Wanted: Opinions & Pedals/shoes

[Justin, Oakland]

Hey folks-
I'm going to try clipping in for the first time on my new Trek 710. My thoughts are:
I like the Giro Republic shoe.
I don't know anything else.

I would describe myself as having knee issues but something my left knee hurts if my saddle isn't at the perfect height.

I'm wondering what the thoughts are about the best type of pedal interface, shoe and if anyone has any for sale cheap!

-J

[Toby Whitfield]

I have a pair of the giro republics and I really like them so far. However, that isn't very far at this point, with only one long (120 km) ride with them. I just switched from a giro cross country racing shoe to the republics, partly because the other shoes were too tight as my feet expanded in hot 300k brevets, and partly because I found some cheap in my size on eBay. They are a bit more relaxed than the racing shoes, and I think are good for rando/touring use. They are pretty stiff, and not like normal walking shoes off the bike, but the pads work well and they are rubbery which I like. I wouldn't want to do an extended hike with them but they are good for walking around at rest stops etc.

The seller I got a good deal from is Ebikexprime, and I ended up getting them for about $30. I need an unusual size (48), so I'm not sure about the bidding on other sizes, but I saw a couple sold about the same price in my size.

I am using them with shimano spd pedals, the a600 one sided model with the platform. The side supports on the shoe make it hard to clip in but work fine once engaged. The support is good from the platform, though there is no float with that setup. A cheaper set of double sided spd or clones would probably work well, especially for a first dive into clipless. They can be found relatively cheap, though don't forget the cleats as if you get a used pair without it can drive up the price.

Toby Whitfield
Toronto, Canada

[satanas]

The best shoe is the one that fits *your* foot - not something anyone can tell easily online. Fit is more important than cheap!

When clipped in there's usually less foot movement possible, so overuse (usually knee) injuries may be more likely, depending on individual biomechanics. This may require shimming cleats (or other leg length compensation), wedges or fancy insoles in shoes, etc.

If you're lucky, the first cheapest thing you try might work. If you're not and ride high mileage things might get complicated.

Later,
Stephen (who is hoping to get some Speedplay Syzr pedals with short spindles and 5mm shims ASAP)

[Philip Kim]

i've tried and liked the giro republics and privateers before i went to bruce gordon toe cages

the republics look really good imo. i don't wear a bike kit to work, so it is nice going into the office building wearing casual but slightly dressed up shoes until I can put my actual dress shoes on. like toby, i found them very suitable, though not too durable. 

the privateers look pretty nice for clipless shoes. they are great for riding more off road, and better suited for walking around in dirt and trails. they also felt more secure than the republics. I prefer the strap system for a bit more snug feel. sometimes a bit too snug though,

I now use the bruce gordon toe cages / WI pedal combo on my norther custom now. since it's my only bike, its nice to be able to wear any shoe, but still have something to keep foot retention and placement. i can wear my vans or nikes to the bar or out to eat, or wear my light vintage style leather bike shoes for longer rides. I like this combo a bit more, because my old school bike shoes are much lighter and more breathable than clipless shoes. I also don't have to strap my shoes on super tight. I think this combo is similar or lighter than clipless pedals and shoes. probably not ideal for off roading, but switching pedals for an off road trip is super easy to do.

[RiderM-NYC]

I might be in the minority here but as far as clipless systems go, I'm a big fan of Speedplay ultra light action. I'm a prior user of their "standard" light action cleats.

I've tried other systems but nothing has been easier on my knees, or easier to clip in/out of. I've yet to accidentally unclip, and I don't believe it'd be an issue. They have their own system of "walkable cleats" aka cleat covers that, while not suitable for long walks or hike-a-bike situations, are perfectly adequate for road stops. And you will also be the quickest in your group to clip in at stoplights!

I used to use SPD because I liked the idea of wearing one pair of shoes on bike overnights. But in practice I never found walking in any type of road shoe, even Giros, to be comfortable for more than a couple of hours. Nowadays I wear my Lake/Speedplays combination and pack a light pair of running sneakers on trips.

Speedplays are pricier that SPD and require a little more maintenance but since you're just starting out I think you should weigh all of your options.

On Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 8:41:45 PM UTC-4, Justin, Oakland wrote:

[Brad Paris]

I've been wearing Giro Republics since they came out a few years ago. I'm using them with MKS SPD-style clipless pedals and have a good amount of float. I did a long ride yesterday with some hike-a-bike through the woods and they did fine.

