Clipless shoes/adapters?

RyanB
RyanB Posts: 116
edited April 2009 in Commuting chat
Ok, bit of a longshot I concede, but I'm looking to see if there is some way to adapt, say a pair of Converse so I can recess my egg-beater cleats in them. I'm looking for some commuting shoes that look just like regular urban footwear. At the min I'm wearing Shimano MT41's and while they're fine, practical etc, they simply look, I dunno... gumpy?

Definite gap in the market here I feel. I wear these shoes all day with 3/4 shorts as my office is pretty laid back.

Feel free to lampoon me with all manner of style/tart accusations etc, and I promise you I'll not give a fiddlers, but for anyone who can offer some ideas, cheers.
«1

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    not really as the sole is not made for holding a cleat.

    but 661 do a few.

    http://www.jejamescycles.com/661-filter ... 36511.html

    cycles_pro36511L.jpg
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
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  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Now, I've been looking at this too, and have purchased a couple of cheap pairs of shoes with quite a thick sole in order to try out a few theories.

    I reckon you need a cleat bolt (come with most cleats) for soft-soled shoes, but for wood or plastic soled shoes you could just put a self-tapping screw straight into the sole. Obviously, you need a sole thick enough to recess the cleat into and have some space left for spacing on the screw/bolt, but it seems do-able.

    I'll let you know :D
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Dropzone-dog__
    Dropzone-dog__ Posts: 59
    Waits for the, " Fell off 'cos my diy spd shoes gave me a bit too much float to be able to disengage " post. I once had a loose spd sl cleat. It was a bit difficult to clip out :lol:
    Volition & freedom is within the remit of a democratic society.

    Not everybody agrees with your point of view though.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    or the my cleat stayed in the pedal crash.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Dropzone-dog__
    Dropzone-dog__ Posts: 59
    ^ that is also a very real possibility :twisted:
    Volition & freedom is within the remit of a democratic society.

    Not everybody agrees with your point of view though.
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    How about these?

    shimano-bmp66w-zoom.jpg
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
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    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • crankycrank
    crankycrank Posts: 1,830
    Why not get one of the devices that use a cleat with toe clips attached so you can use any shoe you want? Then just twist the clips off your pedals when you don't need them.
  • Dropzone-dog__
    Dropzone-dog__ Posts: 59
    Can you please provide an example of this?

    I would love to have the power of being clipped in via a clipless system whilst still retaining the easy get out of loose toe clips & straps.
    Volition & freedom is within the remit of a democratic society.

    Not everybody agrees with your point of view though.
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Come now people, why so negative? It can't be that bloomin' hard! It's just an SPD attached to a shoe for god's sake...
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • sarajoy
    sarajoy Posts: 1,675
    Would love to work out how to attach cleats to my old merrell trainers. They're a bit dead anyway but would be comfortable... BUT would they be rigid enough? Hrm...
    4537512329_a78cc710e6_o.gif4537512331_ec1ef42fea_o.gif
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    sarajoy wrote:
    Would love to work out how to attach cleats to my old merrell trainers. They're a bit dead anyway but would be comfortable... BUT would they be rigid enough? Hrm...

    Possibly, with a big cleat bolt...

    Not a problem with my experimental shoes - I'm trying to put cleats into these:

    http://www.newlook.co.uk/1597305/159730 ... tails.aspx
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Dropzone-dog__
    Dropzone-dog__ Posts: 59
    You are correct LIT. Problems will arise when the sole of the shoe is not stiff enough to withstand the forces involved. Imagine pulling up on the pedal stroke on a diy pair of shoes & it becomes obvious that your self tapped threads will be weakened.

    Now try & clip out.

    You need a dedicated thread insert in order to withstand the forces involved otherwise,

    you may find yourself crashing due to the fact that you can not unclip or,
    you give it a big welly on the upward stroke & your foot suddenley departs from the pedal.

    A dedicated thread insert is the answer together with a sole capable of withstanding the forces involved.

    You could make an spd shoe more fashionable but, converting a pair of shoes not designed for the job in the first place is not the answer.

    Build them with function in mind in the first place & you may well be onto a winner. 8)
    Volition & freedom is within the remit of a democratic society.

    Not everybody agrees with your point of view though.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Lit the problem is that there is nothing to attach the bolts to.

    Most shoes (ok my clogs not included) do not really have any substance to their soles. they are a ribbed pattern with air spaces. so you would have to cut out a space to fit a mounting plate and then suddenly the shoe had a hard bit under your ball of the foot.

    if you want comfy and "spd" conection they you are really looking at straps (urg)
    or but not as well attached some flat pedals with some shoes with some sticky rubber.

    such as the 5:10 shoes that are getting popular in the mtb world.

    for me when doing a bit of Downhill riding if find i am as well attached to the bike with this set up as i was cliped in.

    But i am not pedaling that much. for the XC/road use SPDs are my prefered option.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • GarethPJ
    GarethPJ Posts: 295
    Thirty seconds searching found these, I'm sure there are lots more. You just need to put a little more effort into your searches.

    http://www.stif.co.uk/gear/select_optio ... &store=mtb

    http://www.stif.co.uk/gear/select_optio ... &store=mtb

    The problem I have is that I can't use spuds, my dodgy left ankle won't let me engage. I'm OK with road pedals, but you try finding any three hole shoes that don't look totally dweeby.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    sarajoy wrote:
    Would love to work out how to attach cleats to my old merrell trainers. They're a bit dead anyway but would be comfortable... BUT would they be rigid enough? Hrm...

    Possibly, with a big cleat bolt...

