Mtn Bike Shoes vs Road Shoes - Page 2

Bluetree · 04-06-2009, 10:34 AM

You're getting differing opinions here, but before you buy, you should take stock as to what kind of person you are.

If you truly want to race, you will want to get the stiffest and highest quality road shoe you can afford. The female racers I know have a greater sense of fearlessness than non-racing women, and are willing to put performance over practicality. Are you that type of person? Do you see yourself becoming that way?

If you are a more cautious type, and see cycling as more of a way to get from place-to-place (and see yourself walking around in stores) then maybe your needs are different. Are you the type that is very concerned about everything that can possibly go wrong in a ride? If so, perhaps MTB shoes are for you.

Grog · 04-06-2009, 12:12 PM

+1 what Bluetree said. Very wise.

MM_QFC! · 04-06-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biciclista

you can't compare road shoes to MTB shoes because you can actually walk comfortably (and safely) in MTB shoes. Most of my road bike friends wear MTB shoes,
I love my Sidi dominators.

+1 - yep,I love my Sidi dominators too...as I like to be able to comfortably walk....into the bakeries and bars along the way!

supercutie · 11-03-2009, 04:59 PM

I have been riding for a decade or so now...on and off. I have a Road bike and a Mountain bike, I have road shoes/pedals and SPD's. After riding my second El Tour de Tucson, which includes a couple of wash/ "river" crossings (I say "river" because they are rarely running so it's a hike through 4-6" of sand) I decided to put SPD peddles on my Road bike. I've never gone back. I have the Sidi Dominators, my only complaint; they're black and in the Tucson summers black is not a shade of choice.
I too had problems with pain in the balls of my feet. It all comes down to how much pressure you apply to the ball of your foot while riding. I have learned to ride as lightly as possible. This means using the connection of the shoe to the peddle to my advantage. When you pull up and scrape back for peddle strokes, you do no need to apply much pressure with your foot. In fact, the only time you need to apply the full pressure of your foot is out of the saddle, you have no choice.
I also make sure my foot has some wiggle room. I wear a size 6 street shoe, which translates to a 38 cm. I wear a 39 cm in Sidis. This way I came accomidate expansion of my foot during long rides and summer heat; not to mention thicker socks in the winter.
Hopefully by now, you have already been taught this by a good coach. I am fortunate enough to be married to a world class bicycle mechanic and coach.
Supercutie

jodz1984 · 11-03-2009, 05:39 PM

Hi, i got some shimano road shoes, and pedals, and they are awesome, i have changed my pedaling style, so i hardly push on the pedals and don't have the same problem anymore, but i find there is no comparison with the being able to be out of the saddle going up a steep hill with the amount i can pull up on the pedals without thinking my feet are about to slip out. the only time i put much pressure downwards of the pedels is when i am sprinting or out of the saddle riding up a hill. so i probably wouldn't have the same problem with the old pedals and shoes now, but i do prefere the road shoes and pedals.

I have got a coach since making this tread and have improved a lot of aspects of my riding since then. still a long long long way to go though. i have just started racing on the track (went up a grade after only 1 week and still won races) then next road season i'll be racing that. i beat a lot of the guys i ride with which doesn't impress them at all.

Thank you for the reply, and good luck with your cycling

11-03-2009, 04:59 PM	#19
supercutie Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 5	Shoes aside, let's talk foot pain I have been riding for a decade or so now...on and off. I have a Road bike and a Mountain bike, I have road shoes/pedals and SPD's. After riding my second El Tour de Tucson, which includes a couple of wash/ "river" crossings (I say "river" because they are rarely running so it's a hike through 4-6" of sand) I decided to put SPD peddles on my Road bike. I've never gone back. I have the Sidi Dominators, my only complaint; they're black and in the Tucson summers black is not a shade of choice. I too had problems with pain in the balls of my feet. It all comes down to how much pressure you apply to the ball of your foot while riding. I have learned to ride as lightly as possible. This means using the connection of the shoe to the peddle to my advantage. When you pull up and scrape back for peddle strokes, you do no need to apply much pressure with your foot. In fact, the only time you need to apply the full pressure of your foot is out of the saddle, you have no choice. I also make sure my foot has some wiggle room. I wear a size 6 street shoe, which translates to a 38 cm. I wear a 39 cm in Sidis. This way I came accomidate expansion of my foot during long rides and summer heat; not to mention thicker socks in the winter. Hopefully by now, you have already been taught this by a good coach. I am fortunate enough to be married to a world class bicycle mechanic and coach. Supercutie

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04-06-2009, 10:34 AM	#16
Bluetree Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,010	You're getting differing opinions here, but before you buy, you should take stock as to what kind of person you are. If you truly want to race, you will want to get the stiffest and highest quality road shoe you can afford. The female racers I know have a greater sense of fearlessness than non-racing women, and are willing to put performance over practicality. Are you that type of person? Do you see yourself becoming that way? If you are a more cautious type, and see cycling as more of a way to get from place-to-place (and see yourself walking around in stores) then maybe your needs are different. Are you the type that is very concerned about everything that can possibly go wrong in a ride? If so, perhaps MTB shoes are for you.

04-06-2009, 12:12 PM	#17
Grog Northern Amazon Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 3,473	+1 what Bluetree said. Very wise.

11-03-2009, 05:39 PM	#20
jodz1984 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11	Hi, i got some shimano road shoes, and pedals, and they are awesome, i have changed my pedaling style, so i hardly push on the pedals and don't have the same problem anymore, but i find there is no comparison with the being able to be out of the saddle going up a steep hill with the amount i can pull up on the pedals without thinking my feet are about to slip out. the only time i put much pressure downwards of the pedels is when i am sprinting or out of the saddle riding up a hill. so i probably wouldn't have the same problem with the old pedals and shoes now, but i do prefere the road shoes and pedals. I have got a coach since making this tread and have improved a lot of aspects of my riding since then. still a long long long way to go though. i have just started racing on the track (went up a grade after only 1 week and still won races) then next road season i'll be racing that. i beat a lot of the guys i ride with which doesn't impress them at all. Thank you for the reply, and good luck with your cycling