Shoes and pedals, I'm confused

[Dallant]

My Trek Allant+7 came with the now famous recalled Bontrager Satellite City pedal. I replaced them early on with OneUp for their much better grip. I ended up getting some of the well-known Adidas 5-10s and like them for riding but not really a fan of lots of walking in them so I’ve found myself wearing a pair of Columbia shoes for their overall comfort, grip, and water resistance. Now that I have a Rail 5, i’m going to try the Adidas more but will likely use the Columbia’s more.

 

[st0ut]

My Trek Allant+7 came with the now famous recalled Bontrager Satellite City pedal. I replaced them early on with OneUp for their much better grip. I ended up getting some of the well-known Adidas 5-10s and like them for riding but not really a fan of lots of walking in them so I’ve found myself wearing a pair of Columbia shoes for their overall comfort, grip, and water resistance. Now that I have a Rail 5, i’m going to try the Adidas more but will likely use the Columbia’s more.

I am going to take a hint from our BMX and Fixie cousins.... and get some Vans

 

[dmourati]

I went with Five Ten’s Sleuth so I could wear on and off the bike and also a pair or Van’s skate shoes. Here are the Sleuth’s.

 

[reed scott]

I find that most of my hiking/walking shoes with at least somewhat knobby tread work fine. Hang on the pegs nicely. Even my Keene 'sandals' do well but there might be a concern about not enough protection in a fall there.

 

[fooferdoggie]

my keens have been my goto in no rain.

 

[Dallant]

my keens have been my goto in no rain.
View attachment 92855

Colorful! The shoes too!

 

[fooferdoggie]

Colorful! The shoes too!

first time I ever found any keens in a less then butt ugly color in my size 14. I am always stuck with the ugly colors.

 

[Kayakguy]

It took me about a year, and sore knees, to figure it out. It might be easier for her to think of it as "forward and back" as in you are moving your leg forward, and kind of swinging it back up.. That's how I picked it up.
Also, if she's riding a mid drive, she might notice that spinning gets her more assist from the motor and more power in her pedal strokes.
It's a rant of mine- "mashing" = using your knee joint as a fulcrum:bad. Also, over developing your quads:bad. I know I'm pedaling right when I feel it in the backs of my legs, too.

For about 8-10 years I commuted to my teaching job (a short commute but with a steep climb at each end). I started with a Sears 5 speed (my first bike with a deraileur), then on to a Raleigh with 12 (?) speeds, and lugged/aluminum composite frame (memory is a bit fuzzy here). Early on I read somewhere that spinning was the preferred way to pedal, and I adopted that style so that it became instinctive and natural feeling to me. And I have continued with it into my ebike phase.

My wife is not a spinner, but uses a much slower cadence; nevertheless, she is a powerful biker, and before I got the ebike, I had to work hard to keep up with her. Now I need to entice her from her analog Townie to an ebike, but so far she is resistant. Much of the reason is the weight. She thinks the Townie is too heavy, and of course an e-version is going to be more problematic.

 

[ChezCheese:)]

first time I ever found any keens in a less then butt ugly color in my size 14. I am always stuck with the ugly colors.

Size 14?? Contact the Navy, maybe they have a spare pair of aircraft carriers for your feet... But remember, people with large feet have greater under standing.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Size 14?? Contact the Navy, maybe they have a spare pair of aircraft carriers for your feet... But remember, people with large feet have greater under standing.

you should see my huge petals

 

[fexixav]

@Formernuke: The world has changed a lot. A perfect alternative to the clipless pedals/shoes exists now.

You've heard about flat and clipless pedals. There is a third flavour: Platform (MTB) pedals. The platform pedals differ from ordinary city flat pedals: the former are profiled and equipped with traction pins. The beauty of the platform MTB pedals is you can absolutely ride them in regular shoes but you also can further improve the experience by wearing specific cycling shoes. The grip for such combination is improbably good, and you actually feel as if you were riding clipless. You can adjust your foot position on the pedal (impossible with clipless), and removing feet from pedals is extremely safe. Let me name some excellent pedals, and one model of specific shoes:

• Race Face Ride are excellent and safe platform pedals. Instead of metal traction pins, these are equipped with 18 moulded traction studs. You just wear trainers or any regular shoes for these pedals. In case a pedal incidentally hits your shin or calf, no damage. Greatly recommended.
• Race Face Chester are classical metal-traction-pin MTB platform pedals. The pins hold the sole of your shoe as it were glued to the pedal.
• Crank Brothers Stamp 1 pedals are equally good as Chesters are. Stamp 1 pedals can be ordered as Large for large feet or for more foot positions.

Now: I often ride Stamps in trainers, and it is perfect. If you would like to get exactly the same feeling as using clipless pedals, Adidas FiveTen FreeRider Pro MTB cycling shoes are the best of the best for MTB platform pedals Orthopädische Schuhe Damen. Their soles feel as connected with metal-traction-pins of Chesters or Stamps. You actually need to raise your foot to remove it from the pedal!

