Road shoe conundrum...

richmarriott

Hi all

So now Christmas is out the way I'm planning on treating myself to my first pair of clip in shoes! I've just ordered a 3 point pedal/cleat system so the need to fit that, the questions I have are...

Are carbon soles essential? I'm only going to be road riding with a mate with maybe a few events this year
What does everyone recommend in terms of an all season shoe?
Anyone spotted any bargains? Planet X etc?

I've looked at the fizik r3 in the sale, bont riot that were recommended in a cycle mag, the dhb wiggle ones and shimano ones but there are so many to choose from!

Budget £70 to £120 tops.

Thanks in advance
Rich

rafletcher

Carbon is only essential. if you're a racer or a poseur. The Bon's are good shoes - but make sure you use their sizing guide (on their website) before buying. And make sure it's from someone you can return stuff to easily.

Anonymous

As long as they are stiff I doubt it really matters.

Make sure whatever you get that they have a ratchet top strap at least (i.e. not all velcro)
My most recent shoes have had Boa closure which I now really like and thats what I would prefer over carbon soles.

EarlyGo

For your first shoes there's no need at all for carbon soles. The most important thing is that they fit well. If possible get down to your LBS and try several different makes and sizes on. If you are going to use them all year round and they will be your only pair then allow space for winter socks.

When magazines do reviews of road shoes it's amazing how little there is to choose between them. So personally I wouldn't worry too much about what brand they are so long as they are a known name.

When it comes to fitting the cleats on, then ideally get it done with professional assistance but at the very least make sure you research how to fit them properly so that you don't knacker your knees up.

Regards, EarlyGo

simon_masterson

Carbon soles are about as 'essential' as any posh kit. Don't believe everything you read or hear about stiff soles either - sure, they're a good idea, but you won't die without them. The like of what you can buy in your price range did not exist not so long ago. I currently only use a pair of commuting-oriented SPD shoes with lace closure; they're very flexible. A lot of new cyclists these days, young and old, have little perspective, and treat modern luxuries as 'can't live without' - this includes carbon forks.

There are lots of good options in your price range. Personally I'd recommend that you try them where possible but the online sales are hard to argue with. There's only so far wrong you can go with any of them. They need to fit and you must get your cleat positioning right.

diamonddog

PX have some offers on lots of shoe brands. I have carbon and non carbon soled shoes and the carbon ones are stiffer overall but as to whether It makes any difference is debatable.

vanleapo

I have been contemplating some new shoes myself and I was drawn to these from Louis Garneau.
They look pretty good quality for the money.
Evans are very good at taking returns too, if you get the wrong size.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/lou ... s-ec046264

Anonymous

Those Louis Garneu's would be a good buy IMO.
I have the MTB version which are really nice, and have just got the Course road shoes for the summer.
I am a size 10 in regular shoes/trainers, a 45 in Specialized cycle shoes but a 46 in Louis Garneu's so they come up a little small.
The Boa system is easier to put on and adjust (than ratchet) and a whole lot easier to take off.

richmarriott

So I took the advice and tried a few different pairs on today. Tried some bontranger, mavic and specialised and I couldn't get them right as my feet are a bit wide for them and if I go up a sz they're too loose on the ends! I've heard shimano are a slightly wider fit but anyone recommend any others?

I also prefer the wire tightener (sorry don't know the tech name) rather than the ratchet.

Thanks again
Rich

farrina

richmarriott wrote:

but anyone recommend any others?

Depends on how big your budget is, but Sidi do wider sizes (they call them Mega fit) as well as twist to lock shoe mechanism on their more expensive shoes. I would agree with an earlier posters recommendation that you avoid all Velcro straps as they tend to wear over time and lose their effectiveness.

More here http://www.sidicafe.co.uk/sidi-cycling-shoes.html

Regards

Alan

richmarriott

Will take a look, thanks Alan

EarlyGo

Shimano make special 'wide fit' shoes. Wiggle sell them.

Regards, EarlyGo

Anonymous

I find Lake shoes quite wide. I really wanted a pair but when they came I found them too wide (had both an MTB and a road pair), they were like wearing a pair of jeans that were too big and pulling the belt tight.
wiggle have had them on offer in the past but they would be quite expensive with Boa closure.

Specialized do wider fit versions too don't they?
Just be careful that the wider fit versions are not too wide.

Could you swap the pedals for MTB ones and get MTB shoes instead? They are often a bit wider and you can walk in them a lot easier.

upton

Carbonator wrote:

As long as they are stiff I doubt it really matters.

Make sure whatever you get that they have a ratchet top strap at least (i.e. not all velcro)
My most recent shoes have had Boa closure which I now really like and thats what I would prefer over carbon soles.

