DnvrFox

Inexpensive S P D Biking Sandal?

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...=238&pagename=

Sorry, I know nothing about this brand.

qmsdc15

I got some. Very similar to Shimano which I had several pairs. Get 'em while you can, feet will thank you. Shoes suck!

DnvrFox

I have the Shimanos - they are great. Wear nothing else. They cost me $78.00

qmsdc15

Get the Exostars. They are definately worth $30. I think I was paying less than 78 for shimano at LBS, but they are not 2.5x as good as the exos. After wearing about 20 days, all day, I rate them equal to shimano sandals.

alanbikehouston

Thanks for the info. The warm weather in my area make sandals ideal. Because I use flat BMX pedals, I could use any sort of sandals, but the ones you mentioned at Nashbar have the thick soles and heel support that bike riding requires.

qmsdc15

Alan, you must get some pedals too! You will thank me. You're welcome in advance! When you are clicked in it is still like flat pedals, but like pedal is as big as your foot and you are riding barefoot with wide comfy straps keeping you on the "pedal". It's awesome, believe it, way better than sandals on pedal with no connection. NO comparision, really!

Guest

That's freakin' cheap.

Thanks for the heads up. Now that winter's getting ready to arrive, I'm going to have a field day getting my summer stuff cheap on clearance.

Koffee

alanbikehouston

Over the past decade, I have tried a bunch of different pedals. When the "click in" pedals became popular, I let my bike shop con me into buying some. And soon, like most folks who ride more than a hundred miles a week wearing "click in" pedals, I began having foot discomfort and knee pain.

I discovered BMX pedals by accident, when a pair came with an old road bike that I bought. The wide platform spreads pressure across the entire foot, so foot discomfort is eliminated, even on long rides. The pedal is both wide and long, so during a long ride, I can move my feet left and right, forward and back. This alters the stress points on my knee slightly, and now I have zero soreness in the knees.

During the couse of a day, I might be riding in shorts and sandals, or wearing a suit, tie, and wingtips. BMX pedals work great with any kind of footwear. No "special" shoes required.

A friend of mine has three compaints about her "click in" pedals. Bruises and scrapes on her body from injuries when the pedals failed to "click out". Her feet and knees hurt when she takes long rides. She can't ride her bike to work because she does not want to change shoes when she gets to work. But, she won't switch to BMX pedals because "The guy at the bike shop says the "click in" pedals are better."

Indy 500 race cars are not the best way to drive to the grocery store. Bikes set up to "look like Lance" are not the best way to ride to the grocery store.

A nice set of BMX pedals cost just $20 or $30. Put a pair on your bike and ride them for a month. I don't think you will go back to "click in" pedals.

galen_52657

Anybody who wear sandles while riding a bike should have their head examined. Or better yet, have thier toes examined after they fall or get caught in the spokes.....

wildjim

That's a bold statement. . .

I personally won't wear sandles. But I know a few country type cyclists folk that will not wear closed shoes.

I would be concerned with all the dirt and debris getting between my toes or maybe a bug, worm, snake, squirrel, roadkill, or bee!

galen_52657

Having seen the aftermath of a kid falling off her bike on the boardwalk wearing flip-flops... well...lets just say I consider shoes a piece of essential safety equipment the same as a helmet

wildjim

I am that kid! I ripped toenails off with some awesome cycling crashes while riding barefoot when I was a child. Once the kickstand stuck into the side of my foot. It's a hurt'n thing. . . Sorry no photographs

jlin453

You live in Maryland, what do you know about heat?

qmsdc15

Hear you, Galen! Like Alan, I have "issues". In my case it's gnarly feet that hurt in shoes. Not that it didn't hurt when my bike fell after I unlocked it one time last week. It slid down the post and chain ring penetrated the top of my foot. Luckily I was wearing socks so I didn't have to look at the wound until I got home. Years ago I got doored while wearing sandals. I wasn't hurt but as I got up I saw the cleat and a small square of sole still in one of the pedals! That was pretty funny, I guess that could happen with shoes also though. I also ride with only gloves on my hands and did break my thumb once. I don't even own body armor except knee/shin protectors which I purchased but never used. No face guard on the helmet, just living dangerously. Cycling is dangerous, protective footware can help, sure.

Phatman

you kiddin me? it gets hot as balls in maryland. Plus, we get the east-coast humidity...dude, maryland is a hot place during the summer...90+ with 110% humidity...

galen_52657

You tell him brotha!!!

Guest

You've got to be kidding.

Flip flops are not even close to being in the realm of toughness for riding a bike. They shouldn't have been riding in flip flops to begin with.

A solid, tough sandal will have enough encasing for the feet so that if your feet do get caught in the spokes because of your clumsiness, you shouldn't have any real damage (or very little, at least). Actually, I got my heel caught in the spokes and instead of having my heel sliced off, I had a very uncomfortable knicking of my sandals. Flip flops are a flimsy, rubber material that doesn't even provide basic protection, and may have CONTRIBUTED to the type of accident you're talking about, since they are so flimsy in nature. They are made to "flop" around... that's why they're called "flip flops".

Think of something better to criticize about the sandals. Comparing them to an inferior product is NOT even worth the time.

Koffee

wildjim

Curious?

What about the road debris getting beween the toes?

Earlier this year a squished worm landed on my shoe and had to stop and get that sucker off! Yuck. . .

It seems like there is always some creepy bug or bee clinging onto me when I ride. I would freak out if it were on my barefoot. . .

Guest

I've never had debris fly into my shoe. Never. I don't think it doesn't happen, but I also don't think it happens as often as people insinuate it does. If you're worried about it, then sandals are not for you. I would probably be a bit grossed out if a worm landed on my foot, but it's not like the worm won't come off. This ain't fear factor, it's cycling. No biggie. And nothing says you can't put on some footies or some short socks if you're that worried about debris getting into the shoe.

Koffee

Guest

Actually, I take that back. When I ride, I sometimes get sand in my sandals, but I get sand in my road cycling shoes too anyways...

Koffee

DnvrFox

I wear socks.

The sandals provide a fair amount of protection - they are pretty sturdy, and cover the topf of your foot. They are NOT flip flops..

I guess a worm doesn't bother me in the slightest, especially when i eat at least two dozen bugs during the hatching season while riding the creek bed trails.

And, sandals, with wool socks and booties are extremely warm in WINTER. I have a friend who toured Iceland wearing sandals, and who wears them all year 'round in Colorado Springs, CO.

clfjmpr44

I am interested in picking up a pair of the Exos, can anyone here help me with sizing, because I have seen Euro sizing differ among products. I wear a 10 1/2-11, what size in the Exos would I need? Thanks in advance.
Alex

clfjmpr44

Mens size

PaulBravey

Sorry, socks with sandals is such a social faux pas

galen_52657

As usual, Koffee, you miss the point entirely. If one’s toes and feet are uncovered, regardless of the sole stiffness or lack-thereof of your footwear, one’s toes and feet are subject to direct contact with moving bicycle parts and/or the pavement. If you fell off your bike going even 20 MPH without proper footwear you are asking for loss of toenails, skin and possibly digits if one was so unlucky as to get their toes caught between the spokes and the fork or stays. This is why motorcyclists (if they have any sense) wear high lace up boots (cowboy boots can be pulled off in a crash).

Maybe you ride in sandals and maybe you ride without a helmet because maybe your feet and head are not worth protecting. Mine are.