How to choose the right cycling shoes

 How to choose the right cycling shoes

No one is going to stop you if you ride a bike with tennis shoes, but if you compare that to wearing cycling shoes, there is nothing we can tell you that does not become evident as soon as you put them on: the difference in weight, the feeling of being one. with your bike, how everything responds better and more efficiently; It is much more important than you would think.

A bicycle shoe is distinguished more than anything by its rigidity, try to walk with its solid soles and you will see what we are talking about, they also adapt to your needs with better ventilation and a mechanism that holds them to the pedals of your bicycle, in words Simple, each of its parts, from the closure mechanism to the materials, are there with the purpose of making it easier for you and your bike to be a winning team.

- How to choose the right cycling shoes and products

As always, the clearer you have what you need in your preferred cycling mode, the better; For that we created this guide that will be very useful for you differentiating the different types of shoe and what would be optimal for you.

What separates shoes for mountain, road, triathlon and urban bikes?
It is clear that you have to secure the pedal in some way, and each shoe handles it differently depending on the cycling discipline you practice. There is nothing wrong with crossing gear from different types of cycling, but if something was designed with a specific purpose in mind, it is best served.


To make this point clear to you, we list the characteristics that distinguish each shoe for each discipline:

Road Cycling: The best road shoes have as a priority to improve your performance, and they achieve this by being rigid, light and perfectly transmitting your pedaling to the bicycle.
The transmission of forces is achieved by fixing your feet to the pedal, road bikes need you to be much better secured than on a city or mountain bike, where you must surely get away often to ride correctly.

If you are a road cyclist, you will most likely not walk much, so the fixation will be external on your shoe, instead of receding (we will explain the difference in a moment), you can notice this in the cleats that protrude from the sole, to give you better grip.

As in everything on the route, aerodynamics is the key, your shoes must be light, well ventilated and have a simple design, with an impressive variety of closing mechanisms; all to slide without resistance to the wind.



MTB / Mountain biking: To help you on those more rural terrain, the mountain shoes will have recessed cleats (hidden inside the sole) and studs for a good grip; You will most likely get on and off often when riding in mountains, and this extreme environment design does come in handy when hiking in swamps and hillsides.
Every part of your hiking shoe will take this into account, that they are not made for clean roads or cities, but to dive into mud and dirt, so cleanliness and water resistance are a very important factor. Even if they take into account the stiffness of the sole for the same pedaling transmission, this category does not take it as much into account as in road cycling, because they know that you will need to walk more, have a good grip with the terrain and ease Keeping them clean is your first challenge to overcome.

MTB / mountaineering shoes take the closure mechanism as much into account as road shoes, but for different reasons, while aerodynamics are a priority on the road, in the mountains it is important to keep your feet protected from dirt and water, and from the occasional stone that bounces in your direction.

Another feature that separates them from the rest is the channel that some include to secure you to the pedals, thus making the process of fixing and removing your feet from their position when riding more efficient, and on the way they give you a solid platform between pedal and foot when they are not fully insured.

Keep in mind that with all these security and protection measures, the weight increases a lot, up to double in some cases, and its profile grows in the same way, it does not matter so much the speed, but that you can ride without tripping with each pedaling.

If you prefer not to be fixed on the pedals, there are versions of mountain shoes designed for platform pedals, they are almost always very similar to the ones that fix you, but they change the channels and cleats for rubber soles with excellent grip that perfectly accommodate the pedal outline.


Triathlon: At the extreme of speed, triathlon shoes are unrivaled, their soles are the stiffest, their construction the lightest and the contact between your foot and the pedal is more assured than ever; So much so, that even in the closing mechanism they prefer that your foot leaves the shoe easily before removing it from the pedal.



They do this with velcro straps or other simple systems to make sure the transition is as quick as possible; For this reason, it would not take you long to notice the prominent grips on the heel, so that your feet are in and out in a matter of seconds.

Another thing that differentiates triathlon shoes from the rest is their incredible ventilation, after all, triathlons are a summer sport, and you will surely be soaked after a stretch of swimming.


Urban Cycling: Back to shoes that put comfort and safety before speed we have urban shoes, here you will find soles similar to those of the mountain, but with less emphasis on design to ensure you, very discreet studs and cleats, because in The city is walked much more than in any other cycling environment, and the last thing you want is to walk entire blocks with mountain biking coves.
The soles are also more flexible to move with your foot when you walk, not the other way around, think of these shoes as the casual version between any tennis shoes and specialized shoes.

