Cycling shoes

[HB2210]

Is there any benefit of buying road cycling shoes if you don't intend to use the cleats? Just wondering if they have a stiffer sole or some other design benefit that would make a purchase worthwhile. I use pedal cage things (no idea what they are called) and feel safer with them as I'm accident prone enough without clipping my feet down I use trainers at the moment and just wondered if there would be a point in buying them apart from making my feet look less clumpy
Any advice would be appreciated

 

[vickster]

Not with normal flat pedals as they are as slippery as hell. You may get benefit with toeclips due to the stiffness and then when you make the inevitable move to clipless, the shoes are broken in...I would have thought clipless is easier than toeclips (never managed to use those). Depending on which shoes you are getting, you may struggle to walk even without the cleats (I almost when flying in Evans when trying on smooth shiny soles shoes)

 

[HB2210]

Not with normal flat pedals as they are as slippery as hell. You may get benefit with toeclips due to the stiffness and then when you make the inevitable move to clipless, the shoes are broken in...I would have thought clipless is easier than toeclips (never managed to use those). Depending on which shoes you are getting, you may struggle to walk even without the cleats (I almost when flying in Evans when trying on smooth shiny soles shoes)

Mmmm didn't even consider slippage

 

[Simmer]

I found a big difference using mtb shoes before I bought cleats, the sole is a lot stiffer than trainers. Plus when you take the inevitable plunge you can just pop some spd cleats on the bottom

 

[Cycleops]

I guess it would be possible if you used toe clips. I used to have some great Sidi shoes for normal (toe clip) pedals but I stupidly binned them. The stiffer soles would certainly benefit you. When buying remember you need to buy one size larger than your normal shoe size. Cheaper shoes will have plastic soles rather than carbon in more expensive shoes. Carbon will be lighter. You might still have problems walking in them off the bike.

 

[vickster]

Mmmm didn't even consider slippage

Road shoes have a flat, hard shiny sole...

You may or may not need a size up, depends on the shoe. My Specialized Sonoma are actually big compared to a normal 43 (width of shoe and foot plays a role).

 

[coffeejo]

One of my friends uses Mavic MTB/touring style SPD shoes on flat pedals and is really happy with that set up.

 

[raleighnut]

Is there any benefit of buying road cycling shoes if you don't intend to use the cleats? Just wondering if they have a stiffer sole or some other design benefit that would make a purchase worthwhile. I use pedal cage things (no idea what they are called) and feel safer with them as I'm accident prone enough without clipping my feet down I use trainers at the moment and just wondered if there would be a point in buying them apart from making my feet look less clumpy
Any advice would be appreciated

Some of the Specialised spd shoes come with an insert that needs to be removed with a craft knife just get something like that and don't cut out the portion of sole and yes they are a lot stiffer.

 

[citybabe]

Bought my OH a pair of mountain bike shoes and changed the pedals for a grippier pair - still staying with flat pedals. No more achy feet!

 

[SS Retro]

One of my friends uses Mavic MTB/touring style SPD shoes on flat pedals and is really happy with that set up.

Just got some Mavic spd road shoes to replace my DHB's light and stiff the best of both worlds and I would imagine they would work fine without cleats on clips and straps.

 

[HB2210]

Just got some Mavic spd road shoes to replace my DHB's light and stiff the best of both worlds and I would imagine they would work fine without cleats on clips and straps.
View attachment 40557

They look lovely

 

[Profpointy]

back in the olden days, keen people would buy cycling shoes to use with toe clips & straps since the rigid soles and general cut / shape was slightly better than cycling. I just used to wear hard soled normal shoes - ie shoes not trainers.

The one and only advantage of flat pedals, with or without toe-clips & straps is not needing special shoes, so I'd not really see the point of still buying cycling shoes or conversely not going the full hog and going SPD + special shoes.

 

[youngoldbloke]

IME To use toe-clips and straps to full advantage - that is, tightening the straps when your feet are in the clips - you need to use smooth, stiff soled shoes - road cycling shoes. I found using trainers with clips and straps almost dangerous, as the tread pattern and width of sole made pulling feet out quite difficult. If you simply use clips with loose straps to position your feet on the pedals it's less important.

 

[SS Retro]

They look lovely

Thanks! All the major manufactures do a SPD (not SPD -SL) road shoe that you can walk in see below.
I have a thread running on these current shoes here http://www.cyclechat.net/forums/cycling-clothing-helmets-and-shoes.74/
I ride them with road SPDs for the simple reason I like to be able to walk and you don't wear cleats out.
This style of shoe would work well with a flat pedals or one sided SPDs , should you fancy the clip less route, like these ones from shimmano?

Shimano

Specialized