Single pair of shoes, or bike AND walking shoes?

[dkoloko]

Your choice; I did the Pacific Coast Route in the fall; no problem being warm enough with Keen sandals. Cleats in the Keen sandals do not touch floor. On every mountain bike shoe I own, the cleats protrude beyond the recess.

[ACA-Admin]

Thanks! Interestingly, those are one of the pairs I ended up getting.  I like them, though they are around a half-size too small.  I tried the next size up, but they were a bit loose, so I'll see if I can suffer through the ride with them; hopefully they'll stretch out a bit.

- Tim

I've had two pairs of different Pearl Izumi mtb shoes and had the same fit issues with both. They do stretch a little over time, but I still wish they were just a touch larger. Overall, I've been happy with these as they allow me to still use spd mtb clips, look similar to a regular tennis shoe and walk pretty well. I really like the regular laces with the pocket in the tongue of the shoe to keep the laces out of the chain.

[tbessie]

the cleat doesn't touch the ground when walking.

Not when you're walking on smooth surfaces, but have you tried walking on gravel in those shoes?

Heh, not yet - I'm sure I'll get some gunk stuck in there. :-/

- Tim

[RonK]

A shoe stiff enough to be efficient on the bike isn't a good hiker.

In fact, my hiking boots and shoes, like most hiking footwear have steel shanks and are stiffer than my MTB cycling shoes.

[Venchka]

A shoe stiff enough to be efficient on the bike isn't a good hiker.

In fact, my hiking boots and shoes, like most hiking footwear have steel shanks and are stiffer than my MTB cycling shoes.

There it is.
Thanks everyone. I think that the answer for me and what I hope to do on a longish tour next summer will involve flat pedals and hiking footwear.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[docmarty]

Try diadora ultraspins - dont look like a bike shoe, but very sleek. Lots of bike shoes available these days. Several mentioned here:
http://www.runninggearlab.com/

[tbessie]

Try diadora ultraspins - dont look like a bike shoe, but very sleek. Lots of bike shoes available these days. Several mentioned here:
http://www.runninggearlab.com/

Thanks, I'll take a look at those!

Since last year, I went on another tour this year, this time in the UK.  Given the propensity for damp over there, I wanted a waterproof shoe that I could walk and bike in.  I ended up settling on these guys, which I was pretty happy with:

http://www.shimano-lifestylegear.com/us/fw/products/tour/016sh_xm7.php?pSccontentsPro

Do you know those?

- Tim

[BrianW]

For touring I've used North Face Hedgehog Gore-Tex hiking shoes for years, with toe clips/straps. The soles are stiff enough for biking, they are great off-bike, and are waterproof. You can often find them on sale for $75 or so (list price is $110 +/-). I'm on my third pair now, and just got back from Europe where I wore them non-stop for three weeks, including a week or so of bike touring.

[tbessie]

For touring I've used North Face Hedgehog Gore-Tex hiking shoes for years, with toe clips/straps. The soles are stiff enough for biking, they are great off-bike, and are waterproof. You can often find them on sale for $75 or so (list price is $110 +/-). I'm on my third pair now, and just got back from Europe where I wore them non-stop for three weeks, including a week or so of bike touring.

If I didn't care if the shoes I were using had cleat attachments, I'd have a world of shoes to choose from.  But since I DID want to put cleats on them (without using some kind of jury-rigged third-party gadget), I was stuck looking at cycling-specific shoes.

- Tim

[RussSeaton]

If I didn't care if the shoes I were using had cleat attachments, I'd have a world of shoes to choose from.  But since I DID want to put cleats on them (without using some kind of jury-rigged third-party gadget)

Not sure I would call toeclips and straps a "jury rigged third party gadget".  They are sold about everywhere in the world and have been used for about the past 100 years.  Now, to mention clipless pedals and shoes in the same sentence as toeclips and straps is blasphemous, humorous, disgusting, etc.

[Pat Lamb]

If I may interject a question, how do you stand staying in one pair of shoes all day?  Maybe it's just my semi-tropical outlook, but one of bike riding's pleasures for me is getting my feet out of sweaty, stinking cycling shoes at the end of a ride.  Is Europe that much cooler than southern U.S.A. that you don't sweat, or do you take it so easy in Europe, or ...?

FWIW, I'm like that when I get home from work, winter or summer.

[RussSeaton]

If I may interject a question, how do you stand staying in one pair of shoes all day?

I may be very abnormal, but I frequently wear one pair of shoes all day long.  Sun up to sun down.  Frequently it is my pair of sneakers.  Same pair of socks all day too.  Put them on when I get up and take them off when I go to bed.  One pair of socks all day long.  Same shoes too.  My shoes are comfortable.  Don't hurt my feet at all.  When riding my bike I sometimes use my SPD sandals.  They are very comfortable and I can wear them all day long.  No need to ever take them off unless going to bed.

I'd suggest you get to a podiatrist and get some properly fitting shoes.

[Pat Lamb]

If I may interject a question, how do you stand staying in one pair of shoes all day?

I'd suggest you get to a podiatrist and get some properly fitting shoes.

Interesting, I've never heard of well-fitting shoes reducing foot sweating.

[RussSeaton]

Interesting, I've never heard of well-fitting shoes reducing foot sweating.

Foot sweating is your concern?  Oh my.

SPD sandals reduce this "problem" considerably because the socks are exposed to the wind you generate when pedaling.

[CraigC571]

I'm planning my first epic tour and will go retro and use good hiking shoes and rat trap peddles.  I've used them for week long tours with no issue.
For local rides I have a pair of Pearl Izumi shoes with the hidden clip.  When walking I know it's there and still clicks when walking on hard surfaces.
I will also bring sandals or something like that for shower and walking around a camp site.