Shoe suggestions - BMX pedals

It has become painfully obvious that clipping in is just plain bad for my legs - so am returning to BMX pedals until at least mid-spring. My existing BMX pedals are very banged up so am getting a new set with sealed bearings and adjustable/removable pins - and more of them.

I am debating what shoes to wear. I need a pretty stiff shoe with a rubber sole that does not have grooves and so forth. My Bontragers that I clip in with will just not work, the pins on my BMX pedals can't get a grip on that hard plastic and deep grooves (mountain bike shoes). With this in mind, I am starting to look for a new pair of shoes for the winter and I am not looking for "winter shoes", but rather stiff rubber-soled cycling shoes that my BMX pedals can work with. Athletic shoes are just not supportive enough. My Keen Commuters do work, but are somewhat soft for me. Fine for summer riding, but I want an enclosed shoe for the winter.

I know some wear boots with their BMX pedals in the winter, but I really would prefer a shoe - and will experiment with toe and shoe covers. I do wonder if trail running shoes are stiffer than normal athletic shoes, PI has some interesting trail shoes but am unsure how the soles would work.

I am also looking at "BMX shoes" on the internet. I found these and these provide a more expensive option that might be more versatile if I am able to return to clipless eventually. With my feet as they are, I do need support...

i was going to recommend these http://www.zappos.com/five-ten-impac...-w-grey-purple

but they are almost the same as the five-ten shoes you listed. i know someone here posted before that they really do stick well to the pedals.

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Originally Posted by moonfroggy

i was going to recommend these http://www.zappos.com/five-ten-impac...-w-grey-purple

but they are almost the same as the five-ten shoes you listed. i know someone here posted before that they really do stick well to the pedals.

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This is good to know - and I figure that it the winter that it is even more important that they stick well given the different weather conditions. My new pedals will have more pins than my old pair, and they will be adjustable or removable so I can fine-tune them. The soles on both of these links appear to be quite substantial and that should help with my support needs.

The two links look like they are basically the same shoe, guess the few $$ extra on the grey and purple are because they aren't basic black :) I will look around a little longer - it is still warm enough to wear my Keene Commuters a little longer. I am sure that mountain bike shoe covers would fit them - or at least toe covers...

The reviews for this shoe at Zappos return again and again to how well they stick to the pins on the pedals, and apparently some are even able to pull the pedals up with them! They are apparently stiff enough, and last for years. I just might be sold... they may not be the prettiest - but I don't buy bike shoes for their looks.

EDITED: for those who use the Five-Ten shoes - can you really pull the pedal up with them as some of the reviews I have read appear to indicate? If so then this might be a problem...

Just for comparison's sake - would trail shoes be stiff enough? Of course the soles couldn't have deep grooves and so forth... The Five-Tens do look like a good choice, but I do like to compare options.

I know that BMX pedals do provide good support, but I also know that I had more foot pain from my Keene Commuters over my Bontrager mtn bike shoes... The Five Tens are said to be quite stiff, so that is another mark in their favor.

Lake Freeride shoes and Five Tens

I keep reading how "grippy" these shoes are, and the reviews make it sound like some have found that they can even pull up on the pedals when they use these with BMX pedals - I assume from the pins getting seated in the rubber.

This would actually be a bad thing for me - has anyone had any experience with this actually happening? Sounds a bit far to me, but I can't afford to purchase either shoe and find this happens. The entire point to returning to BMX pedals until spring is to give my hamstrings a break until there is no doubt that they are healed. Riding with platform pedals does not hurt. Clipping in does. Therefore I won't be clipping in :cool:

I just wanted to check one more time, I need to pull the trigger on something soon as my new pedals will be here Friday and I need something to put on my feet to ride in that will be flat & stiff enough :) Somehow I think it's a little cool for my Keen Commuters...Am also tempted by PI Trail shoes, but wonder if the grooves are too deep for the pins to get good contact...

I don't have anyu insight, unfortunately. Do you still have your personal trainer's Cycleops? If so, order the shoes from Zappos and then try them out while the bike is on the trainer. If they're too grippy, return them. Returns are free with Zappos.

