Hello All,

I suspect this has been asked and discussed - but I can't seem to find a way to search the thread history. If there is a way to search discussion history please advice.

On to my question. Is there a commuting shoe that will run a clipless system, look good enough to wear in an office and not get funny looks, AND not go "clip, clip, clip" as I walk down the hall. My LBS has TWICE now sold me a shoe saying you can attach the toe cleat and walk on flat floors without noticing it and it was BS both times!

I would love to bike to work firmly attached to my peddles and be able to get right to work without having to chance my shoes all the time. Also, I frequently work at multiple sites so I can't just leave a pair of dress shoes at one spot.

Many thanks for your comments.

Shane

Little metal things attached to the bottom of your shoes will go click click, if not right away when the sole of the shoe wears a little. Sounds like you need a backpack, basket or platform pedals.

Depending on your work environment, there are "dressier"-looking bike shoes - I personally wouldn't wear any of them with nicer clothes. But any bike shoe with any stiffness is going to be awkward to walk in, especially all day.

Dump the clipless fad and get real pedals that don't require bike-specific shoes.

I had a coworker who road in on his road bike and had a messenger bag with his walking shoes.

If you have separate biking shoes and dress shoes, you can wear whatever dress shoes you want and they won't get near your chain lube nor should they get any wear & tear from being used on the bike.

This is assuming you stay with clipless but for the reasons stated above, I'd probably use separate dress shoes anyway.

Can you leave your dress shoes at work?

No one batts an eye at my Specialized BG Comps:



If they did, I would keep a pair of dress shoes at the office.

EDIT-

To each their own. I have bad neuromas in both my feet. Clipless with stiff bike specific shoes is the difference between me riding and me taking the bus.

I do this in the summer when I can wear my Birkenstocks. In the winter I just lumber around in my bike shoes.

I think it's much easier to leave a pair of shoes at work or in my panniers. It takes me less than 30 seconds to change my shoes.

Here's a great way to search > https://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en

Personally, I've *NEVER* found a shoe that won't go "click click click" on the floor when walking on concrete. My LBS's have sometimes tried to tell me that it won't, and every time I can get them to demo it (sometimes the guy owns a pair) the shoes always make the click sound. The guy always then tries to act like it's not a big deal and though I was very clear, that this particular concrete floor somehow doesn't apply to the question I was obviously asking. And don't even get me started on the "Yeah, you can totally return the bike shoes within 30 days." then later "WHAT???? You installed a cleat on a BIKE SHOE and you want to return them?? You can't do THAT! I meant you could return it if you DIDN'T INSTALL A CLEAT. I'm so surprised that you installed a cleat on a shoe specifically designed to do that!"

Anyways, sorry about that... :-) I haven't been able to find a bike shoe that won't click - as other people said I also just keep an extra pair of shoes at the office. It's not a big deal - well, unless you don't have a desk or somewhere to keep extra shoes, then it's a total drag. :-(

I wear these Northwave Wave mountain bike shoes ($65 at Sports Basement).



Although I use toe clips, I need to wear a stiffer-than-sneakers shoe to avoid getting sore arches. These shoes have a removable rubber piece in the forefoot so they can be adapted to clipless pedals. They're comfortable to walk in and I assume they're quiet because when you're not using the clipless pedal function, because you should be able to put back the removable rubber piece. However, I also keep a pair of dress shoes at my office because I have to wear business attire (shirt and tie) at work and these are a bit too casual for that.

+1 or 2. I keep 2 pairs of shoes @ work and alternate them. Desenex or Tinactin spray w/odor-eater inserts keep them from getting 'gamey'. Several pair of extra socks, t-shirts, pants, shorts, etc. assure that I always have dry clothes, shoes to change into upon arrival. Working in a warehouse environment doesn't require me to dress 'office acceptable', so I'm fortunate in that regard. We're, also blessed w/lockers and showers. The main rule of thumb I adhere to is not not ride in my work clothes or work in my ride clothes. It's been a bit of a pain in the past as I haven't always had 'great' changing facilities, but cycle-commuting as a lifestyle choice has always been important to me.

