can I learn to love my road shoes?

[momof4greatkids]

I just switched from mtn bike shoes to road shoes. The new shoes are Sidi genius in red, they are beautiful and fit really well.

I've ridden probably a little over 300 miles in them so far.

But I am having a lot of trouble getting used to them.

Anyone else transition from mtn shoes to road shoes have any suggestions? I am about ready to put up a for sale sign on the "genius" shoes and get the dominators instead.

Colleen

[SadieKate]

What's wrong? Is it that you're not used to non-lugged shoes?

Or you don't like something else? Genius and Doms are the same except for the sole, but I think you know that.

[momof4greatkids]

What's wrong? Is it that you're not used to non-lugged shoes?

Or you don't like something else? Genius and Doms are the same except for the sole, but I think you know that.

I have trouble clipping in and then my foot slips off. W/the mtn bike shoe I could just sit on top of the pedals if without clipping in, and my foot would stay put. W/these, I can't do that.

[Biciclista]

I have dominators. I love them. Those slippery bottoms on road shoes don't make sense to me.

[Grog]

I went from cheap touring/MTB type shoes with SPD pedals to super expensive Specialized road shoes that fit me like a glove, with road-SPD pedals (which are like Look pedals).

The shoes were spectacular and I never had any more pain in my feet. But I often got annoyed with difficulty clipping in (or clipping out! :eek: when it was rainy or there would be mud on the pedals it would become nearly impossible to clip out...) and with replacing the cleats every year. I had to go up and down stairs with my bike before every ride (and didn't have cleat-covers) so they would wear out fast.

I wore out the Specialized shoes' heels (so I was now walking on the carbon soles) and after three years I decided I had had it. I bought a pair of Dominators and put my original Shimano M-050 (I think) pedals on. I felt immediate relief at being able to put a foot down steadily when I needed to. It's my "happily ever after." And the Dom's soles are just as stiff as my $300 carbon shoes were. As far as I can tell anyway.

I'm sorry to have such a story to report. To directly answer your question: you'll probably get used to it, and it will feel fine, but maybe you'd rather be a dominator than a genius after all.

[tzvia]

I can't imagine using a pedal with small SPD type cleats- with road shoes. That's a small cleat with a small engagement area on the pedal- I would think it would be easy to miss. The larger Look style, or Speedplay or the TIME would be better I would think. And yea, the shoes are meant to be used 'clipped in' so resting your feet on those small pedals must feel like walking on ice with ice cubes stuck to the bottom of your shoes.

I use Speedplay, and if I stick my foot on the pedal and pedal, it will clip in. No looking, no hooking the cleat on the pedal to start, just press down and pedal. If I were ever to abandon my Speedplays (not likely) for SPDs, I would use MTB shoes so I could pedal clipped or unclipped like I do on my MTB with TIME pedals. I want to enjoy cycling, not learn how to do a tightrope act on my pedals.

[ilima]

I have trouble clipping in and then my foot slips off. W/the mtn bike shoe I could just sit on top of the pedals if without clipping in, and my foot would stay put. W/these, I can't do that.

Give yourself some time. Your foot will soon learn where it needs to be and you'll figure out the right touch to keep your foot from flying off the pedal. That's actually an important thing to learn in case you say are stopped at a red light unclipped and then need to get through the intersection quickly.

[alpinerabbit]

I've got road shoes w/ Look cleats -
For a long time I've thought of resorting to sticking some rubber material where the shoe does not meet the Pedal, sort of under the arch. To prevent slipping off. But my annoyance level is not high enough so I never have.

[Crankin]

I made the same switch, but I use Speed Plays; I never had any issues. I don't really understand what the issue is. With Speed Plays, you put your foot down and it's in. Once in awhile I miss, but the motion is so natural, my foot just slides in.
I never expected to walk well in road shoes; they are not made for walking. The most I walk around is to sit down and eat my lunch on a ride! If I am doing more of a "tour" type of day, my husband brings his Carradice bag and I stick my very light weight Keen sandals in there to slip on.

[VeloVT]

I have trouble clipping in and then my foot slips off. W/the mtn bike shoe I could just sit on top of the pedals if without clipping in, and my foot would stay put. W/these, I can't do that.


I made the same switch, but I use Speed Plays; I never had any issues. I don't really understand what the issue is. With Speed Plays, you put your foot down and it's in. Once in awhile I miss, but the motion is so natural, my foot just slides in.


Crankin, the motion for clipping in with SPD-SLs/Looks is different -- you can't just step on the pedal. You kind of slide in and down. You have to catch the pedal just right or the cleat will just slide right over the top of the pedal.

That said, it's totally a muscle memory thing. When I first started riding clipless it would take me a long time to clip in, but with repetition it becomes like clipping out -- you don't have to look down, your body knows where the pedal is. Like someone else said, I would say just give it time. I love my road pedals.

If you get nervous at intersections because you are concerned that you might not be able to clip in fast enough, always remember that with clipless pedals, it's quite easy to keep yourself going pedaling with only one leg. Assuming you only clip out one foot at lights, you can get yourself going with the leg that's still clipped in, and take your time to get your other foot in. When I was helping my boyfriend learn to use clipless pedals, and he had anxiety about getting clipped in, I demonstrated that you can actually go pretty fast with only one leg by riding down the bike path in front of him with one leg clipped in and the other lifted out to the side. He thought it was pretty funny -- apparently I looked like a dog at a fire hydrant :).

[Aggie_Ama]

I ride Looks and find I often trouble clipping in but I can ride on the pedal for a short time until I can get to a comfortable area to flip them or make sure they are engaged. Not ideal and not fast but I don't race so who cares? I like the way my foot feels once clipped in them so I trade that I am not coordinated and no pedal will be an easy clip for me.

