First? Price and ease of clip in/out. Now? Carbon fiber soles and number of BOA dials as well as biometrics for supination. I ride SPD SL during the summer and SPD shoes/boots during the winter/spring/fall depending on temps/conditions.
Tried them on, went to several local store, the only store that had all sizes and different models, was specialized elite shop. I bought their cheapest model mtb shoes which was still pretty expensive for me. They felt comfortable in store. But when I ride after half of hour my feet started to hurt. After a hour they did not hurt anymore, but when I dismounted from bike and tried to stand it was terrible pain in my left foot at outside edge or somewhere there. Right foot had little less. Changing cleat position somehow helped a bit. Changing inner sole helped more adding extra padding under already high arch innersole, from handlebar tape helped already a lot I was able to ride those shoes more than one year. Next shoes I bought trekking shoes, with wider toecap They were much better. With right innersole my feet did not hurt at all. Those specialized mtb shoes were too narrow for me, but I could not tell until I had rode my bike with them.. I think if I went back to that shop they could have helped me to find solution, but I did not want to go because I was afraid they make me buy some more expensive stuff.. and so tried to solve it by myself. :P
Forty plus years ago my first cycling shoe was leather and wood you soaked them in water and then rode a few hours until they dried to your foot. Than was as custom as you could get. Now a days I have winter boots, summer cycling sandals ( also my Zwifting shoe) and mountain bike/gravel shoe. Don’t really like walking like a duck😀 these days.
About Boa: The cheaper one can only be tightened. If you want to loosen it, you have to release it completely and then tighten again - just a little less than before. With the more expensive ones, it is easier to fine adjust. You can always tighten or loosen in small steps. In my humble opinion, it is worth going for the ones that can be loosened in small steps, the same way they are tightened.
Cycling shoes aren't just about efficiency. Comfort is very important too, and sometimes people tend to forget that aspect. I do lot of long rides, and i've found entry level shoes actually be the most comfortable for me. Some carbon-soled race shoes i've had have just been so stiff that all the road buzz comes through to your feet.
Just bought my first road bike! I've been mountainbiking a lot over the last years, but I wanted to start to cycle in the road as well. So this video couldn't have come at a better time! Thanks GCN!
I've been cycling for more than 20 years now and for a long time I honestly couldn't wrap my head around how come laces shoes are better then the BOA system. When I saw Pogačar wearing the the KRSL I decided to try and, Jesus! I never felt more comfortable on a bike in my entire life! I guess it's really is comfort over performance after all.
I have had an aversion to riding a bike while wearing shoes with laces ever since I was seven years old and got a shoe lace wrapped around a pedal axle.
@@SamuelLudden Yes, it was! The shoelace was so tightly wrapped that I couldn't get free until a friendly neighbor took pity on me and helped me out. Regarding loose pants, I solved the problem by using Velcro straps around my ankles. I have no solution for the shoelace problem other than wearing shoes without laces.
@@gregvassilakos You can just tie your shoelaces and push the loose ends under 1st or 2nd row of laces, if you know what i mean. Most of cycling shoes actually have a kind of rubber band just to secure your laces but if you don't, pushing loose ends under lace works too.
I got talked into the high end by a very knowledgeable bike fitter (he makes custom bikes, too). Supply chain issues (he said) kept his inventory well below where he wanted, the lower [price shoes were out of stock, and the high end shoes he had (by amazing coincidence) was perfect for me. Seriously comfortable and very efficient. It's only money.
One thing to keep in mind when shopping for a cycling shoe is that each manufacturer makes different sizes based on a last, which is the basic form around which the upper is designed. A racing last will be narrower than a touring last. In addition, the shape of the last can be different from one manufacturer to another. You can get some information about the last width by consulting the manufacturer's website to see if it is best suited for narrow or wide feet. Some brands like Lake specialize in wide foot shoes so they have lasts that are shaped to accommodate an EE foot width. Others like Sidi have narrow models with a last that would accommodate a B width foot. Still others like Bont, offer an "Asian foot" last (wide and short foot). Once you have found the right last, you can be confident in buying different types of shoes (road, mountain) if you know they are designed around the same last. A knowledgeable shoe dealer will be able to tell you this.
This is great as a run-down of technology, but surely the most important thing to finding the right pair is having a good fit? As I sell hiking boots and shoes for a job I know a lot about the lasts of different brands and how they each fit, but it seems hard to find information on how different cycling shoe brands will fit. It might not work well with your business model (DMT's fit won't be right for everyone, but talking technology alone might make people think it is the best option) but it would be really valuable to get a proper insight into shoe fitting. I mean, it is the main contact point with the bike, the one where all the power is generated. Making sure your shoe actually fits is surely as important as cleat position, which a picky cyclist can talk about for days without ever considering shoe fit. Likewise, having a decent insole (which Chris Opie mentioned once but has never come up since) does a lot for the fit and for efficiency. Do bike fitters look at foot shape and which brands to go for? I think some kind of interview or run-down of shoe lasts across brands would be valuable content.
So is this just a big commercial? I've never had a bike fit but my wife had one and the guy she saw didn't so much as recommend shoes rather modified her newly purchased shoes in terms of wedges under her cleats and footbeds to modify her anatomical shortcomings to maximize power transfer. Also bought a different saddle from him that better suited her sit bones. But you're right... a better, more comprehensive look at shoe fitting would be a huge benefit, but much as I enjoy GCN, videos like these are essentially paid commercials for their sponsors, rather than a look at all the different products available. Kinda like if you watch GCN you'd think ShimaNO is the only component manufacturer when there are two other big ones out there, and a bunch of small ones too. Similarly kit purchases are always about their clothing supplier du jour. Too bad... I mean i know GCN needs to appease their financial backers, but a more honest, balanced view on kit and equipment would provide a better service to cyclists, IMO.
@@johnandrews3568 it’s actually got good information in it about the tech of cycling shoes but not necessarily info on the fitting of bike shoes. The truth is there isn’t a lot to say. They are pretty stiff, you either fit what’s out there or you don’t. The adjustments you mention are common ones. You fit what is out there as best you can and then adapt it for optimal effect. that’s all a bike fitter can do. Mass market shoes never fit anyone perfectly. I buy special insoles for everyday shoes and need full on orthotics. No one will ever buy a mass market shoe and get full mechanical advantage from them without some type of adaptation. The purpose of lasts is to create different shoes for different stances and build and feet shapes.
