Choose road cycling shoes with a comfortable, stiff carbon fiber sole and a secure fit. Consider hook and loop straps or a ratchet system. Road shoes have little tread and require separate cleats. Mountain bike pedals and cleats may be a better option for all-purpose shoes.
Road cycling shoes differ significantly from mountain biking shoes, as well as other types of sports shoes. It’s important to choose a pair that fits you well, and it’s equally important to choose a comfortable pair with an exceptionally stiff sole. Carbon fiber is the material of choice for the soles of road cycling shoes, although you should be aware that shoes with carbon soles will cost significantly more than shoes with plastic soles. The road cycling shoes you choose should be as lightweight and durable as possible while staying within your budget.
It is important that road cycling shoes fit snugly to prevent pedaling force from being lost due to excess foot movement. There are several secure designs to ensure your foot stays snug in the shoe, and you’ll need to decide which design works best for you. Some shoes, for example, have laces, which aren’t ideal because the laces can get tangled around the pedal. Others feature hook and loop straps, which are great for quick tightening and removal. Anyone considering triathlons should take a close look at these shoes. Other shoes feature a combination of hook and loop straps and a ratchet system that allows you to quickly and efficiently tighten the shoe. These are a great option for road cyclists, but not so great for triathletes.
The soles of road cycling shoes are perhaps the most important feature. They need to be exceptionally stiff, making them a poor option for walking, but a great option for power transfer to the pedals. Most cycling shoes have little to no tread on the sole, so if you plan to get off the bike and do a lot of walking, you may want to consider an all-purpose shoe rather than a dedicated road shoe.
Road cycling shoes do not include the cleat that you will need to clip onto your clipless pedals. You will need to purchase these cleats separately, and you need to make sure that the cleats fit correctly in the shoe. Most road cleats are very large, so the soles of the road shoe will have a large, wide platform on which the cleat can rest. If you are considering an all-purpose shoe over a dedicated road cycling shoe, it may be a good idea to consider mountain bike pedals and cleats instead of road pedals and cleats.
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