Shoes Recommednations

Slurp

I'm looking for a recommendation for cycling shoes for my commute as my current cheapo mtb-style ones from Lidl are dying. I use regular platform pedal with toe-straps, but want a shoe with a sole that's more rigid than regular trainers. I'm not thinking about going clipless.

I considered the Bontrager Street shoes, and they'd probably be ideal (if a bit expensive)_if it weren't for the fact that the jump between sizes doesn't work for me -- goes from slightly too small to a little too big.

I would consider the Northwave City Cruisers, but my local Evans didn't have my size in stock. Other possibilities seem to be Specialized Sonoma or Specialized Tahoe, both of which get good reviews from their users. But are there others that I should consider?

Stiff soles, easy to slide into toe-clips, easy to walk from the bike room to the office.

sc999cs

Lots of SPD shoes have a cover over the cleat recess if you don't want to go clipless. Should open up the choice for you a bit.

Valy

Specialized Sonoma are quite good - IIRC are they the ones with a almost slick sole?

You can use them as SPD shoes later on, but with the rubbery bit on they look just like normal shoes. I tried them and they were quite comfortable too - as were the Tahoes.

il_principe

Just get some Specialized MTB shoes and don't use the cleats. Although you really should try going clipless, so much better than faffing around with clips and safer too.

Valy

Oh yeah, definitely - I currently have the plastic things with clips taken off my pedals and even that is fiddly to try and thread your foot through...

The only reason they are there is because I don't see a way to take them off...

Put my SPDs on for a test ride and damn... sooo much better - after having to thread my foot through the plastic "hook" it kind of trained me to know where the pedal position is and consequently I clicked in quite well.

markp2

Stick with the Lidls £9.99 ones. I use them every day (4-5000 miles a year)and buy a pair every year when they come in stock. More comfy than others in my experience.
Mark

ride_whenever

If you like flats then either a waffle sole pair of vans or a set of 5.10's are the best choices for grip on decent pinned flats.

Nothing wrong with flats if that's what you like.

Valy

ride_whenever wrote:

If you like flats then either a waffle sole pair of vans or a set of 5.10's are the best choices for grip on decent pinned flats.

Nothing wrong with flats if that's what you like.

Yeah, but flats with toe straps?

snailracer

Any pair of black "schoolboy" type shoes. The cheaper they are, the harder the sole.

I often wear a pair of cheap (£10) slip-on shoes on my commute, they have a hard sole and no laces to snag on the toeclips or chainring.

Slurp

Thanks to all for the advice and recommendations. I went with Spesh Sonomas in the end, they felt nice and comfortable in the shop. After a grand total of four rides I'm still happy with them, but it's early days.

As for the perennial spd/platform issue -- I appreciate the comments and who knows, perhaps one day I'll take the dive. But for the time being I'm just too conservative. (that's with a *little* "c".)

GMRK

ride_whenever wrote:

If you like flats then either a waffle sole pair of vans or a set of 5.10's are the best choices for grip on decent pinned flats.

I was going to get a pair of the 5.10 Guide Tennies for my MTB with flats/pins earlier this year but went for these instead:

http://www.ldmountaincentre.com/product.aspx?id=1641

Seem to be fairly hard wearing so far and stick to the pedals like anything, even to the point of a couple of near 'clipless-like' moments when I tried to slide my foot off the pedal sideways instead of lifting it.

I can just manage to squeeze a pair of neoprene covers over them if the weather's particularly bad.