You’ve found a bike you really like and discovered the freedom, possibilities and adventure of cycling — maybe it’s time to get a pair of cycling shoes. They’re not cheap, but there’s a reason why they cost more than average. Specific features on cycling shoes make you faster, more efficient, more comfortable, safer and an all-round better cyclist.
The SPD Advantage
Cycling shoes employ hardware that allows you to become one with the bike. The hardware or cleat, attaches to the bottom of the shoe, and clips into a special pedal. The most common is the SPD cleat that fits into standard SPD pedals. The SPD is low-profile, and many cyclists find that it’s the most user-friendly system to work with. SPD systems are used on road and mountain bikes alike — this is they key to finding the right shoe for your particular applications.
All-Round Cyclist
If you’re a cyclist with a garage full of bikes, you can use the same pair of shoes on all your bikes if they are equipped with SPD pedals. You don’t have to go searching for different shoes each time you ride a bike, and with the high-dollar price tag of cycling shoes, that’s a plus.
Serious Roadie
Serious roadies prefer road shoes. They have a hard, slick, unforgiving sole, with no heel. The hard sole transfers power more uniformly from your foot to the pedal. They fit tight, and are streamlined. The problem with road shoes is, you can barely walk in them. The cleat raises the front of the shoe up, and it slips on hard surfaces. Road shoes are designed to be worn only when riding. If you are a true road rider, then road shoes are what you will want.
Mountain Shoes
Mountain shoes typically have a heel similar to any other type of walking shoe, maybe even more aggressive than most. The sole is hard rubber, which transfers power to the pedal, but the cleat is somewhat recessed or flush with the sole.
Walk a Mile in These Shoes
You can walk in mountain shoes. You can barely — if at all — feel the cleat, and you will forget you’ve got cycling shoes on. If you do any touring, or you simply ride your bike to the store for groceries, go visiting, or to run errands, the mountain shoe is the better choice, even for road bikes.
Fashion — Not Important
Styling and fashion isn’t really important when it comes to cycling shoes, fit and performance outweigh fashion. And nobody will know, or even care, that you’re wearing mountain shoes while riding a road bike.
Shoe Fit
Shoe fit should also be taken into consideration. Road shoes fit tighter than mountain shoes, and mountain bike shoes, overall, are considered more comfortable by most cyclists. But if you haven’t purchases your shoes yet, take into consideration that cycling shoes are often sized with European sizing charts. For example, for a man, if you wear a size 10 1/2 UK, or a size 11 USA, the same shoe in European size is 45. In Japan, the same shoe might be sized at 29.0. The size chart is different for women, for example, if you wear a size 7.5 US, that same shoe in European size is 38.
Feet are Different
Don’t be overly concerned if your size doesn’t work out right according to the scale. Cycling shoes are typically sized by length. If your foot is wider than the model, the shoe might not fit, or isn’t comfortable. The only solution is to try them on, ride with them, and make your decision. Mountain shoes, with a more forgiving fit, are more versatile.
Learning Curve
The only detraction of cycling shoes is that they have a learning curve. It takes practice clipping in, and clipping out. Clipples pedals are designed to release the shoe with the flick of your ankle — about 10 degrees. Once you’ve mastered it, you won’t even realize you’re doing it, and it becomes natural. But bear in mind that clipless pedals should be kept clean, even the slightest amount of grit can cause the cleat to stick, causing you to go down when you stop. If you get them dirty, take precautions to clean them before using them.