SD Fixed

Have any preference?

I got some SPD peddles on a good deal and would like to get some SPD style shoes that meet the following criterea:

I can walk in them on regular surfaces.
Don't look like @$$.
Will last.

I currently have Sidi road shoes with Look cleats that I love: Stiff, stay clipped (when cleats aren't worn out). But I need some everyday shoes for around work, and all the other MISC stuff there is.

Your experience, comments, ideas, as always..

Greatly appreciated.

Judah

As always, I recommend Adidas Minnrets.



Nashbar has them...

As long as you buy a decent spd pedal, and keep them tensioned, you should be ok as far as unexpected clip-outs are concerned.

RedMenace

SPD on fixed is a little sketchy. i used them with a 49x15 gear for a while and even cranking it down to the highest possible release tension, i would pop out when doing any sort of quick stop at all (not even emergency stop). twice was enough for me to switch to Time.

dabern

I have the three-strap Sidi MTB shoes (can't recall model name, Bullet perhaps, but they have 3 velcro straps without the buckle deal that the super high end ones have) and I love them like I love their road counterpart. I've also had the 2-strap Sidi MTB shoes (again, memory fails me regarding model name) but for some reason Sidi saw fit to route the upper strap so the tag end is on the crank side thus occasionally unfastening the velcro at the most inopportune times...stay away from that one. Since you know Sidis fit you & you like them then you may as well stay with Sidi, eh?

RedMenace

i used both of these shoes... currently i am using a pretty new pair of the two-strap, tag-crankside-mounted ones, and previously i had the three strap ones you're talking about. the tag hanging out and hitting your cranks can be a bit annoying, but i've managed to sort out that issue by pulling it tight and then leaving sort of a "hump" in the middle of the strap so that the tag end sticks secure to the end of the opposite velcro side and doesn't hang over.

the reason i dumped the 3-strap ones is because after 2 years of messengering on them on a fixed gear, they were literally being ripped apart. the upper gets ripped away from the hard plastic sole as a result of the upward force applied when stopping. i don't think these shoes are really built for that kind of abuse, so i find it difficult to get _too_ disappointed after 2 years of heavy use.

the.me

I use lake mx155's with time atacs. I got them (the shoes) for xmas so Ive got about 4 months on them, no complaints. plenty stiff but still functional to walk in, don't look silly imho and they seem to be quite durable.

lightgraphs

I use the Shimano, bottom of the line, MTB shoe. Performance carries them. Got 'em completely for the price, $35.
Love 'em. I walk around in them all the time. I was in an alleycat once that involved a foot race and they came in real handy then.

I've also heard good things about Specialized brand MTB shoes. Sanoma, I think, is the name. Whatever it is, it's their bottom of the line shoe, but I hear it's very walkable.

gilby

I've had some sixsixone MTB shoes for about 9 months, and I love 'em. They are so comfy to walk in and look normal enough that I can wear them all day at school and work.

Now SPDs and skidding...sometimes sketchy. Good thing the shoes look good with brake levers.

*new*guy

I ride brakeless w/ SPDs. The only time I've unclipped has been when I was really fighting to slow down on a descent. As for skidding with them, no issues BUT you have to be smart about distributing the resistance.

I also like the SixSixOne stuff and Pearl Izumi has some decent looking stuff out as well.

noisebeam

How real is the SPD accidental release issue?

I recently started riding fixed with front brake. Shimano SPD cleats and M520 pedals. First day I used very worn (thousands of miles, thousands of unclips) cleats and the left (my unclip foot) did pop out quite easily with hard braking. I put on new cleats and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get them to pop out with a very hard pull. But will I find that even a slight bit of wear will make them prone to accidental pop out.

Al

Ken Cox

I wear Shimano Mountain Bike Shoes, SH-M038, because they look OK on the bike and OK with regular clothes, they walk well and they have a velcro strap that covers the laces.
I've unclipped with them once, going downhill.
I don't know why I unclipped and it has not happened again.

noisebeam

Thx. Probably not an issue that is big enough to warrant a change (i.e. two bikes, two set of cleats for two shoes, etc.)
Al

Judah

Keep your pedals tensioned and replace your cleats at regular intervals (according to how much riding you do), and you should be fine. I find that the only times I've unclipped were when I was riding pedals that were too loose, or clips that were getting old. It's also important to use the correct cleat for the pedal you ride, Shimano has recommendations for cleats with every pedal. Use the correct kind.

auk

Still loving the Specialized Posi-Trac shoes. Basically a lace-up BMX shoe (black) that has a drilling on the bottom for SPD cleats. Use them with Eggbeaters and have not had any issues with unclipping. Nice stiffish sole and comfy to walk in. I don't think they make them anymore but some shops may still have a backlog of them.