Pedals

Before going into the matter with what you should look for in a shoe that suits your needs, it is important to us to clarify how much the cleats and pedals affect when we talk about transmitting your pedaling force to the bicycle, according to your discipline of course .

The pedals are what translates everything you do on your bike into motion, you simply fit your feet into them, and the cranks will do the rest.

Nowadays there are mainly three types of pedal, the clip, mixed and platform

Clip: As weird as it sounds, clip pedals do not have a mechanism that attaches to your shoe, instead they use toe clips to hug your foot and keep it in place.
This more retro option is rarely seen on competition bikes, if you do happen to be around, it will surely be on a recreational bike.

Their biggest benefit is that they allow you to mount and hold your feet in place without the need for specialized shoes, but for this reason you can get caught in them, and it can be more difficult than necessary to dismount.


Automatic (and Mixed): These are the pedals that are surely most familiar to you, you see them on any specialized bicycle, perhaps not so much on those of common use.
Its concept is simple, if your shoe fits firmly into them with cleats, your efficiency will take off; they are in a way very similar to the mechanism that skiers use to fixate on skis.

The clipless pedals are fixed with a little pressure, this fits the cleats of your shoe to the pedal mechanism, to dismount you only need to turn your foot a little, and the mechanism is released.

Mixed pedals are fairly common in MTB / mountain biking, they have one side with this mechanism, and another with a platform, their design was created with ease of grooming in mind.

In the world of road and triathlon, you can find them fully automatic or mixed, and they will normally have a larger surface to better transfer your force, they will also be shorter in extension, to distance your feet from the ground when you go sharp turns competing.

Where mixed pedals really come out is in urban cycling, to give you the ease of choosing between a specialized pedal or a more uncomplicated one, like riding with your everyday shoes.

Platform: This type of pedal is the simplest, without cleat mechanisms to secure you or toeclips to tie them, just a flat platform, any type of shoe works with these pedals.
It's common to find them on BMX, urban, and some mountain bikes, because the last thing you want if you fall off them is for your foot to get stuck on the pedal.

It is also not out of the imagination to find them on hiking bikes or gravity mountaineering, the pedals for these categories are characterized by having a discreetly concave figure, and pins that help you a bit with traction.

Coves

Cleats are what hold your shoes to the pedal. The advantage of using clipless shoes and pedals is the feeling they offer you of unity with your bike, and that they are by far the best way to make your effort worthwhile on the move.

The cleats of each shoe vary in composition, shape and properties depending on their purpose and the type of cycling you like, the key aspects that you must take into account are:

Type: The cleats of your shoes will surely have a 2 or 3 bolt system:
Road bikes use 3 bolts to take advantage of the greater area of ​​their pedals, ensuring good power distribution and stability; Instead, the 2-bolt system is found more on mountain bikes, for easy grooming and access, so you don't end up with jams in the middle of nowhere.

Remember that the cleats of your shoes should always correspond to what fits your pedals, they will usually come as part of a new set of pedals, but you can also get them individual spare parts.


Game: The game of your shoes is measured in degrees, it is how much you can move your feet without the pedal stopping them, to make micro-adjustments to your position.
As a general rule of thumb, the less experience you have, or the more risk you have of injuring yourself, the more game you will need on your set.

Each set of cleats specifies how much play they allow, they even separate it with color codes so that there is no room for doubt in beginner riders, for example Shiman has three varieties of cleats with their respective amount of play, the red one has a tight fit without play , the blue allows you two degrees of play, and the yellow takes into account six degrees of freedom.


Receding or External: As we mentioned before, the cleats can be receding inside the sole or external, this depends on how far you are going to walk with your shoes, because the external cleats can be uncomfortable because they are so rigid, but that is what gives you a perfect assembly with the pedal.
For this reason, the receding cleats are found mostly in MTB or urban shoes, where you will surely be walking a large part of the journey, while on the road and triathlon they will be pronounced external, to transmit all your energy to the pedals.

Dimensions and shape

Before buying those fast, rigid and "best of all" shoes, focus on the main thing, that they fit you well.

Comfort is what truly makes the difference in your performance, more than any other characteristic that your shoes have; Fortunately, cycling footwear has a wide repertoire of widths, lengths, and shapes to accommodate any type of foot, because the "perfect shoe" is different for everyone.

