How to Choose Cycling Shoes | Buyers Guide 2022
The right pair of cycling shoes can make a lot of difference in your riding style and quality, and Jimmy knows it perfectly. Unfortunately, as he has recently discovered this truth, he has very limited to no idea about how to choose cycling shoes for his riding sessions.
To help Jimmy and many others like him, we have created this guide with all the information you need to know before selecting a pair get the best one in the market becomes easier for you.
So, without dragging further, let’s start.
How to Choose Cycling Shoes: Everything You Should Know
Types of Cycling Shoes
Even though there are several colors and brands you see in the market, there are actually two main types of biking shoes available in the market. So let’s discuss them in detail to understand their purposes better.
Flat Pedal Cycling Shoes
The flat pedal cycling shoes are the most common riding footware that are made for regular riding sessions. These incorporate low-profile soles that are made from sticky rubber to ensure durability and workability.
However, while you ride with this footwear, you can only extract power on the pedal on the way down- only when you push them down. This not only makes you slow but also takes a toll on your muscles.
Clipless Pedal Cycling Shoes
On the other hand, shoes that are stiffer and specially made with recessed bolt holes are considered as clipless pedal cycling shoes.
These are attach with the pedal cleats and can extract power on the pedal on both ways- up and down simultaneously.
When you ride with these, your muscle groups tend to work in an extremely balanced way so that you end up putting less pressure on just one group of muscles.
Types of Cycling Shoes by Purpose
Not all are suitable for all your riding purposes. Different shoes serve different purposes. Let’s find out what footwear is best for which type of biking.
Road Bike Shoes
Even though road cycling shoes are not as versatile, they serve the purpose of cycling perfectly. Designed specifically for outdoor road cyclists, these shoes emphasize sole stiffness, weight, and maximum cleat/pedal engagement and ensure incredible performance during a cycling session.
Another benefit of this footware, that will blow your mind is that it offers increased pedal engagement. As a result, it is extremely suitable for urban cycling or any other riding style that may require frequent unclipping.
Mountain Bike Shoes
MTB shoes are designed to provide flexibility as well as versatility to the users. Adorned with a recessed cleat, more tread, and a lugged outer sole, these are suitable for hiking and cycling and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Moreover, as the cleats of this footwear are inside the sole, they do not stick out and impede walking- this feature adds more to its versatility.
City/Commuter/Casual Bike Shoes
City bike shoes are extremely similar to mtb shoes and feature a recessed cleat, more tread, and a lugged outer sole.
This special kind also offers versatility and is extremely efficient for both cycling and walking.
Moreover, as their soles are made of soft rubber, these are provide flexibility and ensure incredible comfort so that your feet don’t hurt while walking or riding.
Track Bike Shoes
As the name suggests, track cycling shoes were made for track ridings only. Comes in a variety of designs and categories to meet your various track cycling demands. In general, the track biking shoes offer rigidity so that they are more efficient in transferring power from you to pedals.
Moreover, they are also a bit heavy to keep your feet in place on the pedals for more adaptability and avoid any potential accidents.
Touring Bike Shoes
Shoes that are most comfortable for bike touring are known as touring shoes. These are super comfortable yet efficient to give you the best riding experience while you are on the go.
They are mostly compatible with clipless pedals and offer incredible flexibility and breathability to ensure extraordinary comfort.
Indoor Bike Shoes
A comfortable hybrid between the road and mtb shoes, the indoor bike shoes have a sleeker silhouette and offer you the flexibility to work around the studio or the gym without the fear of slipping and falling.
The main purpose is to provide you with the best riding experience while cycling indoors to shed some weight and get fit.
Winter Cold Weather Biking Shoes/boots.
Winter riding shoes or boots are the types of shoes capable of coping with the changing weather condition and keeping your feet warmer and more comfortable for a long time during your rides.
Comes with neoprene ankle cuffs, thermal and microporous layers to keep your toes as comfortable and warm as you want in the chilly December weather.
However, with all their advantages, the winder boots also have a few drawbacks. These are heavier and bulkier than any other type and you might feel a bit uncomfortable while pedaling.
How Are Cycling Shoes Constructed
Understanding the anatomy of biking shoes is essential. It will help you understand each part of the footwear perfectly to know exactly where the problem is in case of any inconvenience.
Soles
However you call it, the sole (or the outsole) is the bottom part of biking footwear that comes in direct contact with the ground when you use it.
To provide comfort and durability, soles are generally made from nylon or carbon fiber materials.
