Road Cycling - Greetings - Shoe/Pedal Advice

Greetings all. Been around reading quietly - learning some good tips. I've been away from biking for approx. 12 yrs. Went about 100-120 m/week when I was. Starting to do some again for fitness. Did 25 miles yesterday, first time in a while and it felt pretty good to be back on. I plan on doing around 30 or so 3 times a week - maybe some organized when I get my speed back up. I currently use clips and am planning on going clipless. Questions/advice - In your experience, where would it be best for me to go start my shoe shopping? LBS (Dallas, TX) or sporting goods store chain? Any particular advice regarding the shoes or pedals during my quest? Thanks in advance.

I don't know all to much, but what I know I know (if you know what I mean I know :D).

1st, you want to go to a LBS - the guys at my local Sportmart asked me "why would anyone want a shoe with that stiff a sole?" The old man of the shop will be able to find "the shoe for you" based on what you need, what your price range is, and his own experience.

I haven't gone clipless yet myself, but everybody I talk to swears by Speedplay pedals like (no offence to religious folk) Jesus himself came down and gave them the pedals. Especially the X1 model. They are supposed to have an incredible amount of float, which relaxes knee strain tremendously.

Look through the old posts - even under my name. I got some real good advice on shoes here a while back.

I would try LBS first --- gotta help keep them in business so they are there for advice and help when you need them.

If not them, try some online places:

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/

http://www.nashbar.com/

etc.

Fit is KEY !!!! You are not going to wear in hard plastic :)

Fit of the shoe and proper placement of the cleat is crucial to a comfortable ride.

The LBS should be, and usually is interested in your overall biking experience as well as their reputation as cycling experts.

Asking the clerk from the sporting goods store is risky. S/he may well know a good deal about knives or ammunition and nothing about cycling. Knowledge across huge product lines is rare and usually is targeted primarily at getting you to the check out register quickly. That's OK if you already know exactly what you need and how to use it.

The folks at the LBS are focused on cycling and usually are knowledgeable of products below, at and above the price rage displayed on the floor. Further, in my view, they are far less likely to try and quick sell you. They want cyclists to speak well of them to other cyclists.

Try a couple of bike shops to determine the size/width you'll need and to get an idea of the style you want.
Some roadies wear mountain bike shoes with two sided pedals (like SPD).

All shoe manufacturers are not the same. Try on different models.

If you can't find a style you like at a bike shop, try Nashbar, Performance, Colorado Cyclist, etc.

I use Shimano M535 two sided clipless on my commuter (road bike) with Look MX100 shoes and Look pedals with Lake CX201 shoes on my road bike.

Toothpick,

LBS not Oshmans etc. If you must go to
sporting goods try Galyans they at least sell
bikes.
1) LBS can fit you based on riding style, pedal etc.
2) LBS knows what they are talking about.
3) Shoes vary in size by manufacturer, sure online
can replace/refund but that takes time. save the
online retailers until you know what fits etc.
4) LBS can fit cleats for you, and do it correctly which
will help avoid foot/knee problems due to incorrect pedal
cleat positioning.

Check out Richardson Bike Mart (in Richardson, not
White Rock they have less stoce). They have some
pretty expensive stuff, but they also have a rack of
sale shoes. I got Sidi Genius 3's for 1/2 of what they
are currently selling for just because the colour was
last years. Other shops probably have similiar setup

Marty

Thanks much for the replies and the info. Lotek, thanks for the location-specific info. as well as other advice. I will give them (RBM) a try and post results. I hope there are some well-fitting leftovers for lil' ol me :), too!

Originally posted by Toothpick
Greetings all. Been around reading quietly - learning some good tips. I've been away from biking for approx. 12 yrs. Went about 100-120 m/week when I was. Starting to do some again for fitness. Did 25 miles yesterday, first time in a while and it felt pretty good to be back on. I plan on doing around 30 or so 3 times a week - maybe some organized when I get my speed back up. I currently use clips and am planning on going clipless. Questions/advice - In your experience, where would it be best for me to go start my shoe shopping? LBS (Dallas, TX) or sporting goods store chain? Any particular advice regarding the shoes or pedals during my quest? Thanks in advance.

