question about pedals/shoes
#1
question about pedals/shoes
I'm going to start commuting to work but the problem is once I get there I have to walk through a concrete warehouse floor. I'm using a road bike and I really don't want to eat **** trying to walk through the warehouse with regular road shoes. Should I just get some cleat covers? Or switch to some spd pedals and shoes like dzr for commutes and a road spd shoe for longer rides?
#3
Living the Dream
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 449
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From: DFW Metroplex
Bikes: 2015 AWOL Frameset with custom drivetrain, 20?? Windsor Tourist, 2010 Specialized Secteur
I use mountain bike clips, like SPD or Crank Brothers, with rubber-soled "commuter" shoes.
Right now its eggbeater cleats with Specialized commuter shoes.
I have to walk across marble floors at work and haven't heard as much as a "click."
Right now its eggbeater cleats with Specialized commuter shoes.
I have to walk across marble floors at work and haven't heard as much as a "click."
#5
I havent tried them- but i always thought those "power straps" looked like a great idea.
They don't go with a road bike as much as they would with a dedicated commuter bike i guess.
They don't go with a road bike as much as they would with a dedicated commuter bike i guess.
Last edited by TnBama; 03-08-12 at 06:11 AM. Reason: afterthought
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 352
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: BiknBrian brand custom 26 inch commuter trekker, Cannondale F600 Single Speeded MTB, Nashbar Cro-Mo CX, some other bikes and parts that could be made into bikes.
What a ridiculous idea, shoes that you can't even walk in. Just get yourself some small cleat MTB pedals and shoes with recessed mounting. Ok, I suppose you could get some of the pocket slipper type shoes if you really want to keep your current setup.
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Catalog...chTerm=slipper
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Catalog...chTerm=slipper
#7
Because I thought I could
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 969
Likes: 0
From: Wash DC Metro
Bikes: November, Trek OCLV, Bianchi Castro Valley commuter
Over time, the concrete floor will chew up your cleats and shoe heel. At a minimum, get cleat covers. If you prefer road shoes & cleats on the bike, can you carry a pair of slip-ons (like a lot of my kids' baseball/softball/soccer/field hockey/lacrosse-playing friends use when they change out of their cleats) and walk in those? SPD and MTB shoes on a road bike are fine - as long as the cyclist style police, the Velominati (Keepers of the Cog, aka "The Rules"), or NYC Bike Snob arne't around.
#8
Carpe Velo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,519
Likes: 18
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Bikes: 2000 Bianchi Veloce, '88 Schwinn Prologue, '90 Bianchi Volpe,'94 Yokota Grizzly Peak, Yokota Enterprise, '16 Diamondback Haanjo, '91 Bianchi Boardwalk, Ellsworth cruiser
I have a pair of these MTB shoes for when I plan do do significant walking (I consider them touring shoes, however) . Soles are stiff like a riding shoe should be, but plenty of grip. I've walked over uneven rocks with them and have been quite secure. Hiking boots they are not, but they are all-day walkable.
#9
I don't want to switch pedals for when I go out on regular rides so platforms and powerstraps are out. Its looking like spds with a commuting shoe and a road shoe is going to be the way to go
#10
ride for a change
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,221
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From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: Surly Cross-check & Moonlander, Pivot Mach 429, Ted Wojcik Sof-Trac, Ridley Orion. Santa Cruz Stigmata
In the immortal words of Phil Hartman (RIP) as Ed McMahon "You are correct sir!"
#11
Steel is real, baby!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,532
Likes: 8
From: Boise, ID
Bikes: 1984 Pinarello, 1986 Bianchi Portofino, 1988 Bianchi Trofeo, 1989 Specialized Allez, 1989 Specialized Hard Rock, 2001 Litespeed Tuscany
I have a pair of these MTB shoes for when I plan do do significant walking (I consider them touring shoes, however) . Soles are stiff like a riding shoe should be, but plenty of grip. I've walked over uneven rocks with them and have been quite secure. Hiking boots they are not, but they are all-day walkable.


#12
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
then you use wide platform pedals and the shoes that work for you..
there are double sided pedals with a spud mech on just one side,
so the pedal stays on the bike and you use either a shoe
with or without the step in cleat.
there are double sided pedals with a spud mech on just one side,
so the pedal stays on the bike and you use either a shoe
with or without the step in cleat.
#13
Carpe Velo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,519
Likes: 18
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Bikes: 2000 Bianchi Veloce, '88 Schwinn Prologue, '90 Bianchi Volpe,'94 Yokota Grizzly Peak, Yokota Enterprise, '16 Diamondback Haanjo, '91 Bianchi Boardwalk, Ellsworth cruiser
I'd say commute with regular shoes/sneakers or keep a pair of them at work to change into.
#14
I'm going to start commuting to work but the problem is once I get there I have to walk through a concrete warehouse floor. I'm using a road bike and I really don't want to eat **** trying to walk through the warehouse with regular road shoes. Should I just get some cleat covers? Or switch to some spd pedals and shoes like dzr for commutes and a road spd shoe for longer rides?
