Out of the gym and onto the road - Ideas wanted.

[Terry]

Veronica,
Don't get me wrong...I love good gear! (Oh man, the $$$ I've spent since January). Plus, there are lots of well-informed discussions here about riding gear that we all really "use" in all kinds of conditions. I just don't see WHY on earth over-priced bike shoes, are needed for spin. I understand high quality padded shorts, good seats, a great workout bra with fantastic support, but...this shoe-thing is sort of like riding an mechanical bull with hyper-expensive chaps or boots. (The chaps keep the chaf of the bull off your body and the boots work the steer to the best of my knowledge. You wouldn't need that expensive gear to ride in a bar...) I guess that's my point about the bike shoes.

Plus, the women come to class and can't clip in because the place where they bought the shoes could care less about showing them/helping them to adjust them to their feet...half the time, I have "the tool" and "fix" their shoes so they can use them.

I think these women look silly. Basically, I'm just trying to understand whether there is something that I'm missing as to why one would need anything more than cleats or, I'm being judgemental. I really cannot get into bashing gym bunnies because I work in gyms...however, I wouldn't mind "informing" some of my classmates that they can go to such and such bike shop for spin shoes and they are only 30 bucks or something...
then if they buy the 200.00 SIDI's...well, so be it.
Terry