When you are reviewing sizes, having the dimension table and knowing yours helps, but there is nothing like going to a store and measuring them in person, feeling how your heels grip, the space you have for your toes, and having their measurements be the same. more comfortable for you.

A tip to remember is to always measure shoes with cycling socks, preferably the same ones that you are going to use to ride. Doing this will give you an idea of ​​what the ventilation and fit of your shoes will feel like.

If you do not have a pair, in next week's article we will talk about the science of wearing cycling socks and the world of benefits it brings you, such as better grip with the inside of the shoe, fewer pressure points and heat accumulation , and of course, better ventilation and overall performance.

Returning to the topic, each shoe has a different mold, which affects its thickness throughout the length, some will be narrower at the heel to prevent slipping, and others will be wider at the tip if your toes are naturally wide; you should pay attention to this, especially if your feet are particularly wide or narrow.

Your comfort is so important that some brands offer moldable soles that adjust to every detail of your feet, there is nothing more comfortable than what is made to measure.


Closing mechanism

The history of how the shoes are closed is long and complex, each mechanism that a brand chooses has its pros and cons; As with everything else, it's all about the type of cycling you prefer, your goals, and the budget.

These are the most common mechanisms

Velcro: These self-adhesive strips have always been used for their simplicity, the strength of the grip, and their light construction, you can find them in the entire repertoire, from the most basic to the professional, and very often they are complemented with other mechanisms to take that extra step in quality.
The downside of using Velcro strips is that they tend to wear out over time, sacrificing the strength of your grip.


BOA: The BOA system is the most innovative on the market, offering the lightest option, with great force, and avoiding any uncomfortable contact point as much as possible. This mechanism works by tightening elastic cables with dials, allowing you to square your fit with unmatched precision.
You can loop the cables into your shoe in hundreds of configurations, so brands work around the clock to find combinations that eliminate pressure points without compromising secure lacing.


Laces: Laces are re-emerging lately, they are a cheap, safe and simple option to tie your shoes. Because they can be replaced so easily, they give you the opportunity to express yourself with different color and link combinations.
Their only problem really is that they could get stuck in the transmission, and that you can't change their tension as easily as with other mechanisms.


Ratchets and buckles: This mechanism is almost as old as the laces, they are to the point, efficient and with good grip strength.
Compared with the most modern mechanisms, they can be somewhat cumbersome, that is why the BOA system has been replacing them in the high-end options for being lighter and more accessible.

Varying the tension of a buckle or ratchet is very simple, but the tension levels they offer you can be more limited than in other alternatives.

Ventilation
As with helmets, it is important that your feet are well ventilated, if you ride in hot climates it is a matter of time before being trapped causes them to swell, or in cold climates they become numb, both extremes would be very bad news when As you ride, the first rule of cycling is to be as comfortable as possible to give your best performance over long distances.

For cold climates, it is very important that they isolate the heat as well as possible, and in hot climates they must take into account that the ventilation is not filled with dirt when riding; and of course, in both situations a very good resistance to water is necessary.

These types of characteristics depend as always on how you prefer to ride, but something they will always have in common is that the materials will be comfortable and refreshing.

For example, a road shoe will focus more on ventilation and keeping weight light, while a mountain shoe will want to keep swamp and dirt off your feet.

Where these decisions become most obvious is in triathlon shoes, where they assume that you will need the best ventilation possible in the summer, and that you will still be dripping water from the swim stage. To deal with this, they include fiber panels and even windows on the top of the foot to allow the wind to flow freely.

On the other hand, urban shoes do not worry so much about ventilation, they prefer to maintain comfort when you walk, because the safest thing is that you are not on your bike for such long stretches.

Sole stiffness

The sole of a riding shoe is usually made of nylon or carbon fiber; these first ones are cheap, allow good flexibility (to walk in them) and you will surely see them in the beginner to intermediate level shoes (and the vast majority of urban ones).

But when speed is crucial, triathlon, road and some MTB / mountain bike shoes optimize weight, stiffness and the transmission of your force using carbon fiber soles, to give the best possible performance.

The downside of using such hard soles is that they can be uncomfortable, especially if they don't fit your foot perfectly, thus ending up causing hot spots and pressure that shouldn't exist.

So fiber soles are used in the mountains from time to time, where they are most found is on the road and triathlon, because they assume that you will not need to walk a lot on them (so the sole should not be flexible) and they should concentrate on carrying your performance to the max.

Something you must remember is that not only is it enough to have a sufficiently rigid sole, you must also make sure that the cleats connect to the mechanism of your pedal correctly or there will not be a carbon fiber sole that can help you.