@@johnandrews3568 Videos like this are a tricky one, because the information here is worthwhile and does suggest what to look out for in terms of features at different price points and so on, everything that can be said while keeping it generic. Problem is you can't then go "but if you have a low-volume foot you'll find DMT shoes completely cavernous and narrow heels may well lift out of them with every upward pull of the pedals." (For example,never having worn them) Maybe most brands make to a really generic shape expecting riders to fine tune that way but, if so, then say so. I think GCN do tend to achieve a good balance, and I certainly don't expect them to go full Hambini, but there are some videos that are worth leaning away from sponsors for. Them all wearing DMT shoes and having sponsored content is enough to draw people to the brand, I wish that left flexibility enough to have other videos that address these other topics without bias.
@@Shellewell Fair enough but just because you aren't a sponsor. I mean, Sidi shoes generally fit a narrower foot (most italian shoes do ) and others as you say are good for wide feet (ie Lake ) etc. I know sponsorship pays salaries and for content at GCN but I've been along since the beginning, when products other than sponsors actually existed in their world. Hell, they even used to do a campagnolo tech series on servicing and IIRC they were never a sponsor. sigh... the good old days.
I have seen some comments about wide shoes. One thing I think you should have noted in the video is that most companies' wide shoes are just higher volume. The foot bed isn't wider. There are only a few companies (namely Bont and Lake) that make wide shoes that are built on a wider platform.
Might have been helpful to discuss size... I usually size up from my normal walking shoe size knowing that while climbing I'll slide forward a bit. Just a thought.
Good video i was using a clipless setup actually went back to using flat pedals recently and a proper pair of MTB flat shoes and found it more comfortable. i know clipped in is more efficient but im not cycling for speed just getting out for an hour or two i find it just easier to just jump on the bike and i find it a bit safer on my winter wet frosty days.
If you have some wider feet like me then there are less option to choose from. Nowadays they are wide versions of some shoes but in the past you had to choose from Lake or Northwave. I have some Northwave extreme gt 3 now and i really like them.
Approach shoes and toeclips, mostly. I ride for pleasure, not competition so I don't feel the efficiency would make much difference. As for weight, I can save more weight elsewhere... I can pop to the shops (or the pub) in my normal shoes. I can walk when I get off the bike. I only need to take one pair touring (thus saving more weight). And most importantly, I haven't got to spend more money to get yet another pair of shoes, and hours and hours trying to find some that fit!
I'll have to get some when I switch from MTB to road bike. At the moment I'm wearing an old pair of leather shoes. They weigh a ton, but it doesn't matter if they get messy, or wet.
@MRGRUMPY53 You can get custom insoles for that too. I am lucky that the local running store and bike shop are right across the street from each other so they work with each other to get customers the perfect insoles for bike shoes
Anything that can go wrong tends to go wrong at the worst possible time. Despite being double knotted ,tucked in, and secured by toe straps (late 80's), I had a shoe lace start winding up around the pedal spindle on finishing sprint in the Crim criterium. Fortunately the shoe leather yielded before my metatarsals. Purchased my first clipless pedals and velcro shoes on the drive home. Not a fan of lace up cycling shoes, surprised they're back in fashion.
I used to use road shoes only and carry an extra pair of trainers to walk around work or school but this was too much work so I instead went and bought Adidas velosamba and a really nice pair of Shimano Spd pedals
Can i suggest using mtb cleats and pedals on your road bike? i struggled with road pedals and cleats for years. Tricky to engage, awkward to release. This year i reverted to my old mtb shoes and pedals. Using the Shimano SH56 cleats (silver not black) I found i could clip in or out at will and if needs be in a hurry. Then I found the Shimnao RX8 gravel shoes: Perfect. All the benefits of road shoe weight and stiffness but with the practicality of mtb cleats added in. I haven't look back since...well unless I'm passing parked cars, etc.
Got old style cages, I use every shoe I like and off the bike I won't wobble around absolutely not fashionable and sometimes the nylon strip ruptures but that's the way for me.
SPD is great, when you have like a mountain AND a road bike (or similar) but only want one pair of shoes. And as you already said, you can truly walk in them.
Just buy XC race shoes? its essentially a road shoe with a sole and SPD cleat. If they made 'walkable' road shoes, it would just involve adding the tread to the bottom which makes it heavier than a pure road shoe.
@@tobiascoates9727 I said removable cleat covers that you can take off. I don’t do cross country mountain biking. What’s next? You’re going to say that road bikes need flat handlebars, 32-34t chainrings, cassettes the size of pizza pans, and 100mm of dual suspension?
I wear the DMT KR1 shoes. At first they were super uncomfortable and hurt my feet while standing. The carbon sole is so stiff. It turned out I had poor arches and medium to wide feet (if you call 11cm wide for a size 9us foot) It took about 2 weeks to wear the shoes in and they have been fine since. The take away is, do not have flat feet.
Good show doc ollie!! Helps to familiarize the shoes a bit. Been getting burning feet since i bought a pair of flats. Cross country type shoe. No clipless pedals yet. Think ill have to unvestigate further, if i got the wrong shoes or if i need th get pedals and cleats and complete my evolution as a cyclist.
fit is important however of the foot + sock already fit nicely when trying on off the bike, does not mean it will be fit on the bike. Learnt this with fizik where apparently need to go bigger as the width not wide enough to accomodate the metatarsal spreading out when pushing pedal, hence creates hotspot.
I need to fit my shoes with correct innersoles. It seems that I have high arch on foot and maybe some other issues too. I wish there were more different innersoles to try with affordable price, then it would be easier to chose shoes and get them fit comfortably.
Riders feet are different... After market insoles can also make a big difference.. Reason why I recommend going to a reputable shop.. Also for wet weather waterproof socks are also good... My winter shoes are slightly larger than my summer as I wear USB chargeable heated socks that are slightly thicker than normal shots....
