urbanlegend

Hi,

I'm about to pull the trigger on a new performance hybrid, probably a Giant Rapid 3. I have a question about bike shoes.

The Rapid comes with pedals with toe-clips and I have never used them before. I'll probably use them for a while as I don't think I'm in a hurry to go to clipless pedals.

I'm wondering if I'm better off wearing running shoes or buying cheaper bike shoes like these: https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1268961013412 They seem like the soles are much stiffer than a regular running shoe.

Any opinions welcome...

J

kh6idf

I wear cross trainers with my Marin Fairfax. It has toe clips & straps. The soles of the shoes are pretty worn down from many miles of walking but they work fine on the bike. I keep the straps loose enough so it's easy to get in and out of but they are still functional as far as being able to pull up on the pedals. I have thought of getting a pair of mountain bike type shoes, but so far the cross trainers (New Balance) are working just fine. When I first got the bike, I thought I might convert to clipless pedals after a while, but I don't see any reason at all to do that now. I'll save the clipless pedals for when I graduate to a real road bike in another year or so.

That Giant Rapid 3 looks like a pretty good bike for the price. Quite similar to my Fairfax except for the forks are different materials (steel vs carbon). One of the best things I did on my bike was to replace the round grips with Ergon GP-1's. Eliminated wrist pain on longer rides.

Creeze

Hey J... Out of curiosity, what other bikes did you look at? I am heading down to test ride the Rapid 3 and the Sirrus over the weekend.

Funny... I keep looking at those clips and wonder if I will like em... IT's the only part of the Rapid I don't like (on paper anyway)

urbanlegend

Hey Creeze,

I'm also looking at the Trex 7.2 fx, the Kona Door Prize and the Specialized Sirrus. Heading out in a few minutes to try to get some rides in before it rains. If one doesn't feel significantly better on a test ride, I'll probably go with the Giant.

My understanding of the toe clips is that they can be removed with a couple of screws if you only want a flat pedal. And of course pedals can be changed.

I think the 2010 Sirrus comes with toe clips too.

J

Creeze

Sounds like the same bikes I'm looking at. I tested a 09 7.2 last night and wasn't impressed (with either the bike or the shop), so I'm heading to ride the Rapid and Sirrus this morning. The Door Prize looks like a shop specific bike, and there is no close Kona dealer to me anyhow.

Panthers007

I wear cheap sneakers. I love toe-clips - and cheap sneakers work fine for me. Hard-soled "bike-shoes" hurt my feet.

To each, their own.

urbanlegend

thanks. i think i'll stick with running shoes for now.

i rode the sirrus, 7.2 fx and door prize today. the door prize seemed a little more upright than the other two. i'm not feeling much of a difference at all between the bikes. i think i like the rapid 3 the best so one more spin on that and i'll take it.

the door prize is store specific. at a high-level it is the kona dew with lighter wheels, thinner tires, a deore derailleur and lighter handlebars and stem. of course, i don't work for the store and am going by memory on these differences that the sales person mentioned to me.

j

Wanderer

You usually get a lot of bike, for your money, with Giant.

Creeze

Picked up the Rapid 3 today. I was actually fairly torn between that and the Trek 7.3. I rode the 7.2 and wasn't thrilled, but the 7.3 had a faster and more comfortable feel to it. But the Rapid was the best of the bunch for me. Good luck on your decision.

urbanlegend

thanks.

i bought the rapid 3 yesterday. the store's putting a rack on it for me so i don't get to pick it up until later this week. that's okay since the temperature plunged again here in Toronto.

j

referee54

I just purchased a Rapic 3 today---I sold my Raleigh C-2000 to a friend of mine---however, I am taking the pedals off o the C-200 and having the LBS put them on the new Giant. I have Shamano pedals---oneside is slipless, the other side it a platform. I generally ride with clipless pedals and I wear Shamano shoes. I like it much better than the old toe clips that I started with. THe are, I beleive, MT 41's---they are very comfortable and I have actually worn them to school when I forgot my other shoes---I taught in them all day and rode home in them.

Tim C.

cyber_hawke

I rode with the same pedals for a while but found that for riding in traffic they were a little complicated. Plus I forgot to step out of the clips until almost too late a couple of times. I switched to a broad flat pedal like I was using on my mountain bike and that seemed to work great. Also ride with a pair of skate boarding shoes, also work great.

nymtber

I personally would rather be clipped in than have toe clips and straps. I find it much more intuitive to get out of clipless, myself. I wear MTB shoes and use Shimano M520 pedals on my hybrid. On my mountain bike, I actually use flat nylon cage pedals because I am only riding that with my girlfriend on crushed limestone trails...normally not riding very hard For flat pedals or toe clips, a little stiffer sole than running/crosstraining shoes would be helpful.

I do generally just use my beat up $20 reebok sneakers on my mountain bike. The soles are worn out but they are still together, somehow...

cyber_hawke

Talking about clipping in, anyone know of a shoe that is made for people with short wide feet? I wear an 8 EE shoe and cant seem to find a decent clipless shoe for wide feet without spending several hundred dollars. Is the second reason I went to flat pedals on my bikes.

referee54

I agree---once I practiced and became used to the clipless, that was the way to go. I do not use anything else, and my riding---on crushed limestone trails, on multi-purpose trials, and on roads, is fine. When I first purchased the clipless pedals, I did take my bike up to my school where i teach over spring break once---nobody was there, and I rode around the hallways---until I got the hang of it;then I went outside to the parking lot and practiced some more. I feel very comfortable now riding with the clipless pedals.

tatfiend 

Sidi offers wide shoes in their Mega sizes, both road and MTB versions, but they are high priced. From numerous posts I have seen wide bike shoes seem to be scarce, and expensive, items.

urbanlegend

i ended up with running shoes for casual riding with the family or riding where i'm going to want to walk easily after. i also got the bike shoes linked in my first post. they have a fairly stiff sole and are spd compatible. they offer more support than a runner for use in the toe clips and in future i can use them as entry-level clipless shoes.

so far so good!

j