Cheap Cycling Shoes

[G3CWI]

I currently cycle on my bikes using running shoes. I use flat pedals and will not be going down the SPD/clipless route. Anything labeled as a "cycling shoe" seems to carry a "cycling" price to go with them. Are there any shoes that could be recommended in the £30 or less price range?

Cheers.

 

[G3CWI]

After posting, I ran across this:

http://www.sportsdirect.com/Cycling/Cycling-Shoes

Are any of these any good?

 

[vickster]

They are designed to go with clipless pedals

I bought a pair of shoes to wear riding but not clipless and actually I find them more uncomfortable on flat pedals than a decent pair of trainers. Not sure I'd spend my money, a good pair of walking shoes would do the same thing

Why don't you want to go clipless? What are you trying to achieve with 'cycling' shoes?

 

[fossala]

Also them shoes are good to "check out" clipless but if you want to keep with it you will have to replace them quite quickly as the sole comes away from the shoe.

 

[kerndog]

just go clipless !

I have just done and it's way better - I use spd rather than spd-sl as they are more forgiving (or so I read) and I love them!

i have a friend who has some of those spd shoes from sport direct - they are ok to get you going.

I think any shoes you find that are 'cycling shoes' will be either spd (2 cleats) or spd-sl (3 cleats) - not sure there is any other kind of 'cycling shoe'. If you really dont fancy going clipless just get a good pair of running shoes and some toe clips for your pedals.

 

[G3CWI]

...I knew this would turn into another go-clipless thread. Oh dear.

I am looking for a pair of shoes that are more suited to cycling than trainers (i.e. they have a stiffer sole). Back in the day I had a very nice pair of Sidi shoes with wooden soles; they got me across Australia and beyond, but there must be something better these days without going clipless.

I do not want to go down the clipless route for reasons that I will not bore you with. Thanks.

 

[compo]

I have been riding with toeclips in a pair of Fila trainers from Sports Direct for a couple of years. They have a fairly smooth and very hard sole, velcro closures and leather uppers. The toe box isn't deep like most running trainers so fit the toeclips perfectly. They cost about £15.

 

[kerndog]

...I knew this would turn into another go-clipless thread. Oh dear.

ah ok sorry - just get a pair of Velcro trainers with hard soles. I have been riding with toe clips and sneakers from ebay for the last couple of months, works just fine

 

[Mike!]

My first step towards clipless was to get a pair of shoes in the Lidl promotions, just used them without the cleats attached on my flat pedals. While the soles are not super stiff (as they are cheap!) they are much better than trainers.

In fact i still use the same shoes on my commute now, just with the cleats fitted and clipped in!

 

[MrGrumpy]

have to say saw the road shoes in Sports Direct and I have to concur with what has already been said I think, they are rank rotten, not stiff at all and best save your money on a decent pair!

 

[neilb1906]

DHB R1's from Wiggle.

 

[compo]

ah ok sorry - just get a pair of Velcro trainers with hard soles. I have been riding with toe clips and sneakers from ebay for the last couple of months, works just fine

Exactly what I have done as mentioned above. £15 from Sports Direct. Leather uppers and very hard sole. Not elegant but they work and have for the past couple of years with toe clips.

 

[Deleted member 20519]

After posting, I ran across this:

http://www.sportsdirect.com/Cycling/Cycling-Shoes

Are any of these any good?

I used a pair of Muddyfox cycling shoes, they were fine for a beginner/newbie to clipless pedals to see if you liked them because they were cheap (£20 I recall). However... they were very flexy. I could fold the entire shoe in half, this is exactly what you don't want because one of the biggest benefits of clipless shoes is the extra power that they give you. After upgrading to £60 DHB carbon shoes (dhb r2.0c), I could tell the difference of the stiff sole straight away.

Like others have said, go for some hard trainers or some 'proper' stiff cycling shoes.

 

[Cubist]

Or check out any Skate or BMX shoes from Sportdirect. There are shelves full of waffle- soled AirWalk, Nike, DC, trainers to be found at your sort of prices. They range from canvas skate shoes through to padded tongued stuff that is ideal for wearing on flat pedals. Have a look at Rollersnakes catalogue.... they have one or tow to choose from.
http://www.rollersnakes.co.uk/category/mens-shoes.html

The Sombrio stuff for sale at Chain Reaction right now is good value
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Brands.aspx?BrandID=950

 

[Cubist]

Exactly what I have done as mentioned above. £15 from Sports Direct. Leather uppers and very hard sole. Not elegant but they work and have for the past couple of years with toe clips.

I've got a pair of those for wearing on the bikes at work!