Shoes??

[trayc]

I too am just starting out and don't feel like I am ready for clipless. I bought a diadora mtn. shoe and it has helped my feet tremendously. My feet were going numb in tennis shoes so having a sturdier shoe has helped.

[CorsairMac]

Satori: you don't have to put the cleats in the shoes until you're ready. There is a difference even between clipless road shoes and mtn shoes. I have both and use the road shoes the most because they are stiffer. but they are a bear to walk in ! I use the mtn shoes in the winter and when weather conditions might get my road shoes dirty! (yup, that would be the girlie part of me talking there!) Anyway, the cleats come with the pedals so you could find a combo you like and then just buy the shoes first - or buy both but don't put the pedals on yet and don't mount the cleats. I use Shimano SPD pedals and both my shoes are Specialized. Several ladies here use Speedplay and Eggbeaters, my ex-racer friend uses Look. It's a matter of personal choice I think.

[roughingit]

I have the Shimano pedals with a platform on one side and love them! I don't like riding clipped in around town yet because of all the starts and stops and errand running, but they are great on long trips. I second the advice for mountain bike shoes, I'd hate to try sliding around off bike on the road ones.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I only ride on the road, but I switched to mountain bike pedals & shoes many years ago so that I could walk a little more easily. If you're looking for stiff shoes, you don't have to buy road shoes. I wear Sidi Dominator (women's) mountain bike shoes which are extremely stiff. It's my understanding that the stiffness of the shoe (and really the shoe itself, other than the extra "lugs" on the sole) matches the Sidi Genius road shoe. Pedals? I use Speedplay Frogs.

--- Denise

[bikerHen]

I recently went clipless myself. I settled on Shimano Mens Mt bike shoes mostly because they fit better on my very short, very wide feet and they are eaiser to walk in. I started without cleats in the shoes, then to the two-sided pedels so I could eased myself over to the clipped-in side. My new bike has the full clip pedels that I'm still getting the hang of using. I've had two really close calls but have yet to do a full Artie Johnson fall. Overall my feet have been much happier with a sturdier cycling shoe under them. It's about a month now and I find I'm clipped in more than not clipped in. My knees aren't hurting and my butt no longer goes numb after 20 miles so I guess this whole clippless thing is OK! bikerHen

PS Don't really know if clipless solved the numb butt . . . but the first longer ride I was clipped in, that was the only thing changed.

[Satori78]

Thanks to everyone who's replied (I knew it wouldn't take long ). I may have to make a trip to the LBSs this weekend and see what I come up with. Of course the boyfriend (who doesn't use cycling shoes) will just look at my funny and ask where I think I'm going to fit another pair of shoes in our one bedroom apartment. Of course, us women know there is ALWAYS room for more shoes

Thanks again!
Angela