I can't imagine using laces on a bike shoe. They are guaranteed to eventually get stuck in the chain ring or wrapped around something. I went with gravel shoes and SPD cleats. You can walk around fairly normally and not tear up the kitchen floor. Shimano RX8 is what I use right now. They are excellent for me.
I've done thousands of miles over the past few seasons with laces and never had an issue. My newer shoes do have a special laces "keeper" that you slip the loops through. Works great. My old shoes didn't have that so I would double loop the laces to keep them short. Laces are the most comfortable option for my wide feet by a large margin.
I've done thousands of miles over the past few seasons with laces and never had an issue. My newer shoes do have a special laces "keeper" that you slip the loops through. Works great. My old shoes didn't have that so I would double loop the laces to keep them short. Laces are the most comfortable option for my wide feet by a large margin.
👍SHIMANO RC902, SPD-Pedal white one! I bought it last week! 🦶🚴😎! Everyone need a suitable shoe when biking ! Man need more shoes like woman need more bags
One thing I found for most brands is they don't really specify which shoes' BOA, either one or two BOA, are single direction or dual directions. Of course the top end ones are going to have dual directions but it's nice to know at what price point we can get this feature.
Just switched to clipless the start of November after using flats for two years, i have done about ten rides (roughly 150 miles total) with them and can see there benefits for sure however every ride has given me cramp in my calf muscles and it often feels like im very much on my toes especially while out the saddle climbing. The shoes feel like they fit fine and i have the cleats as far back as they can go. Im going to give them a few more rides but i think i will end up going back to flats.
It sounds like you might need to adjust your cleat position. It does take a bit of time to find what’s comfortable and small adjustments make quite a big difference to the feel. GCN did a great video to get close to what should feel right - ruclips.net/video/CvIuJok2VE8/видео.html
In my experience, once you're clipped in, cleat positioning is critical and a proper bike fit more important. When your not clipped in, your feet can go into whatever position is comfortable that works with your alignment. Once you're locked into one position with the cleat, you can have serious joint and muscle issues if it's not right. I have multiple preexisting knee and ankle injuries from decades ago. When i went "clipless" at the beginning of the pandemic, I started experiencing searing patellar tendinitis pain until i finally figured outjust the right cleat angle. Then, getting the front-to-back position just right helped eliminate my quad cramps. Your calf cramps maybe the result of cleat position, or it might just be that you're using your calves more throughout your pedal stroke now that you're clipped in and that will subside as your calves get stronger. In the end, if you can get a quality bike fit, the fitter should get your cleats right where you need them. Covid meant I was on my own getting it right through trial and error. When I was finally able to get a bike fit a few months ago, the fitter spent 10 minutes measuring my feet and checking my alignment before settling on the same cleat positioning that took me weeks of pain and discomfort to figure out on my own.
I want to see a comparison between clipless and clips and straps. With the latter I can use the same bike for a hard ride, or popping to the pub with the appropriate footwear...
I own 7 pairs of pricey shoes bought over a 10 year period; four SIDIs, one LAKE, one Bont, and the new Pear Izumi Pro Air. The kangaroo uppers on the LAKE and Bont road shoes feel so wonderful, but my SIDI Shot road shoe is my 50+ mile choice. I use the Airs for intervals. I ride gravel and have the SIDI Drako MTB shoe and the cheaper Dominator. I also have a now obsolete SIDI rain boot cleated MTB. My shoes look and feel great because I bought the expensive ones which last forever, I switch them up, I clean them up, and I put them up. How do people ride with just one or two pair?
If you aren’t racing just use some basic workout sneakers with flat pedals it allows you to put your foot on the ground quicker…using clip on shoes can be dangerous in the event of a crash causing you to be stuck to your bike resulting in more injuries.
No not really. Lots of guys and gals don't race but do group/club/friends rides and get a lot of benefit out of clips. I ride clips and can put my foot on the ground as quickly as any flat pedal rider. It's all about practice and muscle memory. I do ride flats but only to the pub.
I've bought two pairs of cheap-ish cycling shoes and after 30km I always get some pain in the middle part of the bottom of my right foot. Should I look at a more expensive pair or would something like insoles suit me better?
IMHO, laces save cost for manufacturer compared to the BOA dials which they have to buy from a single source. Of course laces are sleeker (more aero) but the inability to adjust them while riding excludes them for many use cases.
Does a reduced stack height indirectly mean less comfort for feet? I have got three different shoes believed to be high quality, all of which are uncomfortable for some reason. Just curious
I'm looking for a new top end shoes and I'd like to know your opinion... DMT KR1 or KR0 , S-works ares, S-phyre, Northwawe extreme pro. So, if anyone has experience, thanks!
Anyone have tips for very wide feet? After some research I went for Sidi Trace 2 MEGA shoes which are one of their widest models, but I still can’t ride multiple hours without my toes getting all tingly
Just my personal opinion, since I use them: entry level off-road shoes. You can walk to the kitchen to fill up your water bottle, and they work on wooden floors as well.
There's some hot weather shoes made out of mesh-type materials, and you could also look into tri shoes, some of those are very well vented (for quick drying)
cycling shoes.. my painful memory... In one year, I wasting 3 pair of shoes... because my imbalance feet(left bigger than right) 1. Shimano RC-902 Red Wide 42, too big..(Tried it in local shop, it feel good, 2 week ride, its become loose ).. Sold it 2. Fizk R1 Infinito 42, same as shimano, tight fit in shop, 1 week ride it become loose.. Sold it 3. Shimano RC-902 41.5 White, feel good, and not that loose after one week..still using it for long ride. 4. DMT Shoes is not match for my feet... bought SH-1 size41.5, right foot in, feeling good, left foot too d*mn tight.. so Im return it.. change to KR-1 size 41.5.. right foot in, for left foot...I cant get my foot inside the shoes...return it... 5. S Works Ares.. Yup its my favorite.. First time it too tight, but still manageable, after one week it become tight but comfortable..
Looks like you are needing to buy 2 different size shoes☹️ I haven’t ever experienced cycling shoes stretching though. You could look at Lake CX 241, they have a lot of adjustment given how the uppers are made .
