Run Run Away » running shoes » Bike Shoes — Is there a difference?
Bike Shoes — Is there a difference?
Question:
I hate to say, but I’ve been biking for 7 years now and have just realized I am using the same pair of Performance Bike shoes clipped into my LOOK pedals. I paid around $40 back then. I just bought my yearly pair of running shoes and thought it may be time to buy new cycling shoes. I looked in a bike catalog and saw shoes ranging up to near $200!!. Are these $200 shoes that good?? What makes a good bike shoe — a good bike shoe? What should a triathlete look for vs a long distance cyclist? Thanks in advance for any info. JMersinger
Response:
running shoes and thought it may be time to buy new cycling shoes. I looked in a bike catalog and saw shoes ranging up to near $200!!. Are these $200 shoes that good?? What makes a good bike shoe — a good bike shoe? What should a triathlete look for vs a long distance cyclist?
After doing several tris this year with HUGE transition areas, I’m convinced that triathletes really should use mountain bike shoes, so you can run through the transition area. — Dan Reiley, Ph.D. Bell Labs Naperville, IL
Response:
I hate to say, but I’ve been biking for 7 years now and have just realized I am using the same pair of Performance Bike shoes clipped into my LOOK pedals. I paid around $40 back then. I just bought my yearly pair of running shoes and thought it may be time to buy new cycling shoes. I looked in a bike catalog and saw shoes ranging up to near $200!!. Are these $200 shoes that good?? What makes a good bike shoe — a good bike shoe? What should a triathlete look for vs a long distance cyclist? Thanks in advance for any info. JMersinger
I did the same thing this year with my 4-year old Nashbar shoes. They always seemed fine: light, easy to deal with. Then the velcro went, and I started thinking all of that flex in the sole was probably not good. Here’s my endorsement for the Carnac TRS1-K’s that I got from Steve’s ($149 on sale). They’re stiff as hell, a bit heavy, but they have special adapters for each pedal system (speedplay for me) and are designed for triathletes: one large velcro strap and a loop to speed transitions. — Vaughn Cooper Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 (517) 353-3953/3955 voice/fax
Response:
I hate to say, but I’ve been biking for 7 years now and have just realized I am using the same pair of Performance Bike shoes clipped into my LOOK pedals. I paid around $40 back then. I just bought my yearly pair of running shoes and thought it may be time to buy new cycling shoes. I looked in a bike catalog and saw shoes ranging up to near $200!!. Are these $200 shoes that good?? What makes a good bike shoe — a good bike shoe? What should a triathlete look for vs a long distance cyclist? Thanks in advance for any info. JMersinger
What makes a good bike shoe would be quality of construction, stiffness, and the ability to use your cleats without a stack of adapter plates, keeping your foot close to the pedal axle. Good fit is top priority, but as a triathlete I also look for ease of getting in and out as fast as possible. Things to look for are a)no laces..b)single velcro strap..c)not too tight..d)a heel loop helps, but not necessary. My personal favorite is the Carnac Tri model but the fairly new Sidi Tri shoe looks pretty good for about $50 less. — Internet Communications Of America