It's time to get big girl pedals and shoes. How do I know what to buy?

[cobalt]

Nadia, do you mean that the shoes I buy impact the metal things that go on the bottom of my shoes? I think I get that.

"Plus, many road cleats wear if you walk on them a lot (and are expensive to replace, eg, my speedplay cleats are over 25 bucks to replace). Not so much of a problem with mt bike cleats, which are recessed under the tread on the shoe".

I found pedals! The LBS had a definite opinion. I went in for Candy and I left with Speedplay Light Action in pink. I like bike but my bike is blue, they didn't have blue but I see now that they come in blue... hmmm...

Do you color coordinate your bike gear???

Anyway, they are not on yet and I didn't find shoes but won't buy any that give me slipping heels.

Did I do ok?

DH is out on his bike with his friend, my cold is in my lungs so not much of anything for me today. I spent all excess energy on raking which was not smart.

Thanks!

[tctrek]

Nadia, do you mean that the shoes I buy impact the metal things that go on the bottom of my shoes? I think I get that.

"Plus, many road cleats wear if you walk on them a lot (and are expensive to replace, eg, my speedplay cleats are over 25 bucks to replace). Not so much of a problem with mt bike cleats, which are recessed under the tread on the shoe".

I found pedals! The LBS had a definite opinion. I went in for Candy and I left with Speedplay Light Action in pink. I like bike but my bike is blue, they didn't have blue but I see now that they come in blue... hmmm...

Do you color coordinate your bike gear???

Anyway, they are not on yet and I didn't find shoes but won't buy any that give me slipping heels.

Did I do ok?

DH is out on his bike with his friend, my cold is in my lungs so not much of anything for me today. I spent all excess energy on raking which was not smart.

Thanks!

I started out with SPDs but have Speedplay Light Action now in red on a black/silver Trek. I don't know.. I think blue would be cool on a blue bike?

I'm looking for cafe covers to put over them when I'm off the bike so that I don't walk on the cleats too much. It is tricky walking on them, especially if you are on a slippery floor like when we stop at a convenience store.

Also, the first few rides the clip in/out was a little stiff. We put a little light-weight oil in them to help me get going. But after a couple of rides I felt they were awesome.

What kind of shoes did you get? I have Sidi Genius.. it was tricky putting the cleats on as there's a curve in the sole that you have to shim up to get the cleats to align flat. But I have a very narrow foot and the narrow Sidi's really suit me.

[cobalt]

tc, I haven't found shoes yet but I was able to try several on.

I have wide feet.

How can I tell when I am looking at a mountain bike shoe vs a road shoe? Is it the sole, you can walk on a mountain bike sole but a road bike shoe sole is flat?

I'll see if they have blue in the other store. Thanks

[aicabsolut]

If you bought Speedplay pedals, you will be buying road shoes, or else your cleats won't fit on your shoes.

Road shoe:



Mountain shoe:

[Kano]

They're advising snug, and it looks like you're planning to do just that -- I got my first bike shoes when I was still using those toe clips/cages because "normal shoes" -- and I think crocs would fit into this category in this case -- had my feet hurting something fierce when I rode! (btw, if the shoe doesn't go into the cage and you have to be on top of the cage, then there's no point in having the clip there at all!)

DH loves the Keen commuter sandals -- he's got a pair of those and one of "regular" MTB shoes, and even in February he doesn't get out the closed shoes!

You'll find a world of differnce just wearing the hard soles, and when you can actually clip in -- whether using the cage things or the cleats/special pedals, you're going to be amazed!

(I had to get new shoes last spring, when my old ones were too big and my feet slopped around inside something fierce. Now, I can still wear the ones I bought last spring, but SIDI had those cool floral road shoes out in a pretty blue that would go so nicely with my bike and helmet, that I'm just incredibly tempted!)

Karen in Boise, who's reluctantly getting ready to put away the ski boots and get out the bike shoes -- one tight fit for another! -- for the summer season!