YankeeRider

Hi all - I currently have a commuter bike with Shimano SPD cleats that I am about to get get rid of. I don't want to go with cleats on my next bike, which will also be a road bike, but more upright, as I am closing in on 60, and have issues with my neck as well as my hands and wrists, but want to continue moderate exercise, to include cycling. If it matters, I am looking hard presently at the Specialized Roll Elite step-over, which does have the desired platform pedals.

My question is, what would be good, comfortable, reasonable efficient shoes for platform pedals? I have mid-sized but wide feet, normally wearing a 9.5 2E. Aesthetically, I am not too fussy, but prefer something low-key, i.e. looking like a normal shoe, something along the lines of the Specialized 2FOs. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

fietsbob

Go with your age appropriate , peer approved fashion choice.. I add a stiff arch support insole, and they're good for harder pedal pushing efforts..


winter its boots I got Blundstones last winter.. summer its Birkenstocks , same pair resoled over again .. from the 70's..

themp

I enjoy these: https://www.keenfootwear.com/p/M-NEWPORT-H2.html

BirdsBikeBinocs

How about a nice pair of Skechers.?? Sneakers....

canklecat

Five Ten may have the stiffest and grippiest soles for platform pedals, especially the Freerider versions, and some models look like ordinary walking or activity shoes. The only criticism I've read is that some of the high end models have soles that trade off durability in favor of grip.

Shimano, Pearl Izumi, Merrell and others all made good shoes. It's just a matter of finding a compromise between grip and stiffness for pedaling while also being suitable for ordinary walking. And price.

My hybrid has platform pedals (Stolen Brand Thermalites, good and cheap) and I switch between Merrell shoes (good soft soles for walking, not quite as stiff and grippy as I'd like for pedaling), RBX all purpose athletic shoes and a pair of 45 year old Herman Survivor boots I've had since I was 15. They're heavy but heavily insulated and comfortable for winter rides.

My road bike has clipless pedals and due to back, neck and shoulder injuries I've had to made adjustments and modifications. I can't slam the stem but can still manage with it about 2" below saddle height. I just switched from a flat to slightly curved saddle to see if it corrects some lower back posture problems. Thick padded bar tape to ease jolts to my shoulder and neck. I can't handle the drops comfortable for long so I may switch to compact drops. But eventually I may not be able to ride with drops, at least not on an older style road bike. Newer road bikes with compact frames and drop bars and ergo hoods are much more comfortable.

YankeeRider

Thanks for the replies all! I do a fair amount of walking outdoors, so I wear Vasque Mantra 2.0s (a low hiker) with support insoles as an everyday casual shoe. They are made for different duty - walking rocky trails with no pack, but the soles are about as stiff as low hikers get, so it sounds like I might be okay trying those out - would be awesome if they could just do double duty. Then if they are uncomfortable or feel like they may be soaking up a lot of pedaling energy, I can look into Five Tens etc that you all have suggested too.

jon c. 

If you can remove the cleats, you can wear the same shoes. I need a very stiff sole and find bike shoes without cleats work well on platforms for me.

u235

I lean towards some type of water shoe like the Columbia Drainmaker. Use it off the bike too. It really comes down to a personal preference.

wolfchild

Use whatever shoes are comfortable or suitable for the occasion...I get so tired of people always recommending to wear only bike-specific shoes as if to mean that it's impossible to ride without them.....One of the great advantages of platform pedals is that you can wear any type of shoe or boot you want. I've wear many different types of shoes with my platform pedals, the list includes: hiking boots/shoes, tactical boots, casual shoes/boots, running shoes, multi-sport training shoes.

megaclyde

I have wide feet too. I ride flat pedals on all but one of my bikes and I've had good luck with Reebok Club MEMT sneakers.

JohnDThompson 

The pedals on the Roll Elite do not have narrow cages that would dig into a soft-sole shoe. I suspect you'd be fine with any street shoe or sneakers.

