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Clipless Pedals and Shoes while touring

Old 09-30-11, 04:18 AM
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Clipless Pedals and Shoes while touring

I love my clipless pedals on my road bike and I want to have the option on my touring bike. Of course I won't be using my road shoes but I am looking for the a pair of shoe not sandals to wear while touring.

What are the preferred shoe style for clips pedals on a touring bike?
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Old 09-30-11, 04:24 AM
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I would think that mountain bike shoes would work for touring. They allow you to walk more comfortably than road shoes.
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Old 09-30-11, 04:41 AM
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My choice is SPD pedals and Sidi Giau MTB shoes. This is a personal choice though and there are lots of other possible choices.

I am currently using the M520 pedal, but there are a lot of other SPD pedals as well as other cleat systems.

I have always been impressed with Sidi shoes for comfort, functionality, and durability. The Giau is at the cheaper end of their range and is a decent shoe for touring. In addition to being cheaper it also has a less "space alien" look than the higher end Dominator model.
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Old 09-30-11, 04:42 AM
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jan191976, I use mountain bike shoes. The cleat is nested in with the tread blocks making walking easy and with mine, hardwood floor friendly. Some mountain bike shoes won't work with some road pedals so I suggest mountain bike pedals or perhaps the double sided pedals with a platform.

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Old 09-30-11, 09:20 AM
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I'm also using the Shimano M520 SPD pedals along with a pair of Specialized mountain bike shoes. They seem to fit my food a little bit better than the Sidis that I've tried and the prices are pretty reasonable. I've also used Shimano MT-series "mountain touring" shoes. They look more like a regular hiking shoe, but the sole isn't very stiff. Even with an upgrade insole, my feet start to hurt after riding 60-70 miles/day for 3-4 days in a row.
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Old 09-30-11, 11:32 AM
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+1.... Mountain bike shoes...spd cleats. There are plenty of comfy models available that are good on the bike while still easy to walk in at the end of a long day on the bike.

Bill J.
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Old 09-30-11, 12:31 PM
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people Tour on bikes with Road shoes and pedals, you just have to have,
say, some cleat covers, handy, and /or some slip on shoes to put on
when you have to walk. much..

SPD type pedals and MTB shoes are walking friendly, for the most part..
there are less knobby sole shoes made for touring too.

Some Touring People like the Shimano Sandals
as they offer the ability to add thick socks , for warmth,
boot liner Goretex oversocks for wet riding, or thin socks, for just sun protection, depending on the weather conditions,
and the strap adjustability accommodates them all.

Last edited by fietsbob; 09-30-11 at 12:36 PM.
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Old 09-30-11, 12:53 PM
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I like Shimano MT20 for touring. They run a bit wider, inexpensive and are very comfortable. They look like regular shoes too if you're into that.
I also use sandals for those hot days.
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Old 09-30-11, 01:15 PM
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I picked up some Shimano PD-A530 SPD pedals and Shimano shoes. These are more of a multi-purpose pedal with a flat side if you don't want to wear your riding shoes. https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html

They've done quite well for me so far. I seem to recall they cost about $100 though, so not cheap.
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Old 09-30-11, 02:30 PM
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One more for MTB pedals and shoes. My preference is for Speedplay Frog pedals. I'd wear Shimano touring shoes if they made them big enough, but since they don't, I'll stick with Sidi or Pearl Izumi shoes.

There's two advantages to being able to walk easily in your bike shoes. You can go into stores or restaurants with some confidence you won't go skidding across the floor, and if you hit a section of road that's too steep to pedal up, you can get off and push.
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Old 09-30-11, 03:29 PM
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check out chainreaction for spd sandles/ shoes/ pedals some great deals usually.
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Old 09-30-11, 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by DeadheadSF
I picked up some Shimano PD-A530 SPD pedals and Shimano shoes. These are more of a multi-purpose pedal with a flat side if you don't want to wear your riding shoes. https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html

