Great Lakes - buying SPD-compatible shoes for the first time---advice?

This is a two part question: I'd like some advice on clipless shoes, and
also a store in southern Chicago to buy my first pair of shoes.

I was recommended clipless shoes to learn a smoother stroke so I
could hold a higher cadence without bouncing, and also to pedal more
efficiently. That said, I mostly ride to get places, so even if I do
clip in, chances are I'll have to get off and walk at the end. I found a
pedal that's SPD-compatible on one side and a regular platform on the
other, so now I'm looking for SPD-compatible shoes.

My difficulty is that some of my requirements seem at odds with the
advice I've found on the interwebs. For example, higher-end shoes brag
that they've got carbon-fibre shanks to make them stiff, yet light,
whereas it sounds like I actually want more flexibility (to make walking
easier) and don't really care about weight.

Could anyone advise me what I should be looking for, how it should feel
on my feet, and how much to expect to pay? I think a theoretical
discussion would be more useful than specific shoes, since my choices
will be constrained by what's available at the store.

Which brings me to the second part of the question. Where in Chicago
should I go to buy these shoes? It should be easily accessible by CTA,
and have staff willing to give a newbie some guidance. I was told of
http://www.chicagobikeshops.info/gmapView.php, but after
reading through twenty or so shops I was unable to find any comments by
people who wanted shoes. Is it normal to go online for this? I'd really
like to try them on first.

What you should look for is a stiff Mountain bike shoe. You need the shoe to be stiff, or you will develop a hot spot at the point under the ball of the foot. Mountain bike shoes have soles that look like hiking shoes with the cleat recessed. These are easy to walk in for normal distances.

Michael

Try performance, or another well-stocked LBS (the pros and cons of each balance eachother out). Make sure they've got a wide selection of shoes.

Find ones that are comfortable (maybe a bit bigger than a normal shoe would fit on you) since your feet may swell a little while riding (at least long distances).

If they aren't nice, or give you too much attitude, write down the specs, and buy them online, otherwise if they are helpful, buy the shoes from them. That is, if they earned the markup, give the LBS the business.

I purchased Pearl Izumi X-Alp Seek shoes last week, and, so far, so good. They look like running shoes, but have a recessed place for the cleat to go. I tried my best not to fall my first time out, but was not successful :cry: I wore them for two hours on Sunday and was pretty comfy. They're stiff enough for my use as someone new to clipless shoes. :)

I tried on three different shoes in a couple sizes each at the store and those felt the best. Based on that experience alone, I'd definitely say you're on the right track by looking for a store. One of them felt fine until I stepped down hard, then the side of the shoe hit my big toe and hurt.

This is a two part question: I'd like some advice on clipless shoes, and
also a store ...........
I was recommended clipless shoes to learn a smoother stroke so I could hold a higher cadence without bouncing, and also to pedal more efficiently. That said, I mostly ride to get places, so even if I do clip in, chances are I'll have to get off and walk at the end. I found a pedal that's SPD-compatible on one side and a regular platform on the other, so now I'm looking for SPD-compatible shoes.


What you should look for is a stiff Mountain bike shoe. You need the shoe to be stiff, or you will develop a hot spot at the point under the ball of the foot. Mountain bike shoes have soles that look like hiking shoes with the cleat recessed. These are easy to walk in for normal distances.

Michael has it nailed - at least it's the same way I ended up going, and of course, YMMV. :)
I bought a pair of Bontrager Race Mountain men's black shoes at my LBS. Walking around in them is not ackward, and riding is significantly more comfortable than with ordinary sneakers. :thumb: Go for it!