For cleat’s sake!
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#27
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I'm completely baffled by this thread. I've been using SPD-SL / Look Delta cleats in the late eighties and never seen a pair wear like that. The current pair on my shoes has about 7k miles on them with plenty of cafe stops and they look practically new. Your description of your walking does not seem excessive and should in no way wear your cleats like that, it looks like you've been shuffling through fifty miles of alternating newly-laid tarmac and sharp rocks. I'm at a loss.
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I'm completely baffled by this thread. I've been using SPD-SL / Look Delta cleats in the late eighties and never seen a pair wear like that. The current pair on my shoes has about 7k miles on them with plenty of cafe stops and they look practically new. Your description of your walking does not seem excessive and should in no way wear your cleats like that, it looks like you've been shuffling through fifty miles of alternating newly-laid tarmac and sharp rocks. I'm at a loss.
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The idea of walking down even one flight of stairs on any road cleat gives me the chills, not just for cleat wear but for safety! I highly recommend you consider a recessed system as has been recommended previously in this thread. The only real downside is a bit of weight, and the upside is you can walk like a normal person and your cleats might last longer than you.
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The idea of walking down even one flight of stairs on any road cleat gives me the chills, not just for cleat wear but for safety! I highly recommend you consider a recessed system as has been recommended previously in this thread. The only real downside is a bit of weight, and the upside is you can walk like a normal person and your cleats might last longer than you.
MTB shoes and MTB cleats on a road bike, seriously now. What's next, baggies?
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What? Everyone manages to do this just fine routinely. Walking up and down stairs with my bike in road shoes is how I start and end every road ride. Especially with grip cleats, I don't get the concern at all. Maybe if you're a clyde. Sure, walking in them wears the cleats but I've never seen any wear like what the OP has done, and I will occasionally walk a short distance in road shoes and in triathlon, sort of run (I should really get some tri shoes and practice flying mounts), even and it's never been a problem. If it's gravel the soles get scuffed, but after some point the additional scuffing doesn't really make any cosmetic difference.
MTB shoes and MTB cleats on a road bike, seriously now. What's next, baggies?
MTB shoes and MTB cleats on a road bike, seriously now. What's next, baggies?
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The idea of walking down even one flight of stairs on any road cleat gives me the chills, not just for cleat wear but for safety! I highly recommend you consider a recessed system as has been recommended previously in this thread. The only real downside is a bit of weight, and the upside is you can walk like a normal person and your cleats might last longer than you.
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When I commute, I use my bike with flat pedals and use all sorts of shoes which are ideal for walking, but I see absolutely no problems in walking on Look Keo grip cleats.
Hell, last weekend I was invited to a tavern on Saturday evening and I went there directly from a quick 100k ride. Video evidence reviewed after the fact suggests you can dance on the table just fine in road cycling shoes. 😁
Walking in road shoes is foolishness, my word.
Hell, last weekend I was invited to a tavern on Saturday evening and I went there directly from a quick 100k ride. Video evidence reviewed after the fact suggests you can dance on the table just fine in road cycling shoes. 😁
Walking in road shoes is foolishness, my word.
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Thanks for all the replies! Seems mystery isn’t quite solved, but will certainly get myself a set of covers.
To address a few comments:
I’m 100kg/220lb, so heavier than many cyclists no doubt. I do tread lightly though and don’t drag my feet. When running you can’t hear me coming (except the laboured breathing!).
To my knowledge the cleats are genuine Shimano products. First set came with my new shoes and were fitted in the Giant store.
So will start with the clear covers and see if that solves the problem! Thanks again!
To address a few comments:
I’m 100kg/220lb, so heavier than many cyclists no doubt. I do tread lightly though and don’t drag my feet. When running you can’t hear me coming (except the laboured breathing!).
To my knowledge the cleats are genuine Shimano products. First set came with my new shoes and were fitted in the Giant store.
So will start with the clear covers and see if that solves the problem! Thanks again!
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And not all SPD pedals are big and clunky like the ones I use for touring/commuting.
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I'm not sure why anyone would wear let alone walk around in the shoes that the OP posted pictures of. All of my shoes have recesses cleats and are easy to walk around in and the cleats don't get ruined.
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Well, mostly because they are better for riding on the open road. Lighter, less bulky, bigger contact area, firmer grip. There are no real downsides in the context of road riding except shorter cleat life (and a pair of cleats every year just isn't a big expense).