They've done quite well for me so far. I seem to recall they cost about $100 though, so not cheap.
Good pedals... about 7k miles on them.... on my road bike. Have em on my road bike so I don't have to have 2 pairs of shoes.. I'm 200+ and they have held up nicely so far.
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Old 09-30-11, 09:04 PM
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I got them Frog pedals, from Speedplay, and them Touring Shoes from Specialized, I like em very well for touring, the only time I don't is when I am sitting here and the old lady wants me to run to the store, I got to change shoes just to go,,,,,,
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Old 10-01-11, 11:18 AM
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I use Shimano M520's and Sidi Mtb shoes, same shoes that I ride with every day.
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Old 10-01-11, 08:12 PM
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Shimano sandals and M324 or A530 pedals.
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Old 10-01-11, 11:43 PM
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I mostly tour in my road shoes. I spend most of my day riding, so my first priority in equipment is towards that end. For grocery store stops I just put on cleat covers. At days' end I put on the spare shoes I bring. Obviously, I am an outlier here in more ways than footwear. I tend to average over a hundred miles per day and actively seek out the hilliest routes available (mostly because they tend to have the least traffic).
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Old 10-02-11, 03:52 AM
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Hi

Another vote for MTB shoes and SPD pedals. My shoes are Specialized ones because they fit and my pedals are currently PD-M424s. They let me ride without my clipless shoes if I need to.



Regards
Andrew
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Old 10-02-11, 04:35 AM
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I've used MTB shoes since going clipless on road, touring and MTB bikes, but I opt for Time Atac pedals and cleats.

I also have a pair of road shoes with Ultegra platform pedals and cleats. My one experience with a flat tyre quite close to home and the walk in the shoes showed up a weakness that for me makes them unsuitable for touring -- the wear on the cleat from walking on a chipseal shoulder was a lot.

With the MTB shoes, I can walk, hike, loll around in camp... and most of the shoes I've had have been incredibly comfortable for me off the bike.

Just before our Canada holiday in August, I bought a pair of Shimano sandals, something I have intended to do for four years. My jury is still out on them... as much for footbed fit as anything else. On today's ride, I opted for shoes because of the variability of the weather. Perhaps with summer coming, I will wear them more often.
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Old 10-02-11, 05:06 AM
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I used to tour with Sidi road shoes and toe strap pedals. Ihad to have a pair of slip on shoes for when I stopped so I could walk around.Now I tour with Sidi mtn shoes with SPD clips using inexpensive SPD pedals. Ifeel it works much better for me.
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Old 10-03-11, 02:47 PM
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I like Specialized BG Comp mountain bike shoes. They are stiff, and my feet are happy riding in them all day. They are fine for walking in and out of stores, hanging out for lunch etc. At the end of the day I switch into sneakers.
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Old 10-03-11, 03:01 PM
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Mostly I tour with SPDs, like most people here. But for short tours when I want to travel light, I use clips and straps so that I can ride in trail shoes. SPD shoes are walking-friendly, yes, but not that walking friendly - and if I want to save space by not packing shoes, and am going to be away for a short enough time to make it tolerable to wear one pair of shoes throughout, this is the answer.
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Old 10-03-11, 06:04 PM
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I've got two pair of Shimano touring shoes and one of Pearl Izumi shoes. I put on a couple of layers of shoe-goo on either side of the cleats so that they don't grind while walking on concrete.
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Old 10-04-11, 04:35 AM
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Originally Posted by LeeG
I put on a couple of layers of shoe-goo on either side of the cleats so that they don't grind while walking on concrete.
How long does the shoo goo last?
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Old 10-05-11, 11:59 AM
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I use SPD pedals and Sidi shoes for commuting and most touring because -- as others said -- they are easier to walk in than most road shoes and cleats.
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Old 10-05-11, 01:25 PM
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I have both SPD type sandals and shoes. My shoes are Shimano MT41s. They are lace up with a strap, and resemble hiking shoes. I like my sandals for most riding, but they do get uncomfortable after 50 miles or so...sometimes it's nice to change foot ware halfway through the day...if it's chilly out I'll start with socks and shoes, and then change to the sandals after lunch.

I would never consider touring without cleats, I would lose too much efficiency.

I had to modify my right sandal to fit my ankle bone. After that they were comfy for most of a day in the saddle.

I use one sided SPD road pedals.
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