Between the two, Nylon soles are most preferred as they are cost-effective and comfortable. These are also an excellent choice for walking. Nylon soles are mostly used in urban or entry-level mtb shoes.
On the other hand, premium road, triathlon, and mtb shoes use carbon fiber soles to improve stiffness and reduce weight. As a result, lightweight shoes are super comfortable and don’t put a strain on your feet.
Uppers
The upper is the outer part of the shoes that covers the entire feet. Therefore, it is the section of footwear that we see from the outside. Manufacturer uses breathable material to construct the upper levels to ensure extreme ventilation and comfort. As a result, the riders don’t feel suffocated while riding.
The upper is also made from lightweight material to ensures incredibly comfortable on your foot
Closures
As the name suggests, the closure system is how you adjust the shoes to your feet. It helps your feet snug and comfortable inside the footwear. Different shoes come with different types of closure systems.
From lace to Velcro and dial system, you have the freedom to choose the best system according to your comfort level and preferences.
Insoles
The insole (also known as the footbed) is the part that is placed inside the riding shoe for various purposes. The main purpose of the insole is to create a gap between the sole and the wearer’s foot so that your feet don’t feel suffocated inside.
Moreover, this part is also responsible for providing various arch support levels to the wearer and ensures superior comfort and efficiency.
Benefits of Bike Shoes
Cyclists prefer riding shoes over other types because of the amazing features and factors they offer to the riders. Some of the most prominent benefits that you must know about are:
Superior Comfort
One of the main reasons riders prefer biking shoes is the immense comfort they offer to cyclists.
Even though these are comes with stiff soles, they made it up entirely with comfort features, made with breathable materials like mesh and an adequate number of vents. As a result, this footwear ensures air circulation for extreme comfort while riding.
Moreover, these specially made shoes also offer excellent flexibility during the ridings so that you have the freedom of movement, unlike other sneakers and footwares.
Better Control
Bicycle shoes provide you the best control on the ride than any other type of shoes and boots available in the market.
When you wear an ordinary pair of sneakers and try to ride on the cycle, you have to make a conscious effort to keep the feet in proper position and get full control over the ride.
However, with a pair of riding shoes, you don’t have to face this struggle; as they get clipped in the pedals, they don’t slip away from the pedals, which means that you have better control over the ride for a more enjoyable yet safe riding session.
Improved Pedal Stroke
In addition to control, bicycle shoes also ensure improved pedal stroke by keeping the feet in place. As the shoes are clipped in on the pedal, there are fewer chances that your feet would slip out of the pedal during your strokes, which provides you the flexibility to pedal as fast you want.
As the feet won’t slip out, there are fewer chances of accidents or any unfortunate events.
More Durable
Another reason cyclists pick riding shoes over the others is that they offer extended durability compared to the others.
These are designed in such a way that they give you the freedom to use them in any riding conditions, including heavy and hard riding, without the fear of falling apart.
Bike Shoe Sizing
Find the right size for your biking shoes is extremely crucial. This is because, in addition to providing incredible comfort, a pair of fitted shoes also ensure phenomenal performance. Let’s look at the below chart to understand the shoe sizing better.
What to Consider When Choosing Bike Shoes
According to your riding style and needs, finding perfect riding shoes might be a little bit difficult, especially if you don’t know where to start.
Let’s discuss the top features that you must keep in mind to find the most suitable one that becomes more effortless for you.
Purpose
Before even making your buying decision, first, know the purpose of getting a pair of riding shoes. If you are someone who loves to cruise on the roads, getting a pair of road biking shoes would be great for you.
On the other hand, when you love mountain biking and go for races more often than not, buying the best pair of MTB shoes would prove to be an excellent choice for you.
It is essential to know the purpose first because different cycling footwear serves different purposes and won’t provide the best service if you pick the wrong one.
Fit and Comfort
One of the important things that you should keep in mind while buying, is how it fits on your feet and if it provides extreme comfort or not. The fit is important because otherwise, the shoe might fall out or tightly sit on your feet, causing extreme discomfort and hampering your riding.
When trying on your favorite pair, make sure that it fits on comfortably from the start. Because riding shoes come with stiff soles and fewer chances to break after a few uses, getting the most fitted and comfortable one from the start is the best idea to follow.
Materials and Design
The construction material is also essential to consider because the comfort level and durability depend largely on the shoe's material.
Generally, bicycle shoes are made using real leather, synthetic leather, suede, nylon, or mesh to offer users choices.
While nylon and mesh shoes offer you incredible ventilation and breathability for maximum comfort during the summer seasons, the leather-constructed ones promise to keep your feet warm and comfortable during the colder riding conditions.