What I like about them:

They fit my skinny feet great and are really comfortable, even after a long day of riding.

They're light.

They're fairly easy to walk in (as far as cycling shoes with cleats go- and they aren't dangerous climbing slippery steps at work)

They look pretty normal in street clothes.

The pads on the soles are replaceable (I replaced mine once and I'm probably due for a replacement now.

What I don't like about them:

The pad replacements are $30.

That being said, more and more I ride flat pedals with sandals or sneakers. 

Brad in Queens

On Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 8:41:45 PM UTC-4, Justin, Oakland wrote:

[David Cummings]

On Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 8:20:19 AM UTC-6, satanas wrote:

The best shoe is the one that fits *your* foot - not something anyone can tell easily online. Fit is more important than cheap!

+1  My right foot is slightly larger than my left foot which makes proper fit challenging.  As you probably know, the size marked on your current shoe may not be the same as the size marked on a different brand of shoe, or even a different style of shoe from the same brand!

I am a luddite and nearly all of my pedals are Look Delta. I have used red cleats (allows for float), black cleats (no float) and pedals that allow for float.  I prefer cleats properly set up with no float.  It takes a decent ride for me to get the feel for how the pedals are doing - around the block doesn't cut it.

I got a pair of Vittoria 1976 used (in fact all of my shoes except one I bought used) and they look nice, but I think the right shoe is slightly tight, even with thin socks.

I have half a dozen pairs of cycling shoes... Is there such a thing as n+1 for shoes?

David in MT

[Justin Hughes]

SPD is tough to beat for clipping/unclipping and range of float. Many SPD pedals offer little overall support, though, so hot spots can be an issue. What works for me are the single sided road-ish/touring SPD pedals like PD-A520 and A600. I require wides in most shoes, but when my 46 wide Lake MX175 gave up the ghost I tried the MX237 in regular width. This model uses a more voluminous last and they are spot on. Carbon soles, kangaroo leather and BOA only. Really, really happy with them. It's a personal preference, but I don't want laces on my road shoes and have an aesthetic aversion to velcro straps. BOA is good stuff. 

On my MTB I use Xpedo Sprys and Five Ten Ascents. Good combo for me. 

On Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 8:41:45 PM UTC-4, Justin, Oakland wrote:

[Alistair Spence]

I prefer the Speedplay pedal shoe interface over the Shimano SPD interface. With Speedplay the float feels much smoother and lighter to me. Easier on the knee. That's because the float is built into the cleat. The sole of the shoe doesn't touch the pedal as it does with SPD's.

With SPD the float results from the sliding action of the sole of the shoe on the pedal body. I find it to be much balkier and not "floaty". You can reposition your foot, but not as easily as you can with Speedplay. It's a cruder, less precise feel. That's been my experience anyway. 

Obviously, plenty of people like SPD pedals just fine, they are probably one of the most successful bicycle component inventions in recent decades. They just don't work that great for me.

As for shoes, I have struggled with this one for quite some time, until I realized that my non cycling shoes tend towards those brands that have roomier toe boxes (Keens for hiking, Altra for running etc.). Based on that I took a shot in the dark and ordered a pair of Giro Terraduro MTB shoes in the HV (high volume) version and have been liking those a lot.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents on shoes/pedals.

Alistair Spence,

Seattle, WA.

[Reed Kennedy]

Seconding (or maybe thirding at this point) the Shimano A600. I ignored them for a long time because they're just so... Shimano. I figured some cool little company had to have come up with something better. But after having a horrible time with Eggbeaters I decided to check what most randonneurs were using. I figure whatever works well at those sorts of extremes is likely to be plenty good enough for my purposes. What'd I find? Lots of Shimano A600 pedals.

They can be pretty reasonable in price, too, if you look around:

http://www.jensonusa.com/!0VjfHz0v4KOtgQW5e3oSNA!/Shimano-PD-A600-Pedals?utm_source=FRGL&utm_medium=organic&pt_source=googleads&pt_medium=cpc&pt_campaign=shopping_us&pt_keyword=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnubLBRC_ARIsAASsNNn5jOSk2JV5-BM-5cpv87VRl_oH2H5jMaApRaZxh3YysriuI805QQwaAu8DEALw_wcB

For shoes I ended up with Sidi Dominators. They work for me.

Reed

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