Originally Posted by
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?
With running shoes or any other shoes with a very flexible sole there can be very localized pressure exerted on the foot by the pedal cage (not the toe clip) as the shoe flexes when pressure is applied to the pedal. It also depends on how long you plan to ride per day and the terrain you'll be riding. Steeper hills require more pressure on the pedals and that can really get your feet hurting. With very flexible shoes like running shoes a platform pedal that has a long platform to spread the load will be more comfortable. I have a pair of old school Lyotard pedals that are pretty good. Another pair of pedals I have that work well with fexible sole shoes are MKS-707.
You can buy shoes made for clipless mtb pedals but the soles are without the deep lugs and are smoother for touring on roads. Some people use those shoes without the cleats for touring with pedals with toeclips.
Cheers