Other things to consider

Heel pads: Some premium shoes integrate this extra that provides a firm grip to your heel, so that the shoes do not slip when they should not.
They work by hugging your achilles tendon, you will notice the difference in grip, especially when you are pedaling

Heel pads can be flexible or rigid depending on what you prefer and what you want to invest, if you want to keep your shoe right where it should be regardless of the conditions, this is an option that you should consider.

An alternative to achieve the same is a layer of high-friction material on the back of your shoe, some brands prefer this to the heel, to everyone's taste.

Toe Protection: Very similar to steel toe boots, this protection will be something you will appreciate if you accidentally kick a stone or branch while riding in rough terrain.

Reflective Materials: With your safety in mind, many shoes will include reflective materials to increase your visibility in all conditions.

Bontrager offers us a collection of scientific studies that it has compiled from different places, one of the conclusions that can be drawn from them is that having flashing lights, illuminating moving limbs and using high contrast colors are the best measures a person can take. rider when it comes to being safe on the road, so donning some flashy, reflective running shoes is a good way to keep yourself visible and safe when riding.

Insoles: A good support on the inside of the sole can help you a lot with feeling the greatest comfort in your shoes, for those with high arch feet, an insole can help control heat build-up, and maximize the efficiency of your pedaling. .
We hope this guide is useful to you and now you know what to consider when buying a good pair of shoes to ride your bike

We invite you to visit our selection of cycling shoes on BikeExchange, and to find your local store for further guidance.

How to choose your cycling shoes

 How to choose your cycling shoes

Getting the right choice of our footwear is essential to be able to practice any type of cycling comfortably and making the most of the strength of our legs. We tell you how to choose your next shoes.

Footwear is one of the most personal and complicated aspects to choose in our wardrobe, both cyclists and everyday. It is possible that, even having the same size, the shoe that a partner is like a glove for us will cause friction or the size is wrong.

- How to choose your cycling shoes and products

Choosing a shoe by its brand or colors is a mistake, since if it does not adapt to the morphology of our foot, the only thing that we will get will be pain and tightness that will reduce our performance (our feet can fall asleep). Therefore, to make the right choice, a series of parameters must be taken into account that will be fundamental for our comfort.


Footwear in general tends to have a universal or neutral design so that it is optimal for everyone. However, in cycling there are brands that opt ​​for tighter last or toe designs for a more extreme fit, which causes discomfort if someone has a wider foot. There are also models of cycling shoes with a more marked bridge, or the heel ... details that can cause us discomfort or, on the contrary, adapt perfectly to our foot morphology. The key is to know what we need and what each brand offers us, for which it is essential to try on the shoes on both feet before buying.

If we do not do it and we find a shoe that, for example, is narrow, it will cause friction, pain or excessive pressure on certain points of the foot, making the routes become an ordeal. That is why we should not leave the choice of our footwear to chance, or to the simple taste for design.

Another factor that we must take into account, and that will be our first criterion of choice, is the budget. The market offers us a wide range of options from models with a more adjusted price to the same shoes used in the professional peloton, so the first thing we must mark is the money that we can spend.

What is a cycling shoe like? Sole
Generally, what defines a cycling shoe is the sole. Both due to the type of cleat anchoring (normally all are triple screw for Shimano's SPD-SL systems, Look's or Time's) and because of the material and configuration that we find.

The sole of cycling shoes is not designed for walking. It is flat and slippery. When we get off the bike we lean on the cleat itself and on the small rubber spots on the heel, but unlike MTB shoes they are not designed to be used for more than a few meters. In addition, they are very rigid, which increases this difficulty in walking.

The objective of this design and rigidity is that when we pedal, we rest our entire foot on the surface of the shoe and make the maximum possible force in the cleat area to transmit this force to the pedal and, therefore, to the transmission. No watts should be wasted in unnecessary flexing of the sole.

Tips for choosing your cycling shoes

Although it is not a universal figure, and not all brands declare it, there is a scale that can indicate the stiffness of the sole of the shoes. Shimano, for example, has a table that goes up to 12 (reserved for RC9 competition cars), with the range between 8 and 10 being the most suitable for regular users looking for good performance with some concession to comfort. The Luck firm also uses this type of numbering, but in this case, 10 is the maximum stiffness for a sole, indicated for sprinters who cannot lose a single watt at the moment of maximum effort.

