login
Importance of cycling shoes
-
No new posts
 2008-01-10 1:37 AM |
Veteran  231   Huntington Beach |  Subject: Importance of cycling shoesOk, how important are cycling shoes? I have gone on 50 mile rides with my chuck taylor's and I find them comfortable. But it seems like most everyone on these forums uses special cycling shoes for tri's and long rides. I figure biking is such low impact that having special shoes isn't necessary. Am I wrong? Will my knees, legs, or back suffer after long bike rides (4+ hours) without good cycling shoes? |
| 2008-01-10 2:04 AM in reply to: #1147115 |
Pro 4206 Los Angeles, CA | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes If they weren't important, than cyclists wouldn't wear them but wear chuck taylor's. It comes down to using the full pedal stroke (including the pull) and power transfer. |
| 2008-01-10 5:52 AM in reply to: #1147115 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes Cycling shoes themselves, not so important. Clipless pedal systems, however, are easily the best things you can buy to improve your cycling efficiency, and it's very difficcult to have a clipless pedal system without having cycling shoes on which to mount the cleats. Additional feature cycling shoes provide include stiffness, ventilation and comfort. |
| 2008-01-10 6:01 AM in reply to: #1147115 |
Elite 2527 Armpit of Ontario | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes Grasshopper: Chuck Taylors - push down Cycling shoes w/ clipless pedal system - pull up, push down, push round and round. Wax on/wax off. Your training is complete. |
| 2008-01-10 6:07 AM in reply to: #1147115 |
Elite 3658 Roswell, GA | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes You do develope more power with clipless pedals, but if you like your chucks stick with them. I rode with cages for years because I liked to ride places on my bike and then walk around. Two things that you have to be careful about are foot injuries and developing a poor stroke. Chuck Taylors have a flexible sole that can put extra pressure on the arch and ankle of the foot. If you don't feel excessive fatigue in your foot on long rides you are probably ok. As for the poor stroke, it is harder to apply force to the pedals through out the entire stroke with cages, so you are more likely to develope a masher style to your pedaling. I know this from experience.  I still keep cages on my road bike for running errands and taking the kids to the park, but the tri bike has clipless pedals. Are you trying to get some hardware in your age group? If not ride what ever you feel the most comfortable in. I can only imagine the look on people's faces as you pass them with a pair of Chuck Taylors.  |
| 2008-01-10 6:12 AM in reply to: #1147115 |
| Member 185 | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes The cycling shoes help keep your foot flat on the pedal. Sneakers or other soft sole shoes make it more likely that you will pedal with your toes pointed down, which is inefficient and can result in injury. |
| 2008-01-10 6:13 AM in reply to: #1147115 |
Pro 3673 MAC-opolis | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes How important? 1-3 mph minimum difference! Plus they make that cool "click-clack" sound when you run through T1.
|
| 2008-01-10 7:31 AM in reply to: #1147115 |
Elite 3022 Preferably on my bike somewhere | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes They still make chuck taylors?! Holy cow. What color do you roll in? I say, get the proper kit. Those chuckie's will fit in the pockets of your cycling jersey so if you need to run around, leave your shoes clipped in and throw on the chuckies. |
| 2008-01-10 8:28 AM in reply to: #1147229 |
Champion 5117 Brandon, MS | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes Sweet. Rolling like Moocher and Cyril. Cycling shoes are more comfortable and efficient. Of course they are more expensive, and you gotta buy new pedals, too.
(cutters.jpg) Attachments ---------------- cutters.jpg (36KB - 37 downloads) |
| 2008-01-10 10:43 AM in reply to: #1147115 |
Expert 1022 | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes Hey... I used to do long rides (60-70miles) in Chucky Taylors with clips in college. I'm still here. Nothing says COOL like bright red Chucky Taylor high-tops! (Of course I'm an engineer, what do I know about cool...) |
| 2008-01-10 10:47 AM in reply to: #1147166 |
Expert 934 FL | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes Big Sexy - 2008-01-10 7:13 AM How important? 1-3 mph minimum difference! Plus they make that cool "click-clack" sound when you run through T1. Hmm, any data to prove that? |
| 2008-01-10 10:47 AM in reply to: #1147115 |
Champion 5575 Butler | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes They will work but are not as efficient. Plus if you use the same shoes to race in by the time you get to the run they can get heavy from sweat. Edited by kproudfoot 2008-01-10 10:48 AM |
| 2008-01-10 10:49 AM in reply to: #1147786 |
Champion 5575 Butler | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes mgmoore7 - 2008-01-10 10:47 AM I thought is was well know that the "click-clack" sound made you sound cool. What proof do you need Big Sexy - 2008-01-10 7:13 AM How important? 1-3 mph minimum difference! Plus they make that cool "click-clack" sound when you run through T1. Hmm, any data to prove that? |
| 2008-01-10 10:53 AM in reply to: #1147794 |
Expert 934 FL | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes kproudfoot - 2008-01-10 11:49 AM mgmoore7 - 2008-01-10 10:47 AM I thought is was well know that the "click-clack" sound made you sound cool. What proof do you need Big Sexy - 2008-01-10 7:13 AM How important? 1-3 mph minimum difference! Plus they make that cool "click-clack" sound when you run through T1. Hmm, any data to prove that? Well, I think you know I was refering to to the 1-3mph gain in speed. By the way, your Nemisis looks great.
