuffed.
AFAIK all MTB style shoes have a two-bolt SPD drilling, so as well as the new shoes, you'd need new pedals.

I should look for some rubber cleat covers so the floor isn't so slippery. You'll still walk like a duck tho'.

synchronicity

You're clearly hating the idea of going back to MTB shoes. Since you're so keen to avoid them, I'm guessing that you don't like SPD systems in particular... :?

I would get a MTB shoe & find a decent two-bolt pedal/cleat system. Time atac pedals are excellent. They're simply made better (they don't look like bear-trap devices made with cheaply pressed steel). They also have a much better engagement mechanism than SPD. They have a decent thick spring & brass(bronze?) cleat. So much so, every time I hear people go on about how wonderful SPD pedals are, I secretly do this: :roll:

Leedsblue

Cheers. I have never had a MTB shoe (or a MTB either). I just fancied some warmer shoes for the winter commute that I could actually walk about 100 yards in without risking life and limb or ruining the cleats.

I may move to SPD but it seems an unnecessary waste to have to change the pedal set because I want a pair of warmer shoes.
Cheers re the heads-up on the Time-atac system

mostly harmless

Wear overshoes. These are just the ticket even through the depths of winter http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Endur ... 360020535/

I walk ~400m in SPD-SLs every day across a variety of surfaces to my office and they are fine.

SCOTT325SE

Leeds', I'm with 'Harmless on this one. If you love your road shoes (I love mine too) get a good quality thick pair of neoprene overshoes - they'll keep your feet toastie warm and provide a soft surface for you to walk on so you dont damage your shoes or skate about too much. Also, if you're on Look cleats, you can get rubber covers for them, which offer some grip if you are walking on them. They also stop that clip-clopping!
If you struggle to find some of those rubber covers, give me a shout, as I have a spare set.
I walk on my Assos overshoes and they are pretty hard-wearing.

Hope that helps

Leedsblue

Thanks all. I had some Neoprene overshoes in the past and I recall them as being very difficult to get on and on.

I will investigate getting a new pair

ipcress

Hi Leedsblue

It's probably worth noting that you may also feel the difference in terms of sole stiffness between a pair of road and MTB shoes - I've got a pair of each - both Shimano, and there is definately more flex in the MTB shoe.

Got to agree with the other's suggestions - overshoes are the cheapest way to warmer feet, although you may be able to pick up some winter boots with some insulation and waterproofing in your price range if you shop around.

If you're looking for a pedal system with more walkable cleats than Look then Crank Brothers are worth considering - the road cleat system is compatible with all thier pedals and surrounds the brass cleat with a rubbery platform that reduces wear and provides better grip than most. I've got Quattros on my best bike and candys on my commuter - and have had no problems whatsoever with either.

aracer

ipcress wrote:

It's probably worth noting that you may also feel the difference in terms of sole stiffness between a pair of road and MTB shoes - I've got a pair of each - both Shimano, and there is definately more flex in the MTB shoe.

Depends on the MTB shoes - my current ones have a carbon sole which is just as stiff as a road shoe sole, hence I've been doing most of my road riding in them this year since my main road shoes died on me (got some tri shoes, but they're not as comfortable).

ipcress

Point taken - my MTB shoes are one of Shimanos mid-range offerings which is the price point that leedsblue is aiming at - haven't bought MTB shoes for some time, but if they're anything like road prices you are looking at £80+ just for a carbon insert.

I also forgot to mention in my post that Nike do make a "walkable" road shoe - there's a review here, but they are quite expensive

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... ondo-17002

Sole unit will be plenty stiff enough, but to cover the cost of the removable rubber plates they seem to have scrimped on ratchet buckles, which is something you would expect as standard on shoes at half the price.

pete.whelan

Look used to produce a shoe and booty style shoe with a recessed cleat (fitted as new).

This was discontinued many years ago, though you can occasionally pick a pair up - they tended to have a slightly flexible sole.

Shimano and Northwave both do a winter road shoe that will take Look cleats (I know Shimano do because a firned in another club forgot his shoes to a race and had to go to the nearest bike shop in the town to buy a pair of shoes - this was on the hottest day of this year (sometime in July) and the only ones he could get in his size were the Shimano Winter shoe

Dunedin397

I get cold feet very easily so I tried Shimano's RW02 boot and I can say they're fantastic. I'm not so sure they're still in production though, but I'm sure you'll find them in shops, web stores or eBay.

I use overshoes as well with my normal shoes and switch to the boots when it does get to the frosty mornings, so it's still worth looking at them as they allow you to continue to use your favourite shoes. Look on overshoes as a consumable that should last you at least 1 winter, £20 to £30 should get you a good pair.

Cheers,

Dunedin

Leedsblue

Thanks all, some very good input there

John