Author Topic: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey  (Read 23286 times)

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Offline Tourista829

Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« on: April 06, 2010, 01:10:13 pm »
I am doing some research on the above topics and with the new developments in shoes and cleats, I would be curious as to what shoes you use and if you use cleats, what type and why. I am particularly interested in people who suffer from hot spots. pain, and numbness in their feet and what you did to alleviate this. Thank you for your help and replies. Bob :)

Offline rvklassen

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2010, 01:21:58 pm »
To save my feet, I got some cycling specific shoes (Shimano-SPD compatible) many many years ago, but continued to use toe clips.   These were mountain-bike shoes, so they were useful without the cleats, and I could walk in them off-bike.  Many years later it was time to replace my pedals and I now use SPD-based pedals.  The reason I'm on SPD at this point is that's where I started, and then I added SPD pedals to the tandem, so that makes three sets of SPD-based pedals, and now my wife and kids have SPDs on their singles, so they can go back and forth on/off the tandem, and now the kids have a tandem, and so of course that is also SPD. 

I'm not recommending SPD, but we have now eight pair of SPD pedals among us, and switching any of them means two sets of shoes for at least one person, more likely several people.  So it's now hard to switch.

Offline aggie

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2010, 02:02:58 pm »
I use specialized mountain bike shoes with spd cleats.  I also use the keen sandals with spd cleats.  If I wear shoes that are too tight I get hot foot.  These shoes allow my feet enough room while remaining snug enough to ride comfortably. 

Offline John Nelson

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2010, 02:44:06 pm »
I use Pearl Izumi Vagabond M3 mountain bike shoes with SPD cleats. I got hot spots all the time until I discovered the metatarsal button.

http://mikescomputerinfo.com/hotfoot.htm

Offline johnsondasw

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2010, 12:19:44 am »
I like Specialized mtn bike shoes with egg beater pedal (Crank Bros).
May the wind be at your back!

Offline CraftGeek

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Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2010, 11:02:09 am »
http://mikescomputerinfo.com/hotfoot.htm
Excellent article! Confirms most of the things I've found that help me.

Many of the tips and techniques I have seen revolve around the following:
  • Distribute the force applied to the pedal over as wide an area of the foot as possible.
  • Decrease the constriction of the foot from the arch to the toes as much as possible.
  • Move the center of the foot to pedal contact as far from the metatarsal as possible while still maintaining an efficient stroke.

For myself, I found the following solutions:
  • I try to find the stiffest soled shoe or sandal possible that fits properly.
    I use pedals with the largest surface area that I can find for the cleats I prefer. So far, the best ones I have found for me are Crank Brothers Mallets.
  • Most cycling shoes are designed to bind the foot tightly so there is no slop on the up stroke. While this may be the most efficient way of transferring power for racers, it's horrible on the long haul.
    I look for shoes and sandals that have a wider toe box and a lacing system that allows for a slightly snug but not constricting fit. Also, the ability to easily adjust the fit without dismounting is a plus. BOA lacing systems help with that.
    I have slightly wider feet than average and have found that Lake shoes and sandals are the best for me. They have good design and materials and some of their higher end shoes have carbon fiber soles with BOA lacing systems.
    Your feet are worth the extra money. Really.
  • I mount the cleats as far to the rear as my shoes will allow. I've had to adjust my peddle stroke to accommodate this but I'm glad I did.

Hope that helps.

Sean
« Last Edit: April 07, 2010, 11:14:56 am by CraftGeek »

Offline Tourista829

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2010, 02:36:25 pm »
rvklassen, I understand having uniformity of pedaling systems makes life simpler. We use an SPD system too. Thanks for the reply-
Bob
 
 
 

Offline Tourista829

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2010, 02:40:07 pm »
I use specialized mountain bike shoes with spd cleats.  I also use the keen sandals with spd cleats.  If I wear shoes that are too tight I get hot foot.  These shoes allow my feet enough room while remaining snug enough to ride comfortably. 

Which are more comfortable to ride over a long distance the shoes or sandals? (I have never ridden in sandals with cleats) Thanks for your reply-Bob

Offline Tourista829

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2010, 02:41:04 pm »
John Nelson, thanks for the link, it was very helpful.-Bob

Offline Tourista829

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #9 on: April 07, 2010, 02:52:01 pm »
CraftGeek Thaml you for your comments. This brings up and interesting point, in my research, I assume most people who read this and comment ride upright bikes but I would also welcome those who ride recumbent (s) and trikes to respond. Are there the same principles that apply to regular bikes verses recumbent (s) and trikes to pedaling systems, shoes and comfort ???

Offline rvklassen

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2010, 03:31:48 pm »
I use specialized mountain bike shoes with spd cleats.  I also use the keen sandals with spd cleats.  If I wear shoes that are too tight I get hot foot.  These shoes allow my feet enough room while remaining snug enough to ride comfortably. 

Which are more comfortable to ride over a long distance the shoes or sandals? (I have never ridden in sandals with cleats) Thanks for your reply-Bob
I have both shoes and sandals. I prefer the sandals for two simple reasons: 1) they are potentially cooler, and in hot weather my feet are prone to athlete's foot (less so if not confined in shoes); 2) when I get rained on - warm rain, not cold rain - I don't mind getting my bare feet and sandals wet, but I hate getting my socks and shoes wet.  Of course if it's a cold rain, then neither one is a good option without some other waterproofing approach.

I have found that with appropriate socks my sandals are good down to -10C.  So I don't intend to take the shoes along on tour.

Offline CraftGeek

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Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #11 on: April 07, 2010, 05:59:21 pm »
CraftGeek Thaml you for your comments. This brings up and interesting point, in my research, I assume most people who read this and comment ride upright bikes but I would also welcome those who ride recumbent (s) and trikes to respond. Are there the same principles that apply to regular bikes verses recumbent (s) and trikes to pedaling systems, shoes and comfort ???
As you probably got from my avatar, I ride a recumbent trike so, all my input is based on that. I have never been able to ride long distances on an upright bike so I can't help you there. However, almost all the data on the subject that I found while researching it came from upright riders. So it should be valid for anyone who peddles.

Offline Iseran

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #12 on: April 07, 2010, 07:13:18 pm »
I use MKS touring pedals with standard steel toe clips and leather straps.  I wear Keen shoes (winter) or sandals (summer) -- the regular ones, not the cycle-specific ones.  Never had any foot problems.

Offline DU

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #13 on: April 08, 2010, 08:30:46 am »
I use Specialized mtn. bike shoes and Speedplay Frogs. I used spd's for years but switched to the frogs a couple of years ago and like them much better.

Offline aggie

Re: Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey
« Reply #14 on: April 08, 2010, 11:05:16 am »
I don't notice much of a difference in comfort between my sandals and mtn bike shoe.  It really depends on weather.  When I was biking through TX and LA last July the sandals were far more comfortable due to the heat and humidity.  
« Last Edit: April 08, 2010, 07:00:40 pm by aggie »