BTW, if you want clipless cycling shoes that wont 'click' you'll need to get touring shoes. Lake, Cannondale, Specialized, Shimano, etc. all make touring shoes. Thin spd cleats and deep recessed mounting plates combine to make touring shoes 'click-free'. An above poster is correct in that they all will wear down to the 'click point', but it can take years depending on the material of the sole. Some models of touring shoes are basic black which can be worn in an office enviornment. Others have understated slate-grey/blue, purple, red, etc. combos. Some are Tan/burgandy/black. All can be worn as 'office casual' shoes. Figure on spending at least 100.00US w/cleats unless you find something on closeout.

Scour ebay for Fluevog Race Face Vogs aka Racevogs and hope they aren't supremely ugly? I've never seen a pair in person (or a photo, even.)

Or you could go renegade, buy an oxford or half-boot with a huge sole, some metal safety insoles, and some cork/gel footbeds to go over them. Get out the dremel and mate the cleats to the oxfords at the right depth, or find a shoemaker (shoe repair) who'll do it for you.

There's an account floating around the net about doing this, I might have the link somewhere.

Yep -- here it is

I can't imagine this working out that well, but it does sound interesting.

Safety insoles

These with Tima ATAC cleats. They'll still click if you stomp your feet in just the right way, but not during normal walking.

How perfectly retro-grouch and elitist of you. Clipless has come a long way since the first Look and Time (not to mention the scad of others) systems of the late '80s. I used to ride toestraps and clips and then I discovered SPDs. For efficiency and safety for riding in traffic the SPDs can't be beat.

Amen. Dual-sided clipless mtb pedals and spd cleats. Have 3 pairs of shoes all purchased during my early clipless phase and they're all over 10 years old and still usable. Specialized Sport, Cannondale tourers, Specialized Mtb ankle high lace-ups, Nashbar Mtbs, Diadora road shoes, Lake winter road shoes. Like the looks of those Shimanos on Yan's post, though.

My wife has some Diadora Saturns and Lake touring shoes she's real happy with. We're going to get her a pair of straight road shoes next.

I'm partial to Shimano MT20Ds. They can pass for kissing cousins to Rockports and look okay in a corporate casual setting. They are also walkable without too much "cleat click" Granted, if you walk across a lot of formica and tile your going to get some click, but over industrial carpet folks are going to be hard pressed to hear any "Tap-dance" coming from your shoes.

I have some like this. Very light and comfortable.

exustar stelvio - it now has a new sole that is flat and doesn't have the large lugs

cut the label off, give them a polish
https://www.bikebrothers.co.uk/newshoes.htm

alternativley, there are the marresi shoes if you don't mind brown leather and a grey rubber sole.

i say just rock the two different shoes, any other way is an unacceptable compromise as far as i'm concerned. do you really want to be in the same footwear all day after riding anyway?

I walk into my office at the university I teach at in my bikign shoes, pushing my bike to my office.

I have a pair shoes in the office that I change into and leave the bike there while I teach.

can you not just leave your fnacy dress shoes at the desk and hcnage when you get here...?

Robi

When I use clipless shoes, I keep a pair of extra shoes at my job. I work in childcare, so I can get away with sneakers, but I see no reason why you couldn't keep a pair of fancier shoes in your desk/locker etc.

Providing another opinion: I just switched back to platforms with toe clips after 3 years of riding with SPDs, and I honestly can't tell the difference except when I'm getting in and out. It's not easier or harder, just different.

Wait, NOT buying special shoes for cycing is elitist? Next thing you know, buying a bike at Wal*Mart will be elitist!

dont go clipless for commuting.
Leave that for your good bike (road or mtn, whichever you ride)
Just buy flats for your commuter, if you have problems keeping your foot on the pedal buy straps or a cage.

I just have crappy bmx pedals on my commuter. I have no issues.