Cyclocross - Normal looking clipless shoes?

Im looking for a pair of shoes either compatible with SPD or crank brothers type pedals. Ive found a fair amount in my pricerange (trying to go cheap, Im pretty poor), but they all seem pretty ugly. I want something I can use for normal day use (going to class) as well as cross racing. Is there anything out there that meets my needs? Or should I just use normal shoes going to class and get more hardcore shoes for cross? Thanks

http://www.sixsixone.com/Catalog_661Bike.aspx?id=2c6b86c8-fc0f-4a7e-a77f-b50151009afb

six six one makes some relatively normal/skate shoe ish spd compatble shoes.

id recommend getting standard mtb shoes for racing cross, as youre gonna want the extra grip that the MTB sole provides.

These are what I ride and I really like them, they are the Specialized Taho

http://www.specialized.com/media/equip/6127-10_d.jpg

Or ride to school with flat pedals or clips and straps and switch the pedals to clipless when you're racing or going for rides. All it takes is some grease, a 15mm wrench and about 5 minutes.

I have Lake 5050 shoes that look really convincing as street shoes, but you'll never get a pair of cross shoes clean enough to be seen in public. Anyways, I love the shoes, but the cleat still sticks out a little bit to make noise on tile/wood floors and you're always going to set off the metal detectors at school.

I have a pair of Shimano MT31 shoes. They look exactly like a normal hiking shoes; most people don't realize they have cleats until they hear me click-in. They work great as a commuter shoe and are pretty cheap, especially if you can find a sale. Seems like they'd be difficult to clean and the tread isn't terribly aggressive, so I'm not sure they'd work for CX racing.

cannondale roam

I want something I can use for normal day use (going to class) as well as cross racing.It's racing. Why would expect to stroll into class with the same shoes you race on?

It's racing. Why would expect to stroll into class with the same shoes you race on?

Well Id like to use clips to go to class, why do racing shoes have to be ugly?

I have last year's version of these (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=40334&eid=342).
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/4329/612715dqa8.jpg

The cleat is recessed, so you can ride SPDs or eggbeaters and walk around like normal afterwards. OK, you might feel a metallic scrape if you step on a rock, but they're otherwise normal athletic-looking sneakers with stiff soles. I rock 'em for all trecking / exlplorign / mellow singletrak. Put your feet up in a coffee bar and sometimes you'll start some interesting conversations...

That said, I race in these:
Tool for the task.
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/3879/611930lao8.jpg

Well Id like to use clips to go to class, why do racing shoes have to be ugly?They aren't ugly when performing their intended use. I wouldn't wear a skinsuit to class, either.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/nov08/veghel_eerde08/veghel_eerde085/081102ispa-0690.jpg

http://www.sixsixone.com/Catalog_661Bike.aspx?id=2c6b86c8-fc0f-4a7e-a77f-b50151009afb

six six one makes some relatively normal/skate shoe ish spd compatble shoes.

id recommend getting standard mtb shoes for racing cross, as youre gonna want the extra grip that the MTB sole provides.

Interestingly, they don't show a single picture of HOW a cleat would fit onto the bottom of a flat soled shoe and not stick out and scrape click clack scratch everything you walk on.

Not ragging on six six one exclusively, but I just wonder why companies don't show pictures that truly illustrate the nuances of their products. If it's to make you go to a local dealer to try them out, then that's a fail because a large number of potential customers just don't have local dealers, or have local dealers that don't / can't afford to stock every model.

OK, rant over.

They aren't ugly when performing their intended use. I wouldn't wear a skinsuit to class, either.


honestly? we understand your stance on this....give the guy a break! Some of us like that have things we can use for more than one adventure. What do you think the majority of cross bikes are sold for? I bet it's not for racing....

They aren't ugly when performing their intended use. I wouldn't wear a skinsuit to class, either.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/nov08/veghel_eerde08/veghel_eerde085/081102ispa-0690.jpg

I dont wear a skinsuit, cant afford one. Ugly is all a matter of opinion, and I still think they are ugly racing or not.

Back on topic:

I like the lakes and the shimanos arent bad either. Im going to talk to a few friends as well who work at LBS's, I suppose if I found a really good deal on a pair of good ugly shoes I could tough it up and wear anything. They both told me they have a bunch of old stock they could get me for cheap, however, so Im going to take a look there first.

+1 on the Specialized taho

normal looking and fairly walkable. Though you lose a lot of energy when riding....

I moved the the Specialized MTB comp and it works great for riding, but not very walkable...

I now use my taho for spinning class and as my gym shoes.

I have these and am pretty happy with them:

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=600084&subcategory=60001041&brand=&sku=22649&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Mountain%20Shoes

Maybe not so great for racing, but they'd be perfect for biking to class.

six six one makes some relatively normal/skate shoe ish spd compatble shoes.

I've just about worn out my Filter SPD's. They work great for my commute and at work but I'd be worried about slipping around in the mud and wet grass if I tried cross on them.

I've just about worn out my Filter SPD's. They work great for my commute and at work but I'd be worried about slipping around in the mud and wet grass if I tried cross on them.

Ya, those would be about my last choice in a 'cross race. How long have you been commuting with them though? I'm thinking about putting a pair on my Giftmas list and hoping the gf hooks me up.

I got three years out of them.

Since they were designed to take urban abuse, they were excellent for commuting in temps down to about 40ºF because they weren't "like totally ventilated".

Dunks. i like the black and gold.

http://www.myairshoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/nike-dunk-gyrizo-bmx-01.jpg

http://www.danscomp.com/images/products/727019+2.gif

Dunks aree fuuuuuugly

you asked for normal looking. the black looks normal to me. i probably would blacken the gold. i can care less for the other 3(USA, Japan, China) olympic designs.

if i were to go spd, it's the shoe i would get. only $100. i'm going spd-sl though.

http://sneakernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/nike-dunk-gyrizo-01.jpg

I thought it was a joke at first, didnt realize nike made those. The black gold isnt too bad, but....219 bucks is way out of my pricerange.

how about Shimano DX skate-style shoes? I use them on daily basis: to work, to commute, to attend meetings... and of course, on urban ride session and trail rides...
http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/shoes/mtb/product.-code-SH-MP66W.-type-.html
but of course, I prefer the black version of these...

O wow, I actually really like those.....kinda odd looking but nice

I have a pair of these and they are ok. Any shoe like this will be a compromise.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23879&subcategory_ID=2120