riddei

This morning I looked at the thermometer, 31*F. This is balmy, change is in the air , I'm feeling good.

I get out and start pedaling. About 3/4 of the way to work I realise that the life has been slowly sucked out of me. I hit a hill that yesterday I felt good on, I got out of the saddle and started pumping... I was like "what the heck", I feel like crap. I sat down and put it in a granny gear, and felt defeated.

I think I've discovered my problem. Today, since it was not single digits when I started, I put on a pair of shoes, instead of the hiking boots I've been wearing all winter. They are rugged athletic shoes, but definitely do not have a stiff sole. Here the are:



Intellectually, I knew that I should wear stiff soled shoes for biking. But I'm amazed at the subjective difference. I do think it is the shoes because physically I am feeling good. I ate a good breakfast this morning. I got a good nights sleep. I've basically recovered from a cold that has been hanging on.

This isn't a scientific study, but I'm fairly convinced. Looks like I'm going to get a good pair of lightweight boots for the summer. I've got freakishly wide clydesdale feet, so clip-less biking shoes are not in my future.

Navy_Chief

There is definitely a perceptible energy loss between a rigid shoe and something with some flex IMO.

demoncyclist

Most athletic footwear is designed to flex exactly where you don't want them to. As for your sasquatch-like dogs, have you looked at the Sidi Mega series shoes, or Carnac? I think that if you look around, you could find something suitable in a clipless compatible shoe.

CliftonGK1

I've wear EE width shoes and I have no problems with the Forte CM200 MTB shoes I wear. (Performance house brand. ~$40.00) You might want to give them a try.

riddei

Thanks for the suggestions on the footwear, I'll consider it. However, I wear a 12EEEE. Even when I was a skinny lad in the Army, they had to special order my boots. The quartermasters couldn't believe I wouldn't fit the standard wide foot-gear stocked on the Post .

I'm no longer a skinny lad, and it certainly hasn't got any better .

rhm

I've found three things that seem to give me more power:

Smaller wheels; I'm riding 16" these days!
Shorter cranks; recently put 140mm cranks on my bike, and I like them!
Lower gearing; typically spinning at 120 rpm, I think.

I used to wear stiff shoes with SPD's but I can't put SPD pedals on my folding bike, so those went into a box in the basement. Oddly, I find I don't need clips/clipless with the short crank arms.

Banzai

Have you tried something in a 13 or more? A lot of people who are wearing excessively wide shoes are wearing a size too small, and the extra width is making up for incorrect foot placement in the shoe.

Not saying that you necessarily are, or that you haven't done a careful analysis on your own. For years I thought I wore a very wide size 6. (Yes, opposite end of the spectrum...) Turns out I was supposed to be in a size 7.

cccorlew

Last time I felt that way I discovered I had the slightest brake rub. Hardly anything at all, but when I fixed it I sure felt better. Not that that's what happened to you, only that it's a mazing how something like that, or low tires, can really make more difference than I'd have thought.

riddei

Yeah, since it's been such an issue, I've had lots of measurements over the years. The best one was at Red Wing Shoes, they have a computerized gizmo that is pretty fancy. I have actually done the opposite of what you're suggesting... I've gone to a size 13 thinking that if I couldn't find a wide enough shoe, that the bigger size would make up for it. I've had no success with that. I end up with a shoe that is too tight and too long .

riddei

I've also since picked that shoe (from the first post) up and quite easily twisted it with my hands. The sole basically has the consistency of a "flip-flop". They are comfy, but may not be suited for the bike. They look a lot more rugged than they are...

Someone from another bicycle forum pointed me to this article from the the Rivendell Bicycle Works that says that clip-less shoes are a myth https://www.rivbike.com/article/clothing/the_shoes_ruse.

Now I'm not sure what to think! My subjective thought is that I noticed a difference in performance. Maybe it was something else ? Maybe I'm not over my lingering cold?

Banzai

Uh oh riddei...that particular article from Rivendell has been the subject of some fierce flame wars here. Duck!

Some things that Grant Peterson writes I really like...other things I don't buy. I don't buy that article, especially since I just rode platforms the other day for the first time in over a year. It was actually kind of awkward.

riddei

Holy great mother of God... I didn't know, maybe this will get banished to the safety and advocacy forum along with the Snowplow Buzzing Cyclist thread...

... Well I'm ready for it.

In actuality, I tend to agree with you. I felt a definate difference. I can't think of what else it could be (besides a lingering cold). I'm going back to my stiff hiking boots.

TRUMPHENT

It may not be a footgear problem at all. Sudden fluctuations in weather going from cold to warm can be the culprit. Physiological shock or some sort. I remember being at U of F in early spring. The first swipe of warmer weather would nearly deck me. I wasn't riding bikes at the time. Primarily running.


Spring Fever?

forgetful

Are you sure you're not riding a unicycle?

(i know, OT, and old thread/post but I just can't believe it)