Originally Posted by
FXjohn
"
Now, shoes.
Racing shoes are rigid, slippery plastic. Riders shopping for them pick them up and test their stiffness (as though it matters) by trying to bend them with their hands. If the shoe is rigid and unyielding, they heave out an "ahhh..." and consider it worthy.
It's a bunch of hooey, though. Your foot doesn't bend when you pedal a bike. It tenses and pretty much stays straight, just as it does when you walk up stairs. "
https://www.rivbike.com/kb_results.asp?ID=45
Consider the source of the above-quoted material. While I generally respect Grant Peterson's point of view, sometimes he misses the boat. Shoe stiffness makes a difference.