To achieve this rigidity while maintaining a low weight, carbon fiber is the preferred material in the high range, while in lower ranges we find others such as fiberglass (also quite rigid) or nylon (somewhat more flexible and comfortable). If we are looking for maximum performance, when choosing the shoe we will have to be clear about the stiffness index or, at least, the amount of carbon in the sole.

The cover on a cycling shoe
The cover is the other differential aspect in a shoe in terms of comfort, since it is where ventilation acquires a fundamental role. The normal thing is that we find fabric (microfiber) or leather shoes with micro-perforations to favor the entry of air (in the sole there should be a channel that allows the entry and exit of air as well). It is not usual to find areas with a grid (or at least not very large) since it would greatly weaken the structure of the roof and make it lose effectiveness.

Some of these microfiber covers have the special ability to be thermoformed by heat (usually the heat that we give off when using them is more than enough) to adapt to the shape of our feet. The objective is to hug the entire structure of the foot well without excessive pressure points but without empty areas and thus transmit all the force of the pedal stroke to the sole.

As for the closure, cycling shoes long ago dispensed with the laces (except for special cases and with very particular designs) since they could be hooked with the chainrings or the chain. The most common is that we find closure systems by velcro strips (in lower ranges), toothed belt by ratchet (in medium and medium-high ranges) and by micrometric wheel type BOA or ATOP (also in medium and higher ranges) . What is not as common as it does in the mountains are the Quick Lace type lacing closures. Keep in mind that the better the system, the more expensive the shoe will be.

Tips for choosing your cycling shoes

For the shoe to fit perfectly to the foot, brands resort to various solutions. The most common is to use two of the systems (the same or different), for example two BOA type wheels or one wheel and one velcro, etc. The Shimano RC9, Pearl Izumi P.R.O. LEADER V4, S-Works 7 or Spiuk Profit R are examples of shoes with a double micrometric wheel system. Also, depending on the quality of the closure, you can use double laces that cover the entire instep and are regulated with a single wheel, special tabs ...

Another of the important points in a cycling shoe is that they have a reinforced heel and toe to avoid flexion when exerting force and support the foot correctly in the same position. The objective is that the foot does not move or shift inside the shoe with the passage of kilometers and fatigue and, in this way, we can maintain a round pedaling no matter how long the exit is.

Tips for choosing our next cycling shoes
In addition to sticking to a real budget, the first advice I can give you to buy your next shoes is that you try on several models until you find the right one, that you study well the type of foot you have and the last and bridge that best suit your morphology. We should not only care about the size in terms of the length of the foot, but also the width. It is very important that you do not press on your foot at any point (if the toe, for example, is too narrow, our toes will sleep as soon as they swell a little from the heat and effort) but that it is not loose either our feet move.

It is also important to know the type of majority cycling we do. If we usually participate in Gran Fondo type events without competitive spirit, but with many kilometers, a shoe with a higher stiffness index can be uncomfortable when fatigue takes over us. Also the ventilation capacity they have. If our area is hot we must take it into account, while if we go out to ride in rainy areas it is still a less determining factor.

In addition, they must hold our entire foot. If the shoe does not fit us perfectly, we can have a feeling of significant lack of control when we squeeze pedaling and we will lose some performance. Our shoes must keep us firm and support the heel at all times. It is another point to study carefully when we are testing them.

When we go to try on our shoes, it is advisable to do so with the majority type of sock that we use when riding a bike. That is, if we only go out in good weather we should not wear a thick winter sock, although we should not wear the thin ones of "executive type". We must also think that they are not walking shoes, so it will not be worth taking a few steps around the store. It is even better to stay still in a flexed position (simulating pedaling pressure) for a few minutes to see if friction or pressure appears at any point on the foot.

That is why it is highly advisable to go to establishments with an important assortment of shoes to try various models that fit our budget and the type of cycling we practice. And since we ask a professional for advice, it is very ugly to look for that model of shoes in another way to save a few euros. In addition, it is the best way to find a quick and easy solution in case we have problems that we were not aware of at the time of purchase (we did not go with the right socks, problems with the closures, etc.).

Keys to choosing a cycling shoe

 Keys to choosing a cycling shoe

More and more cyclists come to the consultation due to the appearance of pain and numbness in the feet. These problems can be due to various causes but in this post we are going to analyze how the type of shoe used when riding a bicycle can cause these problems.

