Converted my modern 3 hole carbon fiber slippers into a traditional touring shoe
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Bend, Washington State
Posts: 2,942
Bikes: 1937 Hobbs; 1977 Bruce Gordon; 1987 Bill Holland; 1988 Schwinn Paramount (Fixed gear); 1999 Fat City Yo Eddy (MTB); 2018 Woodrup (Touring) 2016 Ritchey breakaway
Mentioned: 291 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 554 Post(s)
Liked 3,794 Times
in
668 Posts
Converted my modern 3 hole carbon fiber slippers into a traditional touring shoe
I have been riding my vintage bikes that have toe clips most of the time in Tennis Shoes. This gets tiring on long hilly rides.
With Eroica California coming up, I was looking to update a pair of serious cycling shoes so they would work with Berthet pedals (which don’t play nice with Dettos and plastic cleats) and be comfortable for some occasional walking. So begins my attempt to cobble shoes.
I started with my old pair of Adidas Superpro Classic road shoes. Carbon fiber sole, leather uppers, speed lacing. Really comfortable shoes. Light and stiff..
I bought a sole repair kit from FiveTen shoes for the new sole I planned to install. FiveTen makes great climbing and approach shoes. The rubber sole is made from a very sticky material which I expect will help will help keep my feet in contact with the pedals. I used their “Stealth Rubber” with Dots for extra grip.
The shoes had seen hard use and the carbon fiber in the heels were delaminating so several days were spent repairing the heels with thin epoxy layers and sanding.
Before sole repair by NBend, on Flickr
Then I cut some rubber sheeting to build up the perimeter of the soles in order to match the carbon fiber ridge that ran the length of the bottom of the shoe. I had to glue 2 thin sheets of rubber in order to get the sole flat from side to side.
Barge cement was used to glue the rubber, brushing coats on each piece of sheeting - once the cement was dry to the touch I used a heat gun on each piece to soften it up and attach it to the shoe sole. After each layer I trimmed the excess with a box knife. The Stealth Rubber Sole was also installed the same way.
ready to attach soles by NBend, on Flickr
After trimming the sole, I used a Dremel to grind the edges at an angle so the shoe can slip into the pedal cage easier.
Finished shoe 2 tread detail by NBend, on Flickr
I’m pretty happy with the look of my new new touring shoes. They look traditional enough.
They will sit overnight so the glue cures. Hope to get out tomorrow on them for a road test.
Finished shoe 1 by NBend, on Flickr
With Eroica California coming up, I was looking to update a pair of serious cycling shoes so they would work with Berthet pedals (which don’t play nice with Dettos and plastic cleats) and be comfortable for some occasional walking. So begins my attempt to cobble shoes.
I started with my old pair of Adidas Superpro Classic road shoes. Carbon fiber sole, leather uppers, speed lacing. Really comfortable shoes. Light and stiff..
I bought a sole repair kit from FiveTen shoes for the new sole I planned to install. FiveTen makes great climbing and approach shoes. The rubber sole is made from a very sticky material which I expect will help will help keep my feet in contact with the pedals. I used their “Stealth Rubber” with Dots for extra grip.
The shoes had seen hard use and the carbon fiber in the heels were delaminating so several days were spent repairing the heels with thin epoxy layers and sanding.
Before sole repair by NBend, on Flickr
Then I cut some rubber sheeting to build up the perimeter of the soles in order to match the carbon fiber ridge that ran the length of the bottom of the shoe. I had to glue 2 thin sheets of rubber in order to get the sole flat from side to side.
Barge cement was used to glue the rubber, brushing coats on each piece of sheeting - once the cement was dry to the touch I used a heat gun on each piece to soften it up and attach it to the shoe sole. After each layer I trimmed the excess with a box knife. The Stealth Rubber Sole was also installed the same way.
ready to attach soles by NBend, on Flickr
After trimming the sole, I used a Dremel to grind the edges at an angle so the shoe can slip into the pedal cage easier.
