TheRCF

I had originally bought some Shimano SPD shoes - nothing fancy and like so many things about a bicycle, I wasn't really sure what I should look for.

Later, with some suggestions here, I got the Shimano sandals (spd) which I really do like. However, I'd doing a lot of riding lately and even in Hawaii, it gets cooler in winter when I'm riding at 2:00 AM so I got to thinking it may be good to use regular bike shoes sometimes. But the old shoes just aren't comfortable for long rides. Besides, they use laces which are both a hassle AND difficult to get the proper tightness without being too tight in one spot or another.

So, I looked at roadbikereview and listed the shoes by rating. I was surprised to see many Specialized shoes at the top so I started looking into them more (besides, the local shop is putting them all on sale - what is in stock - this weekend). Not sure which ones will be in my size, but here are ones I'm mostly looking at as possibilities:

Pro Road Shoe
Pro Carbon Road Shoe
Comp Carbon Road Shoe

Now, I'd be interested in any comments about the above, but mostly I'm concerned about the cleats. My total experience is with SPD. I understand that they don't provide much surface for pushing and that there are better options. What the store showed me was something by, I think, Crank Bros? I mentioned that the clip-on section looked like pictures I had seen of egg beaters. They said it was the same, but with the added platform.

Sounded good - though changing the pedals would cost me a good amount of money.

But I think (not sure) that those won't work with my sandals - which I really would expect to want to use sometimes. I wouldn't want to keep changing pedals each time!

Then there are the egg beaters themselves which I think will work with both the sandals (changing the cleat) or one of the shoes above.

But with regular egg-beaters, don't I lose the advantage the version with the platform gives?

I'm riding 50+ miles on almost every ride, with some special work on hills.

I'd really like any info people can give on this stuff. What I'm looking for, ideally, is a shoe which will take a cleat/pedal that works with both the sandals and the shoes above - hopefully that has some platform support unless there are other options.

Bob

CastIron

Focus on the shoe, not the pedal/cleat bits. A proper shoe will make a world of difference. Virtually any mountain shoe will fit SPD cleats right out of the box. It's common to see mountain shoes/pedals on road bikes, so don't fret over it. Specialized makes a great product, though personally, I ride on Sidi's. Just make sure they fit.

TheRCF

Yes, I understand the shoe comes first - but if there are shoes that work for me which allow me better options in other aspects, I need to know.

But I suspect the real issue won't be choosing one good shoe over another because of greater versatility, but rather what pedal/cleat combination may work with both the road shoe AND the Shimanos.

I suppose many shoes handle SPDs, so that one will probably work. Still, if a platform style has advantages, I'd like to know if any work with the sandals too.

Eggbeaters are another approach (the plain ones, not with the platform) that I really know nothing about.

Bob

Nubie

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "platform" style...do you mean SPD? Or do you mean regular plain pedals without any clip-in mechanism?

Without really understand you, my advice would be this: since you already have SPD pedals, I would get MTB-style shoes (SPD compatible), not road shoes. Road shoes will not not be compatible with regular SPDs (you will have buy SPD-R, SPD-SL, Eggbeaters, or Look pedals), whereas MTB pedals are usually compatible with SPD.

In short, you will not find "a pedal/cleat combo that will work with both road shoes and the current Shimano pedals that you have now." If you want the road shoe, you will have to get new pedals. If you don't want to get new road pedals, you will have to get SPD/MTB shoes.

TheRCF

It's the best description I could come up with. The SPD pedal is pretty small. Some pedals (clip-ins) have what looks like, in comparison, a platform which would provide, I guess, more contact area. I've heard a couple people who ride more than me say that it helps, but I have zero experience with anything other than SPD.

What the heck are SPD-R, etc, pedals? Do any of those work with sandals (I'm assuming not)?

I hadn't thought about mountain bike shoes for some reason. I guess because I liked what I saw in my first search on shoes and forgot to look at that approach.

From reading reviews, the road shoe comments with the Specialized brag on the fit, support, lightness in the carbon especially, STIFFNESS, and apparently they are pretty good at not getting hot.

I'm going to go look at the reviews on mountain bike versions, but I'd be interesting in any comments you or others have about what differences there are between the two types - especially how a road shoe may be better than a mountain shoe.

Bob

CastIron

Bob you seem a little whipped up about reviews of various products. Allow me to suggest not to be. Moving on...
There are a ton of various cleat/pedal mechanisms. Most are pretty good. At this point I think it's pretty unlikely you'll notice much difference between them while pedaling down the road. Road shoes/cleats/pedals are all about speed on the bike. This means a larger platform for slightly better power transfer. Mountain systems are built to be walkable, shed mud, and still deliver virtually all of the efficiency of road cleats--call it ~95%. Shimano makes BOTH types. SPD being their version for MTB use (and commonly touring, recreational road, cyclocross).
The different cleat systems are all about preference. Little more. If you like SPD then stick with it, buy another set of cleats for $10 and stick 'em on another pair of shoes you like. It's that simple. Really.

TheRCF

Well, the reviews serve as a starting point. I look for, among other things, consistency in comments as well as consistency in a product company. Seeing a lot of Specilized shoes getting very high ratings across the board reflects well - especially since I can only actually try a limited number of shoes (one of the problems of being on an island).

Based on more research and comments here, I may opt to stick with the SPD for awhile - thus get a mountain shoe since, I think, only the eggbeaters may work with both types of shoes if I don't use a platform style.

I sorta like the platform idea, but I'm not ready to give up on the sandals completely. Maybe I'll find the other shoes, given the higher quality over what I have, to be comfortable and cool enough for normal wear. If so, then next time I may switch to road shoes.

I do walk in my bike sandals - in fact, when my old pair were pretty worn and I replaced them, I still used the old pair for normal walking. But mostly I just walk from my apartment to outside and from where I lock the bike at the beach into a beach restaurant for breakfast, so walking comfort is nice, but not critical.

Bob