If you don’t wear cycling shoes, think again. I wear them on all of the bikes. The road bikes. The commuter. And, the mountain bike as well. I don’t cycle without them.
I didn’t always feel this way. I thought they were dangerous. Difficult to get in and out of particularly in the city and on single-track trails. And, they seemed expensive to only wear when cycling whereas I could use runners for both walking and cycling. You don’t need just the shoes but cleats and pedals as well. I have one setup that has cost me $1,000. That’s one expensive pair of shoes. And, I complain about my partner’s shoe fetish.
Once I started to wear cycling shoes, there was no turning back. Over the years, I acquired shoes for touring, road cycling, commuting and, even mountain biking.
There are 3 reasons you need them too.
- They are more efficient. They clip onto the pedals enabling the cyclist to apply power throughout the entire stroke and not just on the downward portion. The soles are stiff applying consistent power to the pedal with less effort. This translates into faster speeds and, longer distances with less effort.
- They last longer than a street shoe. You don’t walk or run in them. You only use them for cycling so there is not the same wear and tear. They do break down over time but mine last several years (sometimes longer). So, if you take this into account, you can rationalize they really aren’t that expensive.
- They look cool. Yes, they look cool. They come in a variety of colours to match your kit and bike. And, other cyclists take you more seriously. They are part of the price of admission to the serious-cycling community.
PedalWORKS 
Great post and good points, all. Also, I love that cycling shoes keep my feet in the proper part of the pedal… No way to maintain a 90 rpm cadence without them. Also, on the single track, they keep your feet from bouncing off the pedals on the way down a big hill when I’m bouncing over rocks and roots.
Agreed. These are good points. Clip ins take some getting use to but a certainly more efficient.
No doubt about it… Or to translate into Canadian, “No doot aboot it”.
LOL. Don’t understand why so many are hesitant to try them. That was the point of the post. To get more to try.
A noble gesture my friend. Most people I talk to about them are afraid of falling because they forget to unclip… Too bad – they’re worth falling a time or two.
Thought you’d get a kick out of that translation bit. Suffice it to say, I’m just a bit of a hockey fan.
Ah a hockey fan! Me too. Played competitively. Almost made it to the NHL. And a big Vancouver Canucks fan these days hoping for a comeback this season.
Awesome!
I will admit that I was a big “anti-clipless” guy for quite some time, until I actually gave them a proper go! Now it feels horribly wrong riding a bike without my SPD’s. They’re just better. In every way.
As you may know, if I was really hipster I would be cycling in my ballet flat shoes or high heels. No. I end up wearing my mountain cycling shoes with black jeans, black lined dress jacket and a red-white shirt to a corporate meeting on project management. (150 people attended) It was only a 6 km. ride but I couldn’t see how I wouldn’t lose/scuff up my dress shoes.
I don’t use clipless pedals. I have toe clips on all my 4 bikes of different geometries and vintages.
I don’t try to convince people to use clipless or toe clip pedals…the most important thing is that they ride a bike that fits them well, have a good saddle for long rides and they have sufficient gearing to deal with hills, etc. Otherwise we’ll never get more masses of people out there cycling often.
You make a good point. The most important thing is to get more people on a bike. It is the best way to get around in the city. And, it’s good for you and the environment.
My post was partly tongue-in-cheek. A lot of people are frightened to use clip less pedals; frightened they will be unable to get out of them and all like we all do when we start. I was trying to encourage people to give them a try because they are undoubtedly the most efficient way to cycle.
Like you, I rode with with toe clips for years. My partner still does. But I found them even more dangerous; more difficult to get in and out of because you have to take a hand off the bars and reach down to either tighten or loosen the strap.
Thanks for you comment.
I don’t have straps on my toe clips. So never a problem.
On 3 bikes I actually have toe cups. They’re plastic and less cagey-fiddly for the shoe to slip in.
My partner has the same setup.