getting closer to buying new shoes

I'm normally a very impulsive shopper, but not with the new bike shoes I've been told I need.I've been to 3 bike shops lately and it seems like either all the shops are low in stock, or they don't stock shoes for normal sized women hardly ever. It's infuriating! I wanted to try to shop local, and not but my new shoes from the internet. Here are some things I've decided:

#1 I really like the way my Specialized Taho's feel on my feet, but I need road shoes that are stiff, or something that has some tread so I can still walk around if we go somewhere on bikes. Also, not slipping when I unclip my foot to step out of the pedals.

#2 I think it would help me to get a shoe that will allow me to use my current spd pedal but upgrade at a later date to Look or Speedplay. I'm thinking a bigger contact area might help with the hotfoot problem I'm having.

#3 I'm concerened that I might spend a whole lot of money and still have a problem with hotfoot and numbness.

I know there are a lot of threads already on this subject, but I needed to get it all out of my system because I'm getting closer to buying new bike shoes.

You have some conflicting requirements here.

1) Most Specialized shoes will probably fit you if this is the brand you like best so far. Selection can be slim, so you may just have to order online. If you want stiff shoes, you need some high quality shoes, which translates to more $$. If you want a stiff shoe that is walkable and treaded so you won't slip, then you're looking at good MTB shoes, although road shoes will have bumpers on the toe and heel to minimize slipping--you just have to get the hang of it, and stopping on a steep grade could still suck.

2) Here is where you are going to be compromising stiffness and walkability. To have a shoe with 2-bolt and 3 bolt patterns, you need a road sole. However, you aren't going to be able to find carbon-soled road shoes that have the SPD plate easily. So you're looking at plastic/fiberglass soles which aren't as stiff. MTB shoes will not have the 3-bolt pattern needed for road cleat systems, so you will lose walkability by giving up MTB shoe tread.

3) Your concern is possible, but the right fitting shoe will alleviate a lot of foot discomfort. From there, you need to examine the cleat type (surface area of contact, for example) and, most importantly, cleat position.

So, you should prioritize the benefits of a road shoe with the drawbacks of switching to a road shoe without switching away from SPD at the same time. If you are sure you want to stick with SPDs, then you can get a good mountain shoe that will meet all of your other needs: stiffness, walkability, and tread against slipping. It sounds to me like you're more concerned about foot comfort than the walking factor, so I would go with a good road shoe and switch pedal systems all at the same time.

I commiserate with you! I recently spent 6 months doing the search for cycling shoes, and it was not a pleasant experience. Poor selection of women's shoes, out-of-stock on many sizes, sales staff only interested in selling Sidis (which just don't work for me). Like you, I ride with SPD pedals; however, I made the switch to road shoes that accommodate MTB cleats -- that's been an adjustment. :) Not much to add, except I wish you luck in your search!!

aicabsolut has pretty much covered it...

I just wanted to chime in and say I think people make too much out of how difficult it is to walk in road shoes, how slippery they are, etc. It's not hard to walk in them, nor dangerous, it's just not comfortable for long periods of time -- both because of the stiffness of the sole and because when you are actually standing/walking, the cleat puts your foot in an unnaturallly dorsiflexed position (toes up/heels down). But for what you would ordinarily do on a ride, getting off and walking around to get lunch, coffee, bathroom, etc, they are just fine. I have even run errands (including light grocery shopping) in mine.

I've been sort of leaning toward the idea that I may have to sacrifice walkability for miles on the road. When I started this obsession I had no idea I would be able to do the kind of miles we've been riding. At first, 8 miles nearly killed me. Now we are riding 70-100 miles a week in the summer. The whole process is an evolution of comfort, strength and ability. I appreciate all the input from everyone. It's a lot easier to get the right advice(or more detailed and complicated) on this forum than just listening to what the bike shop folks will tell me in order to make a sale. I feel like I can make a more educated purchase, especially because it looks like I will plunk down a few hundred at least.

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Originally Posted by liza

aicabsolut has pretty much covered it...

I just wanted to chime in and say I think people make too much out of how difficult it is to walk in road shoes, how slippery they are, etc. It's not hard to walk in them, nor dangerous, it's just not comfortable for long periods of time -- both because of the stiffness of the sole and because when you are actually standing/walking, the cleat puts your foot in an unnaturallly dorsiflexed position (toes up/heels down). But for what you would ordinarily do on a ride, getting off and walking around to get lunch, coffee, bathroom, etc, they are just fine. I have even run errands (including light grocery shopping) in mine.

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I agree with Liza on this one. Keep in mind, too, that there are "cleat covers" for certain types of cleats (like Look Keos) that can be used when you're going to be walking in your shoes.

ditto Liza and aicabsolut.

I also agree that walking on road shoes isn't the end of the world. In fact, the last time I rode in the NC mountains, I had to push my bike up a steep grade for about 1/2 a mile in my road shoes. It's survivable.

Like you, I used to have hot spot problems when I started riding distances greater than 35-40 miles in my MTB shoes on my road bike. I have bad feet, so I needed the larger platform and a stiffer sole. I still use those same MTB shoes (Specialized) for all day mountain biking or touring, but for long road rides, I have Specialized road shoes and the SPD-SL cleats (the Look type) and they totally solved the hot spot issue for me. (I do have to order online though - I wear tiny mens shoes - so no local store ever carries my size)

I have a pair that I bought a couple of years ago and they have lasted well. Very functional for being stiff and walkable. I have seen this year's model in the LBS and am jealous of how cute they are as mine look more like boy shoes.

You might also look at Keen's Hybrid Sandals - they make their fancy moldable, antimicrobial footbed sandal things now with a cleat mount as well.

http://www.keenfootwear.com/product_....aspx?sku=5264
REI also carries them. I really want a pair now that it's super hot out. I'll keep the shoes for cooler weather.