    Not a problem with my experimental shoes - I'm trying to put cleats into these:

    http://www.newlook.co.uk/1597305/159730 ... tails.aspx

    when you do lets have pics.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Meh, if I rip the screws out I'll inset a cleat bolt into the upper part of the sole and go from there. That's why I've picked shoes with a solid sole that's about 1.5cm thick... I've already drilled into it to check it's solid, yes... :)

    And thread inserts would be an option, but I think I'd use a cleat bolt over them as, just as the self tappers don't have much to hold onto, nor will the thread inserts...
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Why couldn't you just machine two slots and mount in a cleat bolt plate in like with any of the mtb shoes.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • Dropzone-dog__
    Dropzone-dog__ Posts: 59
    I really do admire your tenacity LIT.

    The fact is cycling shoes are designed to avoid the problems I have mentioned.

    My specialized s works road shoes come with a replacement everything guarantee.

    Threaded inserts correctley designed should not fail when they are inserted into a carbon fibre sole.

    Hear is the problem they look like cycling shoes & are designed to perform as cycling shoes.

    They could have made them to look like a pair of trainers ( whatever ) but, they chose not to.


    In order to make a pair of trainers look like trainers yet retain cycling shoe characteristics the sole needs to be of a dedicated design.

    That in itself is not outside the realms of possibility but, converting a pair of trainers into cycling shoes?

    Good grief :shock:
    Volition & freedom is within the remit of a democratic society.

    Not everybody agrees with your point of view though.
  • sarajoy
    sarajoy Posts: 1,675
    Where would one find these cleat bolt plates? Google ain't being helpful tonight...
    4537512329_a78cc710e6_o.gif4537512331_ec1ef42fea_o.gif
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    testing a brand new pair of road shoes last week I did my usual over tightening trick and broke the threads on both shoes, money well spent there :oops:

    Is it possible to buy new plates for the inside of Polaris shoes?

    Polaris road shoes have zero traction when not clipped in, is that normal? I hope not as I really don't like my feet slipping off the pedals :(
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  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    sarajoy wrote:
    Where would one find these cleat bolt plates? Google ain't being helpful tonight...

    SPD or SPD SL?

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Shima ... 360021965/

    http://www.petracycles.co.uk/body-plate ... -6074.html
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • crankycrank
    crankycrank Posts: 1,830
    Dropzone-dog__ wrote:
    Can you please provide an example of this?

    I would love to have the power of being clipped in via a clipless system whilst still retaining the easy get out of loose toe clips & straps.
    TaDa!! http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping ... egory=1670 . From a USA site. I'm sure they're available in UK land as well.
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    sarajoy wrote:
    Where would one find these cleat bolt plates? Google ain't being helpful tonight...

    I'm sure you used to get them with pedals, i'll have a looksie in my garage tonight.
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Sara I've got a few sets kicking around, if you can't find any PM me and I'll post some to you.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • sarajoy
    sarajoy Posts: 1,675
    Didn't get a set with my pedals, boo.

    Cheers LIT, may well call you up on that one... Otherwise I'm very much liking the idea of those toestrap SPDs above...
    ...if I could find am SPD version that ships to the UK that is...

    EDIT again - actually it doesn't look like they'd work in the way I'd like - i.e. to attach a cleat to any old shoe using the clip and strap, which you could then engage and twist off like a normal SPD shoe. Looks like when it's on, it's on, and you use it like standard clips and straps, Bah.
    4537512329_a78cc710e6_o.gif4537512331_ec1ef42fea_o.gif
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    crankycrank wrote:
    Dropzone-dog__ wrote:
    Can you please provide an example of this?

    I would love to have the power of being clipped in via a clipless system whilst still retaining the easy get out of loose toe clips & straps.
    TaDa!! http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping ... egory=1670 . From a USA site. I'm sure they're available in UK land as well.
    What on earth do these achieve?

    Surely this is like developing a product that enables you to listen to your CD's by connecting a special CD player to your iPod?
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    itboffin wrote:
    testing a brand new pair of road shoes last week I did my usual over tightening trick and broke the threads on both shoes, money well spent there :oops:

    Is it possible to buy new plates for the inside of Polaris shoes?

    Polaris road shoes have zero traction when not clipped in, is that normal? I hope not as I really don't like my feet slipping off the pedals :(
    S'funny, for the first time ever I used a torque wrench to put the cleats on my new mavics... that was after taking the head off an M5 when putting cleats onto some dhb R1s
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  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Very strange idea - so you unclip from the clipless pedals and have a strap and cage attached to your foot? I think the answer is to get bike shoes that you are happy to wear off the bike, there are dozens of designs that wouldn't look out of place, unless you are going to a black tie dinner!
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Come now people, why so negative? It can't be that bloomin' hard! It's just an SPD attached to a shoe for god's sake...

    I dunno, my old SPD shoes eventually gave up the ghost when the hard plastic around the cleats started perishing and tearing. And once that starts, you're buggered. So if that's what a plastic sole intended for mounting cleats does, I'd hate to try it with anything less hard-wearing. Especially considerng the possible outcomes of failure.
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  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    biondino wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Come now people, why so negative? It can't be that bloomin' hard! It's just an SPD attached to a shoe for god's sake...

    I dunno, my old SPD shoes eventually gave up the ghost when the hard plastic around the cleats started perishing and tearing. And once that starts, you're buggered. So if that's what a plastic sole intended for mounting cleats does, I'd hate to try it with anything less hard-wearing. Especially considerng the possible outcomes of failure.
    Absolutely. This is a known problem of softer touring shoes - if you tighten the cleats enough for the sort of pedal tension you would want for tearing a scalp superhighway to work, you bite right through them - i.e. they are best used for admiring the scenery whilst in the 30x29 ring.

    Similarly, screwing a set of cleats into your favourite brouges will result in scuffed brouges from falling off the bike sideways when clipped in.

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