Big purchase coming up, looking for some opinions!
 

Hey guys, I posted this in general, but I thought I'd stick it in here too. Seems to be lots of Clyde Surly fans ;)

'm planning to buy a Surly Cross Check Complete next month (yay!) It should be a nice step up from my Gary Fisher Marlin (even though I love it). My questions mostly appear to be about pedals...

1) I use my bike mostly for commuting to school (about 3.4 miles) and then from school to work (almost 4 miles), and recreational rides. I want to get some clipless pedals, but I need some that I can ride without using riding shoes every time. Once I get to campus I ride short spurts between buildings to get to class, and it would really be a pain to switch shoes every time! I'm looking at the Crank Brothers Mallets as my shoe of choice. Would these work for short (<1-2 miles almost always) rides in tennis shoes or Birkenstocks? Anyone have them?

2) I'd also really like to find some shoes that are easy to walk in for when I'm feeling lazy (or just running into a store or something). I've been looking at something like the Pearl Izumi X-Alps (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/3...s-For-Men.html). Are shoes that say they're comfortable for walking in actually comfortable? Companies lie

Thanks!

i used a set of shimano brown mtb shoes with mtb pedel on my road bike. they worked well also i sometimes carry a set of sandel in my backpack now that i have road shoes.

got these a 1.5 years ago for $20. they still work great.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...pless%20Pedals

i've got some specialized and diadora mtb shoes. i use both when i run errands, etc. the diadora are a little better for walking because the sole is made of a softer material.

I've seen the Cross Check. It's a nice bike.

I wear the Sette Rival II shoe, which is a Price Point house brand. It's inexpensive, and very walkable once I put in a better insole. (I don't use clipless pedals, but there is a place for a cleat on the sole.) The only drawback, for me at least, is that they look like something a BMX rider or skateboarder would wear. As if I don't look silly enough on a bike as it is....

I recently purchased a pair of Shimano MT31 shoes to go with my new Crank Brothers Eggbeater pedals. I also looked at the Pearl Izumi X-Alps. My impression is that most cycling shoes don't make for great walking shoes. The problem is that cycling shoes tend to have a very stiff sole. This is good, because it transmits more power from your leg to the pedal. But it's bad for walking, because the sole doesn't flex much. FWIW, the MT31 and X-Alp flex slightly more than more "serious" cycling shoes, but they're still pretty stiff. The X-Alp is, perhaps, a bit more flexible than the MT31 and IIRC the shoes has a bit more internal padding.

I don't have a problem cycling to work in the MT31 and then wearing them around the office all day, but I don't have to walk very far at work; mostly around the office and then down the street to grab lunch. If I were going to ride somewhere where I expected to do a significant amount of walking (or standing), I'd probably plan to bring non-cycling shoes along...

I'm mixed on cycling shoes. I do believe the hype, that they provide some great power transfer. However, I just don't like the idea of being physically attached to the bike via a $.50 spring put in a $50 pedal. And I've yet to find a pair of "cycling shoes" that feel good on my monster feet.

That being said, I hear lots of folks like the dual-sided clipless/platform pedals that are sold by Nashbar/JensonUSA/Etc. I personally perfer platforms, but one day I might make the switch. Maybe. :)

Here is what I have:
As far as the pedals go, I got these: Shimano M324 They have the SPD clips on one side and regular platforms on the other. Sometimes when I ride I am hitting stopsigns or traffic lights every block or two so the constant clipping and unclipping can be a pain. It is much easier to just use the platform side until I can get a longer, stop-free stretch where I will clip in.
For shoes I went with these: Shimano M122. I didn't want anything with laces since I have painful memories of my junior-high days and getting a shoelace caught in the chainring and it sending my onto the top bar. I still have occasional nightmares!
I also like that these are a bit bigger which works with my extra large, extra wide feet! The LBM had a pretty nice, 35% off sale on Nike road shoes but I couldn't find anything I could wedge my feet in. They suggested Shimano since apparently they run a bit wide. These fit great. I would rather have some with the ratchet style top strap but I am happy with these and they are more bullet-proof.

Nice choice going with the Cross-Check. It was my runner up for my recent bike purchase.

As far as pedals go, I've got a set of Wellgo Clipless on my ride, and for the first two months I didn't have shoes yet, so I rode with just my sneakers. I didn't run into any problems, they were wide enough to plant the ball of my foot into and not have any major issues.

Shoes wise, I went to the LBS and tried on a few, told them I was looking for something I could use on long rides, but that would also work for walking around in, grabbing some groceries, running errands, etc. . . I tried on a pair of Cannondale shoes, walked around the store, walked around the block, and I was convinced they were about perfect. Just try some out and figure out what works.

--TM

Try to find stiff-soled non-cycling shoes. I and Neil F. have worn hiking boots, and they seemed to work well. Neil F. uses his work boots.

Again, I like the Sette Rival II shoes that another poster recommended. I'm using them on the upcoming tour I'm taking, since I will be doing a bit of walking and I don't want to take a second pair of shoes with me.