Closure Type
To keep your shoes securely in place during your riding sessions, they need to be securely fastened so that they don’t move or fall of the feet easily.
And for comfort and safety, the closure type should be considered a crucial aspect when choosing a pair for your cycling routine.
Lace
The lace closure system offers extreme comfort and the most customizable fit. As you can tighten and loosen them as much as you want, you can enjoy a custom fit easily and effortlessly with the lace shoes.
However, the laces get wet and dirty quickly. Therefore, you have to wash them regularly to keep them clean and fresh.
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Velcro closures are the cheapest and oldest options available in the market. Cyclists love this fastening system because it is super easy to use and provides good adjustability. But as the Velcro tends to lose its holding strength over time, it’s not as durable as the others.
The Ratchet System
The ratchet fastening system, also known as the dial cable lace, uses a dial system to tighten the cable laces for a perfect fit. Even though they offer phenomenal adjustability and extreme fit, this fastening system is a bit tough to get used to initially.
Reflective Features
Don’t compromise with your safety while riding your cycle and that’s why never forget to look for reflective material on your riding shoes.
To ensure maximum safety, manufacturers add reflective features on the cycling shoes to increase their visibility in all riding conditions so that others can spot you from far away, especially in the dark, and avoid colliding with you.
Footbeds
When trying on shoes for biking, don’t hesitate to check the footbed to ensure comfort and support during ridings. As a footbed is the innersole of the shoes, it is responsible for the comfort and the arch support and therefore, shouldn’t be looked over while making your purchase.
Sole Flexibility
If you want to enjoy the best performance and the most comfort, then look one, that comes with a flexible sole.
Sole flexibility is one of the most important features to look for because, aside from comfort, it reduces strain on the pressure points and makes sure that you don’t strain your feet while riding.
Shoes made with carbon fiber soles offer the most flexibility. Even though they are a bit expensive, you should never put a price tag on your comfort and well-being.
Ventilation
While looking for your riding purposes, don’t forget to check the ventilation before making the final decision. Sufficient ventilation is crucial because it not only allows your feet to breathe and remain fresh but at the same time also ensures utmost comfort for an effective riding session.
Ventilation is an essential feature, especially if you live in a hot region and love to go on riding under the blazing sun.
Women’s Models
Before going order, you must be aware that women’s models slightly differ from that men’s ones.
In general, women have narrower heels than men, so they require footwear that is shallower and has a little gap between the sole and the upper.
Moreover, as women’s feet tend to be smaller than men’s feet, manufacturers offer women's cycling shoes in smaller sizes. For example, a women’s size 36 would be smaller than a men’s one.
Pedal Systems
The type of riding shoes you will get largely depends on the types of pedals your bike has, don’t forget to check the pedal system before searching for a suitable pair.
Cycle pedals are either clipless or non-clipless and both these types require different types of shoes; therefore, knowing about the pedal system beforehand is crucial.
Cleat Compatibility
Cleat compatibility is important because not all cleats fit all pedals. First, let’s discuss the two main types of clits to have a clear idea about them.
3-hole Cleat
A 3-hole Cleat system provides extreme stability and excellent energy transfer during the riding sessions. This large cleat can spread the force over a wide area and reduce pressure on the connection points for secure and comfortable riding.
2-hole Cleat
2-hole Cleat shoes come with a two-bolt system and are specially designed for walking on debris and riding on mtb.
Accessories
This might seem unusual, but shoes also come with some additional accessories to keep them safe and ensure comfort and amazing services. We have discussed these items in detail below:
Dryer
Naturally, your shoes get wet while you use them for the ridings. To dry them and make them toasty again, a dryer comes in handy. This tool helps you to dry even your most dripping shoes quickly and prepare it for the next ride in a matter of minutes.
Covers
The covers of cycling shoes are generally made from neoprene or a rubberized laminate material to keep protected from rain and mud. When the weather turns adverse, you can quickly slip your shoes into a pair covers to hide save them from any potential damage or slip.
The construction material of the cover also provides insulation and water resistance and keeps your feet comfortable inside.
Toe Covers
Toe covers are a less bulky option than covers yet protect your shoes from external factors like water and snow. So when the weather turns chilly and adverse, put on the toe covers over your riding shoes to enjoy welcoming warmth.
Why Go Clipless?
Many cyclists prefer clipless pedals over non-clipless ones. The reasons for picking the clipless ones are:
Greater Efficiency
One reason pro cyclists prefer clipless pedals is that they offer excellent efficiency. As you can extract power on the pedal on both the ways- up and down, you can ride with increased speed and immense efficiency.
