Ah ha! This isn’t the question you thought it’d be...

Bought some new cycling shoes and they are about 5 ounces heavier per shoe. The fist time I rode with them was for about 32 miles. I noticed I was a bit more tired than normal, and my leg muscles were kinda sore. I just chalked it to not being out riding as much lately due to the weather. Yesterday, I put in 51 miles at a place that is relatively flat, somewhere I go where I can gauge exactly where I stand physically and put some really good speed. After about mile 35, I was dragging tail. Legs were absolutely burning the last 10 miles. Speed dropped off about .7 mph the last 15 miles. That hardly has ever happened to me there.

So... my question is, can shoes that are only 5 oz. heavier than what you’re used to have that kind of affect, or is it probably something else?

probably ... you laid off riding for the winter, and new shoes got you back on the bike for the 1st time in months?

pushing down 1 foot lifts the other.. a few grams difference noticeable, gets into 'the princess and the pea' folk tale.. realm..






..

Possibly a different stack height.

curious, how many grams per ounce?

observation 8 oz is 1/2 lb

so 5 oz Is greater than 1/4 lb.

thus one of us could say 1/4 lb, and the other of us could say " a few grams difference"

cleat position will play a part also.

Sure. In winter I switch from lightweight casual cycling/walking shoes and low top medium weight hiking shoes to half-height leather winter boots. I can feel the difference between all three types of footwear on longer rides -- sometimes even on shorter rides.

Maybe you're tired, maybe you had a headwind the whole time, probably you aren't actually noticing the weight difference.

I have two bikes, one weights 20lbs, the other ways 27lbs. If I pick them up side by side, the difference in weight is quite noticeable. But when I'm riding, it doesn't seem to matter. The only time weight seems to matter in the real world is the initial acceleration, it is easier to get a lighter bike moving.

If you'd prefer some math: I weigh 160lbs. So me plus bike-1 is 180lbs, me plus bike-2 is 187 pounds. That's less than 4% difference. Probably that means something in a long race where seconds count... but I can't actually feel that little difference in the saddle. Sometimes I think I notice, but that's my subconscious telling me to buy a 16lb carbon bike for $10,000 because it would be super cool to have that bike.

Do the math for 5 extra ounces of shoe. Do you think that makes a difference? If so, skip lunch tomorrow and lose 5oz of weight, you'll be back to normal

If you are having pain and fatigue, my bet would be cleat position. A little fore/aft change in the cleat relative to the rest of your leg, its going to use muscles a little differently.

My long distance touring shoes were heavy, but super comfotrable, never had issues , the weight was due to their being custom modified,
using conventional shoe repair materials, which meant any repairs in other countries were easily done.

Understood. But, (and I’m no physics major by any stretch), seems to me 10 ounces of added weight on the end of your legs, that’s turning thousands of revolutions, would be significantly harder on you than 10 lbs. of extra weight on the bike.

Maybe we need a physics major to clarify.

Shoes make the man.

I have a few different pairs of cycling shoes and I never have noticed any difference, so I say no.

But is there a significant difference in weight with any of them?

Here, here!

To me, stiffness matters a lot more than weight. Is there a noticeable difference in stiffness between the new and old shoes?

Yes, it takes energy to lift the extra weight. But on the other side you have an equal extra weight pushing the pedal down, there is balance. So I doubt it’s the weight.

Sometimes clothes do not make the man.

the guy that tells you there is no difference between a Prius and a GT mustang is the Idiot that has no clue how to use an entrance ramp on the highway.

Of course the cyclist that gets winded in a couple of miles of spirited riding, will also tell you there is no perceivable difference in shoes, bicycles, tires, chain lubes, etc....

That's not exactly true due to the 2nd law of thermodynamics. There will always be some form of entropy.

Yes, new shoes are much stiffer.

So true. Still, there's no other single item that tells more about a man than the style of shoes he wears.

From a physics perspective, unless you're constantly accelerating your cadence up or down, you shouldn't notice. The more weight the harder it is to change cadence.

My vote is on cleat position. If not the same you can recruit different muscles.
Also, sometimes with new gear or the first ride after a long break, I tend to ride a bit more enthusiastically. Then I wear out quicker.

That's why I only wear Bonts. Wouldn't want anyone to think I am Sidi type of guy.

a bit over 6 ounces.

Of course its gotta be the shoes!