indyfabz

Shimano SPDs. Might be the 540 model. Separate pair of very light sandals or other shoes to allow the dogs the breathe better and so I don’t have to walk around camp in wet shoes if it has rained.

djb

we cant decide for you, but from touring for about 35 years here is my personal opinion
-dont ride with soft soled shoes, I find that makes my feet sore, stiffer hiking shoes or whatever are really better suited for pushing relatively hard on pedals all day
- there are a ton of flat pedals out there and some are more comfortable than others, again especially for long days riding
-whatever you do, dont go with new shoes that you havent done lots of riding with, or at least done multiple longer day rides. Just like new padded bike shorts or whatever, shoes, etc its always better to go with what you know works. Total drag to deal with physical issues when on a trip-- blisters, sore this, sore that. Pretty basic self propelled activity golden rule

take the time pre trip to get things sorted and ride a lot to confirm
(my personal preference has always been spd shoes that fit my feet very well)

pdlamb

I can't imagine changing from what's worked for you. Why do you want to do that?

To answer your direct question, all my bikes, and therefore all my riding, have clipless (MTB) pedals. I accept that I'll take along shoes, or more likely sandals, to change into after the day's ride is done.

Mountain Mitch

Flats for me but, as many have advised, you’ve got to figure out what works for you as it’s just a question of preference and each has its advantages.

imi

Or barefoot on plastic pedals. Was my first tour, Sweden to Spain. 5-speed bike 😬✌️

phughes

Flat for me on my touring bike. Much more convenient to me, and comfortable since I can move my feet to different positions on a long day if I want. I cna wear any shoe I want, even Crocs, which I have used on two tours.

mev

From the responses so far looks like plenty of variety and not a specific "usually". Also sounds like you have your own experiences with the tradeoffs.

I've done most of my touring with toe clips. I pair them with a normal hiking shoe with stiffer sole and not very high ankle. That gives me something comfortable on and off the bike.

My rationale is mostly habit. I did take one bike and put on two-sided pedals - flats on one side and SPD on the other. While I have done some riding with SPD shoes and sandals, I find myself mostly using the flats on that bike and toe clips on bikes I do the most touring.

zacster

My thought is just that since the first Look pedals came out I've used them on my road bike, and I guess that's over 30 years now. On my commuter I had toe clips because I didn't want to be clipped in riding the streets of NYC, but I'm used to riding both. And while I ride the streets on my road bike I didn't want to even think about unclipping while commuting. Anyway, a lot of good opinions here. One thing I hadn't considered is using stiffer shoes with the toe clips or flat pedals. I commuted in flexible running shoes but that was only 10 miles at a time, while I had carbon soled road shoes which don't flex at all.

In the meantime I put the Assioma pedals onto the touring bike yesterday, and it was my first time out with it since last fall. I just couldn't get into the rhythm of the ride but it wasn't the pedals. I've been on the trainer all winter and I'm in good shape but it uses the muscles in a different way. OTOH on the road bike I felt like I was in kick-ass shape outside.

robow

Spd's as that is how all my bikes are set up and what I'm comfortable with after decades of riding.

sbrudno

Have a couple of pairs of clipless shoes that were used for road riding. I have turned more to trails and touring recently and I just stop more often which I really find a bother with clipless. Last month a pair of Bontrager Flatliner (as a physician I have a problem with that name) shoes joined my shoe collection which fit really well for my deformed feet (bunions, hammer toes, etc) and have firm soles for any terrain. I am probably not going to go back to clipless.

roadfix

I use clipless mostly on trips that are on pavement, and platforms on all off road trips because I’m constantly on and off the bike due to the terrain.

Russ Roth

After trying to navigate cobblestone streets in a new city at slow speeds while clipped in on a loaded bike I switched to MTB platforms and haven't felt the need to go back. The pins keep you locked on the pedals and the platforms offer as much support as a clipless shoe without any hassles.

50PlusCycling

I’ve tried them all, and have settled on SPD shoes and pedals. Being able to pedal in full circles allows to you take advantage of all of your leg muscles, you can ride farther and faster if you use more muscles.

I’ve used Look and Time pedals, which are road-oriented, and eventually settled on SPD’s due to their simplicity and larger number of shoe options. I have been using Shimano XTR 9120 pedals as they are light, durable, and have platforms large enough to ride without cleats should I lose a cleat, damage or lose a shoe, or whatever.

MilhouseJ

Another one for SPD shoes and pedals. My first touring bike came with toe clips, they didn't last long. I like the feeling of being somewhat attached to the bike while retaining the ability to hop off should the need arise, as well as maintaining a normal walking stride.😁

Jayup

I used to ride clipless but i like to ride old toe clips or straps of mountain bike pedals. i like that i can wear what shoes i want.

john m flores 

After 30 years clipped in, I'm a convert to flat pedals, as I've learned that shifting my fore-aft foot position on the pedal can subtly change which muscles are doing the work. On my last trip, an old Achilles tendon issue started to creep up, so I repositioned my foot 1cm more forward on the pedal, which reduced ankling and stress on my Achilles tendon.

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djb

I only commute with flats, and like you have always used SPD, but am certainly more open to flats now.
I don't have an Achilles issue, but have to agree that shifting foot position is nice.
Still really like clipped in feeling, but for sure if doing an off-road trip with lots of on off on off, I'd consider flats.

Paul_P

If your spd shoes are also good walking shoes (like the Shimano AMx) then the spd / flat combo pedals provide both advantages, with the disadvantage of having to chose a side while riding.

