paramount shoes
 

Scored on ebay - for ~$27. Usually when I look for vintage shoes there, the sizes are all too small. These are size 10.5 - 11, close enough to take a chance on. They fit great!
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...71219638_n.jpg

I may put a thin rubber layer on the soles for traction, I doubt I will cleat them as most of my bikes have toe clips and flat pedals.

I have an older paramount jersey that would go well with those shoes, nice find.

And I have a pair of Paramount gloves that are new in the package. Together we almost have a complete kit!

In that case you need something like this. Unfortunately, this example costs more than your shoes.

[edit] Oh, flat pedals. I was thinking traditional quill pedals. Anyway, nice shoes. For the soles you might try the 3M stuff they sell to put on ladder rungs. Sold by the foot at your lhs.
http://www.yellowjersey.org/CLEAT86.JPG

Why would you want a shoe like that if you are not using cleats?

OFG, it is hard to find good shoes in larger sizes that are stiff enough for cycling and narrow enough to fit into traditional quill style pedals. I have a pair of the same paramount shoes, which I got in a trade from another forum member, and have been thinking along the same lines as OP. I was actually thinking of cutting a pair of soles out of an old bicycle tire and sticking them on with contact cement.

^ correct, I had been looking (on and off) for US size ~10 to 10.5 vintage shoes for a long time. Quill pedals, right, that's what I meant. Most of my riding is on my quill-pedaled bikes (6), I have one clipless equipped bike, and a spd mtn. bike. I have nice Lake road shoes for the one bike. I will look into the 3M stuff, thanks!
The shoes are marked "made in Italy", they seem very nice and quality.

Here's a similar pair on ebay, much smaller and more $:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Paramount-wo...item564669e11b

I understand all of that, I just don't understand why you wouldn't want the extra advantage of a cleat if you were going to use shoes that are single purposed. It's not like you can walk in them very well, even without the cleat.

JP, those colors match my Paramount closer than yours.

heh heh.

I still like your Chuck Taylor biking shoes the best.

Those Paramount shoes are beautiful. It's aggravating that at least one manufacturer isn't still making shoes like this for around $100. I still have a pair of now weathered, lace up Sidi shoes, but they're of course not machined for clipless cleats.