Cycling Shoe Fit

Cycling shoes and pedals can really affect your performance. When you purchase a cycling shoe and clipless pedal, you are taking a huge step to improving your efficiency and comfort while riding.

When I look for a road shoe, I look for a super stiff sole. I don’t want there to be any loss of power transfer to the pedal. When you ride in a tennis shoe, or any shoe that flexes, you are losing power. There all are different types of cycling shoes, and some have more flex than others. I would consider your goals in cycling, and then go with the most stiffness you can handle in order to accomplish your goals.

Road shoes generally have a slippery bottom on them, and there are covers that you can put over your cleats for walking around. With mountain bike shoes, they typically have more tread, and you will be able to walk around in them. The difference is that the road shoes will be stiffer, and they will generally be much lighter.

When trying on the shoe, you want it to be snug but not tight. You need to make sure that when you are standing on your bike you will not have your heel slipping out of the shoe. Most shoes have some sort of locking system where you can tighten by straps or a ratchet type system. Try out the different types and see what style feels most comfortable for you. They all work well, so see what kind feels most intuitive.

There is a huge price range of cycling shoes, and there are definitely some that have all the bells and whistles. The most important thing to remember is that any cycling shoe will be a huge improvement to a tennis shoe. Try out a few pairs and make sure that you are comfortable. Consider your socks, if you can handle your feet swelling a bit in the heat, and finally remember your goals. If you are going to be riding a lot of tours buy road shoes. If you are mainly going to mountain bike buy a more rugged mountain bike shoe. Consider a hybrid kind of shoe if you are going to be biking for transportation and will ride on the road but walk a lot.

Enjoy!