Road Cycling - cycling shoes that walk...

I currently have a cheap pair of recreational Shimano shoes with SPD cleats. I like them for the ability to walk around in them. I would like to have a shoe that is more stiff, but still allows me to walk in them. I have read that several of you ride in mtn. bike shoes for this same reason. My question is this: If I choose to go with a good pair of mtn. bike shoes, do I have to stay with SPD pedals? Are there other alternatives that will allow the cleat to be recessed (sp?) so you can walk in them?

I saw a pair of Vans with SPD cleats. Not sure how they were though. Looked cool.

I have a pair of specialized sonomas. Stiff (but flexes slightly) sole, walkable, look like a pair of black sneakers and SPD compatible.

I rode look pedals with Italian "racing" shoes for years. When I tried SPD's I swore I would never slide across a coffee shop floor again. Well, I just replaced my mtb shoe with a Diadora MTB shoe. What a difference! The sole on this shoe is re-inforced with steel at the midpoint and it is as stiff as most road shoes. They are also light and have the racheting straps. I felt the differece in the positive feel on the pedals that I used to get with the look pedals. I still have the same SPD pedals. I don't think there are any other pedal systems that would work with this shoe. The hard sole has baseball like spikes surrounding the area where the cleat goes. This keeps the cleat below the height of the "walking" surface. Since they do not flex they aren't the most comfortable shoes to go for a hike in. But you don't need to walk like a duck either.

I use Specialized MTB shoes. Very stiff. I use SpeedPro FROG pedals. It is a perfect combination for me. Stiff shoes that are walkable. Pedals that have lots of float.

I use Specialized MTB shoes. Very stiff. I use SpeedPro FROG pedals. It is a perfect combination for me. Stiff shoes that are walkable. Pedals that have lots of float.

Thanks! Just went to the Speedplay site and found this:

- Narrower profile fits all SPD®-compatible mountain bike shoes without modification.
- Can now be used on two-hole, SPD®-style road shoes, making the Frog the ultimate walkable road pedal system in addition to being a great off-road system.

Looks like there are alternatives to SPD. Can you tell me why you like them better than SPD?

Crank Bros (Eggbeaters and thier variants)

I have the SIDI Dominator, very stiff for a MTB shoe, made for SPD cleats. Work for me, but they are picey.

I have the SIDI Dominator, very stiff for a MTB shoe, made for SPD cleats. Work for me, but they are picey.

I've been looking for a pair of these on sale somewhere. I noticed one of the bike messengers who works our building wearing these and they look a lot like my Geniuses but with a soccer cleat-like bottom. Karlfitt, how do the bottoms wear?

Alternative to SPD pedals that are well suited for road riding and walking include:


Time ATACS
Speedplay Frogs
Crank Bros Quattro
Crank Bros Eggbeaters
Bebops


Note that these all have cleats which will fit standard SPD mounting patterns so almost any MTB shoe will work.

I used to use Frogs on my roadbike along with Lake CX125 shoes. The shoes were not MTB shoes but they did also provide a walking surface unlike a pure road shoe. I never did get used to the excessive amount of free-float of the Frogs and when I went to Italy on a business trip, I managed to pick up some really nice Sidi shoes for a good price. Unfortunately, the road shoes (Sidi Energy) didn't play well with the Frog cleats as the Frog cleats use SPD-style mounting. I had to buy an adapter and that whole setup was too flexy and clunky plus I found that I didn't really need the walkability that much. I switched to using road-specific Speedplay Zeros. I have Time ATACs on my MTB and these are great pedals for both offroad and onroad. If I think I'll need more walkability, I'll swap out the pedals to my roadbike and use my Sidi ActionSRS MTB shoes.

These cycling shoes are made for riding, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these shoes are gonna walk, ride, err, huh? all over you.

I've been looking for a pair of these on sale somewhere. I noticed one of the bike messengers who works our building wearing these and they look a lot like my Geniuses but with a soccer cleat-like bottom. Karlfitt, how do the bottoms wear?

I have only had them for 6 months, yes there is scuffing on the cleats on the bottom, but no real wear as in cleats getting smaller. Not so far anyway.

I have the SIDI Dominator, very stiff for a MTB shoe, made for SPD cleats. Work for me, but they are picey.

I got a pair this year. I will only own SIDI from now on - in fact, I also bought a pair of the Genius 4's for my road bike. The Dominators feel like slippers, but walk very well, and are stiff.