Cycling Shoes & Pedals
It’s important to choose the right shoes and pedals for your bicycle trip.
First, let’s talk about the shoes. Sure, you can hit the road in any old pair of sneakers, but their soles are flexible and won’t provide the right support for your feet and ankles. To see this, pick up a normal sneaker and try to bend it. Now pick up a cycling shoe and try the same thing. You’ll see that the sole of the cycling shoe is much firmer.
When buying a cycling shoe for touring, look for:
- Recessed Cleats – Since you will be hopping on and off the bike to do your shopping and walk around towns, you want recessed cleats to make this easier.
- Velcro Straps – Laces are a hazard because they can fly around and hook onto your front chain ring which is quite scary if it happens at high speed! If you can’t find shoes with a velcro strap, make sure to tuck the laces in under the tongue of the shoe before you ride.
- A Good Brand – We are not ‘brand people’ in general but when it comes to shoes, we’ve
found names like Adidas, Nike and Shimano are worth the extra money. They last at least 50 percent longer than cheaper shoes like those from Decathalon and need fewer repairs. - Sandals – If you’re going to a warm country, consider touring sandals. Keen and Shimano both make these. The feeling of air flowing around your feet is refreshing and they are also comfortable for walking when you’re off the bike. You can pair the sandals with waterproof socks for the odd rainy day.
FIXED OR NOT?
As you shop for shoes, you”ll also need to consider if and how you want to attach your feet to the pedals. A variety of methods including clips, cages and straps help to improve efficiency because they let you put power into the pedals on both the upstroke and the downstroke.
They’re also good for helping your feet stay on the pedals even when you’re being bumped around on the road or in wet conditions. You can power away or keep the momentum going instead of watching your feet fly off.
The main choices you have for securing your feet are:
| Cages – These are a common choice for beginners who don’t feel entirely comfortable with being clipped in. You just slide your feet into a cage and there’s a strap to adjust the tightness of the fit. Pros: inexpensive, no special shoes required Cons: can be frustrating trying to get your feet into the pedals, not as efficient as clips |  |
| Clips - These are what most cyclists use. There are many different types, one of the most common being Shimano’s SPD system. They all work on the same premise: cleats in your shoes attach to the pedals. You release your feet with a small outward twist. Pros: very efficient Cons: require special pedals, expect a few falls as you learn to clip in and out, can cause knee pain if not properly adjusted |  |
| Power Grips – These simple straps are loved by many mountain bikers and some cycle tourists including Tara & Tyler of Going Slowly. Pros: cheap, can be used with any shoes and normal pedals Cons: can cause injury if not properly adjusted |  |
FREEFORM CYCLING
Some people never become comfortable with any of these systems and Friedel is one of them.
If you fit into this category, console yourself that small gains in efficiency aren’t so important for touring. It’s not the “Tour de France” after all! Not having clips means one less replacement part to worry about. You can use any old pair of pedals instead of special ones to match the clips on your shoes.
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