Toothpick... Visit your LBS that sells "sidi genius 4 mega lorica" shoes, and buy the matching clips that work for your bike. I can't believe the comfort. I wear 11d and bought 451/2 to my delight.

You'll thank me................... I hope :D

Toothpick, Glad to hear your back on the bike :thumbup: Sounds like you have some knowlege about what your after. I would suggest going to your LBS. They will be able to help you get the right pedal and the RIGHT SHOE. Shoe fit is first and fore most. Going clipless is a smart move, but it typically isn't a cheap one. The LBS will help you spend your money wisely.

I tried on a few bike shoes when I was first shopping for clipless pedals. I tried the road shoes on first, because they were the lightest, but I actually ended up buying some shimano mountian shoes. They have a recessed cleat that makes it easier to walk around in, and they are more comforable then the road shoes. The main difference is that they are a bit hevier, but i whole-heartedly endorse mountain shoes for everyone.

Definately look for good shoes and buy for fit not for price. Shoes made in Italy seem to be the best.

I really like Sidi shoes. I had a set of dominators that I raced in for over five years in the mud and slop. I can still wear them.

I would go for Look, Time, or SPD-R if you want a big platform. I really don't like the small SPD's for the road. They tend to bother me on longer rides (70-100 miles) because I think they tend to put your pedaling force in a smaller area. Plus I feel more "locked in" with the bigger platform pedals.

My 2

Biffster;)

Shoes...I have two pair I use...Nike POggio and Hautacam. The Hautacam's are more stiff, but you can lock your foot in better than the Poggio. The Poggio is a lot lighter. I like them both, but the Hautacam is a stronger shoe.

Pedals...I has SPD-R's on my bike and for longer rides they just killed me feet. The cleat and the actual pedal are pretty small. I switched to Look about four months ago (the PP357) and the bigger pedal is lighter and easier on th feet than the SPD-R's. Shimano has developed a "Look-like" pedal (Lance rode it this summer in the TdF) and apparenlty they are listening to complaining customers on their small platform.

The only complaint I have about the Looks are the plastic cleats. But the good news is that they are about $9 to replace. But these pedals are very comfortable. I use the "no float" cleats and have no problem with comfort. I personally like the "locked in" feel with the Hautacam and the Look.

IMO...

Shimano has developed a "Look-like" pedal (Lance rode it this summer in the TdF) and apparenlty they are listening to complaining customers on their small platform.

Are you sure these are new Shimano pedals, or the same old ones (circa 1990 shimano-badged Look-made pedals) that he's used for the past several years? Shimano wasn't too happy that he was using them, but he refused to use any SPD-type pedal, so they let him continue using these old ones. I have a pair of these-they were great pedals! If Shimano is actually making something like it new, you can bet that they won't accept the look cleat, tho......

I am sure...

www.cyclingnews.com/tech/?id=2002/news/jul25

about halfway down the page...

If you'd like to read more, here's a piece with Jean-Marc Vandenberghe, Lance's mechanic. About halfway down the page is the info about how the pedals came about.

www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2002/features/probikes/?id=usps

enjoy...

Originally posted by D*Alex
you can bet that they won't accept the look cleat, tho......
Yep. That's a safe bet.

just to hop on the "go to your LBS" bandwagon-
keep in mind that fitting cycling shoes isn't like fitting regular shoes- walking around in them tells you little if anything about how they'll fit on your bike. the nikes i finally wound up getting (tried sidi and shimano too) slipped a bit in the heel when i walked around, but fit well in the toe box area. on the bike, they're wonderful- no slipping at all. cycling doesn't apply the same forces to your foot that walking does. that being said, most places won't let you test ride shoes. so your next best option is to go somewhere that knows what they're doing.