dvai

Hi all.

Im trying to get my wife some cycling shoes. She may want to start using cleats in the future but I thought getting her a shoe with a more rigid sole (vs the running shoes she uses now on platform pedals).

Any benefit of wearing dedicated bike shoes without cleats?

If yes, they use to have shoes that were "cleat ready" but also came with a cover.

Any suggestions?

Iride01 

You might look through the websites of all the companies that sell cycling shoes. I think some or many make shoes specifically for cycling that don't have a cleat. Or at least they use to.

Basically, you are on the correct path... a more rigid sole so there isn't any annoying flex.

I use spd pedals and shoes with my road bike. Their design tends to make it easier to walk in those shoes without a cover on them. And for certain all the spd type shoes I have bought come with covers to go over the mount for the cleat if one doesn't want to use cleats.

dvai

I wonder how would pedaling with the SPD cleat compatible shoe (with no cleat) be on a flat pedal.


(I also use SPD with my road bike - is easier to walk around)

Leisesturm

I don't think it matters to an SPD shoe whether or not cleats are installed. My old Shimano MT41 shoes came with textured inserts so the sole of the shoe was flat until the insert was removed. My newer Giro Rumble shoes have cleats. Cleat covers fit over the cleats and are to keep the cleat from scratching floors. I do not think it does any harm to a shoe to simply not install cleats if you don't need them. Yes, absolutely, the rigid construction of a cycling shoe is of benefit, with, or without, cleats.

rsbob 

I would recommend getting mountain bike shoes which are all pretty rigid with two hole mountingfor spd pedals. Those shoes are easy to walk around it even with the cleat attached - compared to many road shoes. The there are combination flat pedal on one side and spd on the other, so she can choose whether to clip in or not. Was looking at Amazon last night and some of those pedals are as cheap as $30, but I went spend more for better quality. They have shoes as well.

Iride01 

I'd disagree that on a SPD shoe that they are just to keep from scratching the floor. When the cleat is not installed, there isn't anything that might scratch the floor. The mounting holes are well below the depth of the tread on the shoe. The covers are there to keep mud and grime out of the holes and mechanism of the mount for the cleat. Presumably just in case you later wish to put cleats on them.

Even with the cleats on my shoes, the cleats just barely, if at all touch the surface I walk on.

But I'm not sure if those other shoes you are talking about are spd or spd-sl.

veganbikes

Crank Brothers makes some lovely shoes. I have a pair of Stamp Laces that are quite nice which I had gotten to test out and like them wish I had the BOA version but love all of the Stamp pedals I have been using and have a bunch of Crank Brothers tools so I am all in on CB and have been for a while and when these Stamps wear out I will probably end up buying another pair but probably go BOA next time. My Shimano SPD shoes are also quite nice but would be silly for this application as she would be running them on flat pedals so a flat pedal shoe makes more sense.

Leisesturm

What you are describing are the plugs that I mentioned earlier and, yes, those are to keep mud and such out of the holes. When you have cleats installed, you can buy cleat covers that keep your cleats from marring wood and linoleum floors. My cleats definitely need them. They do not adequately recess into the sole of the shoe. Both shoes are old fashioned SPD.

70sSanO

SPD touring shoes (no cleats) with rubber soles can be used with toe clips and straps, or half clips on quill road pedals. Not as solid a connection, but “generally” stay put.

John

Leisesturm

Road shoes are definitely the road (nyuk) less traveled by the majority. Even some fairly road oriented rec-racers opt for SPD shoes for their ... walkability. I wouldn't even want to guess by how much 2-bolt SPD shoes outsell the 3-bolt variety but it's pretty wide. And, as an earlier poster mentioned, you can find SPD shoes that don't even accept cleats, that's a thing. What bike do you use those shoes with? Just idle curiosity. Feel free to ignore the question.

Yan 

Shimano low end mountain shoes. Dirt cheap, well made, walks well, rides excellently.

Billlyy

5-10 mountain bike shoes an pedals with little pins we both have them , nice an firm an never have to worry about un-clipping !!!
70 YO

Pedals

t2p

QUOTE=dvai;23131031]Hi all.

Im trying to get my wife some cycling shoes. She may want to start using cleats in the future but I thought getting her a shoe with a more rigid sole (vs the running shoes she uses now on platform pedals).

Any benefit of wearing dedicated bike shoes without cleats?

If yes, they use to have shoes that were "cleat ready" but also came with a cover.

Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]






yes - the benefit can be a stiffer sole - better for power transfer - and can prevent injury to foot (plantar fascia and related)

and they can also save your good tennis / running shoes which are often more expensive than low-to-mid level bike shoes

as mentioned in prev post by Yan @Yan - Shimano low end mountain bike shoes are a good option

Pearl Izumi, Bontrager, Specialized, etc also offer these types of shoes

the sole plug should be in the shoe when cleats are not used - they provide additional surface area and sole rigidity when attached

attached pics above

top two pics are Pearl Izumi shoes (Trans Alp models - can’t recall specific models)

third pic from top is an older Shimano CTxx shoe … CT40 or CT71 … can’t recall specific model … they were offered with laces, laces and velcro straps, and speed pull closures (depending on model)

bottom pics are a more recent Shimano MT7 shoe … this shoe is a level above the CT model shoes … stiffer sole with BOA enclosure etc

daniell

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005M9BRPG...v_ov_lig_dp_it