Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - those using street shoes and clip in pedals

what type of shoes do you wear on longer rides? i'm assuming something with a super stiff sole would be best, what are you using?

Just my Asics running shoes. The soles aren't super stiff, but they get the job done.

Just my Asics running shoes. The soles aren't super stiff, but they get the job done.


yea, i rode with running shoes today, and i felt the soles were too flexy, my feet kinda hurt afterwards

I did 25 miles yesterday on Vans Authentics. Wasn't too bad but wish I had something that wasn't so felxible but my feet didn't hurt after the ride. I want to go clipless when I get some money and get some decent cycling shoes.

I use these:

http://os2.dhs.org/~john/rivat.jpg

Good for all day in the saddle.

Adidas Samba

onisuka tiger or some ****ty vans if it's wet and nasty

chucks, but i ride short rides

http://www.zappos.com/images/717/7170383/7958-622008-p.jpg

vans slip-ons.

http://www.zappos.com/images/717/7170383/7958-622008-p.jpg

word!

These hold up way better than Vans, in my opinion. The sole is stiffer, and they take a lot longer to get grooves worn in them from the pedals than Vans do.

what shoes are those?

Sambas work pretty well. It's almost as if the leather reinforcements were built for clips and straps. I destroyed a pair of slipons in about 2 months from riding.

i have these asics running shoes that have a surprisngly stiff sole. can't remember the name of them though.

I just wear some Vans Eras or Authentics.

chucks, but i ride short rides

+1
also sometimes sambas but i also play soccer so i wear those for that too easy to just bring one shoe rather than another : )

http://www.zappos.com/images/717/7170383/7958-622008-p.jpg

i wear those same shoes same color

I wear those same tiger shoes,
but I ride clipless these days.

but for clips and straps, tigers are where it's at.

i rock checkerboards or chucks. long ride, short ride, walking around an amusement park. pretty much the only shoes i wear.

i wear those same shoes same color

Also +1. +1 to the Sambas as well.
Indoor soccer shoes take a lot of abuse, ventilate fairly well, are easy to find, have grippy soles and are totally comfortable. Since they are fairly low volume they are also easy to get into cages.
Running shoes always start to get lines from the metal on the cages. My Assics never have after months.

i just ordered a pair from the vans cog pack, with the reinforced material on the toe box (top of sneaker), which im assuming prevents damage from the clips. i dont know how the sole feels yet, i just ordered them online cuz they were cheap plus the dark colored toe on the midsole (front of sneaker) wont show where my tires rub from toe overlap. i guess ill let you know how they feel when i get em!

http://a712.g.akamai.net/7/712/225/v980/www.final-score.com/images/products/large_w/4967915_w.jpg

::fingers crossed::

^ looks like it has the same waffle sole as the classics and checkerboard slip ons. i wear the checkerboards all the time, i just bought 2 new pair because they were on sale for $20 pr pair at CCS. not super stiff sole, but they are stiffer than chucks (my other shoe of choice). when i wear the vans i will say my feet don't hurt at all. when i wear the chucks every once and a while my left foot hurts a bit when i get home. but i think that is from all the years of skateboarding and the fact that i blew my left knee out so that whole leg hurts from time to time for no reason. that and simple vans are great cause you can slip them on and off! i am a fan of no laces (i am moving all my chucks into slip on's as they wear out and i buy a new pair).

my friend got these and they felt really stiff on my hand but i didn't wear them

Vans halfcabs, I found them half off for $30 downtown. I love the waffle bottoms for flipping up the pedals.

i wear old school cowboy boots. not everyday, but i like seeing the looks on people's faces

Nike took the popular Air Tiempo indoor soccer shoes and used them as a model for a fixed gear shoe. I've seen them in person and they're looking very promising. Stiff sole, padded toebox, durable upper...

Now it seems that Kyle at Tracko snapped a few pics of the project. Each shoe is designed by a rider from a City; Tokyo, SF, NYC, Paris, Berlin, Austin and London.

These are slated to be released around the Summer.

http://prollyisnotprobably.com/2009/03/reappropriation_shoes.php

kinda curious about those, despite the fact that they're murder (on a few levels).

Another vote for the Onitska Tiger
http://www.kitchener.ch/image/common/fashion/news/45.jpg

I have 3 pairs of shoes that I wear when I ride.
Onitsuka Tiger Ultimate 81
Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66
Asics Gel-Kayano (I dont like to ride in these though, they are too wide and the sole is not very stiff)

i just ordered a pair from the vans cog pack, with the reinforced material on the toe box (top of sneaker), which im assuming prevents damage from the clips. i dont know how the sole feels yet, i just ordered them online cuz they were cheap plus the dark colored toe on the midsole (front of sneaker) wont show where my tires rub from toe overlap. i guess ill let you know how they feel when i get em!

http://a712.g.akamai.net/7/712/225/v980/www.final-score.com/images/products/large_w/4967915_w.jpg

::fingers crossed::

Where'd you find those, they look awesome

I have 3 pairs of shoes that I wear when I ride.

Asics Gel-Kayano (I dont like to ride in these though, they are too wide and the sole is not very stiff)

gel kayanos are really nice, but theres no reason to ride in them!

