Last summer, I got laughed at when I raced with Converse All-Stars. I’ve cycled for years with those shoes (great for dry conditions, terrible for wet conditions). Why should I pay more for cycling shoes? What are some good affordable shoes for mountain biking?
addendum: I’m not talking about clip-on shoes. Those things freak me out.
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They keep traction on the pedals
My husband bought some cycling shoes in Germany and pedals to go with them. The shoes attach to the pedals, literally. Apparently it helps work our more muscles and your feet are less likely to slip which can slow you down and you can get your foot stuck on something. Also, since Germans bike ride year round in any weather (there is no such thing as cold weather here. If you’re cold they assume you are improperly dressed) the shoes are meant to keep you comfortable in any weather and keep your free from sweating to much. I don’t think I have ever heard of a Converse shoe doing all that.
Check out http://www.nashbar.com. They have decent items at decent prices.
The clipless shoes you may be looking for are SPD Clipless. These have a much smaller attaching piece. These shoes lock into the pedal, like others have mentioned. The nice thing about this is you have so much more power. Instead of just pressing down on the pedal, you can press down, scrape the bottom and pull up. You will notice a difference if you pedal correctly.
The answer depends on the type of racing. If you are a downhiller then I know a lot of those guys don’t clip in. Stick with the Converse & let your performance do the talking.
If you’re doing hills & descents (Cross Country), then you should seriously consider some clipless pedals mentioned by others. I know they scare you, but they become 2nd nature after a couple rides. You’ll be wondering what took you so long to switch because they are so much more efficient.
Most mtb shoes you are going to find are going too be spd compatible, which means a stiffer sole. Translates into more power to your pedals.
Don’t be freak out over clipless pedals especially with what your doing. They would be a great benefit to your racing.
Riding with clipless pedals is alot like learning to ride a bike, once you learn and it doesn’t long you will wonder why you haven’t been riding like this all the time.
Now if you do decide to go the other way, I’m sure you can find what you need at Nashbar http://www.nashbar.com/index.cfm or Performance Cycle http://www.performancebike.com/ at a reasonable price.
Do hockey players skate in dress shoes?
Does a basketball player wear low cut running shoes?
Does a runner don a pair of bowling shoes for a 5K?
Shoes do matter, very much, especially for cycling. Cycling shoes are super stiff allowing much better transfer of power from leg and foot to pedal/crank/chain/wheel. Other shoes bend at the arch allowing the ankle to drop losing a lot of power. One ride with them and you can feel the differance.
Try an inexpensive pair at first, and if you like them try a pair of Sidi shoes WITH the clipless pedals. Power transfer increases again just as much with a locking pedal system.
M.
I think m6 said it all… I would also add; the best shoe is comfortable. Some shoes I spent a lot of $$$, only to find that a cheap pair I bought was more comfortable and lasting. Look for good support and comfort. PS: When learning, go in an open field, be prepared to fall. You will get it.
I’m not a big fan of clipless pedals either. I have them and i can use them and i even have some expensive Sidi shoes for it but honestly, i use my Columbia hiking shoes whenever I go riding on trails. They work great with my Mallet C pedals and can still be used as regular shoes. I’d say you can get some low top hiking shoes and you should be fine. Just try to get ones with a hard sole that won’t flex too much and has knobs to grip the pedals. My brother wears his skateboard shoes when we go out to the trails together and he has never had an issue except if he is trying to walk on mud or slippery stuff. If you want cycling shoes… try SixSixOnes. They make pretty good stuff that isn’t too expensive.