Pedals/cycle shoes

[Autigirl]

Hi All!

I love my new bike! I have ridden it about 30 minutes every day to get used to it and yesterday I rode for about an hour and a half. This is the first bike I have ever owned that has toe clips or cages. (honestly don't know the difference)

How do I know if the clips are the right size for me? How much of your foot should be on the pedal?

The only thing sore on me yesterday was my feet/toes. Since this has never happened before I have to assume it is the toe clips/cages. I don't wear cycle shoes - just Nike's.

I plan on buying cycle shoes, but really want input from all your experts out there! <grin> I would hate to buy the wrong thing!

Any suggestions on shoes? Should I get ones that clip in? Should I use the cages or just take them off?

Thanks for all your help!

Have a great day!

Kat

[ZenSojourner]

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I HATE TOE CLIPS!

Whew! I just had to let that out!

Seriously, they scare the living cra* out of me. I know lots of people swear by them - well a few people at least, anymore I think the majority of riders have gone to "clipless pedals". But they SCARE THE LIVIN' BEJEEZUS out of me and I would never wear them.

Ever.

If you're not going to use the, take them off, they're just in your way. My guess is if you're not using them you're probably not really positioning properly on the pedal. So maybe you're pedalling more on your tippy toes sort of than with the ball of your foot.

If you decide to try to use them, make sure someone who really knows how to use them teaches you. Try your local bike club, there's bound to be somebody who's still using them.

I'm not saying they're bad. They just scare me. Heck, I still haven't had the nerve to clip in on my new bike and I rode clipless for umm like 5 years? with no real problem. I'm just a big ol' scaredy cat.

[SadieKate]

+1 on the toe cages. They scare the crap out of me also and are probably the reason for your toe problems. I prefer any method that lets you step off the pedal with a more natural sideways motion.

By the way, Nike makes cycling shoes so just saying you wear Nike's isn't telling us much.

Usually, you should have the ball of your foot over the spindle of the pedal. However, as you increase your distance, change shoes, pedals, etc., you may adjust this. But if you are wearing shoes with a flexible sole (which you probably are), the ball of your foot should be over the spindle. Definitely, not the arch.

[wackyjacky1]

LOL, I'm the opposite of you guys: I love my toe clips, and it's the clipless pedals that scare me! :o :D

My cycling shoes will accept cleats; I just don't have any installed. Without cleats, they work fine with toe clips. It's the stiffer sole that makes a big difference in comfort and in getting more power out of your pedal stroke.

[Autigirl]

Sorry...I am wearing Nike running shoes. I know probably not the best, but I am not sure what type of cycle shoes to buy. I think they are so tall that they are taking up space and my toe cages aren't as deep as they need to be.

The thought of clipping in scares the bejeezus out of me too!<grin> Heck a year ago I bought a comfort bike because I was scared to get back on a road bike. Now I feel totally safe and am so glad I bought a road bike.

So what is a good brand of cycle shoes? My local Sun and Ski had a bunch on clearance a week or so ago. They are marked down to $80 with an extra 20% off. I had no clue what I was looking for or if these were even good shoes.

I think I may take my cages off until I get cycle shoes. I am pedaling more on my toes than the ball of my feet.

Thanks for the advice!

Kat

[Autigirl]

LOL, I'm the opposite of you guys: I love my toe clips, and it's the clipless pedals that scare me! :o :D

My cycling shoes will accept cleats; I just don't have any installed. Without cleats, they work fine with toe clips. It's the stiffer sole that makes a big difference in comfort and in getting more power out of your pedal stroke.

What I LOVE about the toe clips/cages is that you do get more power and in my experience more control of the bike when you stand to pedal.

Kat

[SadieKate]

So what is a good brand of cycle shoes? The ones that fit.

[sfa]

I use toe clips (not to be confused with clipless pedals, which you actually clip into. Who came up with this terminology?) and whatever cycling shoes fit and aren't expensive. I use them without the cleats, obviously, but they work better than regular shoes, if only because they are narrower and stiffer and thus easier to slip into the toe clips. My current favorites are the Keen commuter sandals. SOOOOOO nice today when it was 90 degrees!

I can't say clipless pedals scare me since I've never tried them, but I do wonder about a system where part of the learning curve includes slow speed falls. The toe clips (cages, whatever) are easy to slip in and out of and I've never had a fall, slow or otherwise, because of them. They give you nice contact with the pedals and position your foot well on the pedal and you don't slip off like you might with just platform pedals. But with running shoes they don't work so well--the base of most running shoes is pretty wide so they don't fit into the cages well, which is probably why you're having problems. I guess it depends on the size of your foot, but for me I put my foot in the cage so that my toe touches the end of the cage, which positions most of the ball of my foot over the pedal.

Sarah

[SadieKate]

Try mountain biking in cages. You will become a clipless convert. It just doesn't work when you're trying to put your foot out to the side and it's trapped in a cage.

[emily_in_nc]

Sorry...I am wearing Nike running shoes. I know probably not the best, but I am not sure what type of cycle shoes to buy. I think they are so tall that they are taking up space and my toe cages aren't as deep as they need to be.

Kat, no wonder your toes were sore -- running shoes are just too flexible to be worn for cycling, allowing your toes and balls of your feet to flex with every pedal stroke. No matter whether you choose clipless pedals (my choice by a longshot) or cages, you need to get some stiff-soled cycling shoes. Brand is not as important for beginners as good fit and just being a cycling shoe rather than a running or casual shoe.

Good luck!

[sundial]

I like BMX platform pedals (http://www.treefortbikes.com/88_333222339450__MG-1-Magnesium-Platform-Pedals.html) for shorter rides. You can wear multi-surface shoes (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodLG_1487051.html) with them and in a technical situation you can bail in a jiffy if you need to.

[Autigirl]

I have been looking at shoes and clips and cages and the problem is that there are too many choices! LOL!

I took off the cages that came with my bike only to realize they were size XS and I wear a size 9 shoe. They looked small, but without glasses I couldn't see the "XS". <grin>

Sun n Ski has a great sale on cycle shoes. They are on clearance with an extra 20% off on top of that. The men's shoes were a bit roomy on me and they didn't have women's in my size. I think today I will go to Bike Mart to see what they have. I don't mind spending money on a nice pair, I really want to make sure I love what I buy.

Those commuter sandals are way cute!

Have a great day!

Kat

[ridenread]

I too love my toe clips (cages). I have never had a problem starting, stopping or getting my feet in or out. I feel like I have much better control and more power especially when climbing. I bought an inexpensive pair of cycling shoes that offer a nice stiff sole and great support. Someday I may attach cleats and try clipless but I too fear the unknown of riding clipped in.