MTBers who've joined the dark side, unite!

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  • thighsofsteel
    thighsofsteel Posts: 32
    Hi, i'm relatively new to cycling full-stop.... started MTB'ing a few years ago following a dodgy back injury which stopped me running and playing football, and I'm now totally hooked and have just bought my first road bike! It hasn't arrived yet but i have a cycling-mad older brother and loads of mates who've been hooked on lycra for years and have been persuading me to join the dark side.

    Bit worried about the skinny tyres and big vans hurtling past me (I'm a girl, we get scared easily!) but am soooooooo excited at the pending arrival of said new bike :D Have bought a Focus Variado Expert through mates of mine - not yet figured out if I need new shoes though as apparently it's got Look pedals and I noticed someone said Look pedals are different... any thoughts?

    Am supposed to be working but can't seem to stop surfing for lycra...! :o
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    Welcome to the dark side.... :shock:
    I just had a quick surf and would say that you'll probably need to buy some road specific shoes for the pedals on your new road bike.
    Like Shimano, Look manufacture 'offroad' and 'road' pedals and the two don't mix! :roll:
    If you have Look offroad pedals and shoes for your MTB, there's nothing to stop you swapping the pedals for now, just to keep your costs down, initially.
    Get the bike, then see which way you need to go, for accessories....
    Enjoy surfing for your lycra, etc... It's an expensive sport.... :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Your choice is either get some road shoes and cleats to go with the Look pedals, or put some spd pedals on your new bike and carry on using thesame shoes for both. Is it a new bike from Wiggle or is it second hand? If it's new, is it too late to ask if they'll swap the pedals to spd's?
  • thighsofsteel
    thighsofsteel Posts: 32
    Hi guys, thanks for the feedback - looks like i'm going to have to get the credit card out either way.... dammit, you know how girls hate to shop... :wink:

    I'm getting the bike through my brother's mate - his mate's wife used to race and then got preggers so the bike's been in the garage, barely used and is still incredibly sparkly! So it means there's no option to change the pedals, so i either get new pedals and use my grubby mud-stained mtb shoes, or I buy some pimped up new shiny road shoes... hmmm, tricky decision :wink:
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    thighsofsteel wrote:
    Hi guys, thanks for the feedback - looks like i'm going to have to get the credit card out either way.... dammit, you know how girls hate to shop... :wink:

    I'm getting the bike through my brother's mate - his mate's wife used to race and then got preggers so the bike's been in the garage, barely used and is still incredibly sparkly! So it means there's no option to change the pedals, so i either get new pedals and use my grubby mud-stained mtb shoes, or I buy some pimped up new shiny road shoes... hmmm, tricky decision :wink:

    Or, you could take the pedals of your MTB and install them on your road bike!!!! :shock:
    I guess you know which way you're heading.... And, why stop at new shoes??? ... You know it makes sense. :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • punctureboy
    punctureboy Posts: 217
    Dombo6 wrote:
    Impress your new roady friends on the club run with your mtb skills as you bunny hop over pot holes at 25 mph instead of pointing them out.

    thats all well and good for you but i weigh 18 stone, and already have my back wheel in to be re-built with stronger spokes!
  • thighsofsteel
    thighsofsteel Posts: 32
    Or, you could take the pedals of your MTB and install them on your road bike!!!!
    I guess you know which way you're heading.... And, why stop at new shoes??? ... You know it makes sense.

    You're right, i know the answer already.... pimped up white road shoes here we come! :D
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    thighsofsteel wrote:
    You're right, i know the answer already.... pimped up white road shoes here we come! :D

    I take it they will match the rest of your kit.... Or will the rest of your new kit match your new shoes? :roll:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • thighsofsteel
    thighsofsteel Posts: 32
    Ooh blimey, do i have to be colour-coordinated if i want to be a roadie...? Well, my new bike is black & white, plus I like white things (hence white shoes) so i guess i'll have to get black and white lycra items...? Who said there was a credit crunch on...? Sod that! :wink:
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Ladies are lucky as there are some very nice shoes and the items are often much cheaper. You should also consider shoes considered 'male' (although they would look perfectly ok on a woman) as the smaller sizes are often heavily discounted (chainreactioncycles is a good example of a store that does this).

    sidi-69130-zoom.jpg
    02078_17.jpg
    sidi-69115-zoom.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • thighsofsteel
    thighsofsteel Posts: 32
    Sod doing any work today, guess who's going online shoe shopping...?!?! :D

    Awesome tip re small sizes in men's shoes - not quite sure how shoes can be "women-specific" anyway... do we have different shaped feet? Smaller so we can reach the kitchen sink obviously, but surely they're the same shape?? :wink:
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Probikekit.com have a sale on Sidis at the moment but it ends in a day:

    http://www.probikekit.com/advsearch.php?AQUERY=sidi

    They are probably the most attractive shoes but are quite expensive. It would probably be a good idea to go to a shop and actually try on a pair so you can get your precise size - it is very annoying buying the wrong size and having to return them. I think Sidis fit slightly smaller too than other makes.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • thighsofsteel
    thighsofsteel Posts: 32
    Good tip, thanks. Will hopefully make it to a bike shop soon to try some on as it does seem a pain in the butt to buy some and then have to exchange them.... cheers!
  • punctureboy
    punctureboy Posts: 217
    thighsofsteel wrote:
    not quite sure how shoes can be "women-specific" anyway... do we have different shaped feet? Smaller so we can reach the kitchen sink obviously, but surely they're the same shape?? :wink:

    pink ones :wink: although the flowery sidl ones in frenchfighters pics must be too!
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    I just bought a pair of Sidi Ergo 2's.... White/ White. Oh yeah, they are bling!
    I don't even need a new pair of shoes :shock:
    But they'll look great on my new bike, when it arrives :wink:
    So much for idle hands and the internet, it's a very dangerous place :twisted: :twisted:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!

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