The right pair cycling shoes is vital to the overall comfort level and enjoyment of cycling. A quality cycling shoe is designed to be comfortable, lightweight and efficient at transferring power and ensuring a proper pedal stroke. Fatigue, numbness and injury are minimized with the proper shoe fit. Because there are many shoe options based on different types of bicycles, it's important to know how to choose the cycling shoe that best suits your needs.
Step 1
Determine a comfortable spending level. A decent pair of cycling shoes can be purchased for well under $100, and, of course, you can go much higher than that. Determine a shoe budget to help you narrow down your choices. You don't want to spend more than you can afford, but you also don't want to purchase a bad pair of shoes.
Step 2
Evaluate the type of riding you will be doing most of the time. Experts at Pasadena Cyclery say that most mountain-bike shoes have recessed cleats and thick, deep treads to allow for running through muddy trails and better gripping. Road-cycling shoes are lightweight with very stiff soles to assist in the transfer of power to the pedals. There are even specialized cycling shoes for recreational riders and triathletes. Some shoes are adaptable to many forms of riding, but each have unique characteristics to benefit that specific activity.
Step 3
Get a shoe fit at a specialty cycle store. USA Cycling Coach Charles Cannon says that cycling shoes should fit very snug to allow minimal movement of the foot. Also, some brands run wider, narrower, bigger and smaller. Cannon warns against ordering shoes online unless you've tried on that specific pair.
Step 4
Practice walking and riding in the cycling shoes. After trying the shoe on in the store, it is important to ride a few times to get an overall feel of the shoe and pedal together. Find out what the return policy is for your local cycling store and see if they will let you have a few practice rides. Practice walking in the shoes as well. The recessed cleats of mountain bike shoes make walking on pavement easier. Road and triathlon shoe cleats are much slicker on pavement because the cleats protrude from the bottom of the shoe. These can be slippery on pavement and difficult to get used to for a novice cyclist.
Step 5
Consider other features of cycling shoes to determine which is best for you. Some considerations include laces versus Velcro closures and stiff versus flexible soles. In general, the best cycling shoe will be the one that you are most comfortable with based on your budget and riding preferences.
References
- Pasadena Cyclery: How to Buy Cycling Shoes
- Charles Cannon; USA Cycling Coach; Austin, Texas
Member Comments