We start with a fact that catches our attention and that is that, on a mountain bike, also known as mountainbike (MTB), there is not as much incidence of this type of pain. MTB shoes are less rigid than those used on the road, since on MTB, the terrain is more variable and, therefore, all the pressure is exerted with the same position on the pedals, which ends up causing these problems if the shoes are very stiff or narrow.

- Keys to choosing a cycling shoe and products

Therefore, to know what type of shoe we should use, there are several considerations that we must take into account to be able to do many kilometers, enjoy the exit and not suffer these discomforts. For this reason, we leave you 3 tips on how to choose the correct cycling shoe.

1. WIDTH OF THE SNEAKER
The cycling shoe must be as wide as our forefoot or even a little more, since, when we apply force on pedals, the forefoot widens. Therefore, if this margin exists, we can largely avoid the famous overheated foot.

A very simple check to know this is to remove the insole of the shoe and put our foot on it. If your foot sticks out, the shoe will be too narrow for you. It should also be taken into account that, in winter, a fatter sock is worn and that in summer the foot swells due to the heat.

In the article "How does heat affect your feet?" you can discover the reasons why this happens.

2. PROPER SIZE OF THE SNEAKER
Regarding the size, it is recommended that it be one more number, but it would be enough if the fingers did not touch the toe when pedaling. For this, the ideal is to try them on in the store, stand up and do a little force to see what happens inside the shoe and if it has a small space.

It is important that, especially in the toe area, the shoe has slack, since these parts of the foot must be tight, but not trapped. Also, pay particular attention to this as most riders use custom insoles for greater comfort and performance.

An expert should be advised on which cycling shoe you need to avoid problems since they are our companions for many kilometers.


3. TYPES OF CLOSURES
The functionality of a closure is to hold the foot perfectly, thus preventing it from moving inside the shoe. It should be noted that the adjustment has to be moderate in the instep, that is, it does not cause excess pressure in that area.

There are different closure systems, but the most widespread is BOA, since it holds the foot perfectly. However, this type of closure is not suitable for those cyclists who have a very hollow foot and a prominent instep. For athletes who have these physiological characteristics in the foot, it is better to opt for a closure that has two or three adjustment parts. In this way, more or less pressure can be applied depending on the area of ​​discomfort.

Ultimately, the type of shoe when cycling is a key factor since inappropriate footwear can cause ailments in the short and long term. For this reason, to be able to enjoy the bicycle and have a better performance, it is advisable to follow the keys set out in this article and ask a professional for advice.

HOW TO CHOOSE A CYCLING SHOES

 HOW TO CHOOSE A CYCLING SHOES

Choosing a CYCLING SHOES based on the closure system?

Unfortunately this mode of selection has become a classic among a very high percentage of cyclists.

In this post we will try to remedy it, and give you tools so that from this moment you can make a full-fledged assessment of the material to be selected.

- HOW TO CHOOSE A CYCLING SHOES AND PRODUCTS

Before going into categorizing the multiple options on the market, and analyzing details, we believe that these 3 sections are important.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT MODEL FOR OUR TYPE OF CYCLING


Running 10 km on foot with basketball boots is not the best option.

The same thing happens here, if you want you can, but comfort and performance will be affected. Everything is invented in the age of super specialization.

So you will find a different shoe for each and every one of the existing cycling modalities.

Road, Triathlon, Enduro, CrossCountry, All Mountain, Downhill, BMX, Track, ...

CHOOSE THE SNEAKER ACCORDING TO SEX


If they give you the option, why are you going to avoid it?

Continuing with the super specialization, the vast majority of manufacturers have a specific collection for men, and another for women.

The difference is in the LAST.

Remember: if you are a woman, a men's shoe in your size will NEVER fit you as well as a women's one; they have a different shape.

And the price is the same.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT SNEAKER SIZE

Once we have identified the model that best suits the type of cycling we practice, we select the size that suits our feet.

In principle, it should match the shoe size that we usually wear; but you have to make some preliminary assessments:
- The sole (even the softest version) is extremely rigid compared to normal footwear, which does not allow the foot to deform ...
- The closure system is designed so that the shoe fits like a second skin, and our feet expand in summer, and shrink in winter.
- Both toe and heel are specially reinforced to facilitate energy transfer. This, once again, makes it difficult for the footwear to adapt to the foot (especially in high-level models).
From our experience, it is to take a size slightly larger than that used in normal footwear, in this way you will not have discomfort when the foot expands due to the heat and to wear thick socks in the cold season.