Also, because of the pedals push and pull, your muscles work more balanced way, reducing strain and pressure on just one group of muscles.
Greater Pedal Power
As the riders can pedal in both positions, the clipless pedals allow a rider to put more power to the pedals through their legs and feet. As they transfer more energy to the pedals, the bike gains speed quickly and can finish the rider much quicker than before.
Got My Cycling Shoes! What’s Next?
Now that you have cycling shoes, you have to follow some procedures to prepare them for your rides.
Mount Your Cleats
After getting the shoes out of the box, the first thing you must do is to mount the cleats that come with the pair. As the composition, shape, and properties of cleats vary depending on the type and brand of shoes you buy, putting on the cleats that come with your particular pair of shoes would be the best choice.
Keep Clean and Tidy
Another thing that you must religiously is to keep your riding shoes clean and tidy all the time to enjoy the best experience you have ever imagined.
A clean pair of shoes would not only uplift your confidence but at the same would also ensure great ventilation and incredible breathability for maximum comfort.
How to Take Care of Your Bike Shoes
Biking shoes should always be in tip-top condition if you want to enjoy a more comfortable riding experience. Let’s discuss the steps of cleaning and preparing to make it easier for you.
How to Clean Your Bike Shoes
If there are less dirt and dust accumulated on the shoe surface, then you can just wipe it off with an old towel or rag.
However, when there are mud and more stubborn dirt, soak the shoes in warm soapy water and gently brush them to remove all the dirt effectively.
How to Dry Your Bike Shoes
Once all the dirt and debris are removed from surface, soak the excess water from the shoes with a dry towel. Then you can use a boot dryer to remove the rest of the water and make your shoes toasty again.
Instead of the dryer, you can also wrap the wet shoes in the newspaper and leave it overnight. The paper will absorb all the water and make dry again.
When to Replace Your Cleats
The best time to replace the cleats is when they become difficult to start or release with little effort. You have to check the cleats regularly to find out whether they need replacement or not.
How to Find Replacement Cleats
The best way to find replacement cleats in online markets or physical shops. However, before going for cleat shopping, check the type and model of your pedals first and the cleats need to match the pedals.
3 Importance of Having Proper Cycling Pedals
The importance of having proper cycling pedals is endless. We have discussed the top 3 importance below to know them better.
Safety
An excellent pair of cycling pedals offers immense safety. As there are fewer chances of your feet slipping out of the pedals during riding, you would be less likely to face accidents and harm yourself.
Comfort
Good pedals also ensure the comfort of the rider. As they are effective and efficient, you don’t have to put as much pressure and effort to turn them around, which puts less strain on your feet and helps you to be comfortable.
Proficiency
Last but not least, a pair of pedals ensures excellent efficiency. As you put pressure on the pedals while you ride, an excellent pair of pedals promises to turn smoothly, giving you more opportunity to climb and accelerate easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Walk in Cycling Shoes?
Of course, you can walk in your cycling shoes.
However, as not all of them offer walking capabilities, you have to find out the one that gives you to walk in them.
Most mtb shoes give you the freedom to use them as walking and hiking also.
Does Cycling Shoe Weight Matter?
The weight of the cycling shoe matters. If you are wearing a pair that are heavy in weight, it would not only cause uncomfortableness but at the same time would also affect your riding. Therefore, it’s always better to pick a pair of lightweight ones.
Why Do Cyclists Wear Long Socks?
Cyclists wear longer socks because of the benefits they provide. Wearing longer socks during ridings not only increases temperature regulations but at the same time, also provides an excellent amount of foot and ankle support. Longer socks also improve calf muscle definition and give riders a more masculine look.
Why Do You Need Dedicated Cycling Shoes?
This is because of not all riding styles and all types of pedal support all cycling shoe types. Therefore, to enhance your performance and increase efficiency in different ridings, you need a pair of dedicated shoes.
Can Mountain Bike Shoes Be Used With Road Bikes?
Yes, MTB shoes can be used for road bikes.
However, as this footwear comes with special features for MTB, it is highly recommended not to use it on road bikes.
My Foot Position is Not Comfortable, What Should I Do?
If your foot position is not comfortable, there are high possibilities that your shoes are too tight. Check the shoes and get the right fit for one to enjoy a comfortable ride.
Wrapping Up
Bike shoes play a crucial part in how well you ride your cycle. And that’s why getting the right pair is extremely important.
The features and aspects discussed above would surely help you find the most suitable pair according to your preferences and biking needs. So consider it as a guide and start your shoe shopping now.
