Road Cycling - New Shoes Carbon or just Nylon

OK so I'm looking at some new shoes Road shoes to replace my MTB I've been using with SPD's.

Do I really need Carbon soles? (OK I don't need them) or would I be just as well off with a some Nylon Soles?

I have a opportunity to get some Nike Altea for $150 (last years) but I'm thinking the Nike Ventoux for $100.

Last year I averaged 150 miles a week but plan on kicking it up.

Hey, the nylon will be a lot better than my Diadora MTB shoes!

Thoughts.

Carbon can be stiff, and that is huge while pedaling. Do you need carbon? No, you need a place to reide more...

I primarily ride road, and love my carbon shoes that I got at half price. Wouldn't have bought them at full price.

For the trails, try them on. Make sure they are still comfy off the pedals...

Carbon can be stiff, and that is huge while pedaling. Do you need carbon? No, you need a place to reide more...

I primarily ride road, and love my carbon shoes that I got at half price. Wouldn't have bought them at full price.

For the trails, try them on. Make sure they are still comfy off the pedals...

I've been using my MTB shoes on my road bike. And yes send some nice weather this way and more free time too!

Carbon can be stiff, and that is huge while pedaling. Do you need carbon? No, you need a place to reide more...

I primarily ride road, and love my carbon shoes that I got at half price. Wouldn't have bought them at full price.

For the trails, try them on. Make sure they are still comfy off the pedals...


the stiffness is a benefit, as is the weight savings. BUT does a recreational rider need that stiffness? remember stiffness means something's NOT giving. for recreational riders, a little bit less rigid shoe can be a hell of a lot more comfortable. stiffness=efficiency, but also generally=uncomfortable. keep that in mind when buying shoes. if you're not hard core, imo you don't need carbon soles.

If you are going to be doing 150+ miles a week, invest in some good shoes.
SIDI are great and you can certainly find some Genius 4's on sale. Even retail (around $200-non carbon sole) they are good. Sidi's will last for a long time.

Sidi Dominator4 (around $200 retail) is a mtb shoe but good all-purpose if you only have the one set of shoes.

If you buy Nike, stick to the ones made in Italy. They are great. Maybe you can find some Poggio's on sale. Carbon sole and great shoe.

stiffness=efficiency, but also generally=uncomfortable. keep that in mind when buying shoes. if you're not hard core, imo you don't need carbon soles.

That is completely false. Carbon soles or stiff soles are not uncomfortable. What makes a shoe uncomfortable is the shape and design of the last and sole, not the material.

Carbon is stiff but the main benefit is light weight and the ability to have your foot closer to the axle of the pedal while maintaining a stiff platform. That is impossible to do with a nylon sole.
Carbon soles can be made to be flexible too. It depends on the design.

Carbon or nylon isn't the question. The best shoe you can afford, that should be the priority.
High quality uppers, proper design and comfortable sole shape.

That is completely false. Carbon soles or stiff soles are not uncomfortable. What makes a shoe uncomfortable is the shape and design of the last and sole, not the material.

Carbon is stiff but the main benefit is light weight and the ability to have your foot closer to the axle of the pedal while maintaining a stiff platform. That is impossible to do with a nylon sole.
Carbon soles can be made to be flexible too. It depends on the design.

Carbon or nylon isn't the question. The best shoe you can afford, that should be the priority.
High quality uppers, proper design and comfortable sole shape.

Very true. My new Carnac Quartz are very stiff and very comfy (far more comfy than my previous Nike's).

That is completely false.


well now that's just plain silly. it's not completely false. if it is, i've got my own personal opinion, a national champion's opinion, and that of three different LBS folks i have to seriously reconsider. i'm not saying there aren't carbon shoes out there that are comfortable for many folks. i AM saying that carbon shoes are not for everyone. in cycling, many tradeoffs come between stiffness/efficiency and comfort. just look at the way bikes are marketed--hey look, we're stiff AND comfortable! everyone wants to minimize that tradeoff, but it's still there. and someone who's riding recreationally and casually might not be willing to spend the bank that carbon shoes necessitates. i'm simply saying this dear poster should not feel he is absolutely missing the boat if he doesn't buy carbon soled shoes.

well now that's just plain silly. it's not completely false. if it is, i've got my own personal opinion, a national champion's opinion, and that of three different LBS folks i have to seriously reconsider. i'm not saying there aren't carbon shoes out there that are comfortable for many folks. i AM saying that carbon shoes are not for everyone. in cycling, many tradeoffs come between stiffness/efficiency and comfort. just look at the way bikes are marketed--hey look, we're stiff AND comfortable! everyone wants to minimize that tradeoff, but it's still there. and someone who's riding recreationally and casually might not be willing to spend the bank that carbon shoes necessitates. i'm simply saying this dear poster should not feel he is absolutely missing the boat if he doesn't buy carbon soled shoes.

It's silly for me to state the truth: that carbon soles do not equate to uncomfortable. I guess I'll be silly and state the truth again.

I'll say it again, well designed shoes are what you need. Irregardless if they are carbon soled or not.

You also assume just because a shoe has a carbon sole, it is stiffer than a non-carbon soled shoe. That is totally false. It varies depending on the shoe.

You also assume there is some kind of correlation between stiffness of the sole, comfort and efficiency (whatever "efficiency" means). As if a shoe has a stiff carbon sole, it cannot be as comfortable. Or that a more flexible sole is somehow more comfortable or has less efficiency...uh, ok.

It's silly for me to state the truth: that carbon soles do not equate to uncomfortable. I guess I'll be silly and state the truth again.

I'll say it again, well designed shoes are what you need. Irregardless if they are carbon soled or not.

You also assume just because a shoe has a carbon sole, it is stiffer than a non-carbon soled shoe. That is totally false. It varies depending on the shoe.

You also assume there is some kind of correlation between stiffness of the sole, comfort and efficiency (whatever "efficiency" means). As if a shoe has a stiff carbon sole, it cannot be as comfortable. Or that a more flexible sole is somehow more comfortable or has less efficiency...uh, ok.

irregardless isn't a word. ;)