Tell me about the bike shoes please

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2009-08-08 1:30 PM

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Subject: Tell me about the bike shoes please
I've been learning all about road  bike riding/racing using mountain bike pedals and shoes. The price was right and the need was there. (free pedals and $5.00 Shimano mtn bike shoes). Anyway, I'm 6 weeks away from my first sprint tri and I'm ready to spend real money on the shoes. I have Look pedals and cleats purchased from a friend recently. I'm interested in hearing from people who have tried more than one shoe. Here is my dilemma:

While I realize that for my first sprint tri, putting the shoes on the pedals with rubber bands isn't likely to make me win the race, I'd like to do it anyway. My thoughts are that when you do it this way, the fewer the straps to worry about, the better. But does that actually compromise shoe stability? In other words - if I opt for 1 strap for speed, do I lose out on performance fit? If I go for 2 or 3 straps, how the heck do you make quick work of getting a moist foot in and strapped quickly?

I'm interested in any and all comments in all directions.

2009-08-10 3:04 AM
in reply to: #2335919

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Subject: RE: Tell me about the bike shoes please
First off you would be fine using the mountain bike shoes and pedals although it may need you to put your shoes on before clipping in.
If you want to go the pro route and have shoes clipped in then you may as well go pro and get proper tri shoes with one strap. Having 2 or 3 will make it more of a fiddle to put your feet in and do up the straps whilst riding. Also the tri specific shoes have a wide opening to help you get your foot in easily, a loop on the back to hold whilst you slip your foot in, ususally vents in the sole to help your foot dry and the strap opens the other way to road/mtb shoes so it is out of the way when you pedal up to speed before slipping your foot in.
Make sure you do lots of practice having them on your pedals before you try it in a race or you will either fall off or be slower than if you had put your MTB shoes on in transition and then clipped in.
I used to use MTB shoes and SPD pedals and it worked fine for me. Have switched this year to Look pedals and Tri shoes and have them clipped in ready to go. It has saved me probably 60 seconds in T1 and 30seconds in T2 as I take feet out before the dismount line now. Not a lot but its easy time saving
2009-08-13 10:43 PM
in reply to: #2337834

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Subject: RE: Tell me about the bike shoes please

Pashda - 2009-08-10 1:04 A

Make sure you do lots of practice having them on your pedals before you try it in a race or you will either fall off or be slower than if you had put your MTB shoes on in transition and then clipped in.

x2

2009-08-14 8:29 PM
in reply to: #2335919

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Subject: RE: Tell me about the bike shoes please
if you are going to leave them clipped in make sure you can do it faster and safer than just clipping in, or else you pose a risk to yourself and others.


that said, a lot of tri shoes are a little less supportive than road shoes, this may or may not be a problem for you.

i do all of my training in my tri shoes, but once i get back around places i can climb will probably get road shoes to train in more.

1 or 2 strap tri shoes are almost always going to be faster to put on.
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