Thinking about shoes
 

I don't see a thread about clothing anywhere so I'll just start this thread here in my favorite forum.

My sweetie is pushing me to replace my usual footwear, a pair cross-trainer running shoes, with real bike shoes that have a rigid sole. Sometimes but not always after we've been biking for hours I get serious pain in one foot due to a neuroma. (The other foot would hurt too except that I had that neuroma removed many years ago.) It stops hurting if I get pressure off the foot for a few minutes, and usually doesn't return. But even so it hurts her more than it hurts me. A solution would seem to be wider shoes and a good, stiff sole (or a good, stiff drink, but that comes much later). Something like the old Bata Biker might be nice if only it was still being made.

We run with toe clips and straps, and generally don't tighten the straps down. Tightening the straps would just pinch the bones of the foot closer together and make the problem more frequent. I have never used cleats, and really want a shoe I can be comfortable wearing when off the bike.

Does such a shoe exist? Any recommendations? I could just walk into a place like REI or my LBS and ask, but it would be nice to go in with a list of possible brands, models, etc.

Thanks.

do recall there is a new thread the shoe dont fit to mention used shoes to trade or swap

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/813112-The-shoe-doesn-t-fit-pass-around-game?highlight=shoe+fit+game

If you want to be able to walk in the shoe for more than a block and don't want the "clop" sound then you want SPD specific shoes with recesses for the cleats. I have a pair of Lake 170 road shoes that are very comfortable. I have wide feet and they are one of the few cycling shoe makers I found that actually produce a true wide shoe. The BOA closure system is really great. You might consider one of their MTB or cyclocross specific shoes.

As far as pedals go, I use both the Shimano PD-600 and PD-530 SPD pedals. The latter is dual sided with a platform on one side so you can jump on the bike with athletic shoes if need be. I love the shoes, but since I only use SPDs at this point I wish I had bought one of the MTB or CX specific models.

Edit: I may have misunderstood. Do you want to stick with platforms pedals and clips/straps? If so, let me know what size you wear as I may have just the thing for you.

i had a pair of specialized cycling shoes that took spd cleats. the cleats were recessed so you could walk in them. just get something like that but dont install the cleats. they were very comfortable shoes with stiff soles.

I tried a pair of Shimano shoes a while ago, and liked them, but had to return them as they wouldn't fit in my toe clips, FWIW, Jim.
Too wide. Wider feet seem to be quite a problem for folks. Not a lot of good choices that work well with toe clips. I have skinny feet so still use my Dettos.

Platforms? You mean like to make me look taller? :) How about thinner?

All my bikes except the UO8 have Campy-like quill-type road pedals. Okay, none are really Campy, some are KKT, some are MKS, some are even Lyotard. The UO8 has its original rattrap style. Road clearance is important to me; I hit the ground with a pedal once long ago, taught me a lesson! On the tandem Sharon likes to coast with the right foot down and that scares me when we're making a tight right-hand turn or when there is a curb, but that's a whole 'nother story. And I like the looks of all my pedals. The point is, I'd rather not change the pedals if I don't have to, just change the shoes and Sharon will be much happier!

You might try something like these Jim. I found them very comfortable, but didn't fit in my clips. If you leave the straps loose, these may work for you.
http://www.biketiresdirect.com/produ...e-touring-shoe

Jim, I also have a pair of these. I've barely used them because I bought the Lake shoes at just about the same time.

Those look very nice Colonel, and all leather! Price is OK too. How much did they charge you to ship them here?

Don't mean to jump Jim's thread....

I don't recall for sure, Scott. I want to say I paid about $100 for them in total. Note that they come with a laughable foam insert. I think you're expected to find the inserts that work best for you.

How much variation can there be in toe clips? The Avenir mtb pedals and clips Sharaon uses on the rear of the tandem have roomy squared-off toe boxes, but most Christohpe clips all look alike, mre or less.

Both of those models do look nice though.

Old style shoes do not come in wide. I have to use a pair of duegis that are 1.5 sizes too long and there are sizable gaps at the tongue where my skin shows through.

As far as metal toe clips go, there seem to be the S, M, L and XL of the traditional shape and then there are deep clips, made by MKS and some others. These are taller at the furthest point and are better for certain types of shoes. I prefer the deep clips, myself.

if you ride with light sneakers like onitsuka mexicos, pedal type becomes even more important for rides over forty miles. i installed the vo platform pedal on my bikes, using both their city pedal on shorter rides and the touring pedal for longer ones. these replaced the old rat traps you normally see on '70s bikes. the vo pedals are pricey, but they're so light and pretty, the price is just. and you can often find them a little cheaper at online retailers like universal cycles or outside outfitters. they take straps too, which, unlike helmets, are required equipment.

Ah yes. To be more specific, they did fit in the toe clips, barely, but were too wide for the straps, and my pedals. (Campy Record and Lyotard) I had some serious toe strap rub going on....on the crank arm. The ones Justin is showing look more clip/strap friendly somehow.

I agree with the recommendations of modern "touring" shoes with SPD cleats. I have a pair of Shimanos, and I even wear them on days when I don't ride. I can't recommend the exact model, because it's out of production.

Also, consider Shimano or Lake SPD sandals. Really.

If you stick with toe clips, I recommend the modern plastic type over the classic steel type. They are much better for my feet which are very duck-shaped.

I happen to have a pair of Lyotard M23 Berthet platform-type pedals. From what I'm reading here these might be a big help. They'd be stylistically appropriate for the tandem too.

I got a pair of basic laceup Shimanos I'm very happy with. I use them with oldstyle Campagnolo pedals with toeclips and straps, no cleats. I have very wide feet, these are the best fitting cycling shoes I've ever had.

I don't agree with the plastic toe clip comment, steel for me, but I've had 40 years to adapt... maybe plastic just offends me!

For the person getting crankarm rub: the toe clips mounting holes are slotted; I always slide my towards the outside of the pedal before securing.

Foot shape is individual, ultimately it will come down to what fits. That said, I think a "mountain" shoe made for SPD cleats is best, since you can walk in them and have the option of using cleats later. Velcro is faster to put on snugly, but if you're not using cleats or tightened straps then it doesn't matter if your shoes are laced or velcro'd up tightly. Some shoes also look "normal", not bionic biker style.

I have Shimano MT-22 which are discontinued but are, I think, just about perfect. They even look sort of nice. You might still find them around.

I'm a total convert to clipless, by the way. I love being able to pull as well as push, rest one muscle group while using the other. I've switched all my bikes to clipless. When I recently rode a mountain bike with regular quill pedals/toe clips, and was sprinting up a steep hill, my feet kept pulling out of the clips. That made me realize how much my pedaling action has changed. This makes a "normal looking" SPD compatible and walk able shoe very important for me, as I no longer have a bike without clipless pedals. Wish I'd gotten an extra pair of the MT-22s.