General Cycling Discussion - Converting regualr shoes to clipless...

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SipperPhoto
03-04-04, 05:05 PM
So I'm sitting here looking at a free pair of sneakers I got at work... thinking... I wonder if there is a way to attach an SPD compatible bracket and cleat to it...

it doesn;t look too hard... jsut have to find a bracket piece, and cut away parts of the shoe to make it work, and I'll have sweet looking SPD compatible walkable shoes...

am I sniffing too much glue ? or could this actually work ?

any suggestions ?

Jeff

Maelstrom
03-04-04, 05:15 PM
In the mtb forum this was actually just covered. I believe, by what I remember, it was pretty easy.
N_C
03-04-04, 11:09 PM
If you want to try more power to you. If you succeed then maybe you have the corner on an adaptation on an existing market.

Not to burst your bubble or anything but part of the reason most cyclists use clipless cycling shoes or just cycling shoes with out the cleat is the stiffness of the sole.

The stiffer the sole the more power you can put into the pedals because there is very little to no wasted energy with the flexing in the sole of the shoe being virtually eliminated.

StormCloud Fire
03-05-04, 07:18 AM
You must be joking running shoes and clipless peddles will KILL your Mettatarsal nerve in one painful ride if you dare try!
Is that painfull OH yes VERY! It will mean a year off the bike to recover.
$500 for a decent pair of Cycling shoes is far cheaper than your lost time from work. Self inflicted wounds are seldom covered in the USA by your blundering Medical insurance companies.


Peter (NCCC (Nationally Certified cycling coach))
SipperPhoto
03-05-04, 09:42 AM
Not to burst your bubble or anything but part of the reason most cyclists use clipless cycling shoes or just cycling shoes with out the cleat is the stiffness of the sole.

The stiffer the sole the more power you can put into the pedals because there is very little to no wasted energy with the flexing in the sole of the shoe being virtually eliminated.

Oh yeah.. I totally understand this... that's why I have a pair of Sidi's for my roadie... this is mostly just for my grocery getter single speed, tool around on my lunch break bike... I've seen SPD compatible sneakers, made by Vans, or sixsixone... mostly for BMX purposes... that is where the idea came from... I don't need anything high performance... just for short routes of 7 miles or less round trip

jeff