As I said, Race Face Ride pedals are safe. Metal-traction-pin pedals can hurt your shin or calf a little in case you're not careful.

i'm wondering i'm wanting to jump up to clipless pedals, but i'm trying to figure how to buy shoes do the shoes come with cleats that fit specific pedals ? do the pedals come with cleats ? arghh, i'm so confused already thanks in advance

 

[indianajo]

i'm wondering i'm wanting to jump up to clipless pedals, but i'm trying to figure how to buy shoes do the shoes come with cleats that fit specific pedals ?

Cleated shoes are sold at bike supplies. Require D or E width feet.
Cleats are fine if you intend to call your Mommy for a ride if you have an unrepairable bike problem. Assuming there is cell phone coverage there. Pushing a bike 7 miles on cleats woutd be a PITB. I've done it in flats at 96 deg F after I blew a used tire. My cell carrier stopped at about the point where I blew the tire.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

i'm wondering i'm wanting to jump up to clipless pedals, but i'm trying to figure how to buy shoes do the shoes come with cleats that fit specific pedals ? do the pedals come with cleats ? arghh, i'm so confused already thanks in advance

Technical answers first:

• There are two general types of cleats/compatible shoes/pedals: MTB (SPD) or Road (SPD-SL). You cannot walk in Road cycling shoes (you need to stay on the bike all the time). You can walk in MTB SPD shoes but it is not very easy.
• SPD MTB cleats are mounted on the shoes with two screws while the Road SPD use three screws
• So you need SPD (MTB) pedals, compatible cycling shoes, and compatible cleats
• You need to install the cleats on the shoes yourself
• There are plethora of clipless pedals and cleats: some are easy to unclip, and other are difficult.

A practical answer: the clipless system is for riders who got used to it a long time ago, and feel comfortable. A new e-bike rider does not need clipless at all, as the slightly increased pedalling efficiency is nothing compared to the e-bike motor assistance. Riding clipless could even be dangerous when you need to unexpectedly stop but didn't remember to unclip in time. (The clipless system looks 'racy' for road or gravel cyclists but is even not the style requirement in mountain biking).

What I always say and will say: elevate your riding experience by buying a pair of good "traction pin platform pedals" such as Crankbrothers Stamp 1 or 3 and ride in regular shoes. The experience is further improved if you wear dedicated cycling shoes such as Adidas Five Ten Freerider Pro, which have been specifically designed for traction pin platform pedals and are walkable. The experience of the pedals and shoes I have mentioned is similar to riding clipless but it is a way easier to remove the foot from the platform pedal in need.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

What I always say and will say: elevate your riding experience by buying a pair of good "traction pin platform pedals" such as Crankbrothers Stamp 1 or 3 and ride in regular shoes. The experience is further improved if you wear dedicated cycling shoes such as Adidas Five Ten Freerider Pro, which have been specifically designed for traction pin platform pedals and are walkable. The experience of the pedals and shoes I have mentioned is similar to riding clipless but it is a way easier to remove the foot from the platform pedal in need.

I took this advice — the spiked pedals 2 years ago, and months later, the aforementioned Adidas — and can heartily recommend both. Walking aside, the Adidas are actually some of the most comfortable shoes I own.

Two downsides, however:
1. Letting the pedal pins/spikes contact your legs — say, in an emergency stop — can easily lacerate the skin. Have the scars to prove it. Took a learning curve, but I can now avoid these injuries pretty reliably. Some spikes are more aggressive than others.
2. The Adidas soles are intentionally quite stiff. Great for pedaling efficiency but just OK for walking longer distances.

 

[fexixav]

Technical answers first:

• There are two general types of cleats/compatible shoes/pedals: MTB (SPD) or Road (SPD-SL). You cannot walk in Road cycling shoes (you need to stay on the bike all the time). You can walk in MTB SPD shoes but it is not very easy.
• SPD MTB cleats are mounted on the shoes with two screws while the Road SPD use three screws
• So you need SPD (MTB) pedals, compatible cycling shoes, and compatible cleats
• You need to install the cleats on the shoes yourself
• There are plethora of clipless pedals and cleats: some are easy to unclip, and other are difficult.

A practical answer: the clipless system is for riders who got used to it a long time ago, and feel comfortable. A new e-bike rider does not need clipless at all, as the slightly increased pedalling efficiency is nothing compared to the e-bike motor assistance. Riding clipless could even be dangerous when you need to unexpectedly stop but didn't remember to unclip in time. (The clipless system looks 'racy' for road or gravel cyclists but is even not the style requirement in mountain biking).

What I always say and will say: elevate your riding experience by buying a pair of good "traction pin platform pedals" such as Crankbrothers Stamp 1 or 3 and ride in regular shoes. The experience is further improved if you wear dedicated cycling shoes such as Adidas Five Ten Freerider Pro, which have been specifically designed for traction pin platform pedals and are walkable breckie hill erome. The experience of the pedals and shoes I have mentioned is similar to riding clipless but it is a way easier to remove the foot from the platform pedal in need.

Hope this helps.

thank you so much for your suggestion