@@kona0197 It’s Liv. Judging by the fact that the only cycling channel you subscribe to is a MTBing one, I’m guessing it’s really a Giant Trance(trail) or a Giant Reign(enduro).
@@shannontrainer5857 No, the only mountain bike I own is a Novara Bonanza that hardly gets ridden and it's a hardtail, I don't like FS bikes. My road bike is a 2013 Giant Avail with a complete Shimano 105 groupset, 3X10. It's old, but it works. It came with clipless pedals but I didn't care much for them so I put flats on the bike. And for the record I am subscribed to GCN and a few other road bike channels.
I'd argue that the vast majority of roadies are better off using Off-Road shoes. They have sufficient stiffness for the vast majority of riders (after all, off-road riders are often putting out HIGHER peak power than roadies), they are much easier to clip in, since the pedals are two-sided, the cleats don't wear out because they are recessed into the sole, they're easier to walk in for the same reason, and you look like less of a cycling geek when you walk into the coffee shop to order that flat-white.
My issue is that people have larger feet nowadays than they did 40 years ago (in America), and yet the cycling industry still insists on carrying sizes that people wore 40 years ago. I wear size 15 wide width shoes. I've already had 4 ingrown toenails removed, thus I nees WIDE WIDTH shoes. I can't find a single pair that isn't going to cost me $300-400+. That is ridiculous. We all don't have small feet like Europeans, Asians and South Americans.
I am looking for a pair that I can walk in without looking like a duck or a penguin. there are some nice MTB ones but some look kinda bulky. I want to get it right.
I'm no expert and it's personal preference but I use shimano me7 for summer/indoor and mw7 for colder/wetter conditions. Very comfortable and don't make you walk like a duck. I don't notice any negatives from a road/xc pair. Use them for road, gravel/allroad and mtb 20-70 mile rides generally. I've tried specialized, giro and northwave and the shimano are the best imo
I have the Shimano XC7 and they work great for me. They have a restively stiff sole which is nice when on the bike. But they are also comfortable and very much alright for walking. You'll look more or less normal walking in them even if they don't bend much as you walk. The comfort is good, and so far my only issue with them is that they get cold during the winter, which really is just what's to be expected. I wouldn't use them for a full day of walking, but a quick trip into a shop or a short walk is no problem in my experience. These are my everything shoe and work great for it, I do mostly gravel cykling, with road mixed in for cardio and such and they have done a good job for me at least.
I stumbled onto a great (half off) deal on some Giro Rumble VR mtb spd shoes a few seasons ago. Not too bulky. I like the look. And generous room in the toe box for my wider feet. I've now paid full price for my newest pair because I like them so much. YMMV
I had a bike fit a few weeks ago and tested road shoes vs. MTB shoes, both with carbon soles and found no difference in power transfer. If you are not a pro sprinter I‘d choose not walking around like a drunken duck on the coffee stop over the marginal gains.
I heard that some people actually develop hot spots/ numbness at the sole of their foot while using SPDs because of the reduced surface area of the cleats. Do you find it to be the case?
How did you choose your first cycling shoes?
First? Price and ease of clip in/out. Now? Carbon fiber soles and number of BOA dials as well as biometrics for supination. I ride SPD SL during the summer and SPD shoes/boots during the winter/spring/fall depending on temps/conditions.
Tried them on, went to several local store, the only store that had all sizes and different models, was specialized elite shop. I bought their cheapest model mtb shoes which was still pretty expensive for me. They felt comfortable in store. But when I ride after half of hour my feet started to hurt. After a hour they did not hurt anymore, but when I dismounted from bike and tried to stand it was terrible pain in my left foot at outside edge or somewhere there. Right foot had little less. Changing cleat position somehow helped a bit. Changing inner sole helped more adding extra padding under already high arch innersole, from handlebar tape helped already a lot I was able to ride those shoes more than one year. Next shoes I bought trekking shoes, with wider toecap They were much better. With right innersole my feet did not hurt at all. Those specialized mtb shoes were too narrow for me, but I could not tell until I had rode my bike with them.. I think if I went back to that shop they could have helped me to find solution, but I did not want to go because I was afraid they make me buy some more expensive stuff.. and so tried to solve it by myself. :P
I bought a cheap pair of Shimano XC1 because I had no idea ! Looking for a new pair going into the new year. Any recommendations?
Forty plus years ago my first cycling shoe was leather and wood you soaked them in water and then rode a few hours until they dried to your foot. Than was as custom as you could get. Now a days I have winter boots, summer cycling sandals ( also my Zwifting shoe) and mountain bike/gravel shoe. Don’t really like walking like a duck😀 these days.
i was given a pair of Diadoro that were the wrong size
About Boa: The cheaper one can only be tightened. If you want to loosen it, you have to release it completely and then tighten again - just a little less than before. With the more expensive ones, it is easier to fine adjust. You can always tighten or loosen in small steps. In my humble opinion, it is worth going for the ones that can be loosened in small steps, the same way they are tightened.
Cycling shoes aren't just about efficiency. Comfort is very important too, and sometimes people tend to forget that aspect. I do lot of long rides, and i've found entry level shoes actually be the most comfortable for me. Some carbon-soled race shoes i've had have just been so stiff that all the road buzz comes through to your feet.
Comfort for me 💯
Good to know thanks!
I've rode on flats so much with my trainers they've worn a patch underneath that wraps around the pedals. Basically the same thing
Just bought my first road bike! I've been mountainbiking a lot over the last years, but I wanted to start to cycle in the road as well. So this video couldn't have come at a better time! Thanks GCN!
What do you ride?
@@TBATTIECYCLING mountainbike is a Scott Scale fron a couple of years ago, still waiting for my road bike, but it's a Scott Addict
@@tomm1413 lovely stuff . Enjoy! What pedals did you go for?
Thanks! I've got SPDs on my mountainbike and probably SPD-SLs on the road bike, but I'm going to decide when I get my bike
FWIW, I use the same pair of mtn bike shoes on my road and mtn bike. My pedals are Crankbros.