Tanstaafl

I wear a pair of "sneakers" when riding my bike. To me, the pedal is the important part. Using a platform pedal with the "spikes" really goes a long way in keeping my feet in spot on the pedal.

Gconan

I do not have a shoe recommendation but this flat pedal is a good one.

https://pedalinginnovations.com

bcpriess

Second the comments on studded pedals. They make such a huge difference in keeping your foot planted with just about any kind of shoes, though I prefer to ride with my Saucony trail running shoes. I have VP001 and Wellgo MG1's on my bikes. Wouldn't trade them for anything.

calstar 

+1 You save some $ by not buying new shoes and have a stiffer sole than any non cycling shoe.

Flip Flop Rider

flip flops if its hot, tennis shoes if its 70-50 degrees, hiking boots when its in the 40's or lower. experiment and find out what is comfortable for you

Paul Barnard

I ride platforms more than anything else. The number one consideration for me in a shoe is weight. I look for a lightweight shoe. The next most important criteria is that I like a sole that's fairly stiff. It doesn't need to be bike shoe stiff, but on the stiffer end of an athletic shoe makes a difference. The tread pattern matters too. I like low even tread rather than heavily lugged soles. The heavy lugs never seem to settle in the right spot on the pedal. I's also recommend buying a good alloy studded pedal.

BrocLuno

I like nice big flat pedals. Wellgo 990's have a Kryton grip surface that is pretty sticky without spikes.

Get some good "Skate Shoes" (like skate boarders wear) in a size and configuration that fits right. They come wild multi-color to almost so formal you could wear them to the O Club for dinner

Some come pretty thickly padded on the sides so they'll keep your feet warm in the cold when walking around. Others come thin and light'ish ... All have good grippy soles

rollagain

I still can't quite get over how well Teva Universals work for me--the cheapest model they sell. Better than the Skechers, which flex too much. I use Smartwool socks with the Tevas when it's chilly; good down to about 45 F or so.

PaulRivers

Five Ten shoes rubber compound grips flat pedals with pins like it's clipless in every direction other than pulling up...it's definitely the best flat shoe. You might be able to find other cheaper shoes from other brands.

Five Ten flat shoes:
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/fivete...efit&prefv1=62

The specific shoe I use because it was the most normal looking:
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/five-t...shoes#start=27


They're also coming out with a new "casual" shoe the Sleuth Dlx:
https://enduro-mtb.com/en/five-ten-k...oa-sleuth-dlx/


They're definitely not cheap ($125 or so), but it's worth it for me, the most comfortable flat pedals I've ever used (after trying several) are the DMR Vaults:
https://www.dmrbikes.com/Catalogue/P...lt-2/Vault-NEW


P.S. Shoe "stiffness" is a bit overhyped. People have tried comparing flats vs clipless in the lab and they can't even find a drawback with regular tennis shoes to flats. There's some argument over how precisely you can measure things in the lab vs riding outdoors, but if you're not measuring your time in seconds and milliseconds there's no difference.

BikingTech

I've been wearing house brand running shoes from Target for the past 3 years and they've served me well for bike riding with flat pedals. I took notes on these suggestions because it it time to retire these nasty looking shoes.

fietsbob

Ergon Pedals you can wear any shoe you like..

YankeeRider

Thanks again for all the input, people - lots to think about here

T Stew

Or no shoes at all... I fend Ergons to be my favorite barefoot pedal. Cheapest, lightest, coolest (for hot weather), most comfortable shoes I have found is no shoes at all

GamblerGORD53

I have been wearing ONLY STEEL TOE running shoes for 9 years, I'm 65. In winter ST rubber boots. ha
The only ones I have found to like lately are ones I got at Canadian Tire general stores. They have mixed materials with some vents, not leather.
It's a crap shoot getting the right sole, color and the fit all together on one shoe. So i bought 2 pairs this time.
The other new styles have a lower cut side and back that I detest.
I have used them on 125 mile all day IGH bike rides and on 2 tours of 8,100 miles. About 40 miles pushing the 120 bike up the mountains.
Walk anywhere you feel like with them.