Why?

richmarriott

I tried some of the lake cx236 and the Velcro model in a local shop. Loved the boa on the cx236 but they didn't have my size. Just had a look online and nowhere seems to have stock at the right price. Does anyone know what these have been superseded by? Or another make/model similar

Thanks again, it is appreciated

Anonymous

upton wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

As long as they are stiff I doubt it really matters.

Make sure whatever you get that they have a ratchet top strap at least (i.e. not all velcro)
My most recent shoes have had Boa closure which I now really like and thats what I would prefer over carbon soles.

Why?

Because I feel its loads better to have a secure closure and I am trying to offer good/helpful advice to the OP.

I have never had full velcro ones though so they could be great, but my feeling is that they will not be as secure/adjustable and not be as easy to loosen mid ride if you need to. Also they look a bit pants.

Rodders30

I just tried

Specialised
Northwave
Mavic
Scott

All felt different. So go try some on. Went for the scotts as they were very good fit for me and have the dial boa system which is great!

cougie

Fit is foremost.

Carbon isn't essential at all.

I like the velcro closures - just less to go wrong.

I have had the ratchet shoes in the past. The sidi one was a pain in the bum - the pin would work loose and you'd have to fix it every so often. If you forgot -you needed to buy a new clasp.

Velcro is very easy to adjust on the fly - I don't trust the fishing wire closures not to snap somehow.

wandsworth

cougie wrote:

Velcro is very easy to adjust on the fly - I don't trust the fishing wire closures not to snap somehow.

I don't want fishing wire anywhere near my fly. Or velcro, really. I like a nice zip.

farrina

Carbonator wrote:

Because I feel its loads better to have a secure closure and I am trying to offer good/helpful advice to the OP.I have never had full velcro ones though so they could be great, but my feeling is that they will not be as secure/adjustable and not be as easy to loosen mid ride if you need to.

I am not sure how far back the readership go, but I recall owning a pair of Sid Rider cycling shoes (at a guess late 1980's -anyone remember them ?) that were only velcro fastenings and I ended up having to tape my feet up to ensure a secure fit when pulling on the pedals.

I have always bought ratchet securing shoes since - Tri-athletes may beg to differ with their quick switch over times and use velcro for speed,

cougie

Sidi must have used some dodgy velcro back in the day. I remember their version on the front of my MTB shoes was pretty pants too.

All the shoes I've had since have been velcro and never had a problem.

Anonymous

Have had ratchet for years and latest 2 are Boa and double Boa. Never had a problem although I do carry a couple of cable ties which would be a life saver if the wire snaps

I do not think the complicated systems are that much more likely to fail and if I can survive a fail without spoiling the ride completely then the improved ride over all those miles is worth the expense of purchase and possible repair.

upton

Carbonator wrote:

upton wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

As long as they are stiff I doubt it really matters.

Make sure whatever you get that they have a ratchet top strap at least (i.e. not all velcro)
My most recent shoes have had Boa closure which I now really like and thats what I would prefer over carbon soles.

Why?

Because I feel its loads better to have a secure closure and I am trying to offer good/helpful advice to the OP.

I have never had full velcro ones though so they could be great, but my feeling is that they will not be as secure/adjustable and not be as easy to loosen mid ride if you need to. Also they look a bit pants.

Just to offer some balance, I find my velcro shoes as secure as ratchets I've had in the past. I like them, feel less bulky and they are easier to loosen off on the bike if needed. Looking pants is personal preference I suppose. I don't think there is any reason to avoid velcro.

Anonymous

Well thats nicely balanced out now then and the OP can get the ones he feels are best.

Cannot see how velcro is as secure as a mechanical fixing, or how its easier to pull velcro open, re-form a new crease in the strap and re close securely.......... than just push a button to loosen though.

ilm_zero7

much prefer the wire system like Sidi Ergo... tried several other brands but always come back to Sidi - although Suplest are nice, but a but warm for summer

richmarriott

Hi all!

Thanks so much for all of the help, advice and your opinions on this! In the end I went for some lake CX236 with a boa system. The lakes are a little wider without being too wide as a wide fit so are ideal for me.

Now just to get clipped in and hopefully not fall off too many time

Thanks again
Rich

Anonymous

Nice shoes Rear Boa too 8)

Velcro is for primary school shoes (tongue out smiley)
Viva La Boa

farrina

richmarriott wrote:

In the end I went for some lake CX236 with a boa system. The lakes are a little wider without being too wide as a wide fit so are ideal for me.
Now just to get clipped in and hopefully not fall off too many time
Rich

Always nice to hear the end result. Good luck with your clips!