Shoes and Clipless Pedals
 

Now that I just about bought my new bike, going in today or first thing tomorrow morning, I want to be able to ride right away. Next on my list is both shoes and clipless pedals. I generally have a wide foot as I always experience pain once I buy new shoes until they stretch out. Budget wise im looking for decent quality doesn’t have to be superb but also low priced. Im not sure if those two words go together but any info with links so I can began to see what works for me would be great.

Here is my local bikeshops shoe inventory Bike Accessories : Foot Wear - Silent Sports

pedals - 520 Shimano Pedals - Silent Sports
(leaning towards these just becuase of the price) Would upgrade later on once money is saved up a bit more.

PDM985 XTR Shimano Pedal - Silent Sports

520's are good starter pedals. Those were my first clipless pedals. Regarding the shoes, you're going to just want to try on the shoes in store. Shimano makes wide versions of many of their models, but you're better off trying on various brands in store and see what they have in stock for wide models.

Thanks will do!! I'm so freaking excited lol

I put together a bike this spring with Shimano A520 pedals and Rt-82 shoes which I rather like. Shimano calls these shoes/pedals road or sport touring models. nice change of pace from the carbon soles/speedplays I have on my other bike, in terms of walking around and "stopping to smell the roses". Rt-82s are still relatively stiff and neither look out of place on a road bike if that's your thing.

The main reason racers wear clipless pedals is keeping their foot securely attached to the pedal. Imagine sprinting wildly trying to break away from the pack in the last stretch of the race - you want your foot to stay on the pedal. It's not about speed or efficiency. Several studies have shown no improvement in speed or efficiency for pro racers with clipless. I think a few other studies thought there might be a little. It's a topic of great debate, but there's no "huge" improvement like a lot of people think.

I have wider feet, and after years of trying different clipless and shoes, went back to flats, because I couldn't find a way to avoid hotspots, or knee pain, or some sort of foot or leg pain with clipless. Went back to flats and it's not an issue any more.

Most clipless bike shoes will not change size after wearing them. Most manufacturers have a "wide" shoe - at the $150 price point.

These are the cheaper bike pedals that I think are good for riding with flats, VP Components Bike Pedals:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZH1H7M/...dp_o_pd_nS_ttl

There's nothing inherently "bad" about clipless, if you really want them go ahead, I just personally wish I had avoided all the time I put into trying to make them work, and stuck with good flats in the first place.

I also have wide feet.And just started wearing these shoes.All I can say the fit is very good.
Also your LBS should find you right size shoes.I bought mine online.
I just read your looking to save money.I know many say you should support your LBS.I do buy from one kind of LBS.but they are over 1 hour away,and I do not drive much by choice.But they also ship at A low cost.
I like the Shimano PD type pedals also for the road.
Enjoy your new ride.:thumb:


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[TD="class: productlist-col3"]Shimano SH-R088L WIDE Shoehttp://images.nitrosell.com/public_h...g-preorder.gif
Full-Featured Shoe, Perfect for Club and Recreational Cyclists

UPPER - Tough stretch resistant synthetic leather and me...[/TD]
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Those pedals are awesome -- I rode mine for 2+ years -- can't remember exactly how long. The shoes I had were LAKE size 44 (wear a 10.5 in US size). I ended up with road pedals on my new bike and Shimano road shoes (RP3) in size 44E.

Take a walk around the cycle shop with them on. If they're feeling tight anywhere, they probably are. I notice the "non wide" ones push right on the outside of my pinky toe just behind it. At first it seems like nothing, but after an hour of riding, it begins to cramp a bit.

Make sure that you can comfortably tighten them up where when you take a step, the heal doesn't pull out of the back of the shoe. Not only does that mean they probably don't fit you right, but I could imagine that would cause rub issues there at 80 RPM for an hour.

--

I still have those pedals...because some day I'll have another bike and they will keep me happy until I can get another set of SPD-SL pedals for it (PS - Don't tell my wife I said that).

I wear a size 14E so I've had trouble finding the right shoes all of my adult life. This week I've been out looking at new road shoes because my well fitting Serface Podiums are pushing 3 years old plus I'm ready for a different look and I'm only responding to this post because of a pair I found yesterday that fit really well and a price that's hard to beat. These appear to be a decent entry level shoe with the same looks and lacing as one of their top end models for $59.00 I picked up a pair just because of the price plus I really like the look of regular laces. Louis Garneau Milan Road Shoes - Performance Exclusive

I highly suggest you go for SPD-SL pedals, they offer a larger contact point and often people complain about hot spots with the MTB SPD pedals. I'd imagine this gets worse if you have a really wide foot.

Also, pedals are really cheap from UK stores, most people don't by them locally, at least in the US.

Dont know about shoes, but of the 5 or 6 types of pedals I have tried, the double sided spd is my favorite, m520 in particular, very easy to to clip/unclip. Hot spots arent too bad, but I have wide feet.

Looking Pro = Feeling Pro = Riding Faster

Also, another vote for Shimano R088. I wear the wides and like them a lot.

Hey all I ended up with the 520's and a pair of Garneau although not the strick cycling only shoe but instead the shoe i can also use on a spin bike. Cheapest option and confrotable. In the future if need be i will upgrade.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from buying from LBS, and they can certainly help you with fit, but you're playing a pretty hefty premium for that. If you're okay with that, then great.

I think MTB shoes and pedals are fine for you, especially if you do any kind of walking on them. May not be as light, but way more versatile. I wear both and there's not much difference in the on-bike performance.

It is true racers cannot afford to have their foot fly off the pedal when attempting to accelerate and clipless pedals prevent that so agreed. However their is also an efficiency component to wearing clipless, if the rider is pedaling correctly, since clipless pedals enable the rider to pull through and up in the pedal cycle.

True. Some of the hills I've climb on a local off-road trail I wouldn't have been able to get up without having my feet clipped in. Not sure if that would be an issue on roads OP rides on, but having your feet clipped in provides leverage beyond that of gravity pulling on your body weight.

Really? What would you suggest?
Thanks again.

The prices at Silent Sports isn't too bad, but the selection is somewhat limited. If you're comfortable with ordering footwear online there are numerous online retailers, especially the UK ones, from who you can order. The prices are considerably lower, even if you have to pay shipping and duties. You usually get free shipping if your order is over $100, or in some cases, $75. But again, you won't get any of the service you get from the LBS.

I didn't mean to say road pedals and shoes are difficult to use, other than walking. The 3 bolt road cleats/pedals (spd-sl, look etc) are not difficult to use, once your feet get used to the entry motion.

Shimano R088's plus they're compatible with SPD & SPD-SL cleats

They measured it on pro racers and found it to be a myth -pro racers unweight the foot, but don't pull up.

I believe they measured this on a trainer which replicates being on the flat, so there is some debate over whether people might get a little additional power pulling up when sprinting, or going uphill. But the idea that racers were gaining extra power or efficiency on the flat by pulling up on the pedal is a complete myth.

I guess it depends, although saving money is a benefit especially since this sport is an expensive one. I guess going forward if Im purchasing new equipment i ask here first just for feedback.

Sure just like anything else it might feel weird at first but im sure youll get use to it

Thanks ill be sure to check them out in the future

I find my self pulling up not for power really but just faster revolutions, not sure if that is really a significant difference or not but its something that just feels normal to do