To those of you who have Shimano PD-EH500 pedals, which side is on top when free ? (I'd hope it's the flat side)

I've put my toe-clip pedals back on for the beginning of the season so I can wear my running shoes and still have my feet clipped in (a lot easier to get out of if not too tight).

Tourist in MSN

On my Shimano A530 and Shimano M324 pedals, flat on one side and SPD on the other, the heaviest part of the pedal is the back of it when you are using SPD side, or the front of it when you are using the flat side.

Since I am almost always using SPD side, I am in the habit of moving my foot forward when I engage the pedal, that rotates the pedal so that the proper side is up. And when using hiking shoes, reverse that process, move foot astern so that it rotates the pedal so the flat side is up.

That works poorly with new pedals with tight seals, or with some of my pedals that I have re-greased, as they do not spin as easily to put the heavy part down. But worn pedals work pretty well that way to get the correct side under foot most of the time.

koolerb

Carbonfiberboy - I'm thinking the same thing, SPD's and a second pair. Second pair of shoes is a lot to carry but man, will be super nice to be able to put on a different pair of shous at the end of the day. I never loved SPS's but I'm going to see if I can get used to them.

elcruxio

I just arrived from a tour and while I've always used SPD's I did something a bit different this time. Instead of taking my Shimano SH-SD5 sandals I took my Lakes. What a difference. But there's always a compromise. The Shimano sandals are really quite good for walking around but as cycling shoes they lack stiffness to a point I can easily feel the SPD cleat through the sole when doing even moderate efforts. The Lakes on the other hand are really stiff and that allow one to pedal with the whole of the foot with even the heel having some action (given the shoes have properly fitted insoles).

The Lakes made a huge improvement in general comfort and lack of aches and pains after each day. Absolutely zero foot, leg, knee, hip, back, etc issues. With the sandals I've previously had hot foot, toe numbness, knee pains, ankle pains etc.

The thing the Lakes are not good at though is walking around. I couldn't wait to get out of them after we stopped each day and I sometimes swapped shoes even for breaks if I had to run around with the kids. In certain conditions they're also incredibly slippery.

In the future I'll be using my lakes. Not sure what I'll do with the sandals though...

Tourist in MSN

I understand your shoe issues, my first few tours were with a pair of Pearl Izumi shoes that gave me very sore feet by the end of a five to eight hour day on the bike.

I have had pretty good luck with my current supply of SPD fitted cycling shoes. I have a 10+ year old pair of Pearl Izumi that I have used for 10 hour plus days, a 10+ year old pair of Serfas that are best in cold weather with thick socks, and several pair of Keens from when Keen made cycling shoes for SPD type cleats. All fit well and are comfortable to wear all day long, and I am not in a hurry to change footwear in the campsite. The Keens are the best of the lot for walking. But all are slow to dry out after riding in the rain.

Touring, besides one pair of cycling shoes, I also bring a pair of waterproof Merrill Moab hiking shoes and a light pair of sandals that I can use in showers and in the campsite. (Nobody accuses me of being an ultra light bike tourist.)

This year I am considering bringing a stiff soled pair of Tevas (which are heavier) to use as the sandals because I hope that the sole is stiff enough to ride with. Most of my previous tours were in cooler climates, when it rained I could comfortably wear rain pants and waterproof shoe covers without overheating. But my trip this year may have warm rainy days that are too warm for rain pants, and without rain pants my shoes would get soaked from the water running down my legs into my socks. And once soaked, would stay soaked for days.

Thus, I may want to ride for hours with sandals on the bike, the type of sandals that will dry out fast. I need to decide fast, I leave in two days. The light sandals I used in the past are 395 grams, the heavier ones are 780 grams, the heavier ones are twice as heavy but should be stiff enough for day long riding.

djb

Have a good trip, where to?

Tourist in MSN

Plan is to take bus from Madison WI to Chicago. Take Amtrak to Buffalo NY. Initially bike on the path next to the Erie canal, then take roads up north. Cross border by ferry to Kingston Ontario. West along the lake, then past Niagara falls, then west to just short of Windsor, bypass Windsor, head north. Take a ferry across to Michigan north of Detroit. Then ride to Toledo Ohio. Amtrak back to Chicago, bus to Madison. I still have a two dollar coin from my last trip to Canada, I assume it is still valid.

I might leave my hiking shoes at home and just bring the Tevas instead. This is in addition to bringing my Keen Commuter 4 cycling shoes (discontinued). Rode a couple miles today and I think that the Tevas will be stiff enough on my Shimano A530 pedals on the platform side. This way I could wear the Tevas in rain, cycling shoes in dry conditions and try to keep my cycling shoes dry.

In the past I wore rain pants and shoe covers in rain, but this trip I anticipate it being warm enough that rain pants would get too hot. And without rain pants I am quite sure that he water running down my legs would soak my shoes in no time.

Using my Lynskey Backroad, same bike as I used on Natchez Trace a year ago. And same Ortliebs. I think this trip will be flat enough that I do not need the lower gearing I have on my other touring bikes, this one has a low gear of 20.7 gear inches. But I added a Redshift suspension seatpost and a Kinekt suspension stem, to smooth out the bumps.

djb

Nice, I've ridden from Kingston back to Montreal, but not the Toronto to Kingston route.
Supposed to be fairly nice though. Look forward to hearing about it.
Safe travels
And yes, your toonie will still be good.
Loonie is the one dollar coin
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