cycling shoes???

[newtobikesmama]

I want to learn to ride my bike first before I even think about getting clipless pedals. If I get cycling shoes will they work with just regular pedals? I'm sure I will want to get the clip kind eventually, but since I haven't been on a bike in years I don't want to jump too far ahead.

[Eden]

If you get a pair of shoes that are "touring" shoes or even some styles of mt bike shoe they come with a cover over the cleat hole area. You often have to actually cut the rubber out of the sole to even install a cleat. They otherwise look very much like normal tennis shoes/hiking shoes, with the biggest difference being that the soles are extra stiff. They will work fine without cleats and then when you are ready you can install them.

With this type of shoe you would only be able to use a cleat/pedal system made for recessed cleats - like spd's, crank brothers candies or speedplay frogs.

Road shoes on the other hand aren't really suitable for use without cleats and definitely aren't suitable for walking around on without cleats installed (of course they aren't real suitable for walking around period..... even with the cleats installed, but without them you run the risk of damaging the sole of the shoe). With road shoes your choices of cleat/pedal systems would be different.

[MartianDestiny]

A mountain type or commuter/touring type shoe will work with regular pedals, but so will a pair of sneakers. Sole stiffness will really make no difference on flat pedals while learning to ride, so cycling shoes won't really give you any advantage on flat pedals.

My take is to ride in whatever shoes you have for now. Then get clipless shoes when you are ready to switch pedals. That way you don't run into compatibility issues down the road between the shoes you have and the pedals you want to use.

They do make cycling shoes designed specifically for flat pedals, but these are really only an advantage in keeping your feet on the pedals when mountain biking or dirt jumping since they are grippy (and only then when used with studded pedals that probably didn't come with your bike).

Word of caution though; if you go with tennis shoes, do make sure you tuck your shoelaces in.

[Eden]

A mountain type or commuter/touring type shoe will work with regular pedals, but so will a pair of sneakers. Sole stiffness will really make no difference on flat pedals while learning to ride, so cycling shoes won't really give you any advantage on flat pedals.

For short rides this may be true, but as you ride more, even with plain flat pedals a shoe with a stiff sole will help prevent your feet from getting sore. They don't necessarily have to be cycling specific shoes (there's at least one person here who favors hiking boots in the winter), but shoes like running shoes that have a very flexible sole don't really offer enough support. Technically even with flat pedals stiffer shoes will be more efficient (your not putting your energy into flexing the sole of the shoe, but rather directly into the pedal), but honestly it wouldn't be enough to care about or probably even notice.

This lets on to how old I am and how long I've been riding..... but I started before clipless pedals were around. The first pair of cycling shoes I ever had were a pair of Nikes that looked just like a pair of your average running shoes. The only difference was that they had a steel shank running down the center. The certainly did make a difference for me.

[MartianDestiny]

Eden, this may all be true, but the OP is talking about "learn to ride" and then switching to clipless pedals. (and you'll note I specified that in my answer)

My recommendations would have been completely different had she been looking for a permanent alternative to clipless.

The expense of cycling shoes is just not justified IMO for a beginner with no issues by the marginal differences that would only be noticed on very long rides or by a very strong rider (if that even, the cheaper end of cycling shoes, especially SPD's or commuter shoes, aren't particularly stiff anyway; I own hiking boots stiffer than my first pair of SPD's).

If she goes ahead and buys clipless shoes then she's cut her pedal options in half and eliminates basically all traditional road pedals before she even considers them (I wouldn't recommend riding platforms with road shoes that typically have no rubber or grip on the balls of the feet). For what? Fractionally more power? A little less fatigue on long rides? Not things I think a beginner is (or should be) worried about (unless there's pain already present).

Yes, shoes designed for platform pedals are an option. I still wouldn't recommend the expense unless it was either a permanent move or there was pain/fatigue/control issues already present.

I'm not saying there isn't a difference. I'm saying, based on the info in the OP, the differences would be miniscule if noticeable at this time and that it's probably better to wait until she switches pedals and knows what kind of shoes she needs for compatibility.

[KnottedYet]

The vast majority of the time I ride on platform pedals in whatever shoes I happen to be wearing. If using clipless is one of your goals, there is no problem investigating your options now. I'm definitely odd, in that I prefer BMX pedals with huge surface area and adjustable pins. (Crank Brothers 5050 are my current favorites: http://www.crankbrothers.com/5050_xx.php ) No clips. No straps. No cages. I do have one cleat/clipless set up, which I enjoy (though I do sometimes consider switching that one over to platforms, too...).

I have a pair of Specialized "Taho" mtb shoes, which are set up with Speedplay Frogs.

The shoes are nicely grippy and shoe-like, and would be fine on any of my other bikes: they are all sporting BMX platform pedals. I only have one clipless bike.

They are not terribly expensive (I think I paid about $70) and are surprisingly comfortable. I'd heard lots of horror stories about tight and narrow bike shoes, so I was worried that my first pair of clipless shoes would be miserable. Not so!

In overall appearance and feel, they look and feel like a light hiking shoe. The sole is stiff, but not so stiff that you can't walk in them. They are not at all slippery. Honestly, they'd be just fine on platform pedals.

I doubt I'd ever feel the need to buy a different style of shoe. The Taho is a nice entry-level shoe and well designed. I think you'd be perfectly safe buying something like this to use with platforms, then adding the cleats you choose later if you go clipless. Your experience with a friendly entry-level mtb shoe will give you lots of good personal information to help you choose your next shoe.

Like I said, I'm so pleased and comfortable with the Taho that I doubt I'd ever feel the need to get anything else for riding clipless. (and yes, I have mtb shoes and pedals on my road bike. Lots of folks do, so don't feel limited to road choices in the future. Ride your ride!)

My shoe is much older than this, but here's a link to the current women's Specialized Taho: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...12225&eid=5468 The shoe I have is men's because I needed the width in the toe box: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...=9309&eid=4927 I see the new price is $80, but that is still a good entry-level price.

ETA: I see they've changed the name from "Taho" to "Tahoe". I guess they got harassed enough about spelling it wrong years ago! Maybe my shoes with "TAHO" prominently plastered all over them will be collectors' items someday!

[Eden]

Eden, this may all be true, but the OP is talking about "learn to ride" and then switching to clipless pedals. (and you'll note I specified that in my answer)

And if you'd bothered to read my entire reply you might have noticed that I said cycling specific shoes weren't entirely necessary (and in fact I even mentioned hiking boots), just that sneakers are a bit too flexible to be comfortable in the long run. For very short rides any shoe would be fine - heck for short rides on flat ground you'll see women in other countries do it in heels, but for what you can get a decent pair of touring shoes for ($25 -$30 range, especially if you find them on sale) it's not like you're throwing away a lot of cash and all your options to gain a bit of comfort.