sneakers and toe clips
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Modesto, Ca
Bikes: klein quantum, litespeed tuscany, bianchi pista concept, centurion comp ta, centurion super le mans, traitor ringleader
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.
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.
#2
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.
Sounds like your clips are the main problem though if they're digging into your shoes.
#3
Veteran Racer


Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Bikes: 34 frames + 80 wheels
#4
THE STUFFED


Joined: Oct 2009
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From: San Francisco, CA
Bikes: R. Sachs Simplicity; EAI Bareknuckle; Madone Gen 8
#5
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,280
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From: Modesto, Ca
Bikes: klein quantum, litespeed tuscany, bianchi pista concept, centurion comp ta, centurion super le mans, traitor ringleader
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.
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.
#7
I wear skateboarding sneakers 'most all the time.
Last edited by dahut; 02-17-11 at 04:34 PM.
#8
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.
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.
#11
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Modesto, Ca
Bikes: klein quantum, litespeed tuscany, bianchi pista concept, centurion comp ta, centurion super le mans, traitor ringleader
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.
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.
#14
Your cog is slipping.



Joined: May 2009
Posts: 26,053
Likes: 100
From: Beverly MA
Bikes: EAI Bareknuckle
#15
THE STUFFED


Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,671
Likes: 21
From: San Francisco, CA
Bikes: R. Sachs Simplicity; EAI Bareknuckle; Madone Gen 8
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.
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,044
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From: St. Petersburg, FL
Bikes: Schwinn, Bottecchia, Miyata, projects
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.
The pair I have is old, though (1997). The ones on Ebay seem to be slightly chunkier. Still, could be worth checking out.
#17
Your cog is slipping.



Joined: May 2009
Posts: 26,053
Likes: 100
From: Beverly MA
Bikes: EAI Bareknuckle
#18
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,280
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From: Modesto, Ca
Bikes: klein quantum, litespeed tuscany, bianchi pista concept, centurion comp ta, centurion super le mans, traitor ringleader
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.
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: St. Petersburg, FL
Bikes: Schwinn, Bottecchia, Miyata, projects
^ 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!
#20
Goes to 11.

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 4
From: Wichita, KS, USA
Bikes: 2015 Soma Double Cross
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.
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.
#21
THE STUFFED


Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,671
Likes: 21
From: San Francisco, CA
Bikes: R. Sachs Simplicity; EAI Bareknuckle; Madone Gen 8
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.
#23
THE STUFFED


Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,671
Likes: 21
From: San Francisco, CA
Bikes: R. Sachs Simplicity; EAI Bareknuckle; Madone Gen 8
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.
#25
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: NYC
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.




