General Cycling Discussion - Upgrading to a carbon soled shoe

Currently I'm wearing a pair of Mavic Pulse MTB shoes for both MTB and Road riding, simply because I have Eggbeaters on my Road bike and Candy pedals on my MTB. Now my main motivation is the fact that I ride a lot of rural roads and I've had a few times where I've blown a tube and I've had to do a considerable amount of walking. So as a cost saver/worst case scenario (easier to walk in MTB shoes) I wear the MTB shoes. So now I've developed a pretty good hotspot in my Mavics and I'm looking to upgrade to a decent carbon soled shoe for under $200. I've seen a couple really nice pairs of Specialized BG shoes and some decent Sidi's. Just wondering if I was overlooking a really good shoe. Thanks in advance.

For what it's worth I carry a spare tube and I have blown 2 tubes before. Now

A cheaper alternative might be to slip an expired credit card under the insole of your current shoes, right above where the inner metal cleat retainer is located.

Your hotspot is likely to be a Morton's neuroma or hotfoot, and I suspect it is because your metatarsal bones are being squashed together and pinching the main nerve trunk through your foot, producing the hotspot sensation. This is caused by the insole compressing into the depression where the cleat retain is located. Putting a credit card in there builds the surface back up.

You might also slip in a new pair of insoles.

Try it and see if it works. It might save you a few hundred bucks. If you ride on rural roads, and you aren't a performance cyclist seeking to eke out a few seconds a mile, I don't think carbon-soles shoes are going to be worth the expense for you.

I ride randonnees and other shorter rides, while I have a pair of carbon-soled road shoes, I would never consider using them in those circumstances.

+1

Not to dissuade you from a pair of carbon soled shoes (I love my Carnacs), but they're a real b*tch to walk in. They really shine with small platform pedals when you're on a high mileage ride. For any charity style rides, which tend to be abit social I prefer my mountain bike shoes.

Brad

Hmm good tips. If I do decide to uprade, what would you suggest?
(http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_520039_-1_202669_10000_202526)

IMO, and as Rowan pointed out, sole flex probably isn't the issue, it's most likely the shape of the footbed ...or perhaps shoes that aren't wide enough across the ball of your foot. Personally, I think the whole sole stiffness, pedal "platform", etc is mainly overblown marketing BS.

If you do upgrade the Specialized BG shoes are worth it in my opinion. But as others have said walking in them is not a good idea. When I switched to Specialized shoes I tried Sidi, Shimano and Specialized. I have a short wide foot and the Sidi was a bit tight. I was going to get the Specialized Experts but the S-works shoe was just a bit more comfortable. And as a plus I have had no problem with hot spots. However I also change to Speed plays at the same time so that has to be taken into consideration. I also only ride my road bike on normal pavement. On anything else I use my MTB and Shimano MTB shoes.

Yea, MTB Shoes need to be walked in.. Road racing shoes not so much ..

You take them off to surmount the podium and get your prizes ..

;)