Finished shoe 2 tread detail by NBend, on Flickr
I’m pretty happy with the look of my new new touring shoes. They look traditional enough.
They will sit overnight so the glue cures. Hope to get out tomorrow on them for a road test.
Finished shoe 1 by NBend, on Flickr
Last edited by northbend; 03-24-16 at 09:51 PM.
Likes For northbend:
#2
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,639
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4682 Post(s)
Liked 5,803 Times
in
2,286 Posts
Nice! They pass the Eroica sniff test, IMO.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#4
aka: Dr. Cannondale
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,735
Mentioned: 234 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2155 Post(s)
Liked 3,406 Times
in
1,206 Posts
That's pretty slick.
__________________
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Columbia County, Georgia
Posts: 282
Bikes: Schwinns: Paramount (Waterford), Peloton (1986 and 1999), 1987 Super Sport. Offbrand bikes: Bianchi Intenso, Diamondback Interval TG (Ironman), Peugeot Triathlon, Masi CX
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times
in
5 Posts
Pretty sweet. I'm guessing they're about as walkable as Dutch wooden clogs?
#7
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,333
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3900 Post(s)
Liked 4,843 Times
in
2,232 Posts
So when does this become a refurb/rebuild 'cottage industry' like rhm's saddle recovering?
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#8
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,199
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,410 Times
in
910 Posts
The BF factory could include rhm's saddle making, rootboy's tire savers, Henry III's bike wallets, these shoes, Scooper's frames, many member's wheelbuilding, all built with care and precision in the secret underground lab at rccardr's. Someone made wrap, too, I think.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Columbia County, Georgia
Posts: 282
Bikes: Schwinns: Paramount (Waterford), Peloton (1986 and 1999), 1987 Super Sport. Offbrand bikes: Bianchi Intenso, Diamondback Interval TG (Ironman), Peugeot Triathlon, Masi CX
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times
in
5 Posts
I'd say there's a market for this considering most of the "heritage" or "bespoke" shoe makers stop at 47. Some of us have serious, low ground pressure feet in the 48-50 range.
#10
Aspiring curmudgeon
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Saint Louis
Posts: 2,486
Bikes: Guerciotti, Serotta, Gaulzetti
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 111 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times
in
13 Posts
They look great, @northbend. I look forward to the ride report. Just out of curiosity, why not slotted cleats with your toe clips?
__________________
"Party on comrades" -- Lenin, probably
"Party on comrades" -- Lenin, probably
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Bend, Washington State
Posts: 2,942
Bikes: 1937 Hobbs; 1977 Bruce Gordon; 1987 Bill Holland; 1988 Schwinn Paramount (Fixed gear); 1999 Fat City Yo Eddy (MTB); 2018 Woodrup (Touring) 2016 Ritchey breakaway
Mentioned: 291 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 554 Post(s)
Liked 3,794 Times
in
668 Posts
Icepick, As I noted in the original post, slotted cleats don't work well with Berthets.
The pedal face is too flat so they don't seat properly.
Walking in slotted cleats is clumsy. I was looking for something better.
These are easier to walk in. A good compromise for the type of riding I do.
I am thinking of adding a Sidi Mtb heel piece for durability and better walking...
Last edited by northbend; 03-25-16 at 06:13 PM.
#12
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,800
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1393 Post(s)
Liked 1,329 Times
in
837 Posts
I like the look of your shoes, but I still miss my Avocet Touring shoes.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#13
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: PAZ
Posts: 12,294
Mentioned: 255 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2588 Post(s)
Liked 4,824 Times
in
1,709 Posts
Great job, Matt! Thanks for detailing the process. I have a pair of shoes kicking around which I've been considering converting to a touring-type shoe. Now I know how to do it
DD
DD
#14
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
Very cool! I look forward to the ride report.
I did something similar with a pair of cleated athletic shoes a couple years ago. Might have been football shoes. I cut off the cleats, sanded the soles smooth and rough, then glued some thick butyl pieces on, using contact cement. I think it was a roofing material of some kind.
