Walter S

I've been riding clipless for ages. But that has me bringing more than one pair of shoes when touring or just in general. I want a setup where I can travel lighter and be more fluidly on or off the bike without much concern for my current footwear. I also hope to find warm feet in cold weather to be less challenging.

I have some pedals and steel cages with dual straps on order. What about shoes? Is there anything more ideal than an ordinary pair of running shoes for touring in warm weather? Should I look for something with a stiffer sole?

imi

I've always found that an ordinary pair of fairly light running shoes works for me.
What pedals do you have? This might make a difference. My favourite are MKS GR9
Try whatever shoes you have and see if they work before investing in something else.

Walter S

My LBS has ordered these MKS...
Amazon.com : MKS Sylvan Touring Pedal Double Sided : Bike Pedals : Sports & Outdoors

They also ordered these "lite" pedals and said I could take my pick.

Amazon.com : MKS Touring Lite Pedals, Silver : Bike Pedals : Sports & Outdoors

Not sure how to decide. Get the lite version?

imi

hmm... I suspect the 'serrated' edges of the Sylvan may necessitate a harder sole than running shoes... compared to the flat platform of the GR9...

Have you looked at the dual sided pedals for clipless and toe-clips?

Walter S

I don't understand the question. I want something that keeps my feet planted on the pedal and properly oriented. The above pedals and steel cages is what my LBS suggested.

You refer to "clipless". As a suggestion for what I should get? And toe-clips...I don't understand.

imi

Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-A530-SPD-Pedals/dp/B00AAOIAQC

Platform on one side, SPD on the other

Edit; sorry I'm not sure if toe-clips fit on those. No... back the tape, my bad...

Tourist in MSN

You will need a pretty stiff sole for those pedals. Some hiking shoes might work well, I have worn some Merrill Moab hiking shoes on a pedal like that, but would not want something like a running shoe. (There are many Merrill Moab shoe models, mine were Goretex low cut ones.)

Decades ago, what you refer to as cages were called toe clips. Thus, the newer style of shoes that used shoe cleats were called clipless.

imi

Does anyone know of a pedal with SPD on one side and where a toe-clip cage can be screwed on to the other?
I'd imagine riding spd with the toe-clips underneath would be dangerous and they'd have to be removed first... So probably not such a good idea.

Walter S

Thanks. I guess the stiff-sole requirement is to achieve an ideal, but perhaps not a significant issue for just a casual/quick errand? Am I introducing that issue with my choice of pedal? Or this generally applies regardless?

bikemig 

I wouldn't overthink this. I've toured with toe clips and straps and ordinary shoes. So have a lot of other people. Try it and see what you think. There's a trade off; you save on not having to take a 2d pair of walking shoes when touring but the sole won't be as stiff as a cycling shoe. Stiff soles help you transfer power better but too stiff and they're tough to walk on.

Another possibility I've been thinking about is picking up a pair of bmx style shoes, like a 5.10 shoe. They're designed for bmx pedals but I think they could work well for touring as well.

The MKS GR9 that @imi mentioned in post 2 look like a good design for touring as well. The platform will help provide support if cycle with ordinary shoes. I'm a huge fan of MKS pedals in any case; they're inexpensive and well made.

Tourist in MSN

Could be done with the Shimano M324 pedals. I wrote up a discussion of that pedal and the A530 a few months ago at: https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/10...30-pedals.html

10 Wheels

Try these.
I used Walking Shoes Size 14

VO Deep Half Clips

Tourist in MSN

I think a hiking shoe that has a sole stiff enough to support your feet on rocky trails would be stiff enough for bike pedals, but still soft enough to walk in. I think that is a good happy medium.

I carry two pair of shoes. I have used that Merrill shoe I cited above for days when my cycle shoes were soaked from prior days of rain, that hiking shoe worked well for an all day ride. I like the M324 pedal with that hiking shoe, the other side of the pedal works well with my SPD cycle shoes.

10 Wheels

Soccer shoes..

10 Wheels

Running shoes

10 Wheels

Touring bike with Walking shoes. NY to LA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBx8...eature=related

andrewclaus

I found a simple solution. I use Superfeet insoles as light weight stiffeners in my trail runners on long distance hikes. That combination also works very well on long distance bike tours. New Balance trail runners are very comfortable and dry quickly. The insoles seem expensive, around $40, but they last many years and outlast many pairs of shoes. If you haven't used them before, get your first pair in a store. Getting the right thickness is pretty important. And some people simply can't stand them.

bikemig 

These half clips look good; what is the advantage of half clips over full toe clips and straps?

10 Wheels

Easy in and out..No straps needed.

xraydog

Take a look at Shimano Clickr shoes: TOUR - CYCLING FOOTWEAR AND PEDALS - LIFESTYLE GEAR - SHIMANO

I have been using them. Will accept a SPD cleat. Very comfortable to wear while walking around. The sole is a little stiffer than a sneaker/shoe but stiff enough to be comfortable when clipped in.

staehpj1

Personal preference, but I find half clips to be the worst of both worlds. You have to flip the pedal over to get into them and then they offer pretty much no retention. They do offer some reference to locate your foot in the same position and alignment, but that is about it.

Also one of the advantages of clipless or clips and straps with the straps cinched is that you can extend the power stroke by pulling back on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke. Half clips offer none of that.

On the plus side you don't have a strap making exit more difficult or cutting off circulation in your foot. So if all you want is something to consistently locate your foot they may make sense.

My personal take is this:
Clipless is my first choice by a long shot. Clips and straps or bare pedals are kind of tied in second place, but distant enough that I am unlikely to ever opt for them on a long tour. I do use bare pedals around home for short errands. Half clips are an extremely distant third, distant enough that I wouldn't consider them myself.

bikemig 

@xraydog; thank you. I don't want to hijack the OP's post but I've been looking for a shoe along these lines for a while for touring (something in between a touring and a walking shoe). These look good.

Trakhak

Running shoes, which are designed to flex easily, tend to be uncomfortable with most toe-clip-compatible pedals. They can be tolerable for short rides, but shoes with stiffer soles are generally seen as working much better with such pedals.

BigAura

+1


+1

My last tour I switched:

PREVIOUS TOURS: Clipless & Keen SPD sandals

RECENT TOUR: BMX MX80 Saint platform pedals & my Minimus trail runners

The new setup was great riding wise... but I didn't like the drying time on the runners vs sandals. My next tour will probably be the platforms & sandals.

BTW: During that last tour I met a young lady touring on BMX style platforms with Flip-Flops! I asked her about slipping around she said she was comfy and had no issues, she was about 3/4 done riding the GAP/C&O trails. Me personally -> Would not recommend flip-flops!

Walter S

Do you carry some walking shoes with you?