Oxford shoes
 

As some of you may remember, my co-worker was telling me about he wanting to use street shoes for commuting. I though he was nuts! This past week, he showed off his new shoes, L.L. Bean Oxford shoes. Men's Rockport World Tour Walkers | Free Shipping at L.L.Bean Now he says, they are stiff enough of cycling but I'm still think he full of it! Anyone tried this or other shoes like it?

Those are more like a fancy sneaker than an Oxford. But anyway, people commute in all kinds of shoes. I usually wear sneakers. Why would you need special shoes for commuting?

I think any shoe whatsoever works for commuting. I use Onitsuka Tiger Tai Chi shoes...super flexible. Platform pedals, too, without toe clips.

To each his own when it comes to pedals and shoes.

I rode LL Bean's Ranger Oxfords for years. Moccasin style upper with smooth but not shiny leather, soft rubber smooth soles and steel inserts in the soles. Plenty stiff enough to ride a 42-16 fix gear up Seattle's N 65th St from either side using the old Leotard Platforms and toeclips. (The soft leather upper got enough grip that I could pull for real.) I haven't tried the new shoes yet because every pair I have seen has used lugged soles which to not work in toeclips. If I could find those smooth soled ones again, !'d buy several pairs tomrrow.

Ben

Loakes (same as Charles Tyrwit).

I commute in street shoes.

FWIW, I climbed Mount Klet' in the Czech Republic back in June while wearing a pair of Ecco Bioms.

It depends on the pedals. The standard cheap cage pedals need a stiff sole. If you get some BMX or mountain bike platforms with a larger area, you can ride comfortably in anything. I've done 30mi rides comfortably in running shoes with decent pedals.

I'd be a little concerned about those nubuck uppers and any kind of water. The nubuck is a little like suede, which doesn't take well to being splashed.

I have commuted in heels (9 mi each way). I wouldn't recommend it, though...

Do skateboarding shoes count as "street shoes"? If so, yes I commute in street shoes.

Suff like superfeet arch support stiffeners in their insoles may help..