Seems less choice: narrow mountain bike shoes

[shootingstar]

I wear mountain bike shoes, preferably with a touch of sole flexiblity so that I can get off bike and walk around for few kms. (under 5 or less) to go shopping, a light walk, etc. And also mountain bike shoes that aren't too chunky. So I bought a pair I liked 80% because:

*30% discount
*looks fine
*ok, abit stiff soled for walking around tons, but great on bike for leverage, etc.
*not urgent but 12 months from now, will be on a desperate hunt for cycling shoes that fit the above criteria.


Seems like every year, the range of mountain bike shoe style choices for women gets less and less. In fact, it doesn't feel like the shoe manufacturers/bike clothing industry is looking out for this group cyclists.

And I don't ride with clipless pedals. But nor do I want to ride to work with any of my expensive leather walking or dress shoes. I will not be the woman cycling in her dress/high heels. Forget it. I spend minimum of $100.00 - $125.00 per pr. of such shoes...just as much as cycling shoes but for a different purpose. I have cut back on the number of off-bike shoe styles in my closet ...other more urgent costs must be looked after first.

(It gets further complicated when I have customized orthotics so dress/off bike shoe styles are more limited. So I don't want to prematurely shorten lifespan of such shoes either.)

[Owlie]

Personally, I think it's hard finding any cycling shoes for women outside certain cycling hot-spots. Then they have really low-end shoes, or really high-end shoes...and then they don't have the sizes. (Is a US 9.5 really that unusual?) I do have hard-to-fit feet (overall narrow end of B width, but with a particularly narrow heel and a high instep), though.

You're probably not going to damage your shoes that much if you ride in them, but I can understand wanting proper cycling shoes, considering that you ride everywhere. Have you considered touring-type shoes? Since you don't have clipless pedals, the cleat style doesn't matter. The ones I've seen look kind of like sneakers and do have some give in the sole so you can walk around. (Unless what you meant by MTB shoes is "not roadie-type shoes") ;)

[shootingstar]

Unless what you meant by MTB shoes is "not roadie-type shoes") Yup.

I like the convenience and lightness in pannier bags, of not carrying an extra pair of shoes for walking for even a short weekend self-loaded biking trip.

[tzvia]

I wanted SPD cycling shoes that I could commute to work in, and wear all day; work is casual professional so designer athletic shoes would fit the bill. So I went looking all over town. One store had Keen, and they make nice comfortable shoes and sandals, but the shoes were all leather and looked like they would be too hot to wear in summer (sandals are OUT at work). Some other brands just looked to 'clunky' and heavy and were not SPD (I guess for the big flat pedals). Some looked like something a teenager would wear and would not really fit in at work.

After going to several stores, I found some Specialized shoes that could work in their 'Recreational/Fitness' category. Some photos here: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProductList.jsp?sid=2012EquipShoesCasualWmn&pscid=1009&scid=1137. Nice looking, walkable and they don't scream 'cycling shoes'.

I bought the Sonoma almost 2 years ago, and they have held up very well and aside from the light 'click-click' sound of the cleats on the concrete outside work, you would be hard pressed to guess they were for cycling. I bought a second pair a few weeks ago as they changed their style and color, and I might get the Tahoe sport at some point. They have also held up really well; I just hand washed the older pair with hand soap and air dried them and they look good as new. The best part is that as they are from one of the big players, you should be able to find a dealer who stocks them or can order in your size to try.

[shootingstar]

The Sonomas look like the type I like. But not certain if I would slip out of shoe because my orthotic raises my whole foot..

Up in Canada, in the biggest cities there still aren't the choice shoes for women for cycling.

Now I get this impression in fact the whole cycling chic movement, might be giving some bike retailers the wrong (?) impression that there will be less of a need to serve cycling commuters, etc. who DON'T want to cycle in high heels, business shoes, etc. And other casual multi-sport cyclists who combine light hiking and cycling.

So increasingly 2 extremes of media images exist for cycling women:

cycling chic/or bike in any old shoes vs. clipless shoe cyclists/cleated shoe cyclists. And not much in between --based on the selection of women's cycling shoe choices that I see.

I don't feel comfortable ordering any shoes untried online given limitations imposed by a customized orthotic.