The result was not a great success, not because of the shoe soles, nor the shoe-pedal interface, but because the toe clips pinched my big toe. That is always the problem I have with toe clips.
Last year I did a 300k brevet on my 1960 Allegro, with Berthet pedals, wearing a pair of black wingtip dress shoes that are too ruined for polite occasions. They were perfect. The stiff upper protected my toes nicely. Too bad they look so terrible....
I did something similar with a pair of cleated athletic shoes a couple years ago. Might have been football shoes. I cut off the cleats, sanded the soles smooth and rough, then glued some thick butyl pieces on, using contact cement. I think it was a roofing material of some kind.
The result was not a great success, not because of the shoe soles, nor the shoe-pedal interface, but because the toe clips pinched my big toe. That is always the problem I have with toe clips.
Last year I did a 300k brevet on my 1960 Allegro, with Berthet pedals, wearing a pair of black wingtip dress shoes that are too ruined for polite occasions. They were perfect. The stiff upper protected my toes nicely. Too bad they look so terrible....
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Bend, Washington State
Posts: 2,942
Bikes: 1937 Hobbs; 1977 Bruce Gordon; 1987 Bill Holland; 1988 Schwinn Paramount (Fixed gear); 1999 Fat City Yo Eddy (MTB); 2018 Woodrup (Touring) 2016 Ritchey breakaway
Mentioned: 291 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 554 Post(s)
Liked 3,794 Times
in
668 Posts
Road test:
1) I drove in the shoes down to Issaquah with the bike packed in the car. The shoes did not impact my ability to drive.
Result of test step = Pass
2) I got out of the car, walked around in the gravel parking lot. I looked down at the shoes - they looked pretty normal (for biking shoes)
P1080680 by NBend, on Flickr
Mounted the bike and took off..walking around and getting the shoe into the toe clips - easy.
P1080685 by NBend, on Flickr
Result of test step = Pass
3) I spun around the south end of Lake Samammish, around the roundabout, sprinting up Newport Way, and climbed up the Zoo Hill on Cougar Mountain. The footbed in the shoes supported my feet well. The shoes gripped the pedals as I expected and when climbing out of the saddle, I had pretty good power, nearly as good as clipless pedals.
P1080686 by NBend, on Flickr
Result to test step = Pass
4) When I got to the top of Cougar, (1100 ft in 2 miles..) I descended down to Bellevue, stopping and visiting a friend who needed some help building up a wheeset. I spent about an hour in his garage helping him with this. Then rode back to my car in Issaquah. On the way home, I stopped and had a beer at the Snoqualmie Brewery. Transitioning from Walking > Riding > Driving and Drinking was seamless.
Result of test step = Pass
I think these will do just fine at Eroica…
1) I drove in the shoes down to Issaquah with the bike packed in the car. The shoes did not impact my ability to drive.
Result of test step = Pass
2) I got out of the car, walked around in the gravel parking lot. I looked down at the shoes - they looked pretty normal (for biking shoes)
P1080680 by NBend, on Flickr
Mounted the bike and took off..walking around and getting the shoe into the toe clips - easy.
P1080685 by NBend, on Flickr
Result of test step = Pass
3) I spun around the south end of Lake Samammish, around the roundabout, sprinting up Newport Way, and climbed up the Zoo Hill on Cougar Mountain. The footbed in the shoes supported my feet well. The shoes gripped the pedals as I expected and when climbing out of the saddle, I had pretty good power, nearly as good as clipless pedals.
P1080686 by NBend, on Flickr
Result to test step = Pass
4) When I got to the top of Cougar, (1100 ft in 2 miles..) I descended down to Bellevue, stopping and visiting a friend who needed some help building up a wheeset. I spent about an hour in his garage helping him with this. Then rode back to my car in Issaquah. On the way home, I stopped and had a beer at the Snoqualmie Brewery. Transitioning from Walking > Riding > Driving and Drinking was seamless.
