Running Shoes fine to Cycle in?
 

I've been riding my, as you all know by now, GF Mamba Mountain Bike (with roadish tires) in a pair of Mizuno running shoes that I wore to run in...back when I was a runner.

Do road shoes such as the Giro Grynd Road Shoe offer me anything better than what I get just riding my bike in my running shoes? And do road shoe sizes line up pretty well with other types of shoes?

Thank you for your help...reached the 11 mile mark on my ride today (after only my 4th ride) - not much compared to many of you but I had to train for 6 months before I could run over 10 miles :)

TripleB67

I wear regular street shoes for cycling. Given a choice, I prefer something with a stiffer sole, such as hiking shoes.

Running shoes tend to be a little small ... . couldn't get much speed up between the heel and toe, I'd think. Try clown shoes.

More seriously, the stiffer the sole, the less stress on your foot, the fewer foot cramps, the greater efficiency ... but I used to have really strong feet and cycled in kung-fu slipper sometimes.

Sizes can be dodgy ... usually a site like Nashbar will have comparative size charts but it can still be dodgy ordering online.

it really depends on the type of pedals that you are using. and if you have problems with your current shoes, like foot numbness, hot spots.
If you start having foot problems, you may want to look at shoes that have a stiff sole and spreads pressure across the entire foot instead of just where the pedal meet shoe.

I recommend some bike shoes. I also used my running shoes, for a while. Mizuno also.
Then new balance, which were stiffer.

Now I have bike shoes. They are better. You just need to commit. Bottom line is, I'm no longer a runner. I'm a novice biker. Might as well embrace it.

When I first started cycling more seriously, I knew I needed shoes with stiff soles, so I managed to find a pair of walking shoes that had a good solid, quite stiff sole and I rode with them for a few years.

Then I went to road cycling shoes which were great while I raced, but when I got into randonneuring, I decided that mountain bike cycling shoes were the better option.

I understand what you're saying...it's almost like a delay in the response I get from pushing on the pedals and when the power from the push gets to the pedals!

I'm using the pedals that came on the bike when I purchased it back in 2000. They seem pretty 'grippy' when using my running shoes. No foot numbness (only numbness I ever get is sometimes in my left hand) or hot spots...very comfy but like I mentioned above not very responsive!

What type did you get? True, I'll never be a runner again (after microfracture knee surgery in 2012)...now I'm a cyclist! Really hate I waited this late in life (49) to start...absolutely loving it and I've only been committed to it for 5 days now!

btw...here are the shoes I was talking about : Giro Grynd Road Shoes

Thanks for all the responses so far!!!

TripleB67

I hate laces ... but that's just me. They are actually very appealing shoes ... for me, particularly if I could install cleats and cover them and still walk normally. But those would definitely be stiff enough.

I dug out my old adidas Sambas when I switched from riding mostly flat pedal mtb's in lightweight hikers to my current road bike with toe clips. Any kind of tread seemed to catch the pedal at times when getting my foot out of the clip. I have gone on several 20+ mile rides a week in them with no pain or discomfort. They serve me fine, as your shoes probably would, until I decide I really need proper cycling shoes

I have a pair of those :thumb:

TripleB67

Since my mtb has not clipless pedals i use always running shoes on it. Maybe using them is wrong but i'll use becouse they are confy and more lightweight than others type.

I'd rather walk in running shoes than run in riding shoes!

In my estimation, no, and here's why: If there is any "flexing" it would come at the ankle, and stiff soles can't do a thing about that. But keeping my ankle from flexing seems quite easy, even when standing and hammering. I notice no difference in ride times or comfort when using cycling specific shoes. Of course off the bike there's no contest... running shoes for the win.

Now if you were an aspiring racer who's logging tons of miles, yeah, there might be some small noticeable/trackable advantage there. But for you where you are now? I highly doubt it. Of course if spending $$$ is no object, give 'em a whirl and see for yourself. :thumb:

I ride with running kicks all the time on my platform pedals. No soreness or pain or any discomfort of any sort.

The brand and model would tell more about the pedal than they are the ones that came with my bike. I have know idea.

If you are looking at the shoes that you linked, are you ordering them online? I wouldn't do that unless you have tried them on at a store somewhere. the fit of cycling shoes is all over the place, and if you have narrow or wide feet, some brands are wide and some are narrow and some are in-between

My only real rule is "no laces" - had 1 too many laces come untied and sucked into the chain.

I use large mountain bike platform pedals. My feet and toes go numb in running shoes. I need to get a stiff soled shoe. I looked at my steel toe tennis shoes one day and thought, that might work. Been wearing them ever since, LOL. Still need to get just a nice stiff soled hiking shoe for the bike

After relearning how to properly tie my shoes (lots of u-tube video's on this) I've yet to have a lace come untied. On the bike the exposed ends and loops also get tucked into the shoe for extra safety. I often ride fixed gear where a loose lace caught in the crank/chain ring could cause a really bad day.

The difference between running shoes and cycling shoes is that cycling shoes have shanks so they don't deform under load.
These are needed in any pedal that loads on the ball of your foot.
Otherwise part of your pedal energy goes into straining your arch, taking away pedal efficiency and possibly causing arch pain (Plantar fasciitis).
Check Chrome sneakers, etc., which are made for cycling and have good shanks built into them.

Where you can get away with running shoes, sandals, etc., are large platform pedals, where the foot load is distributed evenly in front and behind your arch.
As demonstrated in replies above, even this doesn't work for everybody. I personally can ride 80+ mi in my Merrells on my platforms without strain or circulation pinch.

Something else about circulation pinch. Our feet swell when we cycle - our blood goes there, so don't lace your shoes tightly.

http://www.sicklines.com/wp-content/...s-1024x589.jpg

The entire point of cycling shoes is that they allow you to mount cleats for clipless pedals. I see no reason to buy cycling shoes unless you plan to join the modern world and buy clipless pedals.

I mostly commute and use toe clips. For years I had worn old sneakers and such and was happy. four years ago I bought skateboard shoes. They have a thicker, stiffer sole. I am now happier.

I use pedals similar to what bulldog1935 shows in his post above. For shoes I use a (tennis) court shoe; court shoes tend to have a stiffer sole than running shoes, and a less aggressive tread pattern on the soles, so they'll grip the pedals a little better.

The Giro Grynd looks interesting. I presume because it is a cycling shoe, it would be stiffer than a running shoe, which is a good thing. I recommend you try clipless pedals. Once I went clipless, I never went back.

they do compress with every downward pedal stroke, a hard sole bike shoe will not mush every downward pedal stroke.... But

if you will walk or run then you have to change shoes , such as is done on swim-bike-run triathlons.

so it depends on context ..

I ride in the shoes I'm going to wear at work , on a concrete floor..

if I were riding my bike all day long .. then..

I'd put on different shoes and another kind of pedal on the bike.

your running trainers will be fine for non ambitious JRA cycling..





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