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commuting with clip pedals/shoes?

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Old 06-12-13, 04:07 PM
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commuting with clip pedals/shoes?

what do you do? carry an extra pair of shoes in a back pack?

i need to go to the hardware store. i would normally drive, but i'm trying to make more of an effort to bike when i can. it's just a few miles down the road. nothing i can't handle.

my bike has clip pedals. they don't work very well with street shoes. my bike shoes are hard, noisy and hard to walk in. i about busted my arse one time at "the other place" pizza pub on their tile floor. it would take me longer to change shoes at the store then change back into bike shoes than it would to just go in and do my business. i don't really want to take the time to put the regular pedals back on the bike.

thoughts?

Last edited by tpolley; 06-12-13 at 04:11 PM.
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Old 06-12-13, 04:11 PM
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https://www.keenfootwear.com/us/en/wall/shoes/men/pedal
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Old 06-12-13, 04:12 PM
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If you do want to carry a spare pair, minimalist shoes are nice (more of the running style). They typically will lay quite flat in a pack.
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Old 06-12-13, 04:36 PM
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I usually keep my dress shoes at the office (actually, they overnight in the bike box), but occasionally I will just wear them for the commute home if I have an errand to run. It depends on the pedal, of course. If you have SPD-SL pedals, they are big enough to use as platforms if you have rubber soled shoes. Leather soled shoes are too slippery, though.
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Old 06-12-13, 04:36 PM
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I just hobble around at stores and whatnot in my cycling shoes. I just got a pair of "touring SPD shoes" that have a recessed cleat and that makes it less noisy. Still a bit awkward but quieter.

I keep a pair of street shoes at my desk to change into, when I get to work.
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Old 06-12-13, 04:57 PM
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I just wear my sneakers on the bike, and at the office... Just a pair of good skate shoes. I suppose I'm benefitted by having a super casual dress code.
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Old 06-12-13, 04:59 PM
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I wear touring shoes and run spd pedals... they are not as stiff as my road or mtb shoes (also walkable) but for any time off the bike I pack my Merrell barefoot shoes as the shoes I ride in are not comfortable for long periods because of back issues and any kind of heel in a shoe or boot.
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Old 06-12-13, 05:36 PM
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DZRshoes.com has some nice casual bike shoes. They're a little pricey, but I've enjoyed mine so far for 5 or so months. Their shoes are very walkable. I have worn them for a day at work, but generally pack a second pair of shoes, or leave a pair at work.
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Old 06-12-13, 05:37 PM
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I've got the same problem OP, but I plan to just get a set of recessed cleat mountain bike shoes and just use those.
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Old 06-12-13, 05:52 PM
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Ever thought to the pedal adapter? I was thinking of the same thing for the hardware store runs with the trailer... Never tried them myself, but at least i wouldn't have to change my yard shoes for my cycles shoes for 3-4 miles.

https://problemsolversbike.com/produc..._pedal_adapter

T
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Old 06-12-13, 08:51 PM
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my Shimano MT22's (SPD) are easy to walk in. i have about a 1/4mi walk to my office from the parking lot.

i keep a pair of casual and a pair of dress shoes in my office.
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Old 06-12-13, 08:57 PM
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buy some cleat covers.
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Old 06-12-13, 09:11 PM
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Originally Posted by tpolley

my bike has clip pedals. . . . . . . .i don't really want to take the time to put the regular pedals back on the bike.

thoughts?
This problem is easily solved with a little basic algebra, simply expressed as n+1. Then put these on your +1: https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1033468_-1___
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Old 06-13-13, 07:57 AM
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I've tried the sneakers-disguised-as-clipless-shoes before and didn't like them at all (Chrome and Mission Workshop DZR). Here's how I do it now:

For work commutes, I just wear my mtb Sidis, since they're the most comfortable and I have to wear dress shoes at work anyways, which I wouldn't ride my bike while wearing.

For quick errands and putting around town, I wear sneakers or (gasp) flip flops on my commuter bike, which has SPD / platform combo pedals (XT touring pedals mmmmm), or my cargo bike, which has bmx platforms.

If I'm going to be riding around all day or riding far before stopping for a while (longer distance bike picnics, S24O's, exploration rides w/ a bar stop at the end), I'll just wear my mtb shoes and depending on the destination and bike/bag I'm using, pack some flip flops or sneakers to change into.
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Old 06-13-13, 01:55 PM
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I keep my keen shoes by my desk for office use and don't tote them back and forth. I use mountain bike shoes with recessed cleats and spd pedals. I can walk fairly well in those too if needed.
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Old 06-13-13, 01:59 PM
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What type of pedals? I ride Speedplay Zeros and use "Keep on Kovers." They stay on all the time rather than the Speedplay brand covers which you have to take off while riding. For other pedals, you're not so lucky. But cleat covers reduce the slippage and wear on the cleats...
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Old 06-13-13, 02:03 PM
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Have a Pedal Wrench? why dont you put different pedals on when the Roadie Kit is a PIA.

Hang the saddle nose over something it only takes a Minute to unscrew 1 pair
and screw the others On.

i don't really want to take the time to put the regular pedals back on the bike.

thoughts?
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Old 06-13-13, 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by tpolley
what do you do? carry an extra pair of shoes in a back pack?

i need to go to the hardware store. i would normally drive, but i'm trying to make more of an effort to bike when i can. it's just a few miles down the road. nothing i can't handle.

my bike has clip pedals. they don't work very well with street shoes. my bike shoes are hard, noisy and hard to walk in. i about busted my arse one time at "the other place" pizza pub on their tile floor. it would take me longer to change shoes at the store then change back into bike shoes than it would to just go in and do my business. i don't really want to take the time to put the regular pedals back on the bike.

thoughts?
I assume that you are using road bike pedals and shoes. That's the problem. Road bike shoes are only good for bicycling. Mountain bike shoes can be as stiff as road bike shoes and you can walk in them. I haven't used road bike pedals since the mid90s and I don't see any reason to go back.
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