WHAT THE SOLE IS LIKE IN CYCLING SHOES


If there is a differentiating element in cycling shoes, it is without a doubt the sole.

ROAD SHOES
For road shoes it is essential to choose a sole with good stiffness.
The materials used to provide this rigidity (which ensures a total transfer of force to the pedal) are NAYLON and CARBONO.
To find out which sole we should use, there are tables of RIGIDITY INDEX, which in manufacturers such as BONTRAGER ranges from 6 for the softest sole to 14 for the most rigid.

MTB SHOES
In the case of shoes for field bikes or MTB, we will find 3 well differentiated products.
- The shoes that are (literally) road shoes, but with a studded sole. Oriented to raw performance.
- Those that are conceived from trekking footwear. Intended for recreational cyclists.
- Those that are developed based on the concept of skate shoes. Thinking about the most extreme disciplines such as DH, BMX and Jumping.
The manufacturers have resorted to collaborations with specialists in maximum grip tires such as VIBRAN or MICHELIN, and they offer soles with studs, or flat sole in the case of those specifically for platform pedals, with exceptional grip levels.

TYPES OF CLOSURE ON CYCLING SHOES


Currently we will find up to 4 closure systems:

BOA: it is nothing more than a rotor that winds a kevlar cord; the fit provided is brutal.
RATCHET or Micrometric: this system consists of a lever that advances a toothed plastic strip, for each lever movement one or more clicks of the strip are adjusted. To release it, it is provided with a button.
VELCROS: it is a very easy and fast system. But it does not allow adjustment of the above systems. It is the preferred system for triathletes.
LACES: At this point it may sound like something anachronistic. But the whole "cycling culture" movement has brought about its resurrection, and it has come with improvements. The models that close by laces, allow an even better adjustment than the previous ones to everyone's surprise.

OTHER DETAILS ON THE CYCLING SHOES


Typical impact areas with some type of anti-abrasion reinforcement.
Ventilation grilles located in the areas less exposed to impacts.
Soles with the possibility of inserting rubber to walk (road), and steel studs as in soccer shoes, in the toe, in MTB ones.
Lasts designed by ergonomic study.
Anti-slip heel lining.
Anti-bacterial and ergonomic insoles.
Specific models for low temperatures

SPECIFIC ROAD SHOES
 



Pedaling on the road is a cyclical activity, that is to say: we repeat the same movement millions of times, and apart from traffic, we will not find many interferences on our way that force us to do other types of movements.

The important thing is the quality of the pedaling, and the use / economy of our energy.

Therefore road shoes are designed with an objective axis.

Keys:

Aerodynamics.
Pedal force transmission.
Good support to the foot.

SPECIFIC MTB SHOES


If on the road we can maintain a controlled pedaling cadence, and there is hardly any interference, when we ride an MTB we go to the opposite pole.

It is almost impossible to maintain a constant cadence (unless you roll on forest tracks), there are many steps, crevices, descents, ascents, etc. that interfere with our rhythm and also force us to maneuver with other muscle groups, and sometimes it is necessary to dismount and overcome on foot climbs, descents or excessively dangerous areas.

 

Therefore the MTB shoes have adapted to those requirements.

Keys:

Rubber studs sole.
Anti-abrasion protection zones.
Toe and heel with reinforcements to avoid impacts.


SPECIFIC TRIATHLON SNEAKERS


When transitioning from water to bike, or bike to foot, the last thing you want to do is struggle with your shoes for 5 minutes to fit.

Keys:

Puller on the heel.
Wider opening to fit the foot.
Quick closure with velcro.
Very stiff sole.

SPECIFIC SNEAKERS FOR EXTREME DISCIPLINES


When you practice a type of cycling in which you constantly fly several meters, make violent turns with included skidding, or lower blocks of stone or cut dirt of several meters ... you prefer that your feet are not connected to the pedals.

Keys:

Rubber outsole without studs, specially designed to use platform pedals with small spikes that dig into the rubber.
Anti-abrasion reinforcements in the most exposed areas: toe, heel, outer side.
Air chamber designed to absorb impacts when we hit a "shoe" in a fall.
Some type of support to collect the laces, and prevent them from getting caught in the transmission.

How to choose cycling shoes

 How to choose cycling shoes

Everything you need to know to choose the ideal cycling shoes

Knowing how to choose suitable shoes for our feet and for the cycling discipline that we practice is as important as which bicycle to buy.

