Cleats vs Shoes for Newbie
 

I have done about 500km a month for my first 2 months commuting and I'm thinking about getting bike shoes.

What are good choices for a Newbie?

Thanks

Greg

For commuting, most people would recommend touring or MTB shoes. They're a lot easier than road shoes to walk in, even if it's only a few feet to the lobby. Beyond that, it's a pretty personal choice.

This is my take.
You don't need cleats when commuting. However after about a week using cleats becomes second nature, so why not just use them. I find the main benefits of cleats when commuting is keeping your foot from slipping off in heavy rain. Other benefits are pretty small, but given how easy they are why not.

I think the deciding point is if you want to change your shoes. If you plan to have "biking shoes" you might as well go with cleats. If you'd like shoes that you use on the bike but also walking around then cleats are probably a pain.

I

I rode with cleats for about a month and finally pulled them off my shoes. They were just too much trouble. One more thing to deal with. I find that I need to come to complete stops, both planned and unplanned fairly often. If I had nothing but long stretches of non-stop goodness, then they would have the advantage of non-slipping and proper foot placement. Now it is embarrassing to admit but I actually fell over cleated in.
Most biking shoes come without the cleats and have generally stiffer soles than running shoes. You can try them without or spring for the cleats and pedals and try that out. I have the hybrid pedals that are platform and cleated on one side. I did get better at locating the cleated side without looking but it was just too much more effort for little return. I tried a set of Shimano shoes that were styled to look like casual walkers with laces. There was a leather loop holding the laces down and that got cleated into the pedal. It would not come out easily and I actually had to remove the shoe from my foot to remove it from the pedal. I still use cleats with my road bike. The shoes that still have cleats are Shimano with Velcro straps.
Keep in mind most commuters don't wear shoes at all (they live in underdeveloped countries) and do just fine.

Some of my commuters have SPD's (M520) others wear platform pedals. The way I see it the platforms are nice because you can wear pretty much any shoe and there's no learning curve for clipping in and out. The clipless pedals are nice because I've never had my foot slip off the pedal as sometimes happens with the platforms. You need to do what works for you and your bike(s).

I'd recommend SPD compatible for commuting, the SPD shoes tend to work better for me because I can wear the same shoes I biked in while at work. I did tip over once or twice when I first started using them, but only from complete stops when I forgot to unclip before coming to a stop, now it's just second nature, haven't had any issues since. That's urban/suburban/rural commuting around Rochester, NY based on the specific job at the time.

I wear Chacos in the summer and hiking boots in the winter. No need for special footwear here, but to each his own. Just out of curiosity, why are you thinking about getting bike shoes, what benefit are you looking for. (Not trying to stir anything up, just curious)

It's a valid question. Some people claim significant performance gains with clipless pedals. I saw big improvements in certain situations but only a modest gain in overall speed. They don't shorten my commute by any meaningful amount of time.

I went clipless mostly for recreational/racing purposes. I've come to like the feeling of being clipped in and I do commute that way most of the year but there are hassles and expenses associated with the decision to go clipless.

Thanks for that response. I can understand getting used to them in a racing situation and then continuing to use them because it feels comfortable to you.

If you are not sure if you need cleats, then you probably don't need them.

I use cleated shoes because I've been riding and racing for over 40 years and I couldn't imagine not cycling in them. I also take the long way to work, and after work I usually go for a ride that sometimes takes three hours before I get home. If that's what you plan to do, then I would certainly recommend cleated shoes. SPD is the most versatile, IMHO. But if you're just riding to work and back, no hills or rain, you can just go with what you wear at work.

If you do decide to go for the cleated shoes, I would recommend the Shimano RT-82 with SPD cleats; the "RT-" designation is basically a mountain bike shoe without the lugged sole, so you can use them for touring, walking on pavement. I rode P-B-P in my RT-80's, so they're stiff enough & comfortable enough for extended rides.

Luis

Not if you ride SPD. They make freestyle MTB shoes now that look like skateboarding shoes and position the cleat fully recessed inside the sole. And of course, you can get SPD sandals (gag). Not stiff enough to ride 40 miles with the local "A" group, but more than enough to buzz around town.

http://www.amazon.com/FiveTenn-Mens-.../dp/B007G72SOG

The biggest benefits of clipless on a commuter are: no foot slip during wet conditions, while climbing, or while sprinting to make it through an intersection. Platforms work perfectly for commuting 95% of the time. That last 5% where you slip off a pedal swerving to avoid a clueless pedestrian or vehicle, whack your man parts on the TT, and crash. Biggest problem: you will probably tip over after forgetting to unclip at least once. It won't hurt too bad, but it will almost certainly occur on camera or in the presence of close friends. Not that I speak from experience, of course.