I've been cycling for more than 20 years now and for a long time I honestly couldn't wrap my head around how come laces shoes are better then the BOA system. When I saw Pogačar wearing the the KRSL I decided to try and, Jesus! I never felt more comfortable on a bike in my entire life! I guess it's really is comfort over performance after all.
Or marketing sometimes.
I know where it comes from but, when are they going to change the name of “clipless pedals” when the whole point of the modern pedal is to clip-in?
Precise, concise and complete. Great vid Ollie!!
I have had an aversion to riding a bike while wearing shoes with laces ever since I was seven years old and got a shoe lace wrapped around a pedal axle.
That and loose pants. That was a rough afternoon...
@@SamuelLudden Yes, it was! The shoelace was so tightly wrapped that I couldn't get free until a friendly neighbor took pity on me and helped me out. Regarding loose pants, I solved the problem by using Velcro straps around my ankles. I have no solution for the shoelace problem other than wearing shoes without laces.
@@gregvassilakos You can just tie your shoelaces and push the loose ends under 1st or 2nd row of laces, if you know what i mean. Most of cycling shoes actually have a kind of rubber band just to secure your laces but if you don't, pushing loose ends under lace works too.
I got talked into the high end by a very knowledgeable bike fitter (he makes custom bikes, too). Supply chain issues (he said) kept his inventory well below where he wanted, the lower [price shoes were out of stock, and the high end shoes he had (by amazing coincidence) was perfect for me. Seriously comfortable and very efficient. It's only money.
One thing to keep in mind when shopping for a cycling shoe is that each manufacturer makes different sizes based on a last, which is the basic form around which the upper is designed. A racing last will be narrower than a touring last. In addition, the shape of the last can be different from one manufacturer to another. You can get some information about the last width by consulting the manufacturer's website to see if it is best suited for narrow or wide feet. Some brands like Lake specialize in wide foot shoes so they have lasts that are shaped to accommodate an EE foot width. Others like Sidi have narrow models with a last that would accommodate a B width foot. Still others like Bont, offer an "Asian foot" last (wide and short foot). Once you have found the right last, you can be confident in buying different types of shoes (road, mountain) if you know they are designed around the same last. A knowledgeable shoe dealer will be able to tell you this.
What is a last?
I don’t want to be last. I want to br FIRST!
@@NetMillionaire it is the three dimensional shape around which the shoe is built. In other words it is a model of the inside space of the shoe.
For me the colour was the main criteria; I like red and black shoes. Hence my S-Works Ares Red and Black limited edition.
This is great as a run-down of technology, but surely the most important thing to finding the right pair is having a good fit? As I sell hiking boots and shoes for a job I know a lot about the lasts of different brands and how they each fit, but it seems hard to find information on how different cycling shoe brands will fit. It might not work well with your business model (DMT's fit won't be right for everyone, but talking technology alone might make people think it is the best option) but it would be really valuable to get a proper insight into shoe fitting. I mean, it is the main contact point with the bike, the one where all the power is generated. Making sure your shoe actually fits is surely as important as cleat position, which a picky cyclist can talk about for days without ever considering shoe fit. Likewise, having a decent insole (which Chris Opie mentioned once but has never come up since) does a lot for the fit and for efficiency.
Do bike fitters look at foot shape and which brands to go for? I think some kind of interview or run-down of shoe lasts across brands would be valuable content.
So is this just a big commercial? I've never had a bike fit but my wife had one and the guy she saw didn't so much as recommend shoes rather modified her newly purchased shoes in terms of wedges under her cleats and footbeds to modify her anatomical shortcomings to maximize power transfer. Also bought a different saddle from him that better suited her sit bones. But you're right... a better, more comprehensive look at shoe fitting would be a huge benefit, but much as I enjoy GCN, videos like these are essentially paid commercials for their sponsors, rather than a look at all the different products available. Kinda like if you watch GCN you'd think ShimaNO is the only component manufacturer when there are two other big ones out there, and a bunch of small ones too. Similarly kit purchases are always about their clothing supplier du jour. Too bad... I mean i know GCN needs to appease their financial backers, but a more honest, balanced view on kit and equipment would provide a better service to cyclists, IMO.
@@johnandrews3568 it’s actually got good information in it about the tech of cycling shoes but not necessarily info on the fitting of bike shoes.
The truth is there isn’t a lot to say. They are pretty stiff, you either fit what’s out there or you don’t. The adjustments you mention are common ones. You fit what is out there as best you can and then adapt it for optimal effect. that’s all a bike fitter can do.
Mass market shoes never fit anyone perfectly. I buy special insoles for everyday shoes and need full on orthotics. No one will ever buy a mass market shoe and get full mechanical advantage from them without some type of adaptation. The purpose of lasts is to create different shoes for different stances and build and feet shapes.
@@johnandrews3568 Videos like this are a tricky one, because the information here is worthwhile and does suggest what to look out for in terms of features at different price points and so on, everything that can be said while keeping it generic. Problem is you can't then go "but if you have a low-volume foot you'll find DMT shoes completely cavernous and narrow heels may well lift out of them with every upward pull of the pedals." (For example,never having worn them) Maybe most brands make to a really generic shape expecting riders to fine tune that way but, if so, then say so. I think GCN do tend to achieve a good balance, and I certainly don't expect them to go full Hambini, but there are some videos that are worth leaning away from sponsors for. Them all wearing DMT shoes and having sponsored content is enough to draw people to the brand, I wish that left flexibility enough to have other videos that address these other topics without bias.
@@Shellewell Fair enough but just because you aren't a sponsor. I mean, Sidi shoes generally fit a narrower foot (most italian shoes do ) and others as you say are good for wide feet (ie Lake ) etc. I know sponsorship pays salaries and for content at GCN but I've been along since the beginning, when products other than sponsors actually existed in their world. Hell, they even used to do a campagnolo tech series on servicing and IIRC they were never a sponsor. sigh... the good old days.
I bought a pair of shoes on a whim...the most comfortable and well wearing shoes I have ever owned. IGreat job again Doc!
I have seen some comments about wide shoes. One thing I think you should have noted in the video is that most companies' wide shoes are just higher volume. The foot bed isn't wider. There are only a few companies (namely Bont and Lake) that make wide shoes that are built on a wider platform.