|
| 2008-01-10 10:57 AM in reply to: #1147815 |
Champion 5575 Butler | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes mgmoore7 - 2008-01-10 10:53 AM Yeah, just trying to be funny. Thanks.kproudfoot - 2008-01-10 11:49 AM mgmoore7 - 2008-01-10 10:47 AM I thought is was well know that the "click-clack" sound made you sound cool. What proof do you need Big Sexy - 2008-01-10 7:13 AM How important? 1-3 mph minimum difference! Plus they make that cool "click-clack" sound when you run through T1. Hmm, any data to prove that? Well, I think you know I was refering to to the 1-3mph gain in speed. By the way, your Nemisis looks great.
|
| 2008-01-10 11:17 AM in reply to: #1147786 |
Pro 3673 MAC-opolis | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes mgmoore7 - 2008-01-10 11:47 AM Big Sexy - 2008-01-10 7:13 AM How important? 1-3 mph minimum difference! Plus they make that cool "click-clack" sound when you run through T1. Hmm, any data to prove that? Do you really need data to know that a full pedal rotation produces more wattage and speed than simply pushing down on the stroke? |
| 2008-01-10 1:29 PM in reply to: #1147115 |
Veteran 231 Huntington Beach | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes Wow, I'm stoked that so many people responded to my queston so quick! It seems as though the main reason to not wear my Chucks is because clipless pedals with the corresponding shoes make it easier to have correct cycling form. Just between us, I've always laughed very discreetly at people who are all geared out in cycling gear. It just looks funny ....Anyways, so what I'm thinking is to keep my cages and Chucks as well as buy some clipless/cycling shoes and test both out for pace/comfort on my longer rides (3, 4, 5+ hours) as my training progresses and report back. Should be a fun thread. But before this thread is over can someone answer... So do very few if any people in long tri's have cages or have all gone to clipless? |
| 2008-01-10 1:37 PM in reply to: #1148298 |
Expert 924 Louisville, KY | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes VinemanCalifornia - 2008-01-10 2:29 PM Wow, I'm stoked that so many people responded to my queston so quick! It seems as though the main reason to not wear my Chucks is because clipless pedals with the corresponding shoes make it easier to have correct cycling form. Just between us, I've always laughed very discreetly at people who are all geared out in cycling gear. It just looks funny ....Anyways, so what I'm thinking is to keep my cages and Chucks as well as buy some clipless/cycling shoes and test both out for pace/comfort on my longer rides (3, 4, 5+ hours) as my training progresses and report back. Should be a fun thread. But before this thread is over can someone answer... So do very few if any people in long tri's have cages or have all gone to clipless? The vast majority will have clipless setups. Drink the cool-aid and go for it. I went clipless with my mountain bike in late nineties and never looked back. I've never had a road bike that wasn't clipless. You'll always have a few people, that for various reasons, buck the trends. Somebody probably has a picture that can be posted, but at last year's Ironman Louisville there was a dude that rode an old school bike with cages and if memory serves correctly he wore cutoff jeans. |
| 2008-01-10 2:14 PM in reply to: #1147115 |
Veteran 246 western iowa, almost nebraska. | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes Keep your retro cages and score some Detto perforated leather old school cycling shoes. Then you have the stiff sole of a cycling shoe with, the cages and straps and you have the ability to pedal in circles efficiently without the price of a clipless rig, and it looks much more stylish then CT high tops. When you can't get your shoe to release from the cages, and you end up sliding down the pavement, with a bicycle between your legs, leaving the very cool burnt flesh look on the outside of your leg. You will see why most of us have moved on to clipless pedals!!!! LOL Yes I am speaking from experience. |
| 2008-01-10 9:04 PM in reply to: #1147115 |
Coach 9167 Stairway to Seven | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes Chuck Taylors have essentially no support. It's not even the clipless system that makes Chuck Taylors a less than ideal choice, but the power transfer from your gluts/quads/hamstrings through your chuck taylors is going to be far less than if you had stiffer soled biking shoes. Moutain biking shoes can be cheap, are easy to walk in, have a little flexibility, but transfer the power of yoru pedaling stroke much more easily and can be used with our without a clipless system. yoru comment of trying biking shoes w/ a clipless system & your chuck taylors at the same time is impractical...you have to replace the pedals of yoru bike...and believe the rest of the forum here...once you go clipless you'll never go back. I feel naked when I ride without clipless pedals & shoes. |
| 2008-01-11 6:32 AM in reply to: #1148298 |
Elite 3022 Preferably on my bike somewhere | Subject: RE: Importance of cycling shoes VinemanCalifornia - 2008-01-10 1:29 PM Just between us, I've always laughed very discreetly at people who are all geared out in cycling gear. It just looks funny .... Don't be hatin'... |
|
|
|
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK