I switched from SPD pedals to platforms on my commuter
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#27
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I also switched from SPD to platforms with studs (like off-road, bmx style). Never looked back. A lot more convenient for work, grocery shopping etc, especially in winter time when I prefer to wear boots than bike shoes.
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I said booties were kind of a pain. That's not the same as being difficult. For example, it's not hard to put on 6 layers of clothes in the winter, but it's a pain in the ass compared to 3, - which normally will do the job.
The best pair of booties I had were from Performance. They had an actual rubber sole and they had zippers at the back. I just left my shoes in them and would roll the booties down to get my shoes on. Eventually the zippers broke and Performance changed their design so now I just wear insulated hiking boots.
The booties I had before that had various combinations of neoprene and elastic underneath which would wear out after a few weeks of daily use. Copious use of duct tape might get them through the whole winter.
Booties are fine for the occasional rainy or cold weather ride. But it's cold and potentially wet here almost every day from December well into March. Booties aren't meant for that.
The best pair of booties I had were from Performance. They had an actual rubber sole and they had zippers at the back. I just left my shoes in them and would roll the booties down to get my shoes on. Eventually the zippers broke and Performance changed their design so now I just wear insulated hiking boots.
The booties I had before that had various combinations of neoprene and elastic underneath which would wear out after a few weeks of daily use. Copious use of duct tape might get them through the whole winter.
Booties are fine for the occasional rainy or cold weather ride. But it's cold and potentially wet here almost every day from December well into March. Booties aren't meant for that.
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Yeah, I use booties for winter riding because I'm more casual about my winter riding, but they're kind of annoying, they'd be really annoying on a daily basis. What kept me from buying full on winter shoes was having trouble with sizing (slightly wide feet) and not sure if I'm sticking with clipless. It's like trying to pull a sock onto an eel every time you put them on and take them off lol.
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I said booties were kind of a pain. That's not the same as being difficult. For example, it's not hard to put on 6 layers of clothes in the winter, but it's a pain in the ass compared to 3, - which normally will do the job.
The best pair of booties I had were from Performance. They had an actual rubber sole and they had zippers at the back. I just left my shoes in them and would roll the booties down to get my shoes on. Eventually the zippers broke and Performance changed their design so now I just wear insulated hiking boots.
The booties I had before that had various combinations of neoprene and elastic underneath which would wear out after a few weeks of daily use. Copious use of duct tape might get them through the whole winter.
Booties are fine for the occasional rainy or cold weather ride. But it's cold and potentially wet here almost every day from December well into March. Booties aren't meant for that.
The best pair of booties I had were from Performance. They had an actual rubber sole and they had zippers at the back. I just left my shoes in them and would roll the booties down to get my shoes on. Eventually the zippers broke and Performance changed their design so now I just wear insulated hiking boots.
The booties I had before that had various combinations of neoprene and elastic underneath which would wear out after a few weeks of daily use. Copious use of duct tape might get them through the whole winter.
Booties are fine for the occasional rainy or cold weather ride. But it's cold and potentially wet here almost every day from December well into March. Booties aren't meant for that.
I'm on the same pair of Louis Garneau booties which I began using last winter, and that was with me stretching them out over a pair of Pearl Izumi X-Fuels. Got a couple of runs in the neoprene from stretching but that's about it. They are not made to walk on more than a few steps (obviously).
To each his own.
Last edited by 1983; 11-09-15 at 12:05 PM.
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Source: I ride with them in the winter.
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It takes all of 5 seconds to slip booties on, and 10 to take them off. I'm just not seeing the pain-in-the-ass part. I conflated inconvenience with difficulty via sarcasm.
I'm on the same pair of Louis Garneau booties which I began using last winter, and that was with me stretching them out over a pair of Pearl Izumi X-Fuels. Got a couple of runs in the neoprene from stretching but that's about it. They are not made to walk on more than a few steps (obviously).
To each his own.
I'm on the same pair of Louis Garneau booties which I began using last winter, and that was with me stretching them out over a pair of Pearl Izumi X-Fuels. Got a couple of runs in the neoprene from stretching but that's about it. They are not made to walk on more than a few steps (obviously).
To each his own.
If Performance hadn't changed their design I'd likely still be using booties, but like I said, I've since switched to regular hiking boots. I wouldn't call them perfect either. They're clunkier than I'd like. I seriously considered getting a pair of 45Nrth's cycling boots last year since they were designed by cyclists who live in this climate, but you could buy a lot of booties for what it costs to get a pair of those.
#36
Prefers Cicero
I switched to flat pedals one winter and never went back. It's a lot more convenient to bike to work in normal shoes, and unless you're hammering there is no noticeable impact on cycling efficiency. The first day or so, your foot tends to float off the pedal, and then you relearn to pedal in circles without relying on the pedal to control your foot.
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I find LL Bean Maine hunting shoes a lot more convenient than booties. In the Puget Sound region 3 of the 4 season's are very wet, we have a gravel driveway at home, covered bike parking at work that one needs to walk the bike into, and I sometimes stop at a store on the same way home. Booties just aren't utilitarian enough for me.