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-   -   sneakers and toe clips (https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/714219-sneakers-toe-clips.html)

illdthedj 02-17-11 03:31 PM

sneakers and toe clips
 
hello

so i mainly wear adidas sambas. sneakers are ok at work more or less (as long as they arn't ridiculous) and i commute. but on one of my bikes that has 4 gate clips for double straps the metal of the gate starts to cut into the top of my toes when wearing the relatively thin topped sambas.

soooo a question to youse guise:

what sneakers/ non-clipless shoes do you wear and feel comfortable in clips with?
are there any cycling specific shoes that have elements that protect a bit against clips cutting into the top of your toes?

i know cadence did some collab shoes with dvs, not sure if they have toe reinforcement or whatever.

i have worn adidas shelltoes (superstars) and those were great because the plastic shell toe provided protection but they are a little on the not work appropriate side and are much bulkier than my sambas.

FastJake 02-17-11 03:37 PM

Maybe just keep your work shoes at work? And go clipless. Or keep your work shoes at work and wear a pair you don't care about when commuting.

Sounds like your clips are the main problem though if they're digging into your shoes.

TejanoTrackie 02-17-11 03:41 PM

3 Attachment(s)
Or get a set of Bikeage straps and Twisted pc pedals.

Leukybear 02-17-11 03:48 PM

Vans. :lol:
I also wear asics onitsuka tigers.
Converse all stars work aswell; basically you're looking for a slim shoe.

illdthedj 02-17-11 04:04 PM

lol i should have known i would get responses involving going clipless, wearing two sets of shoes, or replacing clips/straps im already using. i appreciate the advice, however my question is:

what sneakers are comfortable with clips? better yet, any sneakers somewhat designed for riding with metal clips? even better still, any sneakers designed for riding with metal clips that have some sort of protective layer over the tops of the toes?


i will say i have chrome kursks i got for free with that giveaway they did a while back, and they have a bit of that converse-esque rubber toe top, but they cut into the back of my heels if i walk around in them for a while.

i guess i could look into converse all stars since they have that feature, but i dunno....all stars arn't really my style.

NikZak 02-17-11 04:11 PM

i've had good luck with both onitsuka tigers and indoor soccer shoes

dahut 02-17-11 04:25 PM


Originally Posted by illdthedj (Post 12241251)
hello

soooo a question to youse guise:

what sneakers/ non-clipless shoes do you wear and feel comfortable in clips with?
are there any cycling specific shoes that have elements that protect a bit against clips cutting into the top of your toes?

I wear skateboarding sneakers 'most all the time.

I Have a Bike 02-17-11 04:36 PM

Nike Sweet Classic Low.

Awesome low profile sneaker, you can get them in leather or canvas, they come in a million colors (you can NikeID them I think too), and they are easy to find in the 35-50 dollar range.

Love them.

xavier853 02-17-11 04:47 PM

tots toms dawg


no. I wear sambas as well. I like to wear a form fitting shoe that is relatively small on the foot.

Squirrelli 02-17-11 04:49 PM

I wore Chucks when I ran clips and straps.

I still wear Chucks.

illdthedj 02-17-11 04:59 PM

hmmm i might have to try chucks.

basically, what it comes down to is after riding for a while the knuckle of the second big toe hurts. so i need a somewhat slim sneaker with a bit more padding or some type of protection over the toe.

Squirrelli 02-17-11 05:01 PM

May try one of those clips with the leather at the tip?

PluperfectArson 02-17-11 05:19 PM

Wrestling shoes.

Scrodzilla 02-17-11 05:20 PM


Originally Posted by Vixtor (Post 12241748)
May try one of those clips with the leather at the tip?

Or just get these:

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...-leathers.html

Leukybear 02-17-11 05:43 PM


Originally Posted by illdthedj (Post 12241735)
hmmm i might have to try chucks.

basically, what it comes down to is after riding for a while the knuckle of the second big toe hurts. so i need a somewhat slim sneaker with a bit more padding or some type of protection over the toe.

Just some word to the wise; when the rubber sole of them start wearing fin, your pedals (depending on the model; I know for sure all the mks ones do except for the gr 9's) will start digging at your feet.

Robofunc 02-17-11 06:33 PM

I have an old pair of Hook-Ups Special Police that have decently-thick suede uppers and thin-ish soles that work great w/ GR-9s and Soma clips.

The pair I have is old, though (1997). The ones on Ebay seem to be slightly chunkier. Still, could be worth checking out.

Scrodzilla 02-17-11 06:48 PM


Originally Posted by happypills (Post 12241988)
Just some word to the wise; when the rubber sole of them start wearing fin, your pedals (depending on the model; I know for sure all the mks ones do except for the gr 9's) will start digging at your feet.

Same with Vans slip ons. I love riding in Vans because there's nothing for the clips & straps to snag on but if I'm wearing an older pair I get serious hot spots from my Sylvans and my feet are just a little too wide for GR-9s. Has anyone tried AR-2s?

http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/mks-ar2-pedal-med.jpg

illdthedj 02-17-11 06:48 PM

holy crap i literally had the same white hook ups special police shoes back in the 90s. favorite shoes then till they got destroyed from skateboarding.

Robofunc 02-17-11 07:22 PM

^ I still have my green pair. I didn't think they were tough enough to skate in, so they sat at the back of my closet for years. Now they're biking shoes--hooray!

striknein 02-17-11 07:33 PM

I've tried the DVS CTC Milan Cadence(what a f'kin name) shoes in suede. There is a bit of padding in the toe-box, but they run very narrow. I wore them twice and threw them in the back of the closet. I've also worn a pair of Lo-Tek Eddie mid-tops. Those were a lot roomier in the toebox, but the uppers wore at my ankles. Also in the back of the closet. Currently I'm going back and forth between an old pair of Etnies Arto skate shoes and a pair of Puma Benecios. The Etnies are perfect with Catalinas, and the Pumas are nice with clips/straps. Both have really stiff soles.

Basically what it comes down to is that the only good shoe you'll find is one that actually fits you. It's a lot like saddles and helmets; you just have to keep searching until you find something that works.

Leukybear 02-17-11 07:57 PM


Originally Posted by Scrodzilla (Post 12242305)

It doesn't look much better... a good pedal for rubber soles would be a platform pedal or a pedal where the pedal's cages sit more flush with the body. But then again, pedals poking your feet remind you to get new shoes.

Scrodzilla 02-17-11 08:03 PM

The think with those is that they're supposedly made for wider feet.

Leukybear 02-17-11 08:06 PM


Originally Posted by Scrodzilla (Post 12242664)
The think with those is that they're supposedly made for wider feet.

Oh... I thought you meant by the pedal's cages digging into the sole of rubber soled shoes.... in that case, I doubt it considering that extra part at the end is recessed...

YOu can always go for mks custom nuevo (wide) they're on sale at Ben's I think 25% off too! Still a pretty penny nonetheless for aluminium pedals.

Scrodzilla 02-17-11 08:08 PM

I really wish MKS would make a wide version of GR-9s. They're pretty much the perfect pedal aside from how small they are for some people.

wickidbike 02-17-11 09:36 PM

As already said, indoor soccer shoes make decent riding shoes because of the somewhat stiffer soles. I always found Gr-9's and sambas to be a comfortable fit, but the Gr-9's were never big enough for wearing boots so for winter riding I started wearing bmx pedals and reload straps and haven't looked back. This combination is also comfortable with non bulky sneakers.


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