How long should road shoes last

fatdaz

I road with SPD pedals for about 3 years and only had 1 pair of cheap Shimano shoes that entire time in which I probably covered 6-7000km. Last September I bought my first pair of SPD-SL shoes - Diadora Speed Racer 2. I've been really happy with the shoes but I notice that after 6 months of use they are starting to get shabby - the metal fixings are rusting and the fabric straps are fraying. I have ridden in bad weather far more this Winter than ever before, riding at least 100k every week through all the rubbish weather and often twice that. I never do any more than give the shoes a cursory wipe but I never did anything more with my SPD shoes either.

Should I expect the shoes to be wearing already or is this unusual?

Cheers

ugo.santalucia

I get 2 years out of Shimano SPD-SL cleats and about 5 years out of a pair of shoes... could be more if I could replace the heel.
That's about 30,000 miles

fatdaz

Cheers - And do you do anything more than wipe them down after wet, filthy days?

Anonymous

I would dry them out if they got wet, but would have worn overshoes to have prevented them getting too wet in the first place.
Overshoes save you having to clean them as well as keeping them (and your feet!) dry.

Sounds like they have rotted.

If they do get wet I take the inner soles out and stick a load of kitchen towel in mine, then put them in the bottom of the cylinder cupboard.

Only takes 2 min and if I am going for ride the next day they are nice and warm ;-)

Grill

Well over 15k miles on my Bontragers and still going strong. I take the insoles out if they get wet but that's it.

How Far is too Far

I find Sidi shoes last the best, got some which are over 8 years old still going strong.

ugo.santalucia

I don't do anything... I never wash them... only brush the mud off in winter and stick them on the radiator when they're soggy.
Since I've given up club rides = coffee breaks shoes last longer...

drlodge

Replaced the look cleats on my shoes after a year, walking on them (=coffee and cake stops) wears them out quickly. But the shoes are fine.

fatdaz

Thanks all - looks like I may have just been unlucky. Will try a different shoe when these die just on case

ugo.santalucia

I should also add that I buy cycling shoes second hand, as they are too expensive when new.
100 quid for the first pair (new 10 years ago), 50 for the second (identical)... 20 quid for the third last year (identical again! )