jerrymcdougal

Hey everyone, I just won some SPD-SL R540 pedals on ebay ($22.50, Woo Hoo) and need some shoes. I would like to spend around or under 50 bucks if possible. I just couldn't stand looking at my stock platforms anymore. Anyway, I did a quick search and didn't come up with much. Good ol Nashbar and Performace have some self branded models that are in my price range but how do they feel/fit/last? Any other company/model I should look at?

Any other advice? I'm size 12 if that helps.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate it!

-Jerry

Indolent58

For under $50 you're talking sale shoes at Performance or possibly a local shop with some clearance shoes. You must try them on first. Different brands fit very differently. This is one area where you really shouldn't order online unless you know for sure that the shoes will fit. Fit and price are not necessarily related. More expensive shoes might be stiffer or lighter but cheaper shoes can hold up very well. My 1st road shoes were el cheapo Performance models and they held up fine.

jerrymcdougal

Good to know! Maybe Ill hit up the LBS tomorow and try some on.

Anyone else? What brands should I look at? Shimano good stuff? I would assume so, but you never know.

ratebeer

Some online shops have fitting recommendations whereby they tell you which brands run big or small. I buy shoes over the internet all the time. Never ever a problem. My first pairs of cycling shoes were dirt cheap -- maybe $30. Use google to help you find clearances and closeouts.

VT to CA

I can't say enough about inserts- they can really make the shoe... when I first started competing in jr. high, I bought a cheap pair of Lake's... over the season I did a bunch of random stuff to them to get a better fit, more power transfer etc... I ended up cutting out the stock inserts and replacing them with custom .5cm aluminum cutouts I made in shop, then covering those with the thickest New Balance Abzorb inserts I could find, the ones they make for basketball shoes...

Later in high school and now in college I have access to all sorts of trick shoes, and I've tried those... but you know what? I'm most comfortable with those same aluminum cutouts and New Balance inserts glued into a pair of Vittoria Raiders I bought for under 50 bucks at Performance bikes...

I guess the point is that even a shoe in your budget can out-perform the 300-400 techno-wonders with a little customization...

LanceFanBoy

LBSs always have bargain bin shoes from last year hanging around it seems. I had a choice of a pair of Sidi or Specialized shoes and they were both $150-$200 shoes I could have gotten either for $75-$100.

I went with the Sidi pair

jerrymcdougal

I went to the LBS and they didnt have much in stock. Im in central WI, so this time of the year sking and hockey stuff is what they make their money on. They had some sweet shoes, jsut not many sizes. They said they are getting a big shipment in soon though.

I appreciate all the help guys. Cant wait to get on the bike again this spring. Not really an option right now. Last week its was over -20 degrees with wind chill here.

-Jerry