Lewis_Moon

After about 17 years out of the saddle, I've decided to try road riding again. I just couldn't get the "fast and skinny" feel I remembered so well, out of my mountainbike. Being a poor gubmint employee means I'm doing this on the cheap, so I'm "restoring" a basket case '83 Nishiki International. I'm committed to saving it from becomming a fixie, but I want to pay homage to my "Rat Racer" heritage where I rode hand-me-down frames with a hodge-podge of mismatched parts. The frame's getting the eyelets cut off the drops and a general buffing and cleaning before being primered, and I'm slowly amassing some very usable but cosmetically roached parts (I just bought one of the ugliest DA cranksets I have ever seen!)...
..but I'm having trouble finding a pair of size 45, slot cleated riding shoes to go into a set of track pedals w/double toe straps (which I rode well into the clippless era). Can anyone point me towards a source other than ebay?

rootboy 

That's a tall order unless you want to get some of the new retro-inspired shoes, but they're expensive. What's your budget, if I may ask?

BTW. I note, looking at various conversion charts that they're are all over the place. What size US shoes do you wear?

Lewis_Moon

Street shoes: 11 1/2 - 12. Bike shoes: 11.

I'd rather get an original if possible. Not that I eschew the occasional hipster inspired product, but I remember my old Dettos fondly.

Yo Spiff

Ebay? I have an almost new pair of old shoes (Don't recall the brand), but they are a very small size, I'm afraid.

rootboy 

Yeah, I love my old Dettos too, but, as you know, the old leather shoes are nearly impossible to find in large sizes. Hard enough in my size 42. I thought I might have something that might work for you but, no. They'd be too small. Good luck.

Lewis_Moon

I wore my last pair of Dettos out as mountain bike shoes. I rode slotted cleats and toe straps there, too.
I am, however, beginning to remember why I finally ended up with Speedplays before I quit. Crispy knees + slotted cleats = kneemageddon. Maybe I'll just think about this some more.

dbakl

There's this place in England:

https://reynoldsshoes.co.uk/

I've been using a laced pair of Shimanos with my clips and straps the last few years I'm really happy with. Not cleats though...

rootboy 

Not to jump your thread OP but, Dbakl, I've been considering this move but find the Shimano shoes too wide for old toe clip n' straps.
I wonder, did I try the wrong model?

dbakl

Hmm, work fine for me. Campagnolo NR pedals, model SH-MT32L. Modern materials, but the concept of the older shoes. BTW, I have wide feet, best fitting shoes I've had... Easy to walk in too. Mine are a few years older than pictured, simpler design:

https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SH-MT3.../dp/B001HBT4LW

Lewis_Moon

Jump away. My double toe strap set up requires narrow toes to slip in quickly. I run one set in and out of the back of the cage, which actually makes the strap grip behind the ball of the foot better. Yeah, I was a trackie, too.
I almost hate to ask...Does anyone make a decent toe strap any more? I used "Freddy Benders" (Alfredo Binda) and really hate the cheapies. Looked for a set on ebay and damn near lost my false teeth when I saw the price.

Chombi

A related question:
I don't remember, but were the slotted cleats on most shoes in the 80's (Pre-clipless pedal) proprietary to the brand of shoe it came with, or was there a universal bolt pattern under most of the shoes??
I seem to remember a two bolt pattern (Front and back of cleat) used on my Diadoras back then. but I don't remember if the plastic slotted cleats were interchangeable between brands?? Surely a factor when deciding to buy NOS slotted cleat cycling shoes as supply of some slotted plastic cleats might be already depleted.

Chombi

dbakl

I don't know. Back in the 70s, we nailed them on!

due ruote 

I've used different brands in combination, but it may well depend on the shoes, and the cleats. I think this is the least of the problems.

I can tell you like your vintage pedals, but clipless might be an easier (and perhaps less expensive) route, esp. if you already have Speedplays. Even if not, you can get used Delta-compatible pedals for cheap on Ebay, and sourcing shoes will be much easier.

Alan Edwards

OLd cleats were single bolt or two bolts, front to back. The only new cleat to use with a modern shoe is sold at Yellow Jersey. ?New shoes like Detto, never seen a pair less then $150. Used Dettos on ebay go for $25-$100 depending. Just went through this for all the nice quill pedals that I have and untill I found cleats to put on my 85' Diadora shoes I could do nothing cheap. And thanks DD.

Lewis_Moon

As I said, my crispy knees might make my choice for me. However, I really like being able to hop on the bike with street shoes, something that's really a class C+ experience with most clipless pedals and D- with Speedplays. Don't get me wrong, I don't miss chowing ibuprofen for my knees and having my feet fall asleep, but there's nothing like the feel of a set of double toe straps in a head down, bump and grind sprint. I HATED the sudden woosh I heard from my foot going past my ear when I pulled out of a set of clippless pedals.

randyjawa 

I just went and had a look in The Old Shed and I have a nice condition black leather with red leather accents there and they are still fitted with the slot cleats. There is no size marked on the shoes, but the fellow I bought the bike from said there were a size 45. I compared them to my shoes and my guess is that that size is right, but only a guess.

The shoes are marked with the Cannondale name.

Lewis_Moon

Logos can be removed…
I have yet to be a big enough blabbermouth that I can PM. My e-fail addy is:
Tee Ay Pee Eee Gee El Oh Vee Eee Ess At HoTmAiL (dot)CoM. I'm still trying to decide if my 55 y/o knees will stand not being allowed to twist and shimmy like Shakira's butt.
You must have quite the shed…what with all the barcon shifters and other yummy bits.

fietsbob

Going WABAC Bike Shoes were leather soled, the cleats were nailed on by a shoe shop.

For my last few camping bike tours I had an old pair of shoes
that had an adjustable proprietary cleat. and had a Shoe repair shop
that would let me behind the counter to step by step my Idea..

reinforce the sole, hard Nylon, and use shoe resole materials
to build up an Hour Glass like slot so the pedal shoe contact was wide
angle of foot on the pedal varied, and the surface of the shoe walking ,
and get off and push , friendly.

busdriver1959

Here's an option. Go to https://www.yellowjersey.org/tocleat.html. These are slotted cleats that are compatible with the Look bolt pattern. I think you will have a much easier time finding something if you include modern shoes. I'm sure you realize it already but lace up shoes will probably work better with toestraps than ones with big Velcro straps going across the top.

JohnDThompson 

The one issue you might have with these cleats is that modern shoes are often taller than traditional shoes and may not fit into a toeclip. Test your shoes in toeclips without a cleat before ordering to save some hassle if they don't fit in the clip.

Lewis_Moon

Wow....sweet. Thanks!

afilado

I have a set of these in size 45. Mine have black mesh instead of white; everything else is same. Condition is used but excellent, little wear. Comes with several sets of cleats.





If interested get in touch.

Best,

Julian

Chombi

Ooohh, Vittorias! Roche replicas too!, I lusted for those back in college (the older black and white models) but could only afford the cheaper Diadoras mesh model that were sold by PBS.....They were nice enough,....but Not Vittoria or SIDI nice....

Chombi

triplebutted

Early 80's too. I nailed my Sidi's on. That was a ***** if you got it in wrong.

triplebutted

There are plenty on Ebay and on my small size as well. Problem is the costs. Anywhere from 40 to 100 bucks used. I need them for a ride I'm doing in October in a "vintage" category. Requires shoes/cleats pedals/straps plus a whole bunch of pre 1985 stuff I need.