My tips for a commuter shoe:

- As with any pair of shoes, the way the fit your feet is very important. They should be really comfortable right away, So try on several pairs from different manufacturers if you can and buy for comfort. But realize that the soles should be stiff so they wont feel like normal shoes when walking but they're better when pedaling.

- Buy shoes that give you the option of clipless even if you don't jump in to that right away. (the arguments for and against clipless are well documented in this forum I'm not weighing in again) If you do you're set, if you don't they'll still perform well due to the thinner profile on the pedal and stiff soles among other things.

- Get the right weight for the temps you are mostly riding in. Depending on where you live and ride it might be sandals, or mesh panels, or regular nylon/cordura, or leather, or winter insulated. I have all of them, but I ride all types of weather, all types of bikes, as well as commuting for decades.

My story in case others are similar:
1. I am using an old pair of running shoes that one of our dogs loves to chew on so they don't look all that great so I was thinking about getting a pair of shoes just for biking.
2. I got caught in the rain a couple of times and the running shoes don't dry out very fast so I'm wondering if bike shoes might be better.
3. I only use the shoes for biking, I have separate dress shoes at work I change into and other shoes for while I'm at home, my bike shoes are a pair of good running shoes that have done there time and were replaced long ago.
4. I bike about 20-25km a day so I figure a pair of shoes might be a good idea, I know when I started running and went to the Running Room for good shoes they made a big difference not in speed but comfort.
5. My ride has only about 5-6 stops, one short walk of 100m (no bike riding bridge) and walking on and off a light rail train.

I'll probably get the shoes at MEC (Canadian version of REI), if you see a pair you think is good (or bad) let me know:
http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Cycling/Footwear.jsp

This pair is the closest match to my bike (cause you know that's important!):
http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Cycling/Footwear/PRD~5028-176/northwave-fighter-sbs-cycling-shoes-mens.jsp

Thanks for all the comments.

Greg

I have a suggestion that may sound outlandish at first but actually has merit. As well as being a cyclist I'm also a runner and have been labeled 'old skool' by my fellow runners... I run in flats. meaning 'sneakers' like Keds and Chucks. I'm not a heel striker so I'm OK. A little over a year ago I got a pair of Vibram FiveFingers to run in and ended up wearing them even when I wasn't running because they felt so good to wear. Since I don't wear bicycle specific shoes anyway I went on a ride wearing said VFFs... what a breakthrough that was! I didn't need clips or hipster PowerBands like what I have on my fixie... the VFFs allowed my toes to grip the pedals like a monkey grips a banana with it's feet. It was awesome! So simple yet so effective!

Sorry but VFFs are like fingernails on a chalkboard to me, don't know why but just can't do it. I tried the socks for a while but couldn't keep them on for more than 5 minutes. I have a narrow foot with toes tight together so maybe that's it.

REI had this:
http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advi...ing-shoes.html
and this:
http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/bike-pedals.html

Which I found very helpful for someone like me with little knowledge.

Greg

Safety concerns aside, other cyclists can't believe the power I can generate riding true barefoot on junkie Pyramid Barefoot Pedals. With infinitly variable stiffness built into my foot musculature (I'm a barefoot runner), no material to compress, and toes naturally gripping the pedal when in the proper position over the axle, I truly believe that the only faster alternative is a full blown cleated road shoe.
But those are what caused my arthritic foot joints to begin with, forcing me into barefoot activity as a result, so not an option for me!
Your Vibrams are probably ALMOST as good!

Just run toe clips and Adidas Sambas. What's the question again?

Well just as long as you choose from one of the higher performance colors with the logo positioned in the right place.:thumb:

If you decide to get the shoes. I love my sidi's. They are expensive, but I think they're worth every penny.

+1.

If you can walk and chew gum at the same time, you'll be fine with cleats. This, believe it or not, rules out quite a few people.

I can't imagine riding without cleats. It's just better and more comfortable with them than without them.

J.

All joking aside (with regards to my previous response... although I do occasionally wear VFFs while cycling I was only joking about the monkey-grip aspect... almost that whole post was tongue in cheek) I haven't worn cleats since the mid 80s. Nowadays I can't imagine having to make sure that I have cleats on hand every time I feel like going for a ride. It took awhile to condition/strengthen my feet and build up the necessary muscles after donning cleats for so many years but in the end it was well worth the effort to shed them.

<soap box>Trifusion, IMHO it's best to not even start down the road of cycling specific shoes with support/bracing. It's no different than with every other aspect of taking on a new pursuit/sport, you have to take it easy in the beginning and let your body adapt to new stresses. If you took up running and your ankles hurt after the first few times, would you start wearing leg braces? Just food for thought... take it FWIW.</soap box>

I rode over 100 miles this weekend true "skin to plastic" barefoot on my cheapo Pyramid barefoot pedals, and my feet never slipped once!
For what it's worth, my post on the subject was meant to be serious.