Might have been helpful to discuss size... I usually size up from my normal walking shoe size knowing that while climbing I'll slide forward a bit. Just a thought.
Good video i was using a clipless setup actually went back to using flat pedals recently and a proper pair of MTB flat shoes and found it more comfortable. i know clipped in is more efficient but im not cycling for speed just getting out for an hour or two i find it just easier to just jump on the bike and i find it a bit safer on my winter wet frosty days.
The toughest part about buying men's cycling shoes is that it's expensive
They are massively expensive
Know that big$$$$$
Especially if you have LARGE feet.
Yep. It's costs around 8-9k INR (~$110 ) for a decent and basic pair of shoes and clipless pedals.
If you have some wider feet like me then there are less option to choose from. Nowadays they are wide versions of some shoes but in the past you had to choose from Lake or Northwave. I have some Northwave extreme gt 3 now and i really like them.
Approach shoes and toeclips, mostly. I ride for pleasure, not competition so I don't feel the efficiency would make much difference. As for weight, I can save more weight elsewhere... I can pop to the shops (or the pub) in my normal shoes. I can walk when I get off the bike. I only need to take one pair touring (thus saving more weight).
And most importantly, I haven't got to spend more money to get yet another pair of shoes, and hours and hours trying to find some that fit!
I'll have to get some when I switch from MTB to road bike. At the moment I'm wearing an old pair of leather shoes. They weigh a ton, but it doesn't matter if they get messy, or wet.
A good fit is everything. Especially for those of us with wider feet. JP
@MRGRUMPY53 You can get custom insoles for that too. I am lucky that the local running store and bike shop are right across the street from each other so they work with each other to get customers the perfect insoles for bike shoes
Anything that can go wrong tends to go wrong at the worst possible time.
Despite being double knotted ,tucked in, and secured by toe straps (late 80's), I had a shoe lace start winding up around the pedal spindle on finishing sprint in the Crim criterium. Fortunately the shoe leather yielded before my metatarsals. Purchased my first clipless pedals and velcro shoes on the drive home. Not a fan of lace up cycling shoes, surprised they're back in fashion.
I used to use road shoes only and carry an extra pair of trainers to walk around work or school but this was too much work so I instead went and bought Adidas velosamba and a really nice pair of Shimano Spd pedals
Perfect buying new ones soon
Can i suggest using mtb cleats and pedals on your road bike? i struggled with road pedals and cleats for years. Tricky to engage, awkward to release. This year i reverted to my old mtb shoes and pedals. Using the Shimano SH56 cleats (silver not black) I found i could clip in or out at will and if needs be in a hurry. Then I found the Shimnao RX8 gravel shoes: Perfect. All the benefits of road shoe weight and stiffness but with the practicality of mtb cleats added in. I haven't look back since...well unless I'm passing parked cars, etc.
I choose my shoes by colour. White for road, black for mountain.
Perfect timing, have been looking for a new pair but got confused
Gravel shoes is the best of both worlds.
Stiffness of a road shoe, but the mtb walkable shoe. New Shimano RX801 is worth it
Hey Ollie, good job it wasn't Alex's cycling shorts he left lying about 🙊
Got old style cages, I use every shoe I like and off the bike I won't wobble around absolutely not fashionable and sometimes the nylon strip ruptures but that's the way for me.
I'd love to see a GCN does science comparing road shoes to off-road shoes.
More road shoes with spd (offroad) cleats please! Road shoes you can walk in
SPD is great, when you have like a mountain AND a road bike (or similar) but only want one pair of shoes. And as you already said, you can truly walk in them.
Check out Louise Garneux Ventura shoes. 2bolt spd, boa system and very walkable. I beat mine to death over a few years on road and off road.
Get yourself a mountain bike instead. Walkable covers for road cleats do exist.
Just buy XC race shoes? its essentially a road shoe with a sole and SPD cleat. If they made 'walkable' road shoes, it would just involve adding the tread to the bottom which makes it heavier than a pure road shoe.
@@tobiascoates9727 I said removable cleat covers that you can take off. I don’t do cross country mountain biking. What’s next? You’re going to say that road bikes need flat handlebars, 32-34t chainrings, cassettes the size of pizza pans, and 100mm of dual suspension?
I wear the DMT KR1 shoes. At first they were super uncomfortable and hurt my feet while standing.
The carbon sole is so stiff.
It turned out I had poor arches and medium to wide feet (if you call 11cm wide for a size 9us foot) It took about 2 weeks to wear the shoes in and they have been fine since.
The take away is, do not have flat feet.
This could help me in my road cycling since I’m not yet using clipless system. Flat pedals to road bike haha.
It will make a massive difference
Good show doc ollie!! Helps to familiarize the shoes a bit. Been getting burning feet since i bought a pair of flats. Cross country type shoe. No clipless pedals yet. Think ill have to unvestigate further, if i got the wrong shoes or if i need th get pedals and cleats and complete my evolution as a cyclist.
fit is important however of the foot + sock already fit nicely when trying on off the bike, does not mean it will be fit on the bike. Learnt this with fizik where apparently need to go bigger as the width not wide enough to accomodate the metatarsal spreading out when pushing pedal, hence creates hotspot.
I feel like you've been snooping on my browsing history. I want some shoes for Christmas.
Haha same. I’ve been looking the last few days
watching from Philippines
What a coincidence, I just posted this question about shoes in the GCN group a few days ago.
Choosing my shoes was easy: I got the only pair available in my size (I live in Vietnam, where large sizes are not readily available).
I need to fit my shoes with correct innersoles. It seems that I have high arch on foot and maybe some other issues too. I wish there were more different innersoles to try with affordable price, then it would be easier to chose shoes and get them fit comfortably.
I went with a SuperFeet insole...they will last nearly forever in a bike shoe.
Riders feet are different... After market insoles can also make a big difference.. Reason why I recommend going to a reputable shop.. Also for wet weather waterproof socks are also good... My winter shoes are slightly larger than my summer as I wear USB chargeable heated socks that are slightly thicker than normal shots....
A similar video on shorts would be interesting.