For ever and ever and ever.
http://www.psyche.co.uk/man-145/footwear-168/puma-roma-trainer-1045-2149_medium.jpg

Ive been wearing the indoor version of Nike's Tiempo IIC soccer shoe for about 4 months, I really like them a lot. They are stiff enough for riding but soft enough for walking around on the street, and the flaps that hold the laces down are another plus because I don't have to tuck them.

http://www.zappos.com/images/738/7382134/9755-556197-d.jpg

I think that some blog reported that they are making a fixed gear version of the Tiempo...but even if they do I'll keep riding these ones; I got them for $20 at Dick's, and the fixed gear version is bound to cost $80.

I wear whatever I put on my feet that day. I don't think about how stiff or how it would match my bike...

right now:
http://www.penguinclothing.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/51-0124-2.jpg

gel kayanos are really nice, but theres no reason to ride in them!

I only ride in them if I just went running and forgot to change shoes, or am riding to go running. (or in the rare event that both of my tigers are wet)

tigers or vans for me
the fixe d vans look nice too

Where'd you find those, they look awesome
http://www.final-score.com/catalog/modelsummary.cfm?TID=5555-00220911260400110320247-0&supercat=shoes&mvp=brand&id=54549

Anyone know how to find out which brands haven't used child labor?

My Google-fu is failing. Lots of small petitions and links to individual brands, but nothing concrete enough that gives me some choice.

try www.goodguide.com

toms would be my first guess

unless you're sprinting non-stop or riding in the mountains, any shoe will be fine provided your pedals have some semblance of platform going on (this is more important than anything; i ride rx-1, but once i mounted the cleats as platforms, i realized what a diff it made in the ability to get moving).
remember, people run marathons in sneakers. cycling shoes only start mattering when you're transferring the kind of wattage that would continually flex your foot otherwise...
a 50 mile ride with a 15 mph average and a few minor climbs is not a requirement for stiff soles. if you ARE riding especially hard, then you should think about keeping a set of pedals around to swap for those days.

remember, people run marathons in sneakers. cycling shoes only start mattering when you're transferring the kind of wattage that would continually flex your foot otherwise...


i see your point, but im not sure if thats the best analogy.

why not? a marathoner's foot bends thousands of times with no fatigue. it's sorta similar to what happens with a cyclists foot, right? and isn't the idea behind foot fatigue that your foot grows sore from constantly bending then snapping into a flex?
since this only really happens when sprinting hard or climbing, i'd say it's safe to state that these are the only times a stiff shoe becomes essential. i've done many rides in sneakers, and climbs and sprints are probably the only time i wish i had my carbon sole. other than that, i don't really even notice.

i bet runners who do lots of climbing end up with sorer feet than flatland runners...

why not? a marathoner's foot bends thousands of times with no fatigue. it's sorta similar to what happens with a cyclists foot, right? and isn't the idea behind foot fatigue that your foot grows sore from constantly bending then snapping into a flex?
since this only really happens when sprinting hard or climbing, i'd say it's safe to state that these are the only times a stiff shoe becomes essential. i've done many rides in sneakers, and climbs and sprints are probably the only time i wish i had my carbon sole. other than that, i don't really even notice.

i bet runners who do lots of climbing end up with sorer feet than flatland runners...

my take is that long distance running shoes are designed with a flex pattern which isnt the best match with the needs of cycling and the padding and typical bulk of running shoes isnt the best with clips. isnt running a lot higher impact than cycling? a stiffer sole would be preferable to transfer power more efficiently even when youre not sprinting, and for me, though im not dropping the hammer the whole time, there will always be multiple times in a ride that ill be trying to put down all my force.

with that said, if it works, ride!

I did 17 miles in a pair of the black Vans cog authentics and my feet felt great.
http://www.sneakerfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/blackvanscog.jpg
My girlfriend rode in Tiger Ultimate 81s with no issues either.

I wear a pair of Lacoste shoes that look exactly like the Lacoste Rotate that I bought a few years ago, but I cannot find my exact color scheme. I love them. I am glad that I did not throw them out when I tossed out half of my shoes ~6 months ago.

I started out wearing Sambas, though.

I've been using a pair of Nike SB Zoom FC's that happen to use the same indoor soccer sole as the Nike Tiempo City Rides coming out soon. Comfy, good all-round use for both pedaling and casual walking.

Yesterday I threw on my nike total 90 indoor soccer shoes and rode 20+ miles. They were super comfy!

25 miles on sunday wearing my worn tigers...feet were a bit cold after but not sore, we did a lot of climbing hills too and a little bit of offroad

You can do those distances wearing anything.

i wear these
http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/SaxonHall/chucks.jpg
well i haven't worn this pair yet, i wear my old ones (got to keep one pair ok looking for casual Fridays and dress down week). or a blue pair that lace.
sometimes i wear these:
http://img.hottopic.com/is/image/HotTopic/300529_hi
edit. the vans have more support in them. harder sole. i just got 2 new pairs on sale for $20 each. they need are being broken in. they will be used for a group ride on Sunday. (finally found some people in my town to ride with).

i can also walk all over the city (Philly, NYC, DC, Portland, Disney) all day long in either chucks or checkerboards and feel fine. i do almost all my rides in chucks though, because it they get wet they dry out super fast.