shoe/pedal advice

[bluejellybean]

I need to replace my 'manufacture-shipped' platform pedals (which I hate!) on my 2009 Specialized Myka...since I'm new I'm not sure what to get but am leaning towards shimano since I have them on my road bike, that's what I know and that's what I'm used to. Just looking to hear what you like in pedals and good comfortable mountain bike shoes (specialized anyone?)

Thanks!!

[sarahspins]

Well I am not MTB'ing but I just put Crank Brothers Candy C's on my hybrid, and bought some Specialized Riata MTB shoes. I really like the shoes.. not too expensive, and they're really comfortable now that I've done a couple of rides in them (I was a little worried because they seemed very snug at first).

[pinkbikes]

I have Shimano SPD on both my MTBs and also the tandem. I guess I initially bought the SPD pedals for my hybrid because they were on special and I had no reason to buy something else at that stage. Then my first MTB came with them too. My DH also has them on all his bikes and so it made good sense from a "standardisation" point of view to have one set of spare pedals, one set of spare cleats, and when he needed to test ride my bike after fixing it there were no problems with compatibility.

Since then I have also put them on the tandem for me, and bought shoes for the DD and put a spare set of SPD pedals on the stoker position too. And when I bought my Specialized Era I had them put SPDs on it too. So we're pretty much an SPD family except for the roadies.

I hear plenty of people having a preference for all sorts of things and I figure whatever they like is fine, but I have not really had any problems with SPDs, and it is really good to be able to throw whichever pair of shoes on and know they'll be fine.

As for shoes (I am the Imelda Marcos of bike shoes - 5 pairs at the moment) I have never bought a pair of Specialized. I have two pairs of Shimanos, one pair of Exustar, one pair of Wellgo and an ancient pair of Adidas. I like them all for different reasons. The only gripe I have is that the Shimano "skate shoe" style are nice to walk in but a bit too flexible for a long day of touring on the tandem, as I get hotspots under the balls of my feet eventually. I do lust after a nice pair of pretty girly SIDIs but I always shop with my Scottish genes in mind so will have wait until I win the lottery or see a REALLY good special!

[tzvia]

My one foray into SPD Shimano pedals was less than stellar. It was during an 'El-Nino' year and we had way too much rain and lots of mud. Maybe 11 years ago, with the then new Shimano 747 pedals. One step out into the glop, and I could not clip back in. I kept trying to like them but by spring they had wound up in a box and are still there somewhere in my garage.

I found Time pedals. They use a smail cleat much like the Shimano spd (but not interchangeable). Some float- to ease the strain on my knees and they clip in/out without a problem. No amount of caked on dirt has ever prevented me from clipping in. I've been using the same pedals for at least 10 years, with about 3 cleaning/bearing repacks in that time. When I bought a new MTB last year, I took them off my old bike and put them on the new. I want to buy the new Time pedals, but as the old ones still work fine, how can I justify it? Awesome pedals.

I do like Shimano shoes, however. Mine have taken quite a beating and are holding up fine, and are very comfortable. I put Louis Garneau heat-mouldable inserts in them and now my feet feel like they are in custom shoes. I used to get terrible hot spots and strains in my arches but the Shimano shoes (I wear fiber soled ones) and LG insoles is an awesome combo for comfort and durability.

[sarahspins]

The only gripe I have is that the Shimano "skate shoe" style are nice to walk in but a bit too flexible for a long day of touring on the tandem, as I get hotspots under the balls of my feet eventually.

The sales guy I talked with Saturday strongly recommended against that style of shoe as well.. said a stiffer sole was a much better idea, especially starting out (so no chance I'd get comfortable with the flexible soles, and not want to move on to something stiffer).

[Irulan]

the problem with a stiff hard soled shoe for MTB is that anything you have to hike with at the minimum, suck, and at the maximum, be treacherous. They have no traction for walking so they slip on rocks. I use a skate-style mtb specific shoe like the Specialized Taho - you can actually walk with it on trails, and hike across slickrock. Plus they have the bonus of the sole being flat and sticky enough so that you can unclip and stand on your pedals (if you have a clip/flat combo like I do) when you just don't want to be clipped in. Make sure you get one that has a full last in it, no flex there.
Imnsho - hard sole mtb shoes are great if you are racing but suck for everything else, unless you ride trails that you never have to get off and walk on.

[pinkbikes]

The only thing I don't like my skate-style shoe for is touring all day. I rarely find I am in the same position long enough and pedalling so constantly when MTBing that I get the hot spots.

That being said, I don't find my stiffer-soled more race style MTB shoes treacherous or slippery for walking up any steep bits. I actually find them better than my skate style shoes because they have nice big lugs on the sole and a pair of studs on the front of them that help me grip. Maybe it's the type of soil/dirt/rock here but I would choose them for grip over my Shimano skate style shoes anytime?

[Irulan]

hmm, I guess it depends on your local trails and where you ride. We've got granite slick rock here which is really skittery with hard soles, and I've run across more than a few loose talus type fields on trails in my area.

[sundial]

I use a skate-style mtb specific shoe like the Specialized Taho - you can actually walk with it on trails, and hike across slickrock. Plus they have the bonus of the sole being flat and sticky enough so that you can unclip and stand on your pedals (if you have a clip/flat combo like I do) when you just don't want to be clipped in. Make sure you get one that has a full last in it, no flex there.
Imnsho - hard sole mtb shoes are great if you are racing but suck for everything else, unless you ride trails that you never have to get off and walk on.

Exactly! Doncha just love reading Ask Irulan?

Another shoe I can recommend--Five.Ten It has a super sticky sole that is for platform pedals only.

[bluejellybean]

Thanks for all the tips...I think I'm leaning towards shimano pedals and specialized shoes...but will definitely have a look around where I can touch and feel them! Can't wait!

[Aggie_Ama]

I wear the Specialized Riatas and am pretty pleased with them. They were only $85, a lot of bang for the buck in my opinion. Relatively stiff but not super duper stiff. I do a lot more hike-a-bike than I would like to and they are comfortable for that.

I switched from Crank Bros Candies because I felt they were too tight and there is no way to adjust the tension. I am riding Time Atac XS now and really like them. I have never used SPD on the trail, DH's opinion was they weren't as good at shedding mud.