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Are bike shoes really necessary?

Old 04-27-22, 10:11 AM
  #101  
Bearhawker
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Originally Posted by beng1
... cycling clothing, their fat-tire bikes and other trendy garbage, not getting any more and usually much less out of cycling than the average eight-year old riding down the sidewalk does.
I must be doing it wrong. I ride a fatbike as my daily driver and even tour with it, wearing cycling clothes and Nashbar sandals clipped into my Eggbeater pedals.

Pretty sure I get a lot more out of it than "the average eight-year old".

Doubt said 8-year old would have done the Cabot Trail on a fatbike either. I wonder if this mythical 8 year old - or you - would like to do the Gran Fondo here this year with me. I'll be easy to spot as I will be the guy on the fatbike with a smile wider than the tires.

I've ridden with and without cycling clothing and shoes - having done both there is a reason I choose to do so.
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Old 04-27-22, 10:29 AM
  #102  
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No love for Power Grips?

https://www.powergrips.com/
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Old 04-27-22, 01:33 PM
  #103  
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Originally Posted by 70sSanO
I think there is a cycling shoe debate because the cycling industry has told people who ride platform pedals that they don’t need cycling shoes.

For the most part, (there are a couple of exceptions), no one in the industry makes non-clipless cycling shoes.

If the majority of the people in the world ride bikes without clipless pedals, just a guess, then it is no wonder that there is a debate.

I personally think there is a huge gap that could be filled by offering a well supported platform cycling shoe, but obviously the industry, and most riders who use platform pedals, disagree.

John
There are actually loads of cycling shoes geared up for use on flat pedals. FiveTens are a good example.
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Old 04-27-22, 01:45 PM
  #104  
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Originally Posted by PeteHski
There are actually loads of cycling shoes geared up for use on flat pedals. FiveTens are a good example.
yep. 90% of the time i’m riding in my street shoes or clipless road shoes, but i have a pair of FiveTens for more serious off road riding. i do wish they didn’t weigh 5,000,000 lbs each though. or at least it feels like they do!
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Old 04-27-22, 01:59 PM
  #105  
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Originally Posted by mschwett
yep. 90% of the time i’m riding in my street shoes or clipless road shoes, but i have a pair of FiveTens for more serious off road riding. i do wish they didn’t weigh 5,000,000 lbs each though. or at least it feels like they do!
Out of curiosity I just weighed mine against top tier clipless road shoes:-

FiveTen Freerider Pros = 400 g each
Fizik Infinito Carbon = 335 g each (with cleats)

So just 130 g a pair heavier.
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Old 04-27-22, 02:08 PM
  #106  
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Originally Posted by becnal
Are bike shoes really worth the added expense, or are they just a way for some companies to make money? I've never tried any, so I'm asking for your learned opinions.

Thanks!

Lance
Oh man I sure do hope so as I own about 5 or 6 pairs..
Bont, Shimano, Giro, Specialized, MTB/Road/Gravel
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Old 04-27-22, 02:21 PM
  #107  
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Originally Posted by PeteHski
There are actually loads of cycling shoes geared up for use on flat pedals. FiveTens are a good example.
I think loads is probably a stretch. FiveTens are the best example and there are some boutique retro shoes, but the major cycling mfg’s basically offer clipless shoes that can be used on platforms. Most of them are mtb shoes.

John
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Old 04-27-22, 02:27 PM
  #108  
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Originally Posted by mschwett
i am curious how you know that those people aren’t getting “more” out of cycling than a rider who has a casual attitude towards their gear, 8 year old or otherwise?

i don’t really get the BF self-righteousness about *not* using some random piece of gear. it’s just as bad as being self righteous and smug because you *do* have a bunch of expensive stuff.

I hate to get all "both sides", but this is dead on. They're both equally tiresome and obnoxious.
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Old 04-27-22, 02:49 PM
  #109  
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Originally Posted by 70sSanO
I think loads is probably a stretch. FiveTens are the best example and there are some boutique retro shoes, but the major cycling mfg’s basically offer clipless shoes that can be used on platforms. Most of them are mtb shoes.

John
FiveTen have certainly nailed that particular segment, but there are quite a few others if you look around. Usually marketed as mtb, dirt jump, street etc, but perfectly fine for casual road biking with flat pedals. Some have the option of fitting cleats too, some don't.
If I was riding casually around town I would just get a pair of FiveTen Sleuths and call it a day. Actually I wear this kind of shoe off bike too. Basically a bike optimised casual trainer/sneaker.
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Old 04-27-22, 02:55 PM
  #110  
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Originally Posted by Ganius
Yes, I use it and I advise you to buy one, it is a good investment.