Pearl Izumi also makes a few other shows that are of this vein.

noisebeam

Thanks. They are set at near max tension now and I use the correct Shimano brand cleats that Shimano recommends for the specific Shimano pedal.
Al

SD Fixed

I got some pearl izuzumimi on sale at Trek (of all places) for 59 bucks. Costly (well, not compared to the SIDI), but they fit nice, and were stiff.

Judah I've looked and looked for an actual place to find Adidas Minnrets where I could try them on.. and didn't find any places.

I'm a hands on type of guy.

After wearing worn out Looks for sooo long, the new SPD's are nice. Easier to get out of and I can bunny hop pretty decently now. I think my knees may hurt tonight after @#$# around with skids and all with the new shoes. Hopefully they will last for at least 6 months.

BlastRadius

https://www.beyondbikes.com/bb/ItemMa...t&MatrixType=1

Corporate Mailing Address
Beyond Outside, Inc.
12310 World Trade Dr. Suite 107
San Diego, CA 92128 USA

Not sure if they have a store you can go to for hands on though.

BlastRadius

Some more from the Adidas dealer locator. https://www.adidas.com/verticals/cycl..._adidascom=com

Action Cyclery, 619-566-3341
Gamez Bicycles, 619-671-0936
Hi-Tech Bikes, 619-696-1311

SD Fixed

Hi Tech didn't have them (they are refered to as High Priced bikes locally).

I've never heard of the others. I'm gonna look them up.

BR, thanks Brodda!!

Rancid

I've had SPDs for the better part of 6 months and they are holding up great. The shoes are starting to separate the sole from the upper, but I ride the crap out of them. I've only pulled out one time on a sprint competition, but I just adjusted my tension and problem solved.

mrballistic

i have an old pair of cannondale mt shoes with crank bros candys on my fixie. i've popped out of my cleats exactly once - and that was totally my fault (wansn't totally in when i started decending a hill). scared the crap out of me.

anyway, i'd say that the combo works very well for me. i like being able to just jump off of my bike when i get to work and continue on with my day without changing shoes.

those adidas shoes look quite a bit like my cannondales -- i'll probably try those out next.

mostly, i like not having a bunch of velcro on my shoes when i'm going for stealth. my road bike is all about technical shoes... my fixie is all about being able to get from place to place.

noisebeam

Update: I have about 400mi on the new Shimano SPD left side cleat and it is now worn enough that it unclips on a hard backpedal/skid. I can unpop it with simply a hard vertical pull. For me 400mi seems way too soon to have to replace cleats. This is very disapointing.

Al

dwj444

I just bought some Specialized MTB Comp shoes from work (LBS). I had a pretty deep discount on them, so they're nicer than what I would have bought if I were paying retail, but that said, I think they're great shoes. I'm sure you can check them out on Specialized's website.

As for riding on a fixie with SPD's, I dig it. I've had the same crappy pair of WTB pedals on my ride for three years now (same cleats, too). The bike is my daily commuter and knock-around ride. The pedals have never given me any trouble. That said, I also rock a front brake (so I've never had the problem some describe of accidentally unclippling when trying to stop sharply). The best part of riding fixed is how connected to the bike you are; the SPD's (or any other clipless system for that matter) is only going to make that better.
Cheers.

phidauex

I purchased a pair of Exus SM100 shoes on ebay for 15$ NOS, which is the same as the Exustar SM100s currently available, just with the old company name. They are quite walkable/runable, fit well, and are damn cheap.

I also had a good time with the Specialized Taho and Sonoma shoes, both of which have good recessed cleats, and are good for walking around in, and they look pretty normal too. In fact, the Sonoma would be quite stealth around town. Reasonably priced at around 60$ each.

peace,
sam

agraham

if you're going the SPD route, make sure to note Shimano has two models: fixed or floating (I *think* that's what they're called). The floaters allow for a small amount of lateral pivot, and will not only disengage with a regular sideways twist, but also if you pull up on the pedal really hard. The fixed ones don't allow anything but a lateral twist.

If you're concerned with (hee hee) accidental release, go for the fixed (or non-floating, whatever they're called) cleats.

AG