Result of test step = Pass
I think these will do just fine at Eroica…
Last edited by northbend; 03-25-16 at 05:59 PM.
#17
Junior Member
Ingenious.
#18
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
What toe clips are those? And more importantly, there was no conflict between your toes and the cages, especially when pedaling full circles?
My concern is that shoes made for clipless cleats don't have any protection for the top of the foot. On long rides, this gets to be a real problem for me.
My concern is that shoes made for clipless cleats don't have any protection for the top of the foot. On long rides, this gets to be a real problem for me.
#19
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Atlanta, ga
Posts: 68
Bikes: Bridgestone 300 ; Bridgestone XO3; Motobecane Grand Jubilee; Surly karate monkey; Lemond ventoux "team z" colors; Diamondback Master TG pink with black splatter paint
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Awesome idea and execution. Glad to see the positive report too!
#20
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,649
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2608 Post(s)
Liked 1,703 Times
in
937 Posts
The mighty King Cage toe clips. I fell in love when I saw the pix of them on his Singer.
Here's the much more affordable MKS clips:
Here's the much more affordable MKS clips:
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#21
Senior Member
Cool DIY project. Thanks for sharing. Finding cycling shoes for clips and straps is a real issue. That's one solution.
Too bad you only have a rusty old French bike to ride.
Too bad you only have a rusty old French bike to ride.
#22
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Bend, Washington State
Posts: 2,942
Bikes: 1937 Hobbs; 1977 Bruce Gordon; 1987 Bill Holland; 1988 Schwinn Paramount (Fixed gear); 1999 Fat City Yo Eddy (MTB); 2018 Woodrup (Touring) 2016 Ritchey breakaway
Mentioned: 291 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 554 Post(s)
Liked 3,794 Times
in
668 Posts
What toe clips are those? And more importantly, there was no conflict between your toes and the cages, especially when pedaling full circles?
My concern is that shoes made for clipless cleats don't have any protection for the top of the foot. On long rides, this gets to be a real problem for me.
My concern is that shoes made for clipless cleats don't have any protection for the top of the foot. On long rides, this gets to be a real problem for me.
I don't cinch the strap down - just leave it a little snug to conform to my foot but loose enough to get in and out of..
No issues with toe discomfort with these shoes or tennis shoes for that matter.
That is not the case with the Giro Republic shoes that have Spd's with
walkable soles or my Sidi MTB shoes.
I suspect this is because the treads on the soles are thicker and made
of hard plastic and the shoe slides around during the pedal stroke.
I think the key thing that keeps the foot in place without cinching straps down hard is having a thin textured sole made from skicky rubber.
Having ridden in Five Ten Tennies for a few years now, I only wished they had a stiff sole and a little less width. That was what the Addidas Shoe addressed
#23
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,199
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,410 Times
in
910 Posts
What toe clips are those? And more importantly, there was no conflict between your toes and the cages, especially when pedaling full circles?
My concern is that shoes made for clipless cleats don't have any protection for the top of the foot. On long rides, this gets to be a real problem for me.
My concern is that shoes made for clipless cleats don't have any protection for the top of the foot. On long rides, this gets to be a real problem for me.
I'd definitely like to have a set of shoes like that. Perhaps just remove the bumpers on the front of my Giro Republics, then glue on one of those rubber soles.
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Bend, Washington State
Posts: 2,942
Bikes: 1937 Hobbs; 1977 Bruce Gordon; 1987 Bill Holland; 1988 Schwinn Paramount (Fixed gear); 1999 Fat City Yo Eddy (MTB); 2018 Woodrup (Touring) 2016 Ritchey breakaway
Mentioned: 291 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 554 Post(s)
Liked 3,794 Times
in
668 Posts
#25
Senior Member
Excellent idea. It's actually quite difficult to find a new pair of shoes in classic style. Might be easier to buy a modern pair and convert them.