shoes

[Jen]

I want to get a new pair of cycling shoes. I have a road bike but wondered it it matters if I wear Mt. Bike shoes. They have a rubber sole which makes it a tad easier to walk in if you should get off the bike to walk. I wonder it the road bike shoes would work better on a road bike. Also, what is a good feature to look for . I don't want to spend over $100. Just got the bike a month ago and have been using my Mt. Bike shoes that I have for spinning.

[Jen]

I saw some Chili's on sale on the TE website. Are they any good?

[DeniseGoldberg]

Jen -
I only ride road bikes, and I only wear mountain shoes. It really is up to you (and your riding style) which type of shoes you wear. I tour on my bike, and it's very important to me to have recessed cleats in case I need to walk anywhere.

My choice of shoes is out of your desired price range though - I wear Sidi Dominators. The shoes have a match in the Sidi road shoe line with the difference being not the structure of the sole, but the addition of lugs on the soles.

Good luck with your shoe shopping!

--- Denise

[Sparky]

I also wear mtn shoe on a road bike. Walkability was the issue for me too. I have a pair of specialized that I liked best of the ones I tried ($75-$100 range). Had them couple years I don't remember exactly what they were called, but I did get a womens shoe. Cost was about $90.

[Grog]

If you do a lot of climbing, you might appreciate a pair of road shoes.

I have had mountain or rather cyclo shoes with a rubber sole since I started cycling on the road last Spring. I am now getting a pair of (awfully expensive - big gift to myself) Shimano road shoes with carbon soles, and Shimano 105 pedals. Force transfer from leg - foot to the pedal is much more efficient with stiff soles. Probably not a very significant difference in terms of speed though. But I hope them to make climbing less tiring for my ankles in particular. Not good for walking a mile, but okay for hopping off the bike to the washrooms and convenience store and back up that hill! But I will keep the other pair for commuting and any activity where I might have to walk with the bike up or down stairs.

Otherwise, it doesn't really matter.

[DeniseGoldberg]

If you do a lot of climbing, you might appreciate a pair of road shoes.

.... Force transfer from leg - foot to the pedal is much more efficient with stiff soles.

You're right there - but you can get mountain shoes with very stiff soles. My Sidi dominators are an example.

--- Denise

[Jo-n-NY]

I also ride a road bike with mtn shoes, Specialized. I don't know which model or the price as my husband got them for me. Like Denise and Sparky, I got them so it is easy to walk in when off the bike.

~ JoAnn