If I want to walk around (eg. commuting), I do it on a bike built for it with flat pedals and just wear shoes made for walking. If I am fortunate enough to be able to travel by bike, I'll just pack walking shoes.
MTB SPD shoes seem neither here nor there. Ideal option for a MTB or gravel bike, sure.
If I want to walk around (eg. commuting), I do it on a bike built for it with flat pedals and just wear shoes made for walking. If I am fortunate enough to be able to travel by bike, I'll just pack walking shoes.
MTB SPD shoes seem neither here nor there. Ideal option for a MTB or gravel bike, sure.
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Well, mostly because they are better for riding on the open road. Lighter, less bulky, bigger contact area, firmer grip. There are no real downsides in the context of road riding except shorter cleat life (and a pair of cleats every year just isn't a big expense).
If I want to walk around (eg. commuting), I do it on a bike built for it with flat pedals and just wear shoes made for walking. If I am fortunate enough to be able to travel by bike, I'll just pack walking shoes.
MTB SPD shoes seem neither here nor there. Ideal option for a MTB or gravel bike, sure.
If I want to walk around (eg. commuting), I do it on a bike built for it with flat pedals and just wear shoes made for walking. If I am fortunate enough to be able to travel by bike, I'll just pack walking shoes.
MTB SPD shoes seem neither here nor there. Ideal option for a MTB or gravel bike, sure.
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"Not bulky"
In the meantime, road shoes:
A pair of those and a pair of walking shoes in the backpack weigh as much as those things above. 😉
Seriously, if significant walking isn't in your plans, road shoes and pedals are just awesome. I get that commuters like a compromise shoe but it's a bit neither here nor there. If it has the rigidity of a good road shoe it's not going to be something I'd want to walk in for more than a short stint.
In the meantime, road shoes:
A pair of those and a pair of walking shoes in the backpack weigh as much as those things above. 😉
Seriously, if significant walking isn't in your plans, road shoes and pedals are just awesome. I get that commuters like a compromise shoe but it's a bit neither here nor there. If it has the rigidity of a good road shoe it's not going to be something I'd want to walk in for more than a short stint.
Last edited by Branko D; 12-21-21 at 11:38 AM.
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Dominator (706g) + SH51 (52g) + M540 (352) = 1110g
That's a difference of 152g (I got similar results for other models as well) while walking shoes average 750g. Running shoes are about 270g.
Also FWIW, the ES600 (single sided SPD) weighs only 279g per pair.
But I get it. If you're going to be walking around, you're going to want a pair of regular shoes no matter what. But for that matter, I'd have those shoes on for the stairs and wait until I'm at my bike to put them in the backpack.
Speaking of backpacks, I would be more worried about looking fredly with one of those than with "mountain bike" shoes.
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#43
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I'll agree with this. I got a new pair of winter shoes for Christmas (45NRTH Ragnarok) and they are the stiffest cycling shoes I've ever used. Despite using SPD cleats, I would never want to walk very far in these shoes - they're far too stiff to walk much distance.
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SPD-SL cleats usually last me a full season without using cleat covers for walking. I don't walk in them much though and they do wear pretty quickly if you do. But those wear photos are pretty extreme!
SPD-SL pedals are excellent though, despite the walking limitation. None of the other road systems are any better for walking (Look, Time, Speedplay). In fact Shimano is probably the best for limited walking ability. Yeah, you could move to regular SPD for much better walking ability. But I find my road shoes so much better on my road bike that I would never entertain that route myself.
SPD-SL pedals are excellent though, despite the walking limitation. None of the other road systems are any better for walking (Look, Time, Speedplay). In fact Shimano is probably the best for limited walking ability. Yeah, you could move to regular SPD for much better walking ability. But I find my road shoes so much better on my road bike that I would never entertain that route myself.
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The perceived stiffness of your Ragnarok and of my Mavic winter boots is a consequence of the fact that, unlike combat boots and hiking boots, the inner sole is not designed to provide much cushioning. Insert insoles with more cushioning and the comfort would improve, at the cost of a slight (possibly imperceptible) loss of efficiency.
I'm glad that winter cycling boots are finally being made that are stiff enough to last more than just a couple of winters. I've had two pairs of cycling boots whose soles eventually cracked, behind the cleat. Riding home with a cracked shoe sole was not pleasant.