Cycling Shoes

How to Choose Cycling Shoes 8,000 BCE Native Americans in Missouri leave evidence of the earliest shoes. 1984 The first clipless pedal is invented.

A Brief History of the Shoe

In the beginning there was the shoe, and it was good. Any self-respecting, pre-history fashion maven wouldn't be caught without a pair. So popular were they that some tribal leaders were buried with their favorite shoes — to smooth out the road in the afterlife, one could say. As shoes piled up in Imelda Marcos' closet, a manufacturer of ski bindings thought of a better way to bind the shoe to the bicycle pedal. Up to that point shoes were strapped to the pedal much like boots were attached to skis back in the '40s. This system of binding was erroneously called the toe clip. (Nothing actually clipped, but the name stuck.) Since the term "toe clips" was already being used, the manufacturer gave this new system the equally confusing name of clipless pedals (your shoe does, in fact, clip onto the pedal by way of a cleat on the shoe). Go figure.

If the Shoe Fits ...

Confusing terminology aside, you need some new cycling shoes and REI.com has plenty to choose from. Before you place those shoes in your shopping basket, read on—you'll learn about the differences between clipless pedals and toe clips and the shoes that go with them.

To Clip or Not to Clip

The clipless pedal — Combined with a stiff-soled shoe, this system offers great energy savings. All the energy that your leg and foot bring to the pedal goes to the pedal. Plus, because the shoe is clipped into the pedal, as your foot goes through the revolution of the crank, you can pull more efficiently on your upstroke. Clipless systems are generally one-sided for road bikes and two-sided for mountain bikes. Mountain bike pedals come with a wider platform so that the pedal can be used in technical situations without clipping in. Four-sided Egg Beater pedals by Crank Brothers can be clipped into on any side, making them very easy to engage. They are available in road- and mountain-bike versions. Compatibility can be a problem with road bike shoes. Some road bike shoes are meant for one type of pedal only. However, most shoe manufacturers now offer adaptive systems. REI sells these systems separately as well. Adaptability is generally not a problem with mountain bike styles. The toe clip — Allows the foot to bend and thus lose energy when the power of your leg and foot is transferred to the pedal. toe clips cost less, can be used with any shoe, and require practically no maintenance. Getting into the toe clip system can be hard because you're required to flip up the pedal. (The straps cause it to hang upside-down when not in use.) With practice this gets easier, but never as easy as it is with clipless pedals. That said, toe clips are easier to get out of without a lot of practice. Which should you use? The answer to that question depends on what kind of riding do you do. Casual riders — If you use your bike to ride down to the store, then you have no real need for a clipless system. Still, if you want the comfort and energy efficiency of a clipless-compatible shoe, we carry shoes that are inexpensive, flexible and stylish. Many work well for casual riding, and some of these shoes come with the cleat so that if you wish to go to a clipless system later, you can. Road bikers — Go with clipless. Since you get on your bike and ride, generally, until you finish the ride, you don't have to worry about getting in and out of the clipless pedal system. Sure, your shoes may click like a gunslinger walking into a saloon when you stride into a convenience store for an energy drink, but that just shows that you're a road biker and proud of it. Mountain bikers — Part of mountain biking includes getting on and off your bike when the going gets impossible. However, clipless pedals can help you clear obstacles with bunnyhops, wheelies and the like. The main disadvantage, at least when you begin to use a clipless system, is that you'll fall. You will. Guaranteed. The foot naturally wants to slide backward when you're heading for tip-over. Clipless systems require you to move your foot out at a 45-degree angle. Find a soft, grassy field and practice, practice, practice. Try getting in and out of the pedal 60 times for each shoe; you'll get the hang of a clipless system.

What to Look For in a Shoe

Compatibility As mentioned above, there is less standardization with road bike clipless systems, so you have to make sure the shoe you get will go with the pedal you have. Recognizing this problem, many bike manufacturers don't even equip their bikes with pedals, figuring customers will just add their own pedal and shoe system. To avoid this problem altogether, look in the specification box for each shoe. You'll find the phrase "cleat drill hole pattern" and next to it the letters "SPD" or the words "Look® adapter plate." SPD stands for Shimano Pedaling Dynamics, and is now an industry standard. The adapter plate will allow a Look® shoe to adapt to an SPD pedal. SPD is also referred to as the two-hole system. There are three-hole (SPD-R) systems that require a special shoe. Egg Beater pedals come with specific cleats which will fit almost any SPD-compatible shoe. Of course, if you go with a toe clip system there are no compatibility problems. However, shoes that have high, reinforced rubber on the toe are better suited for use with toe clips. Stiff Soles The first thing you'll notice about cycling shoes designed for use with clipless pedals is that they have a very stiff sole. On road bikes, the sole is so stiff that it can't be bent. Mountain bike shoes are slightly more flexible because a mountain bike shoe is sometimes used for walking up steep slopes where traction is in short supply. Generally, the more expensive the shoe, the stiffer the sole. If you're just starting out in mountain biking, you may want to get a less stiff shoe because you'll be walking your bike more. If you opt for toe clips, get a shoe with a good, stiff sole. It will help with power transfer. Shoes variously called cross-trainers, trail-runners or scramblers are best suited for toe clips. Tread Pattern Whether for clipless or toe clips, mountain biking shoes will have aggressive tread patterns or even cleats — perfect for scrambling up slippery slopes. Road bike shoes are built sleek and don't have much in the way of tread.

What to Look For on Our Site

The cycling shoes we sell are photographed to display both tread pattern and overall style. You may notice on some of the mountain bike shoes pictured that a patch of rubber covers the cleat. This patch is there to protect the cleat from dirt and debris in case you ride the shoe with a toe clip system rather than a clipless system. Why would you do this? If your bike has a toe clip pedal and you know that later you'll want to upgrade to a clipless pedal, your shoe will be ready to go. You'll also find the shoe specification that lists the suggested use of the shoe, what materials were used to make the shoe, its weight and cleat pattern. Shoes are listed in US sizes or European sizes depending on the manufacturer. Our vendor partner, REI, offers a guide to shoe sizes for men and for women. When you get the shoes, check the fit. The shoes should be comfortable, with room for the toes to wiggle, yet snug along the instep and arch. The heel should be held firm. For more information on shoe fit, check out the article in our Cross Training section called "How to Choose Trail Runners."

Shoe Maintenance

Before you ride, spray or rub your shoe with a waterproofing conditioner such as REI's Ultra Seal. The toe clip system requires almost no maintenance. Generally, whenever you give your bike a tune-up, a spot of lube where the pedal meets the crank is all that is required. Your clipless pedals and the cleat on each shoe should be lubricated more often, especially if you ride in wet and muddy conditions. If the cleat starts to feel like it's getting stuck or isn't clicking into or out of the pedal smoothly, it's time for some cleaning and lube. On the trail, if mud and grime get in the cleat, a simple wash from your water bottle will allow you to finish the ride. Then, make sure you do a more thorough cleaning when you get home.