With the amount of foot issues I have had I am not sure I would give up the stiff sole to go to mountain shoes so I deal with the annoyances of road shoes. Also I have very narrow feet and am not keen on replacing my road shoes with some top of the line Sidi mountain shoes which would be the only ones to fit my feet and be relatively stiff soled. :o

[Triskeliongirl]

Aggie, the sole on the dominator is just as stiff as the sole on the genius, the only difference is the lugs and the types of cleats that can be used.

I use the dominator as a 'road shoe' with speedplay frogs and I love my set up. I like being able to walk in my shoes, and the weight of the lugs is no significant to me.

[Aggie_Ama]

Oh, that is excellent to know Trisk. I can't afford to replace mine at the moment but have really been considering it. It seems to be quite a popular choice on TE but I don't see it much in Austin but who cares?

[Triskeliongirl]

Its is true that on average mountain soles are less stiff than road soles, but the higher end mountain shoes like the dominator are identical. I also have narrow feet so the dominator works well for me. I always pick them up on those end of the year closeout sales, so start watching for your size to go on sale.

[Aggie_Ama]

I was just looking at the pictures and they look the same shoe except the sole.

Back to the original question..... Why did you switch in the first place? As you can see from Trisk and I's discussion I ride Genius and have very narrow feet so I love the fit of Sidi. The Genius fit like a glove but I love the walkability of mountain shoes and have thought of trading. She rides Dominators and says they feel very comparable to the Genius. Do you only hate the clipping in? For me the tough call is I love my pedals- once I am in them and riding.

[sundial]

I have trouble clipping in and then my foot slips off. W/the mtn bike shoe I could just sit on top of the pedals if without clipping in, and my foot would stay put. W/these, I can't do that.

Which is why I wear mtb shoes. :) I had a pair of road shoes with Speedplays and when I had come to a stop, I put my foot down and did a Chinese split. :eek: Nope, not pretty. :o

I have Specialized mtb pro carbon soled shoes that rival the stiffness of a road shoe. And unlike road shoes, I can hike in them should I have a mechanical failure out in the boondocks. :cool:

[momof4greatkids]

Back to the original question..... Why did you switch in the first place? As you can see from Trisk and I's discussion I ride Genius and have very narrow feet so I love the fit of Sidi. The Genius fit like a glove but I love the walkability of mountain shoes and have thought of trading. She rides Dominators and says they feel very comparable to the Genius. Do you only hate the clipping in? For me the tough call is I love my pedals- once I am in them and riding.


The reason I switched is because I needed new shoes because my old ones were looking beat. I wanted to be able to take advantage of the stiffer sole of a road shoe. I didn't anticipate any problem transitioning from MTB shoes. I still have my keens, but I live in Ohio, and they are not all-season.

Well, here's what I did....I ordered a pair of dominator's...:rolleyes: Dang this is an expensive hobby:o

Colleen

[Aggie_Ama]

I know, the reason I don't have doms yet! Once you are sold on the Doms try to sell the Genius to recoup some of the loss. :rolleyes: Good luck!

[sundial]

Well, here's what I did....I ordered a pair of dominator's...:rolleyes: Dang this is an expensive hobby:o

Think of it as an investment in your health. ;) When you get your new shoooooz, I wanna see.

[momof4greatkids]

Think of it as an investment in your health.

:DI like the way you think!

Colleen

[Blueberry]

Has anybody else noticed TE has really good prices on the Dominators? I have been looking (but have not purchased yet), and they seem about $30 cheaper than most places.

*whine* I'm giving my beloved ruby slippers more of a chance this summer. However, I 'spect I need a larger size after the black toenails from last September's MS ride...:( Why, oh why, can't they make red again???

[Grog]

I did buy my Dominators on TE. There was also a sale of some sort at the time which made them even cheaper.

I would have loved the Ruby slippers but the Sapphire ones are also nice. :)

[malkin]

Another Dominator wearer here. The name just makes me giggle a little bit.

Do I look submissive in these shoes?

[chicago]

The reason I switched is because I needed new shoes because my old ones were looking beat. I wanted to be able to take advantage of the stiffer sole of a road shoe. I didn't anticipate any problem transitioning from MTB shoes. I still have my keens, but I live in Ohio, and they are not all-season.

Well, here's what I did....I ordered a pair of dominator's...:rolleyes: Dang this is an expensive hobby:o

Colleen

what size are those genius?;)

[momof4greatkids]

what size are those genius?;)


they are 39.5 and they are red....very lovely in fact

Hey Chicago....I know you from bike forum ;)

I ordered my dom's Tues morning, and I just got word they shipped today....2 1/2 days to ship out a pair of shoes? I was hoping to have them by the weekend...:(

If I had ordered from TE (They didn't have my size, I got '08's) they would be here already :rolleyes:

[chicago]

they are 39.5 and they are red....very lovely in fact

Hey Chicago....I know you from bike forum ;)

I ordered my dom's Tues morning, and I just got word they shipped today....2 1/2 days to ship out a pair of shoes? I was hoping to have them by the weekend...:(

If I had ordered from TE (They didn't have my size, I got '08's) they would be here already :rolleyes:

darn... 40 here:mad: I would have bought them from you.

Yep... I am from bikeforums as well... I recognized you too. I should make it simpler and keep the same forum name globally, LOL!!

I just got my Sidi Zeta shoes and their pretty nice. Now that I see them in white...I'm wondering if I should have gone with a color... not sure if I'll keep them... but they do fit good.

Good luck with your dom's... :)

[momof4greatkids]

Dominator update...Love these shoes. Had a simple interval trainer workout with them this evening. easy to clip in and out, I really like them a lot.

I guess I am a dominator, not a genius :D ( I should have known that all along lol)

Colleen