linnefaulk

I am just back on my bike this summer after 18 years off. I used to ride with SPD clipless shoes. But I am not ready to go back just yet. (I have more weight to lose and confidence to build.)

I was just riding with my walking shoes which were fine for short rides. Any ride over 40 minutes and my toes start to tingle. Today my shoes kept slipping from the platform because the tread is worn. So I either get new walking shoes or cycling shoes.

I walked into LBS to use up some time. They had none of the other things I was looking for and ended up looking at shoes. I ended up getting a pair of Bontrager Evoke MTB shoes. I am hoping to use my platform pedals for a while until I am ready to go back to clipless. These don't have much of a tread because they rely on the cleat. Will these work at all with a platform pedal. Would I be better off with a touring type shoe of even something like Van's? Though I don't think Van's are stiff enough to prevent my toes from tingling.

cafzali

They will work, but the sole of a cycling shoe will be slippery on platform pedals, so I suggest using toeclips/straps to keep your foot in place. While few people use them once they become serious cyclists, if you keep them sufficiently tight, you'll get some of the benefit of clipless.

fietsbob

grippy steel pin types are better .. the Ergon Pedals are curved face they use a friction material patch in the center to good effect .

I use these with rubber sole shoes of all sorts .. and have no real need to fasten my feet ..

when I run toe clip pedals I dont tighten the straps either .

if wanting another shoe type look at a more rigid arch supportive insole to put in it ,
that will add the stiffener that makes Bike shoes better . without being rigid, toe to heel..

the wide platform pedal will support the toe to mid foot part , on the bike.

spdracr39

If you leave the inserts for the clips in place they will work ok but the soles are very hard and will slip off more than regular shoes. I would just go ahead and use the clipless setup they are designed for and be done with it.

Jas556

Why don't you go out and give it a try? It sounds like you already have the shoes and platform pedals.

You can also get the hybrid pedals that are platform on one side and clipless on the other.

linnefaulk

I was hoping to spread out bike costs. Bike the shoes this month, get the pedals next month.

cafzali

Pedals can be had dirt cheap, relatively speaking. It's rare in cycling to get much of anything cycling specific for under $100, but you can easily do that with pedals.

Elvo

You can get shimano m520s for like $20 used or $40 new.

LesterOfPuppets

Western has them for $31.50 right now. Might need to be a Leader's club member, not sure, but that's easy enough to do.

Shimano PD-M520 SPD Pedals at WesternBikeworks

linnefaulk

I am really not ready to go clip less. I ride too many street where I need to stop.
I wore my Keen sandals (regular not SPD) and they felt really good but slipped as well. I think I am going to return the shoes and get clips. I never thought I would go there.

fietsbob

As said before ..Ergon pedals

( as would protruding steel pin large platform pedals
[ a pair which uses little set screws makes the pin height adjustable ]--)

I've used them^ year around in all weather . winter shoe: LL Bean rubber bottom ones . summer: Keen clones .

the abrasive friction patch in the center is quite effective ,,
and the built in reflectors are large and curves around to be lit from many angles ..

linnefaulk

Those look pretty interesting. They aren't a cheap alternative but might be good for my huge feet.

LesterOfPuppets

My favorite platform combo:

Odyssey Twisted PC pedals ($15 or so) + A fresh pair of Vans - ($40 or so)

My favorite clips-n-straps combo:

Suntour Cyclone pedals ($15 or so) + some nice trail running shoes, but not overly lugged ($40 or so.)

linnefaulk

I got my Ergon Pedals yesterday only to find that they are incompatible with my cranks. My cranks are solid on the back so there is no way to tighten the Ergon pedals.
I waited a week for these and was tired of my feet slipping. I took the old beat up pedals from my son's old bike which have pins. My feet stayed put but I still got tingling.

fietsbob

Go to a well equipped Bike Shop and they can drill out the closed end of the crankarm, just enough, and run the 2 pedal taps through
to make it work fine ,, threading all the way through the crank arm ..

Tingling is Neurology , medical , not mechanics.

linnefaulk

That was going to be my next option. I wonder how much they will charge to do that?
I thought the tingling was from pressure on just parts of the foot and not spread out like cycling shoes is supposed to do?

fietsbob

Since I don't Know what Florida shop overhead is and thus the shop rates are, I cannot even guess, call on the phone and ask?


I resolved foot discomfort problems with Better Insoles, IE other than the ones that came in the Shoes ..

gregjones

I had the same problem with platform/SPD pedals, A530 I think. Very slick when wet.

I painted the platforms with nail polish and sprinkled play sand out of the kids sandbox on the fresh paint/polish. After it dried I "painted" it again. It worked great.

I just got a cheap bottle of nail polish from the dollar store, the hardware store wanted more for the smallest can of black paint than it was worth for my needs.