Nothing works better and costs less than going out for a moderate ride and seeing how it goes.
Repeat often, looking at what works and what doesn't and adjust. It also serves as a training regime to htfu a bit.
I consider myself lucky that I commute daily and ride most weekends so that I am very familiar with how my touring bike performs and how I fit on it. I couldn't imagine buying or building a ride and worrying about performance without a good breaking in period first.

Those who tour for a while generally find a sweet spot that works for them but also get to see other people touring successfully but differently. That diverse exposure helps to keep opinions true for themselves but humble enough to avoid absolutism. Pedals are just one of those things.

I'd only get a pro-fitting if buying a pricey custom. Experienced riders can just sit on a bike & see if it fits OK though as you note one has to do a real ride (not just around LBS parking lot) to see handling etc.

I prefer riding flats vs previous toe-clips. Quite possible that flats are popular among tourers since one can instinctively position foot in the best position w/o binding or toe-clip interfering?

Rode up a hill today w/flats while paying attention to pedaling/muscles & yes, it's surprising that one can feel like they're pulling up but it's just the effort of lifting legs. Avg leg weighs a surprising 12+ kg. Cut body fat for an upcoming tour & legs spin easier.

I use toe clips on platforms but really only to keep the foot roughly oriented; the straps are not tight. The clips create a sort of backstop for my toes and my foot just rests where it rests. Riding a bicycle ain't rocket surgery as some would suggest

Last weekend I rode up and down part of the Fraser Canyon and this weekend I'm riding another mountain hwy towards Manning, noted on CGOAB as the single hardest day of riding across Canada. In another couple of weeks I'll be doing the Coquihalla pass, a 50 km non stop hill climb to the summit - crank crank crank... all using platforms and a stiff soled shoe. On all of those my goal is low gearing and high spin with little effort, otherwise my knees would give out. I am definitely not strapping in or clipping in and using that attachment so I can put more stress on my knees. I'm pushing myself a bit to train now but on a longer tour the real goal is effortless cycling all day long. People don't "need" to be clipped in for effortless riding, though I don't knock anyone who does it because that is what they prefer or are used to.

Other things that don't necessarily translate directly from road cycling to touring: Shaving your legs and drafting.

Was going to start a new thread to ask this, but this seems like as good a home for my question as any. Has anyone ever used SHIMANO SAINTS on tours? I'm a flat-pedal person myself, but this would be my first time moving away from toe clips, and that makes me a bit nervous. They are also fairly pricey, but apparently bomb-proof. Any thoughts?

Yep, I use Saints on tour, and commuting and around town, all with my Surly Troll. I also have Saints on my fat bike. They are indeed bombproof.

There are some here in St. Louis. I sat quietly and watched one at Big Shark , I was impressed. Yes the rotating lasar for knees and ankles. But also upper arm measure, and fore arm measure, same for legs, and a protractor for elbow and knee angles. seat width and sit bone measure. plumb bob to ball of foot. Cleat adjustment. dual scale for front vs rear wheel with cyclist wt.
I don't think I can help with one in Detroit call around.

As of a couple of days ago I can give you a bit more of a review myself! Just back from a 5 day tour and I'm glad to say that on the bike there was plenty enough stiffness in the sole of the Rumbles that I didn't notice any discomfort from 5-7 hours of riding in the day. Also very comfortable to walk in, although I'd occasionally feel a bit of a scrunching with the cleat coming into contact with rough ground. I suppose in theory I'd consider hiking in them after removing the cleat between rides, but I'd be a bit concerned about damaging cleat bolt threads, etc. so more likely in practice to just use non-SPD shoes, since I would definitely have a second pair in my luggage even if trying to pack reasonably light.

Good to hear! I am actually not using them with a cleat, and leaving the cover in place, I have toe clips on my pedals. I just wanted something with a stiff sole, walkability, and "normal" shoe look, as I had been having a bit of numbness in my left foot while riding in my indoor soccer gumsole shoes of late and will be on and off the bike regularly enough that I don't want to change.

Maybe someone already mentioned Power Grips. They work on a lot of plain pedals and are easy to get into and out of. I use them on my around town bike as I like the feeling of being attached to the pedal but not having to use a cycling specific shoe. Google to take a look.

"I have a pedal system I'm comfortable with and have experience with. Should I switch to something completely different before I go out on a tour?"

I have 14,725 miles touring on SPD's


My last tour I did 2300 miles in ultralight trainers on flat BMX pedals. NO problem! Including one day >100 miles and many days >60 miles. I understand you admitted what you did in Crocs was moronic (my paraphrase ) but your extrapolating your experience to others is equally misguided.

Tis exactly what I'm doing.... Heck, the bike (well, frame) that is supposed to be on a plane next Friday, that I've got exactly two circuits around the apartment complex on, is still on the bike stand with not so much as a headset cup on it

I don't ever suggest my way is a way that anyone should follow!

Ultra-light trainers might work better than than the avg one's with thicker soles. I've ridden a lot with flip-flops due to extreme difficulty in finding properly-fitting street or cycling shoes. I don't recommend it but OTOH the flexible flip-flops' soles don't cause as much of a problem as I would have thought. Also I read about some runners who use minimalist thin-sole sandals, just enough protection against gravel/pebbles. Still though, I don't really understand why folks w/o fit problems do big rides w/non-bike shoes.

I've used spd clips for touring, and I now think that half spd half platform is the way to go. It's easy enough to use one side for the spd during the serious riding days, and the platform side is there when you just want to chill around the block in flip flops.

Yep!!

FWIW, I recently bought a pair of these:

https://www.rei.com/product/892627/p...ike-shoes-mens

Have used them for two three-day tours and general riding/commuting. Stiff soles with very comfortable uppers. Like most shoes of its type, you can use them with or without cleats.

I have a pair of similar shimano's. Just a stiff soled shoe that I took the cleat off of and use on platforms.

Depends though on what you use. If you really only use clips or platforms you have a pedal that you can only use one side of. It would annoy the heck out of me to have to flip the pedal around every time I put my foot on it, especially if by weight it always oriented the way I didn't need it.

But if you use both systems then it is a good compromise.

that's what I thought when i first bought dual sided spd pedals.. however, I find that finding the spd side is a very minor inconvenience, and that the luxury to pedal around town without having to put on spd shoes is actually a pretty nifty thing. in my opinion, unless for competition, the spd/platform style pedals are the way to go