Buying Cycling Shoes

When you have decided to make the change to clipless pedals and shoes, just like everthing else there are 3 main categories; recreation, road, and mountain. The choice of shoe you make could effect the pedals you will need and vice versa. There are two other new categories, spinning and triatholon shoes but these are a smaller market.Recreational Shoes: For those of you just getting into the whole pedal thing and want the freedom to actually walk around when you get off the bike choose the recreational versions. Three features usually categorize these type of shoes; price, closure system, and volume. Typically these shoes range in price from $60 to $100. Most of these shoes use a lace system similar to a street shoe, however you must use the shoes strap or cover to protect the laces from your bikes chainring. If not you could end up with an ugly mess as your chain and chainring tear apart you laces. Most of these types of shoes will resemble a typicall street shoe with a more natural sole which makes them easier to walk in. They will also gee with a cover to hide the cleat plates located at the ball of the foot. You could just buy the shoes and never take the cover off and use the stiffer sole to help with peadaling. If you are going to install cleats however you will need to remove the sole plate and install the cleates of your choice. Most likely your options will be Shimanos SPD type of cleat or a similar looking cleat made by Crank Brothers and their Egg Beater style of pedal. These shoes are popular with Spinning Class participants, bicycle tourers, town riders and recreational mountain bikers.Mountain Bike Shoes: Mountain Bike shoes are easily characterized by the soles cleated bottoms similar in appearance to football or soccor shoes. This helps to provide better traction on uneven or slippery terrain. Mountain bike shoes are also lighter and have lower volumne and overall size than a recreational shoe. These shoes have a wider variance in price usually ranging from $100 to $250. Instead of laces, velcro or racheted straps are usually used. Since the soles are stiffer and covered with plastic cleats the shoe is usually harder to walk on than recreational shoes.Road Bike Shoes: As with everthing else in geparison road shoes are most always lighter than mountain bike shoes. Since anything on a road bike does not have to be as durable as parts and geponents on a road mike the geponents and this case the shoes are lighter. Sidi Dominator MTB shoes are listed at 700 grams a pair verses a geparable road shoe, such as the Genius, at 585 grams. Also instead of the football like cleats the soles of these shoes are either a nylon, geposite, or carbon fiber and they are slick. Since the plactic cleat is exposed this type of shoe/pedal gebination can be a bit tricky to walk in whyile off the bike. Although the shoes are geparable in price to MTB shoes the pedals usually cost a bit more. The closure system is usually identical to a MTB shoe.As with any type of outdoor activity such as skiing or hiking, the fit of your boots and shoes can not be underestimated. It is always nice to have the latest and greatest at a low price, but remember fit is key. What good is the most expensive pair of shoes in the latest color if they make your feet hurt, or more imporantly they move around alot in your shoe. Your overall performance on the bike should be key and should not be sacrificed for anything but fit. This seems a little counter-intuitive since your are not pounding your shoes and feet like hiking boots or turning a pair of skis like ski boots but fit is important nonetheless.Most of your upper end road and mountain shoes are sized in European sizes; so get to know what European sizes work for you. Don't forget however to buy your pedals and shoes at the same time because the cleats you need will be included in the purchase of your new pedals not with the shoes. Ask around, amoung your friends and see what pedals and shoes they like and why. Anyway good luck.