Perfect high-tech dirt road riding shoes

[Patrick Moore]

I spent over $200 on shoes (Five Ten, $150) and pedals ($50+, recommended by experts) for "no retention" pedaling, and hated both pedals and shoes, so I did the usual and sold them -- as always -- at a loss with ~50 miles on them.

I went back to the ol' reliable MKS Esprit pedal, semi-platform/semi-rat trap, with XL/X Deep MKS clips, and for the shoes I just paid $19.99 + tax for these hi-tek babies. Somewhat like my general-wear boat shoes but with lace-up vamps to keep the dirt out.

These will slide into and out of the straps very easily, be very sufficiently supported by the large pedal body and retained sufficiently by the serrations, be easy to walk in, and look minimally decent (dust colored, too).

Live 'n' learn.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[Benjamin L. Kelley]

Details on these shoes?   They sort of look like the Chrome Truk sneaker, but less aggressive on the side sole and thicker around the ankles.

--ben

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[Patrick Moore]

Target, my good man. Always Target.

Patrick "Target never lets you down" Moore, who has no more details to give, alas. They were hanging on hooks, looked like what I want, and after trying them on, I paid for them.

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[Benjamin L. Kelley]

Also forgot to add,  I ride in Adidas OG Gazelle's.

Great durability(They are my only shoe and I replace them about every year once the soles wear out), great pedal grip, soft rubber low tread.

Fit is a bit narrow on them tho, so they require a bit more break in than most.

[Patrick Moore]

Oh, one detail, perhaps more interesting than useful. I bought 2 slightly expensive pairs of dedicated cycling shoes at the nearby bike shop, full retail. One those Five Tens at list $150, t'other Specialized or somesuch "plimsoll" style SPD shoes with flat bottoms for occasions when I want to ride, but also must walk and stand around for longish periods; these $100? $150?

At any rate -- this is the detail -- both of the cycling shoes were very undersized per my usual experience; I bought 11s in one and 10.5s in the other, while my normal is 10. These cheap Target sneakers fit largish at 10 -- 10.5 was too big with thickish socks.

[Benjamin L. Kelley]

Thanks.

Looked on their site,  they appear to be the Men's Park Sneakers by Goodfellow & Co.

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[Mike Packard]

I like the simple canvas sneakers too, but usually find them too narrow. I recently learned that some Converse and Vans now come in wide; I got the Converse and they make nice riding shoes. (Closer to $60 but still cheaper than 510s).

Mike

[Patrick Moore]

These Target shoes are pretty wide and big for the marked size; again, 10 fits looser on my medium width foot than an 11 in the mountain bike shoes, both tried with winter socks. And, $19.99.

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[Gabriel DeFelippis]

Birkenstocks have been my go-to for summer riding. I have the suede versions that are probably better than the thicker leather ones.

I'd like to keep this going as long as I can so I'll need to get the wool socks out soonish.

[Tom Wyland]

I bought a pair of Merrell Trail Glove minimalist trail running shoes to try with my bike (has bmx pedals).  They are super light and have a "rock plate" in the sole that makes it stiff over the arch of the foot.  It basically makes it better for supporting your foot on flat pedals. Typically these types of "barefoot" shoes have super-flexible soles that would not do a good job supporting your foot on the pedals.  I guess the 'trail" designation means they have a stiffer sole. I was really surprised at how well they worked versus Keens or regular running shoes.  Your results may vary, but if you see them on sale and they fit, give them a try.

https://www.merrell.com/US/en/trail-glove-6-eco/48686M.html?dwvar_48686M_color=J066763#cgid=run&prefn1=itemStyle&prefv1=BAREFOOT&start=1

[Thomas Lawn]

I have to second the recommendation for Merrell Trail Glove shoes for flat pedal riding. I’d been having all sorts of weird foot numbness and, after noticing that my PT was wearing Lem’s and asking about “foot shaped shoes”, went to try some on and ended up with some clearance Merrell Trail Glove 5s and some Astrals.

The Merrells are definitely my favorite flat pedal shoe now, and it’s hard to leave them at home and wear anything else. The sole has just enough protection/support for riding hard but the shoes are light, roomy, and comfortable, even on pedals with aggressive pins that I can feel through the lightweight Astral soles. They’re also grippy enough that I can ride pedals that don’t have pins like the standard MKS Lambdas.

I like them so much (and don’t wear any of my other shoes anymore…) that I’m slowly replacing all my shoes with hippie barefoot shoes, so if someone wears a 46 or 47 euro and wants some bike and non-bike shoes, shoot me a message.

On Aug 25, 2021, 8:49 AM -0700, Tom Wyland <tomw...@gmail.com>, wrote:

I bought a pair of Merrell Trail Glove minimalist trail running shoes to try with my bike (has bmx pedals).  They are super light and have a "rock plate" in the sole that makes it stiff over the arch of the foot.  It basically makes it better for supporting your foot on flat pedals. Typically these types of "barefoot" shoes have super-flexible soles that would not do a good job supporting your foot on the pedals.  I guess the 'trail" designation means they have a stiffer sole. I was really surprised at how well they worked versus Keens or regular running shoes.  Your results may vary, but if you see them on sale and they fit, give them a try.

https://www.merrell.com/US/en/trail-glove-6-eco/48686M.html?dwvar_48686M_color=J066763#cgid=run&prefn1=itemStyle&prefv1=BAREFOOT&start=1

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[Benjamin Park]

Agree on the minimalist shoes and flat pedals. I wear Xero shoes. They are wonderful and grip well. Enough sole but not too much.

[Patrick Moore]

This just in: The size 10 American $20 Target plimsolls (bought, again, for clips and straps off road) are very big for 10s, and very wide. They are much bigger than the size 11 Specialized "2FO" SPD shoes I bought earlier in the summer. A 9.5 would have been better, and I daresay they run 2 full sizes bigger than the Specializeds, but I can always install a thicker insole.

Patrick Moore, who spent $200 + on shoes and pedals to try flat, no-retention pedaling and heartily disliked it.

[Garth]

Talking about a "best shoe" reminds me chain lube discussions !  What's common to all ?  That "what works" has no limits and is not bound to any particular form. Endless Creativity abounds. .   .  . and that's pretty darn awesome ! 

[RichS]

Patrick,

If I recall you wanted shoes that would be compatible with toe clips. Glad you found your solution at Target (Their Goodfellow brand is decent in the u-wear category too).

I've been through the same spendy exercise as you in search of a toe clip compatible shoe. Currently using MKS touring pedals with Five Tens which is a fairly grippy combination. If I decide to put on the clips and straps I will pay a visit to Target:-)

Sidebar: in the Henry Wildeberry videos note that Ms. Cools wears a plimsoll on brevets!

Best,

Rich in ATL

[Patrick Moore]

If you're not fretting about something, you're not living.

Thucydides, Middlemarch