Or ... you could stash a pair of shoes at work. This is what I do.
#16
You can drive if you like, too.
A gas pedal lets you wear any shoe you like. Much less fun than a road bike, though. But I guess it's good to have options.
A gas pedal lets you wear any shoe you like. Much less fun than a road bike, though. But I guess it's good to have options.
#17
Steel is real, baby!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,532
Likes: 8
From: Boise, ID
Bikes: 1984 Pinarello, 1986 Bianchi Portofino, 1988 Bianchi Trofeo, 1989 Specialized Allez, 1989 Specialized Hard Rock, 2001 Litespeed Tuscany
#18
Steel is real, baby!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,532
Likes: 8
From: Boise, ID
Bikes: 1984 Pinarello, 1986 Bianchi Portofino, 1988 Bianchi Trofeo, 1989 Specialized Allez, 1989 Specialized Hard Rock, 2001 Litespeed Tuscany
That's different. I think they are great for running errands or touring, where you are on and off the bike, but if you are on your feet at work all day, they are probably not a good choice.
I'd say commute with regular shoes/sneakers or keep a pair of them at work to change into.
I'd say commute with regular shoes/sneakers or keep a pair of them at work to change into.
#19
On my commuter I use these shoes (Austin pedal/ Springwater):
https://www.keenfootwear.com/us/en/wall/shoes/men/pedal
With these pedals (Performance bike campus pedals):
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1033468_-1___
https://www.keenfootwear.com/us/en/wall/shoes/men/pedal
With these pedals (Performance bike campus pedals):
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1033468_-1___
#20
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Well, if clips and straps are out
, my vote's for some PD-M324 SPD pedals, so you can wear regular shoes for the commute.
, my vote's for some PD-M324 SPD pedals, so you can wear regular shoes for the commute.
#21
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 935
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Bikes: '04 LeMond Buenos Aires, '82 Bianchi Nuova Racing, De Rosa SLX, Bridgestone MB-1, Guerciotti TSX, Torpado Aelle, LeMond Tourmalet 853, Bridgestone Radac
A couple years ago I switched over to MTB SPD-style pedals on all my bikes. I had already been using them on my commuter but got tired of hobbling around on the external cleats of my road bike pedals/shoes. Best move I ever made!
I recently bought these non-cycling shoe looking SPD shoes on Amazon. They have more of a rubber sole so there's no klip-klop when you're walking on hard surfaces.
https://www.amazon.com/Exustar-Mens-S...1316212&sr=8-6
I recently bought these non-cycling shoe looking SPD shoes on Amazon. They have more of a rubber sole so there's no klip-klop when you're walking on hard surfaces.
https://www.amazon.com/Exustar-Mens-S...1316212&sr=8-6
Last edited by Eric S.; 03-09-12 at 12:08 PM.
#22
Dharma Dog
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver, Canada
Bikes: Rodriguez Shiftless street fixie with S&S couplers, Kuwahara tandem, Trek carbon, Dolan track
I would look at using Shimano SPD pedals (M520 or the road version with additional support A520) and a Shimano shoe with the "RT" model prefix. I used RT-80's with the old, original Ultegra SPD road pedals (they don't make them anymore, but I think they were the best road pedals ever made) for last year's Paris-Brest-Paris on a fixie, so they'll handle all day riding as well as walking. The RT-80's are basically a mountain bike shoe without the lugged sole, so it looks more like a road shoe (if you're concerned about that sort of thing - I know I am!). It takes SPD mtb cleats, recessed into the sole. This should allow you to walk thru the warehouse without looking like a duck until you get to where you keep your normal street shoes. They also use velcro and ratchets for tightening instead of laces (I just HATE laces!), and if the ratcheting mechanism wears out, they take Time ratchets if you can't find the Shimano ones.
Luis
Luis
#23
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
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I bought a pair of 'Toe clips' a while back that had a plate on the bottom to attach a pair of cleats, this way you could wear your regular shoes & use clipless pedals. I gave up on clipless pedals a while ago & don't know what happened to those toe clips, but they were a pretty decent solution for riding in regular shoes, but with clipless pedals.
#24
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 389
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From: Cape Coral, FL
Bikes: '79 Schwinn Varsity
You may want to look into SPD sandals (Lake or Schimano). I found them quite preferrable to MTB shoes during the occasional days that I had rain on the way in.......with shoes, they rarely dried out in time for my trip home.....with sandals, it wasn't an issue. On the occasional mornings when temps were in the 30's or 40's, I would wear smart-wool socks, leggings and Sealskin socks....kept my feet more than dry and warm enough in the sandals.
#25
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,082
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From: Southern CaliFORNIA.
Bikes: KHS Alite 500, Trek 7.2 FX , Masi Partenza, Masi Fixed Special, Masi Cran Criterium
MTB. I like Speedplay Frogs, but SPD works well to. I keep street shoes at my desk and change when I get there.




