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toe clips and shoes

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Old 07-15-15, 02:07 PM
  #26  
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i use strapless toe clips by MKS steel toe clips - but i need to install straps at some point. it doesn't have as much power.

i use chrome kursk shoes. i highly recommend both.

i had velo orange toe clips but i would only recommend if you have a large or fat foot.
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Old 07-15-15, 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by e0richt
normally, one can't just "try on" insoles, one has to buy them and try them out... you could flex them to see if they have stiffness but the usual ones I find in stores are made to provide cushion and not stiffness...

so assuming that they are special in that way, I wouldn't even have a clue where to find "stiff" insoles... possibly from a pharmacy, certainly not shoe stores, or dept stores like walmart, target and the like...

now, it just so happened that I was discussing this with my friend over lunch and coincidentally, his doctor recommended a set of "powerstep" insoles and that they could be found on amazon...
These have the "proprietary PowerPlate nylon reinforced sole." Sound pretty stiff to me.

Urban Bike Sneakers | Pedal Bike Shoes | Chrome Industries
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Old 07-15-15, 07:19 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by mrblue
These have the "proprietary PowerPlate nylon reinforced sole." Sound pretty stiff to me.

Urban Bike Sneakers | Pedal Bike Shoes | Chrome Industries
I totally agree with your assessment. I had never heard of this brand of shoes before this reading it in this thread.
The amount of info that one can glean from the members of this forum is awesome!
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Old 07-20-15, 02:09 PM
  #29  
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I use toe clips. I have an old pair of Sakae quill pedals (the look similar to the MKS Sylvans) with Wellgo plastic toe clips and nylon straps. Several thousand miles on them.

I use flat-bottomed skate shoes, they tend to get chewed up over time, but they're cheap, so...
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Old 07-24-15, 01:57 PM
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I use Converse sneakers with MKS GR-9 Platform Pedals shown on this page Pedals-Toe Clippable - Harris Cyclery bicycle shop - West Newton, Massachusetts They are the same pedals that DiabloScott showed above. I find the Converse are very comfortable on my 25 mile round trip commute on these pedals. The Converse are cheap enough that I can keep 3-4 pairs for riding, so, if I get rained on I can let them dry out for a few days. Another thing I love about those pedals are the little tabs that make it a snap to pop into the second pedal, even though I ride fixed and have to slip in on the fly. You just flip the pedal up with the tab. I can do it without looking down, which I hope all the people in their cars waiting at the red light on the cross street appreciate, ha.
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Old 07-27-15, 03:18 PM
  #31  
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I commute with clips & straps and use a pair of vintage Avocet 30s.



Eventually they'll wear out and I'm not sure what I'll use. I like having the ridges in the shoes which keep your feet in position and but aren't so big as to make walking uncomfortable. There seems to be a dearth of new option for cycling shoes for use with clips & straps.There used to be more options, but finding NOS versions in common sizes is a challenge. You might have some luck searching for touring shoes. Quoc Pham makes some really nice cycling shoes, but they are pricey: Quoc Pham | Cycling Shoes - PRODUCTS. R.E.W. Reynolds (UK) also has some attractive options, but also pricey: Products | R.E.W. Reynolds. It's important to have some extra protection at the front and along the sides where the clips/straps rub against the shoes.

Flat tennis shoes can slip around too much for my taste, and have too-soft soles which can get chewed up by some pedals. Case in point, my old Rod Lavers:

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Old 07-27-15, 03:36 PM
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I just ordered these and they will arrive this week. https://www.dzrshoes.com/collections/urban-bike-shoes

I got the Jetlag Neros because bike grease is black, so black shoes will hide it best. soles are built for crank bros clip in pedals as well as for walking. apparently have some stiffness for cycling while being flexible enough for walking around town. I dig how the shoes look, and they are handmade by humans who cycle, i like that too. I want to get a pair of the higher tops for cool weather riding as well.

currently i wear a pair of brown leather dress shoes from the UK with velcro closure (hate laces for cycling) but they flex too much and are old.

I also like the idea of a stiff insert if you have shoes you already like. my problem is i don't have a good pair of shoes otherwise to try. just work boots, a pair of runners, and a pair of casuals. i never wear dress up clothes anymore so my old leather dress shoes got relegated to cycling duty.

Last edited by MZilliox; 07-27-15 at 03:40 PM.
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Old 07-27-15, 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by gaucho777
I commute with clips & straps and use a pair of vintage Avocet 30s.


these are awesome, wanting a pair now.
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Old 07-27-15, 07:06 PM
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Luddites...
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Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
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Old 07-28-15, 04:09 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by mrblue
Chrome Industries makes some good sneakers. I like the Forged Rubber series.
+1 Chrome makes gear that meets the needs of messengers and the shoes are tough. I've used them for years and they hold up under all kinds of conditions.

Marc
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Old 08-11-15, 09:54 AM
  #36  
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These are the shoes that I use:

...in the pedal toe clip/strap set:
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Old 04-30-21, 11:21 AM
  #37  
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I now use these shoes:

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Old 05-02-21, 07:27 PM
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As long as the thread's re-born...
I wear my regular street shoes. My pedals have "strapless" toe clips. They are very easy to get into and out of. Their main virtue is that they keep my feet in a good position and keep my shoes from slipping when the pedals are wet. My commute is short (~7 miles/day), but I have ridden 20 miles in them.
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Old 05-05-21, 08:45 PM
  #39  
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I use Converse knock offs from a big-box store: $15.
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Old 05-24-21, 06:17 AM
  #40  
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I like toe clips. Problem I have is my shoes wear out pretty fast and they rub on the crank arms at times.
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Old 05-27-21, 08:47 AM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by DiabloScott
I like wearing running shoes but they usually do have those big ridges and bumps on the soles... so I found some flat platform pedals that are easy to get into and don't grab the ridges.

I actually use "clipless" shoes on my commuter... but they are old Performance shoes that look and feel like stiff running shoes. It is the pedals that are "magic," they are "campus" pedals, they are platform on one side, and "SPD" on the other. If I am in a stop and go situation, or merging with pedestrians on multi-use paths... I ride the platform side, easy on and off. If I am hauling butt down some long road, I "click" on, on the "clipless" SPD side. (stupidest name in the world, BTW... "clipless." Definitely need an "upgrade" to that term.)

Now, having said all that... I took a quick look and at least one brand of "campus pedal" is no longer available...
https://www.performancebike.com/fort...7rheg4wuzrgqhe

So not sure if this option is even still available anywhere. Oh well.
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Old 05-28-21, 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by genec
So not sure if this option is even still available anywhere. Oh well.
SPD dual pedals are still very common. Lots of different styles... check EH500 Shimano.
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Old 05-31-21, 05:03 PM
  #43  
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Saucony cross country flats here. Kilkenny XC8. Cheap, Flat, hard, toe strike plate, removable grass spikes. 80 miles a week since December, no problems. Reasonable to walk in too. Kilkenny XC8
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Old 06-01-21, 02:47 PM
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MKS GR9 with half clips and Adidas Sambas.
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