If you're on a budget just do what I do. Cycle in flip flops and cello tape your toes together for aero benefits. Thank me later.👍
I can't imagine using laces on a bike shoe. They are guaranteed to eventually get stuck in the chain ring or wrapped around something.
I went with gravel shoes and SPD cleats. You can walk around fairly normally and not tear up the kitchen floor. Shimano RX8 is what I use right now. They are excellent for me.
I've done thousands of miles over the past few seasons with laces and never had an issue. My newer shoes do have a special laces "keeper" that you slip the loops through. Works great. My old shoes didn't have that so I would double loop the laces to keep them short. Laces are the most comfortable option for my wide feet by a large margin.
I've done thousands of miles over the past few seasons with laces and never had an issue. My newer shoes do have a special laces "keeper" that you slip the loops through. Works great. My old shoes didn't have that so I would double loop the laces to keep them short. Laces are the most comfortable option for my wide feet by a large margin.
Perfect explanation thx 🙏
👍SHIMANO RC902, SPD-Pedal white one! I bought it last week! 🦶🚴😎! Everyone need a suitable shoe when biking ! Man need more shoes like woman need more bags
One thing I found for most brands is they don't really specify which shoes' BOA, either one or two BOA, are single direction or dual directions. Of course the top end ones are going to have dual directions but it's nice to know at what price point we can get this feature.
Just switched to clipless the start of November after using flats for two years, i have done about ten rides (roughly 150 miles total) with them and can see there benefits for sure however every ride has given me cramp in my calf muscles and it often feels like im very much on my toes especially while out the saddle climbing. The shoes feel like they fit fine and i have the cleats as far back as they can go. Im going to give them a few more rides but i think i will end up going back to flats.
It sounds like you might need to adjust your cleat position. It does take a bit of time to find what’s comfortable and small adjustments make quite a big difference to the feel. GCN did a great video to get close to what should feel right - ruclips.net/video/CvIuJok2VE8/видео.html
In my experience, once you're clipped in, cleat positioning is critical and a proper bike fit more important. When your not clipped in, your feet can go into whatever position is comfortable that works with your alignment. Once you're locked into one position with the cleat, you can have serious joint and muscle issues if it's not right. I have multiple preexisting knee and ankle injuries from decades ago. When i went "clipless" at the beginning of the pandemic, I started experiencing searing patellar tendinitis pain until i finally figured outjust the right cleat angle. Then, getting the front-to-back position just right helped eliminate my quad cramps. Your calf cramps maybe the result of cleat position, or it might just be that you're using your calves more throughout your pedal stroke now that you're clipped in and that will subside as your calves get stronger. In the end, if you can get a quality bike fit, the fitter should get your cleats right where you need them. Covid meant I was on my own getting it right through trial and error. When I was finally able to get a bike fit a few months ago, the fitter spent 10 minutes measuring my feet and checking my alignment before settling on the same cleat positioning that took me weeks of pain and discomfort to figure out on my own.
Get a nice pair of Lakes in wide, if needed, they're the deal 👌
Lake MX 238 Wide or Lake MX 241 Wide
I use my bike to get to work and wear boots with a metal rod in them to make them stiff and they feel great on the pedals and my feet never ache
I want to see a comparison between clipless and clips and straps. With the latter I can use the same bike for a hard ride, or popping to the pub with the appropriate footwear...
I own 7 pairs of pricey shoes bought over a 10 year period; four SIDIs, one LAKE, one Bont, and the new Pear Izumi Pro Air. The kangaroo uppers on the LAKE and Bont road shoes feel so wonderful, but my SIDI Shot road shoe is my 50+ mile choice. I use the Airs for intervals. I ride gravel and have the SIDI Drako MTB shoe and the cheaper Dominator. I also have a now obsolete SIDI rain boot cleated MTB. My shoes look and feel great because I bought the expensive ones which last forever, I switch them up, I clean them up, and I put them up. How do people ride with just one or two pair?
If you aren’t racing just use some basic workout sneakers with flat pedals it allows you to put your foot on the ground quicker…using clip on shoes can be dangerous in the event of a crash causing you to be stuck to your bike resulting in more injuries.
No not really. Lots of guys and gals don't race but do group/club/friends rides and get a lot of benefit out of clips. I ride clips and can put my foot on the ground as quickly as any flat pedal rider. It's all about practice and muscle memory. I do ride flats but only to the pub.
Change the title to: Cycling Shoes Guide: How To SHOES The Right Pair.
The right shoe will always be the one that fits, above all else.
Probably my next upgrade path are shoes and clipless pedals. I rode over 119 kilometers on flat pedals on a rainy day and they were not fun
I've bought two pairs of cheap-ish cycling shoes and after 30km I always get some pain in the middle part of the bottom of my right foot. Should I look at a more expensive pair or would something like insoles suit me better?
1. SPD 2. Price 3. Comfort 4. Prettiness
Don’t go for comfort. Go for the ones that make you look dapper, especially on the track.
You are joking right? Lol
I think I need more shoes
IMHO, laces save cost for manufacturer compared to the BOA dials which they have to buy from a single source. Of course laces are sleeker (more aero) but the inability to adjust them while riding excludes them for many use cases.
It’s always size for me. I would guess by online, I always need a half size but there is never an offer for them.
I don't know what those shoes are laced with but Ollie is tripping over them
Do you guys recommend true to size or just a bit bigger shoe??
Thanks Ollie........interesting face after smelling Alex's shoe ? And No Wompers...........
Peace
Slightly off topic but, is there a difference between Look clipless pedals and SPD clipless pedals?
Does a reduced stack height indirectly mean less comfort for feet? I have got three different shoes believed to be high quality, all of which are uncomfortable for some reason. Just curious
Which is the best model from dmt for wide feet?
I'm looking for a new top end shoes and I'd like to know your opinion... DMT KR1 or KR0 , S-works ares, S-phyre, Northwawe extreme pro. So, if anyone has experience, thanks!