I will say that trail shoes typically offer more support than athletic shoes, but they often have soles with deep grooves. I noticed one pair of Vasques (the brand I wear for hiking) on sale at Zappos that have a smoother sole. I'd provide a link, but that's hard to do with my Blackberry. They're light blue of that helps.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

I don't have anyu insight, unfortunately. Do you still have your personal trainer's Cycleops? If so, order the shoes from Zappos and then try them out while the bike is on the trainer. If they're too grippy, return them. Returns are free with Zappos.

I will say that trail shoes typically offer more support than athletic shoes, but they often have soles with deep grooves. I noticed one pair of Vasques (the brand I wear for hiking) on sale at Zappos that have a smoother sole. I'd provide a link, but that's hard to do with my Blackberry. They're light blue of that helps.

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The trainer went back home when I moved. I will see if I can find the Vasques on Zappos site. Considering the 5-10's are made with down-hill mountain biking in mind, I suspect they may well be too grippy for me.

Indy, are these your shoes? The soles do appear smoother than PI trail shoes and perhaps comparable with my Keen Commuters. From Zappos profile shot it does not look like the "lugs" or whatever you want to call them are very deep at all... This might be a better choice over the 5-10's, and might be warmer than the Lake Freeride...but hopefully someone here has some experience with the latter. I can't seem to find any helpful reviews on the Lakes - though that doesn't mean there aren't any.

Nope. I was thinking of the Solera. Sorry again for the lack of a link. See what you think. They're not cheap, but they might might a decent hiking shoe, too.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

Nope. I was thinking of the Solera. Sorry again for the lack of a link. See what you think. They're not cheap, but they might might a decent hiking shoe, too.

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I had already looked at them, but they don't come in my size :(

I did, however, find them at Amazon for $47! Third party company selling through Amazon...I am pondering this as I have not had much luck in recent months with Amazon.com.

Indy, do you find they run small? Should I go a half-size up? I think I want to pull the trigger on these, but it would be nice if I don't have to return them. Pity Zappos doesn't have my size. I am going to see if they have a comparable Vasquez that might be similar - I do like Zappos but$47 is hard to beat for a $100 shoe - IF I can get the right size from Amazon and not have to return them. Sierra Traders has these as well, but not my size.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

Nope. I was thinking of the Solera. Sorry again for the lack of a link. See what you think. They're not cheap, but they might might a decent hiking shoe, too.

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I was able to find a local store that Indy suggested to try on a Vasque hiking shoe. I think it will be fine - and I was able to order the discontinued Solera from Amazon for $43 - retailed for $100 :) My current hiking shoes are shot, and I like the idea that I can both ride and hike in these shoes. Zappos did have a size 9, which is my size, but I wanted to go up a .5 size.

I was impressed with how 'grippy' the vibram soles were of the shoes I tried on this morning! The Solera appears to be a 2008-2009 model shoe, but I am sure that it will be fine. It isn't waterproof, but I suspect that would hold in too much heat on the bike anyway.

For what it's worth: ropers (cowboy boots with lower and broader heels) work really well with BMX pedals. The shanks on the boots do a lovely job of supporting your foot, kinda like the "crabon fribe" road shoes. Ropers tend to have rubber soles (since they are designed along the lines of folks leaping off of horses and running to the critter they've roped) and mine grip the BMX pedals on my bikes just great.

And they look really good with a miniskirt on the bike! (the miniskirt is on the rider, not on the bike) Not that I'd wear my miniskirts on the bikes now... but they also look good with heavy tights and little pixie skirts, and with capri-length palazzo pants. (Though I don't really trust my palazzo pants on the bike, they flap around way too much.)

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

For what it's worth: ropers (cowboy boots with lower and broader heels) work really well with BMX pedals. The shanks on the boots do a lovely job of supporting your foot, kinda like the "crabon fribe" road shoes. Ropers tend to have rubber soles (since they are designed along the lines of folks leaping off of horses and running to the critter they've roped) and mine grip the BMX pedals on my bikes just great.

And they look really good with a miniskirt on the bike! (the miniskirt is on the rider, not on the bike)

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Cool, I will keep this in mind! I think the 5-10s would have been fine, just a little concern about the reviews from those who said they could pull up on the pedal with them - generally a good thing if you don't have a cranky hamstring :o

I really like the looks of the shoes that Indy mentioned, and will keep these in mind should the hiking shoes not work. You have my imagination going though with what I could wear with ropers on the bike :)