One?
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Old 04-27-22, 04:45 PM
  #111  
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I hope so, just spent $409 on these:

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Old 04-27-22, 04:49 PM
  #112  
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Originally Posted by jnbrown
I hope so, just spent $409 on these:
Congrats?
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Old 04-27-22, 06:29 PM
  #113  
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Originally Posted by PeteHski
Out of curiosity I just weighed mine against top tier clipless road shoes:-

FiveTen Freerider Pros = 400 g each
Fizik Infinito Carbon = 335 g each (with cleats)

So just 130 g a pair heavier.
wow! i'll have to weigh mine when i get home, but supposedly the road shoes i've been using (s-works exos) only weigh ±150g, so maybe ±200g with cleats. that could explain why the 510s feel like they weigh more than twice as much, because they do!! add to that the heavier platform pedals and it feels very different.
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Old 04-27-22, 06:47 PM
  #114  
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Originally Posted by jnbrown
I hope so, just spent $409 on these:

the speed plays I was looking at were north of 500. I'll settle on the adapters for under 300..
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Old 04-27-22, 07:50 PM
  #115  
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Originally Posted by thehammerdog
Oh man I sure do hope so as I own about 5 or 6 pairs..
Bont, Shimano, Giro, Specialized, MTB/Road/Gravel
I have so many pairs that its ridiculous, I'm looking for the mythical perfect fit for 4E width feet.
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Old 04-27-22, 08:18 PM
  #116  
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Originally Posted by 70sSanO
I think loads is probably a stretch. FiveTens are the best example and there are some boutique retro shoes, but the major cycling mfg’s basically offer clipless shoes that can be used on platforms. Most of them are mtb shoes.

John
There are quite a few, Bontrager, Specilized, FiveTen, Shimano, Ride Concept, there are probably more but many most of these only have one model in their cycling arsenal for flat pedals, where as FiveTen has many models.
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Old 04-27-22, 08:46 PM
  #117  
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Originally Posted by cyclist2000
There are quite a few, Bontrager, Specilized, FiveTen, Shimano, Ride Concept, there are probably more but many most of these only have one model in their cycling arsenal for flat pedals, where as FiveTen has many models.
Thanks! I was not aware Shimano made any non-SPD shoes; as well as the other “cycling” brands.

It doesn’t apply to me since I use touring road shoes on my road bike. I’ve been using hiking shoes on my mtb’s and for short neighborhood rides.

And, I was able to pick up some NOS Specialized suede flat touring shoes from the 80’s for an occasional 20+ mile ride with platforms. But I think I might pick up some FiveTens one day for a little bigger toe box.

John
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Old 04-28-22, 02:59 AM
  #118  
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Originally Posted by mschwett
wow! i'll have to weigh mine when i get home, but supposedly the road shoes i've been using (s-works exos) only weigh ±150g, so maybe ±200g with cleats. that could explain why the 510s feel like they weigh more than twice as much, because they do!! add to that the heavier platform pedals and it feels very different.
Yeah I was a little surprised. My road shoes are listed at 225g each, but that's for a size 42. Mine are size 45 and I have custom insoles that are a bit heavier than the more flimsy standard ones. My Shimano cleats and hardware are 36g a shoe. So it all adds up.

My FiveTens do feel subjectively heavier, but really I think it's just that they are much more bulky than the road shoes.
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Old 04-28-22, 03:07 AM
  #119  
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I suppose no, I've been riding a bike for 6 years , and using the usual light sneakers, I think it's enough for cycling, but if you want to spend some money, why not?
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Old 04-28-22, 03:43 AM
  #120  
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Originally Posted by cyclist2000
I have so many pairs that its ridiculous, I'm looking for the mythical perfect fit for 4E width feet.
4e? i need to ask if your a susquach?
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Old 04-28-22, 06:19 AM
  #121  
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Originally Posted by cyclist2000
I have so many pairs that its ridiculous, I'm looking for the mythical perfect fit for 4E width feet.
You've tried Lakes with their Competition last?
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Old 04-28-22, 06:24 AM
  #122  
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Originally Posted by Rowan
You've obviously been lucky first up.

Cycling shoes, as a generic term, are *not* a solution to hot-foot or hot-spots and can actually cause them. I speak from PE.
Your experience clashes with mine. Try riding your bike for 50 miles wearing shower flip-flops, just for an extreme demonstration that stiffness matters. The longer you ride or the harder you push the pedals, the more it matters to have stiff-soled shoes. Note this is a separate issue from clipping in or using toe clips. Not having stiff-enough shoes causes hotspots and other foot pain. Of course, ill-fitting cycling shoes can do the same.

Now, for the person who rides on the MUP at 10 mph, cycling shoes are overkill.
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Old 04-28-22, 08:41 PM
  #123  
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Originally Posted by PeteHski
Out of curiosity I just weighed mine against top tier clipless road shoes:-

FiveTen Freerider Pros = 400 g each
Fizik Infinito Carbon = 335 g each (with cleats)

So just 130 g a pair heavier.
here’s my comparison:

fiveTens + stamp1 pedals: 431g + 166g = 597g

exos and speedplay cleats + speedplay pedals: 258g + 84g = 342g

pretty big difference of 255g per side, explains why it feels different. just the shoes and cleats are 346g heavier per pair. the fiveTens are definitely not quite as heavy as i thought, nor are the s-works exos as light as claimed (or the speedplay cleats are much heavier!)
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Old 04-29-22, 06:02 AM
  #124  
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Originally Posted by thehammerdog
4e? i need to ask if your a susquach?
I have size 12 feet, they used to be 4E but I lost a couple of pounds (about 15) the toe box feels roomier, so I may not be a 4E any more.

But I was only 6’-3” in my heyday, I’m shorter now. I don’t think that is susquach size unless I am a short squat one.
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Old 04-29-22, 06:06 AM
  #125  
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
You've tried Lakes with their Competition last?
I did try lake last, one model their wide shoes fit great another pair has the ankle cut too high and it irritates my ankle. Lakes make some great shoes, by far my favorite now.
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