jlat

hello people: I'm new. I'm not a serious rider just a rider but I usually ride with flip-flops. I just spent about $100 for a pr. of bike sandals from Shimano. I got em yesterday an I've just worn them around the house. Any of youz try em?
IBBY

Steve B.

No, never tried the Shimano version though I do wear Shimano SPD shoes as well as Lake SPD sandals, which are very comfortable.

rumrunn6

welcome! how do you like them? they are probably better on the bike, than walking around. but I'm just guessing

I have not tried those. I do sometimes ride in Keen closed toe sandals. they have a nice rigid sole. they are great for biking to the beach, w/o socks. I also wear them during summer months, w/ short hiking socks

jlat

hello people: I took my new sandals out just now and so far so good. I can feel the difference in peddle power and I knew it will be a lot better than my FF. I had lace-up bike shoes once so I know that ridged bottom feel. The bottom of my feet feel a little sticky but there new. They're mine now as I threw out the boxes they came in and I've been out in them. As long as there are no assembly flaws I'm good. Also, I put new rear brake pads in and I was braking them in. They feel good. These disks are old and the pads are the small round magnetic type. I've seen some new ones and their pad size is a lot bigger and has to stop great.

M Rose

I’m on my third pair of Keen sandals. I wear them every day for everything. I like how they make contact to my toe clipped pedals better than any other shoe I own… although I probably should look into some dedicated MTB shoes.

Tony Marley

Yes, I have and use Shimano SPD sandals. They have served me well on both my upright frames and recumbents. I also used Lake SPD sandals in the past, but have been unable to find any recently.

Inusuit

I ride in those Keen sandals all summer on flat pedals. They are more comfortable and less prone to nerve issues in my feet than the dedicated bike shoes I ride in winter.

JanMM

I understand Keen disappointed the fans of their previous cycling sandals for clipless pedals by stopping production of them.

indyfabz

I had heard that as well.

VegasJen

I know I'll be shunned by the dedicated cycle clique here but I don't wear clip-ins ever. Just a personal preference. Too expensive and they really seem to limit mobility any time you're off the bike. I just wear a pair of Puma athletic shoes which I have dedicated to bike riding. I also use a lightweight small frame aluminum pedal with cleats. Works for me.

Personally, I can't see wearing any kind of sandal for a serious ride, but to each their own.

terrymorse 

Right back at you. I can't see wearing soft-soled sneakers for cycling.

VegasJen

To each their own.

mstateglfr 

Preemptively establishing yourself as the victim is not a good look.
Wear what you want. Your reasoning is weak since many spd shoes are easy to walk in and are not expensive, but wear what you want. Maybe give reasons for wearing what you do vs bad reasons for not wearing what you think others want you to wear?

koala logs

I wear flip flops on centuries on flat pedals! However, I do have a reason for doing so and that is expecting strong downpours. Getting your shoes and socks soaking wet in a very long ride can be very unpleasant! Some will choose to avoid riding in such weather forecast but I'm an all-weather rider and with this summer heat, rain can be a very good thing.

I use flip flops on 6 hr nonstop solo rides on the mountains. I do have MTB flat pedal shoes to wear if going with group to avoid drawing attention. But when I'm alone, I go back to my super comfy flip flops!

diphthong

would expect in between toe(s) chafing on longer rides with the flip flops but if not, party on.

what mountains are we talking about? high point(s) on the (assuming) paved roads? length of climbs? understand the rain/water avoidance issue. maybe i'm doing it wrong. wouldn't be shocked.

koala logs

Soft soled flip flops aren't good. My Havaianas are hard enough I can't feel the teeth on my quill pedals at all.

At least 3000' of climbing, averaging 5% gradient paved. One climb I did with flip flops, 2km mixed pavement and gravel averaging 15% gradient with 25% gradient in some places. Mixed seated and standing pedaling. All of them in the same bike loaded 40 to 45 lbs

Not a tiny bit of discomfort nor chaffing with over 6 hour non-stop rides going through 4 hours of mountains. I also have MTB shoes that's perfectly comfortable to me in very long rides but this hot summer, I prefer to use flip flops for the ventilation and the frequent rains in the mountains.

t2p

no flip flops or soft shoes for me - I've been riding in bare feet since before I was born and it has served me well

cb400bill

While I have never worn cycling sandals, a member of our ride group swears by them. She averages about 10,000 miles per year in them.

phughes

Why? Bicycle tourists have been doing that for decades, putting in serious miles without issue. Use a good platform pedal, and it is a nonissue. I use a nice pair of DMR V12s, they give plenty of support for your foot, and they grip extremely well. With a large platform the sole of the shoe is rather irrelevant. I did two tours using Crocs, including 70 mile days.





If you don't want to go without clipless, thats great, it's your choice, but it is really not an issue to not use clipless, in fact there are many advantages. I can go to the garage, and simply hop on my bike, without putting on a special pair of shoes. I can use one pair of shoes for a tour and still easily walk once I'm off the bike. I can choose to wear a paid of Crocs on a tour, and be oblivious to rain, knowing that in just 15 minutes or so after the rain stops, my feet, and shoes will be completely dry. I met up with another rider on the GAP trail heading to DC during Hurricane Irene, he was using clipless, I was wearing Crocs. After one deluge lasting hours, we stopped to eat and sleep. As we were eating, he said his shoes were still wet, and his feet were soaked. This was a good two hours after the rain. My feet were completely dry and comfortable, in my Crocs.

With platform pedals I have choices, and what I choose from day to day, or even withing the same day can change. You with your clipless pedals, have fewer choices in what to wear, or only one choice if you haven't sprung for more than one pair of shoes.

I can also change the position of my foot on the pedal if I feel like it. You have to get tools out, and adjust the cleat. Yes, once you have it dialed in, you won't make changes, but sometimes on a long tour you just want to move around a bit, at least for a few moments from time to time.

If all you know are tiny clipless pedals, then of course you cannot imagine wearing shoes with less than stiff soles, but if course there are tons of good pedals out that that eliminate the perceived need to wear stiff soled shoes. In fact, when I began riding, clipless pedals didn't even exist, somehow we managed.

gooseneck34

flip flops! surely that hurts your feet ?

terrymorse 

This does not surprise me.

terrymorse 

Yeah, I used running shoes for decades, with rat trap pedals and toe clips.

Then I switched to a stiff sole shoe, and I never looked back.

phughes

The old style rat trap pedals are nice, but they are not as nice with softer soles than the platforms like the DMR pedals. Pedals like the DMRs, and Welgos, give nice, wide support, spreading the pressure across a larger area than old style rat traps.

I have thought about getting some bear trap pedals, but I know they aren't as comfortable as the DMRs with softer soled shoes. I love the old bear traps, I used them on my BMX bike when I raced.

The pedals, shoes, and just about everything else we use comes down to personal preference. My only point is that with the right pedals, there is nothing wrong with softer, more flexible soled shoes. As long as you have a good platform style pedal, there is neough support for your foot, that a stiff sole is not necessary.

Are you using clipless?

terrymorse 

Yes, I've been using clipless since the early 2000's. They have changed my pedaling style—I think for the better.

According to my pedal power meter, my "power phase arc length" is 200º. It would be really hard to do that on platform pedals.

phughes

The nice thing about the DMRs, is that they grip my shoes very well, so you can pull back at the bottom of the stroke when you really need to bear down and put power to the pedals, increasing your power arc. Not really difficult to get to 200, but generally not necessary for touring. Also not likely to be continued for a long period of time compared to using clipless, nor would you necessarily put out as much power on the last few degrees.. The bad thing about the DMRs is the scars I have on my shins from them.