I'm looking into getting some shoes to use with my campus pedals (spd).

The salesman at my LBS is recommending velcro over laces. His reasoning is that the velcro doesn't stretch like the laces, so you get more power to the pedal.

From a theoretical standpoint, I can see his reasoning. But, pragmatically, does it really make a much of a difference?

I like the look of the laces better and may wear the shoes around the office a bit.

My commute is about 10 miles with a good hill along the way.

For those of you in Portland, I live in Garden home, commute up to Sylvan, then to the zoo, and drop down into NW. OK, a cheat in the mornings sometimes and use mass transit to get to the top, but I always do the climb on the way home.

James

The stretching part makes me skeptical, but I'd go for velcro. Reason: Laces can get caught in your drivetrain, velcro can't.

However, I think the more important part is how the rest of the shoe feels/works for you. Laces can be tucked.

Just out of curiosity, were the velcro shoes he recommended more expensive than the laced shoes? I'd go for what is more comfortable for you, my feeling is that it's a commute not a time trial. As for the laces bit caught in the drive train most if not all lace-up cycling shoes have a loop on the tongue of the shoe to tuck the laces into.

I've ridden both. I prefer velcro because laces inevitably get caught in the drivetrain during an inconvenient moment. This is a safety issue, but if you're pedaling hard, you can totally rip the laces apart making them hard to tie.

No matter what kind of shoe you ride, the top part stretches some. The practical difference between laces and velcro is nil in terms of efficiency.

Don't settle for anything less than carbon fiber shoelaces or titanium based velcro.

Laces do get caught in drivetrain and pedals.

That being said, my favorite cycling shoes have laces. I use the plastic clips sold at running/tri stores rather than tying them to avoid tangled laces

I've got some of the cheap lace up SPD shoes from Performance (prior black model). I think I paid $17.99 for 1 pair and something like $12 for another pair that was new in the returned bin. I agree about laces, they suck. Taking a page from my triathlete wife, I fashioned my own version of the expensive Yankz. The real ones cost $6, but the elastic lace costs $0.15/foot and the cordlocks cost about $.35 each. You need about 2-3 feet per shoe, closer to 2 I think. Singe the ends and knot them after you've laced & added the cordlock. So, for just over a $ you have a superfast lacing system that doesn't get in the way of anything. Easy on, easy off.

I've converted over other pairs of athletic shoes too.

I bought them for the same reasons you mention, comfort off the bike and walking around. They work great for everything. Hopefully that levels the playing field.

I like Velcro, but I'm lazy.

I really can't see it making a difference in the efficiency of the bike. I wish there was a decent Velcro solution for my ice skates.

Call me old fashioned, but I much prefer laced up shoes. Why ?

1. Over time, Velcro looses its some of its grip. Two or three year old velcro usually doesn't grip as well as new stuff. I have read that there are different qualities of Velcro, but this has been my experience with Shimano shoes.

2. The Velcro strap(s) make a bulge which I find uncomfortable.

3. I have narrow feet, and I can attach shoes laces tighter than the Velcro strap (Velcro doesn't start soon enough).


However, shoe laces can grab into the chainrings. Usually a second knot solves the problem, but some shoes have a small elastic band to "hide" the laces underneath.

I don't care. Laces vs velcro is just about the last thing I consider with shoes. Fit being first.
Though I do like the ratchet on my sidis and velcro is a given with a ratchet.

For road or mtn biking, I definitely go for velcro, mostly because it's easier to loosen/tighten while still on the bike. For commuting, I find it doesn't matter as much, since I spend half my time waiting at lights anyway.

Velcro. Just because it means one less pair of shoe laces I have to tie when I switch from my bike shoes to work shoes. I'm the type of person who actually unties and ties shoes laces; I don't slip them onto my feet.

Same here.

I have velcro plus one of those ratchet straps, but I only got those because the pair I wanted (which had laces) weren't in stock in my size. Really either are fine with me. Laces I can tighten better than velcro, but velcro is faster. The ratchet strap really helps tighten velcro from what I've seen thus far, haven't had them long yet.

+1
i had a bad wreck or 2 when my laces got wound around the pedal
that said, i used laces for a long time. one set of shoes had a velcro strap covering the laces. the other - well i trimmed the laces short and was very careful with them
cheers

This is my favorite setup: Velcro plus a ratcheting mech. I have this on my Shimanos, and the ratcheting strap makes everything that much more custom fit. I also have a pair of Specialized with only Velcro, but doesn't quite feel as dialed in. But they're good shoes nevertheless.