Sincitycycler

..that they seem to be "one width fits all". I walk into any LBs and theys have several lengths of course, but not B,C,D,E in widths. What gives?

No wonder so many riders get hotfeet- cramped toe boxes due to too narrow of a shoe in most cases!

Nightshade

Could it be that special shoes to ride a bicycle in are......
dare I say it?.......unnecessary.

Special shoes are just another "goodie" to pry some more of
your money outta your pocket.

operator

Then you're a noob.

J-McKech

HAHAHA! Someone doesn't ride clipless. But anyway, I have heard that Lake and Carnac do come in width sizes and also Sidi makes a "mega" shoe that has more width than their regular shoes. I ride with Sidi on the road bike and they are awesome.

Blackberry

Nothing wrong with bike shoes, but mebbe Tightwad just thinks for himself. Millions of people throughout the world ride bikes every day without special shoes.

dobber

Or perhaps they are for those who desire a bit more performance or comfort? You wanna ride in a set of canvas Chucks, that's fine.

KrisPistofferson

I love my clipless setup, but I also love my All Stars. Clipless is efficient and saves quite a bit of effort, but I hate having to carry extra shoes with me if I'm going anywhere. If I wear my Chucks on rides longer than 40 miles, I risk aggravating a BAD ankle of mine. I usually keep toe clips on it during the week, and put the eggbeaters on for my longer weekend rides.

Nightshade

First of all I don't buy designer clothes, I don't follow fashon,I pay all my debts off every month on time,
and my point has been made with this post. By weight of volumn more people ride more total miles on
more bicycles in regular shoes or barefoot that all the Lance wanna be's ever born.

I DO think for myself and I firmly believe that way to much of the "equipment" sold for bicycles is
nothing more than profit builders for the shops and manufactures just as it is with everything today.
Shoes and special clothing are right at the top of the list in my book. Some here may think I'm a
unwashed barbarian because I ride where ever I'm going in......taaa daaa....street clothes....on a well
kept older used bicycle of my choice. I've thought for a long time most of the stuff people buy for
bicycles today is nothing but a waste of hard earned money.

Why?

If the truth were known and posted here most folk's just want to ride a bicycle for utility use or for fun.
Neither of which have one once of value added with all the goodies one can buy for a bicycle. If you
REALLY want to race then yes, special equipment will be required otherwise...KISS.

KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID.

KrisPistofferson

I thought I was a retrogrouch.

skinnyone

Tightwad...
I am a relatively new biker and initially I used to be skeptic about cleats and stuff like that. But I have since gone over and gotten everything... Clipless, spandex...

Many including friends of mine with road bikes, ride with regular platforms. But their idea of a ride is, for eg..., Ride the minuteman trail here in boston, stop for an icecream or pull of on the mall stuff like that.

Here is the thing. Everytime I am out there I wanna be better and I wanna push to the max. I dont stop in ym rides unless there is an equipement issue. Wearing clipless and cycling clothes gets me atleast 2-3 mph over people choosing not to. I get satisfaction everytime i see the 18-20mph average on my cyclometer and i think its worth the money. Just a difference in philosphies.


But heres whats best ;-).... I can get out of saddle and my feet dont slip off my pedals and .... you know what happens next... Many of us sure had such an experience as kids..

Blackberry

I thought I was too. But when I didn't know the secret handshake I got kicked out of the club.

samundsen

Nothing wrong with riding in regular clothes, but depending upon what climate you live in, bike clothes ads another level of comfort when riding, especially in hot weather. I Houston I ride all winter in regular clothing, but when hot and humid weather arrives, if you ride anywhere in regular clothes they will be soaked in a minute. Then try walk into an air-conditioned store wearing soaking wet cotton clothes. Nothing beats lycra shorts and a good jersey in these conditions.

I can't comment on shoes since I do use regular shoes (and toe clips). I do, however, wear coolmax socks inside those shoes.

timhines

dude you could make a fortune if you sold bike shoes in different widths. Be sure to make the most common size the most expensive.

DieselDan

Someone is scared of being seen in lycra bike shorts.

PWRDbyTRD

I have wide feet. I wear the SIDI Megas. Normally I have to tighten them down 2 or 3 times before my feet are actually settled into the shoe. I guess that's just how SIDIs are, but I wouldn't trade that stiff plate for anything.

catatonic

special shoes for platforms is overdoing it a bit, when you can just buy some stiff soled regular shoes and call it done.

Now, for clipless they are required...and as far as the benefits of clipless...either you want the added bebefits or you don't.

For me with the crap I ride on, at the speeds I ride on (I'm no racerboy, but sometimes my commutes get a bit.....hurried) those things have saved my butt numerous times.

phantomcow2

Cyclind shoes are not just a gimmick....
I know there are many more people who dont even know cycling shoes exist, but i dont think they have cycling as their primary hobby. Try doing a 50 mile ride with track sneakers on some Egg beaters and tell me how your feet feel, or try to keep up with the other guys on the ride who are using clipless. Its a huge advantage, you get benefits from it along with the extra power.

dobber

Just what exactly are you trying to say? You wanna ride in street clothes and shoes, fine. You don't need to convince us, you don't need to defend your choice. Some people treat riding a bicycle (cycling) as more of a sport or hobby than a utilitarian task. I'm sure you could play a game of golf with a wooden stick and rock, would be quite as enjoyable though.

KirkeIsWaiting

Wonder why?
Although I like to see men in lycra.
But bike shorts on women - talk about unflattering!
Will someone please make a version in low rise for me! The waist hits right at my belly ring!
Two hours of that and I'm ready to scream.

Nothing at all wrong with the bike shoes.
I wear them because I love the way they feel and look.

operator

Indeed you have kept it quite stupid.

Only an ignorant person would disregard the legitimate uses for a cycle specific shoe and cycle specific clothing in a non race environment. There are situations where they are not required for a recreational cyclist/utilitarian cyclist but the flip side is also true.

You seem to be stuck with the mentality that somehow, someone wearing said items of clothing is inferior to you. This is doesn't even come close to a question of whether a product is created to fill a non-existent need. Absolutely not the case.

I post this image in haste:

Surferbruce

sidi also make some models in a narrow width too, like the practically perfect dominator.

DieselDan

I know a few men that won't be seen wearing lycra bike shorts in public, including one poser that claims to have rode for Motorola!

catatonic

I beg to differ, Iv have seen some very nice looking women in lycra.

However I can assure you nobody is seeing me in lycra anytime soon. I am considering getting bike shorts though, the baggy kind that look like regular shorts. My bodily dimensions don't help when they are in spandex...trust me, it's scary...

Dahon.Steve

Do you remember back in the late 80's eary 90's when women were all wearing biker shorts? It was a fashion statment back then and I liked it! Unfortunately I will not wear Lycra because my legs are too skinny and hairy. On the other hand, there is NO way you will see me on a bike without helmet, gloves, coolmax shirt and sun glasses. The gloves have saved my hands more than once and the sun glasses protect my eyes. I consider the cool max shirt/jersey actually more important than Lycra because your upper body seats more than your lower and it takes hours for a cotton tee shirt to dry.

dobber

You can always go with a thin pair of cotton or nylon shorts over the bike specifics.