I have some Shimano biking shoes Pharaoh Wanda least expensive ones
Anyone have tips for very wide feet? After some research I went for Sidi Trace 2 MEGA shoes which are one of their widest models, but I still can’t ride multiple hours without my toes getting all tingly
Lake MX 238 Wide or Lake MX 241 Wide
Which ones do you think would be good at entry level for riding indoors on the Kickr?
Just my personal opinion, since I use them: entry level off-road shoes. You can walk to the kitchen to fill up your water bottle, and they work on wooden floors as well.
@@bjorneriksson2404 thanks - I will go with that as a plan.
There's some hot weather shoes made out of mesh-type materials, and you could also look into tri shoes, some of those are very well vented (for quick drying)
Where can you purchase DMT shoes ?
I'm just here to feed my crush on Ollie.
The correct pair of shoes is N+1
cycling shoes.. my painful memory...
In one year, I wasting 3 pair of shoes... because my imbalance feet(left bigger than right)
1. Shimano RC-902 Red Wide 42, too big..(Tried it in local shop, it feel good, 2 week ride, its become loose ).. Sold it
2. Fizk R1 Infinito 42, same as shimano, tight fit in shop, 1 week ride it become loose.. Sold it
3. Shimano RC-902 41.5 White, feel good, and not that loose after one week..still using it for long ride.
4. DMT Shoes is not match for my feet... bought SH-1 size41.5, right foot in, feeling good, left foot too d*mn tight.. so Im return it..
change to KR-1 size 41.5.. right foot in, for left foot...I cant get my foot inside the shoes...return it...
5. S Works Ares.. Yup its my favorite.. First time it too tight, but still manageable, after one week it become tight but comfortable..
Looks like you are needing to buy 2 different size shoes☹️ I haven’t ever experienced cycling shoes stretching though. You could look at Lake CX 241, they have a lot of adjustment given how the uppers are made .
Switch to MTB shoes! 10,000x more comfortable and you can actually walk in them.
Buy it . The best road 👠👠🤫
My feet are size 49 which means I have to take what is available as there is hardly any choice!
Mid and top level are almost the same in my opinión especially when they get wet they unstick
EBay for me 👍
Must have been looking at my cookies again
Or you can just get flat pedals and use whatever shoe you want.
I’m guessing the only bike you have is a mountain bike. If so, you need to go to GMBN instead.
@@shannontrainer5857 No, I have a Giant Avail road bike. It has flat pedals installed. Never cared for clipless pedals.
@@kona0197 It’s Liv. Judging by the fact that the only cycling channel you subscribe to is a MTBing one, I’m guessing it’s really a Giant Trance(trail) or a Giant Reign(enduro).
@@shannontrainer5857 No, the only mountain bike I own is a Novara Bonanza that hardly gets ridden and it's a hardtail, I don't like FS bikes. My road bike is a 2013 Giant Avail with a complete Shimano 105 groupset, 3X10. It's old, but it works. It came with clipless pedals but I didn't care much for them so I put flats on the bike. And for the record I am subscribed to GCN and a few other road bike channels.
@@kona0197 on this channel, you’ve be saying that mountain bikes are better.
Almost the same wording as last year’s video on this topic. Only the shoe brand has been changed. Wow! 🤭
yea but ollie, which one is the most aero
Next up a video on how to clean your off road shoes
When you’re a size 49, you find the right pair, by simply finding a pair that exists in 49. You don’t get to choose.
How can I contact you? I am kapvoe brand cycling glasses
Can I send you some glasses for testing?
I'd argue that the vast majority of roadies are better off using Off-Road shoes. They have sufficient stiffness for the vast majority of riders (after all, off-road riders are often putting out HIGHER peak power than roadies), they are much easier to clip in, since the pedals are two-sided, the cleats don't wear out because they are recessed into the sole, they're easier to walk in for the same reason, and you look like less of a cycling geek when you walk into the coffee shop to order that flat-white.
Why you had to smell the shoe ollie🤣
My issue is that people have larger feet nowadays than they did 40 years ago (in America), and yet the cycling industry still insists on carrying sizes that people wore 40 years ago. I wear size 15 wide width shoes. I've already had 4 ingrown toenails removed, thus I nees WIDE WIDTH shoes. I can't find a single pair that isn't going to cost me $300-400+. That is ridiculous. We all don't have small feet like Europeans, Asians and South Americans.
Lake MX 238 Wide or Lake MX 241 Wide
I am looking for a pair that I can walk in without looking like a duck or a penguin. there are some nice MTB ones but some look kinda bulky. I want to get it right.
I'm no expert and it's personal preference but I use shimano me7 for summer/indoor and mw7 for colder/wetter conditions. Very comfortable and don't make you walk like a duck. I don't notice any negatives from a road/xc pair. Use them for road, gravel/allroad and mtb 20-70 mile rides generally. I've tried specialized, giro and northwave and the shimano are the best imo
I have the Shimano XC7 and they work great for me. They have a restively stiff sole which is nice when on the bike. But they are also comfortable and very much alright for walking. You'll look more or less normal walking in them even if they don't bend much as you walk. The comfort is good, and so far my only issue with them is that they get cold during the winter, which really is just what's to be expected.
I wouldn't use them for a full day of walking, but a quick trip into a shop or a short walk is no problem in my experience. These are my everything shoe and work great for it, I do mostly gravel cykling, with road mixed in for cardio and such and they have done a good job for me at least.
I stumbled onto a great (half off) deal on some Giro Rumble VR mtb spd shoes a few seasons ago. Not too bulky. I like the look. And generous room in the toe box for my wider feet. I've now paid full price for my newest pair because I like them so much. YMMV
I have grey shoes.
How much "shilling" do these shoes cost?
A hell of a lot
What a strange front fork at 3:02
Sidi top
Pair? Why do I need a pair? I can wear different shoes on each leg.
I had a bike fit a few weeks ago and tested road shoes vs. MTB shoes, both with carbon soles and found no difference in power transfer. If you are not a pro sprinter I‘d choose not walking around like a drunken duck on the coffee stop over the marginal gains.
I heard that some people actually develop hot spots/ numbness at the sole of their foot while using SPDs because of the reduced surface area of the cleats. Do you find it to be the case?
@@ghcheong I had that with older shoes with standard plastic sole. Not an issue with carbon any more.