shoes plus pedals

andy 3654

Im looking to get some cycle shoes plus pedals bust confused by them all, can people advise me which would be good chices for a budget of about 300 in total?

t.m.h.n.e.t

SPDSL - Road use - can be a pain in the ass to walk in for long distances - fixed with 3 bolts

SPD - MTB/CX use - cleats are recessed into the soles so you can walk on them pretty much like normal footwear. Fixed with 2 bolts ( can and are often used on road bikes/hybrids too)

Neither system will cost you much more than £100

Ride hard

I second that.

You need to have a think about what type of riding they will be primarily used for. Road shoes (SPD SL's) are generally more suited to hours in the saddle without having to stop. However, if you're like me and only go on longer rides at the weekend then SPD SL's can be a pain for commuting and being able to walk around in, so SPD's would be your best bet.

In terms of shoes, you have several options. Nylon, nylon/carbon composite and full carbon sole. For me the first is built for comfort and not performance as the sole is very soft/bendy (think of the sole of an average trainer) and doesn't transfer as much power to the drivechain as the other two . I think it would be rare to get one of these shoes as an SPD as it defeats the purpose of the road bike, so you'll probably need to look at touring shoes. The composite sole is a good middle ground as the sole has a bit of give - although this can cause hotspots in your feet depending on your cleat position, how long you're in the saddle for and how much power you're putting down. Finally, the carbon sole is for all out performance as the sole is stiff as, and turns all your power into forward motion.

Also something to look out for is shoe width. Some shoes such as Mavic come up very narrow (but comfy), whereas other brands like Giro and Northwave are wider. The best hing to do is try on a few pairs and see how they feel.

£300 will get you alot of shoe/pedal. I've got a pair of Mavic Fury's and shimano M520's which perform really well. However, you can get good shoes (SPD or SPD SL's) for a lot less money. Wiggle's DHb's get good reviews, and I would also check out Decathalon's btwin full carbon shoes.

simon_masterson

Ride hard wrote:

I second that.

You need to have a think about what type of riding they will be primarily used for. Road shoes (SPD SL's) are generally more suited to hours in the saddle without having to stop. However, if you're like me and only go on longer rides at the weekend then SPD SL's can be a pain for commuting and being able to walk around in, so SPD's would be your best bet.

In terms of shoes, you have several options. Nylon, nylon/carbon composite and full carbon sole. For me the first is built for comfort and not performance as the sole is very soft/bendy (think of the sole of an average trainer) and doesn't transfer as much power to the drivechain as the other two . I think it would be rare to get one of these shoes as an SPD as it defeats the purpose of the road bike, so you'll probably need to look at touring shoes. The composite sole is a good middle ground as the sole has a bit of give - although this can cause hotspots in your feet depending on your cleat position, how long you're in the saddle for and how much power you're putting down. Finally, the carbon sole is for all out performance as the sole is stiff as, and turns all your power into forward motion.

This is not my experience at all; my Shimano MTB shoes (not sure of the model) are very stiff and there is no particular give in them. No carbon.

But there's no need to spend that much, or rather if you do you will know about it!

Don't be afraid of opting for MTB or touring shoes and SPD pedals; the power transfer thing is hugely overstated. I've done more cycling - thousands of miles - with scrappy old trainers and loose straps than not, and I'm no faster with the SPD shoes (still haven't got around to fitting the pedals).

Anonymous

100 quid will get you shoes and pedals. Id recommend the shimano R540 or 105 ones (2 friends have look, 1 is changing to shimano, the other is a stubborn git and has campy on his bike). Shoes wise, do your research and get the best fit.