- How to choose cycling shoes and products

Now, what should I look at when buying cycling shoes? Many buyers when going to the store sin to focus on the colors of, the brand or whether it has one type of closure or another. The reality is that there are many more factors to consider. We go in parts.

Road cycling shoes

In general, cycling shoes are stiffer than street shoes so as not to lose power with each pedal stroke. Soft and flexible soles are not the most suitable for cycling.

But within cycling footwear, road cycling shoes are the most rigid, since they are designed solely for pedaling. The stiffer they are, the better they will transmit power when pedaling.

But let's not think that stiffness in the shoe will imply discomfort. What we have to do is try many and find the one that best suits our feet.

Due to their rigidity, these shoes do not give themselves like street shoes, so when you try them on they should be perfect, half a number more is recommended, since in summer the foot swells with the heat, and in winter we can put a fatter sock.

Road cycling shoes are not meant for walking, so the less you do it, the longer the cleats will last. Depending on the area in which we live we can look for them more or less ventilated.

Mountain, cyclocross and gravel shoes

Although stiffness is always important to be as efficient as possible, mountain bike shoes are usually less rigid than road shoes, since it is more common for us to walk on time.

In addition, the sole is accompanied by rubber studs, to allow you to walk without the cleat getting in the way.

When buying some mountain biking boots, we will check if they have reinforced toecaps and heels, which is always good to be protected from possible blows with rocks, stones, branches, etc.

Triathlon shoes

In triathlon, you are looking for shoes with maximum rigidity, aerodynamics and that have good ventilation, since the triathlon season is a hot season. In addition, our feet tend to be wet, since we come from the swimming sector.

Triathlon shoes have to be easy to take off and put on, so they have a heel strap to facilitate this and they usually have velcro closures.

Platform Pedal Shoes
In modalities such as enduro, freeride or downhill, where power transmission is not so important but comfort, technique and freedom of the foot are, shoes without cleats are used, with reinforcements and soles with good grip.

Winter cycling shoes

To combat the cold of winter and the rain, there are cycling shoes specifically indicated for winter that can combine high legs covering the ankle with fabrics to repel rain such as goretex.

For winter you can also combine the road shoe that is used during the rest of the year with some overboots.

Types of closures
Another important aspect to consider when choosing a cycling shoe is the type of closure. Depending on the system you wear, the footwear will more or less adjust to our feet.

Lace-up closure
The classic cord is still used in many disciplines such as BMX, enduro, urban, mountain bike, etc ... Even on the road with models like the Giro Empire. This type of closure has in its favor that it is cheaper and customizable, but on the other hand, it has the danger of the cord getting caught in some element of the bicycle or in some branch when passing through trails.

Velcro
They are quick closures to remove and put the shoes on. And they are also light. But they have the handicap that over time they can lose properties, especially if you practice mountain biking in muddy areas.

Millimeter ratchet or buckle closure
Despite the fact that until recently it was a type of closure for medium and high-end cycling shoes, with the arrival of the Boa closure it has been relegated to the background.

Boa closure

This closure system makes a rotor of a wire or Kevlar cable that adjusts the shoe to our foot in a very fine and precise way.

Actually the term Boa corresponds to a specific model of this type of closures, since there are more brands that have similar systems, but be careful, they are not so reliable anyway.

It is a fast and comfortable system, although it is important to distribute the cable and test if the shoe fits our feet well. Among its cons is the price: it is usually a more expensive shoe.

Cycling shoe materials
Depending on the climate of the area where we live, the discipline we practice and our level of demand, we will need shoes with some qualities or others. The type of material with which they are made will give us a different level of ventilation, comfort, protection, response capacity ...

Shoe body and fabrics
Cycling shoes are usually made of synthetic fabrics or leather, we have to find one that adapts well to the foot and does not stretch when pedaling so as not to lose power. If the shoe has silver mesh on the inside, that will help wick sweat away from the foot.

Sole
A sole with a stiffer material transmits power better, but if it does not adapt well to your foot it can be uncomfortable. The materials of the shoes range from rubber, plastic, nylon, to mixed with carbon grafts or full carbon fiber.

Sneakers with nylon soles will help us to walk, since they are more flexible, they are also cheaper. The carbon fiber ones will give us lightness and rigidity.

Regarding rigidity, it is not a matter of black or white, brands work with indices that determine this value. For example, Scott uses a stiffness index between 6 and 10, where we are informed that 6 is for cyclists, 7 and 8 for amateurs and 9 and 10 for professionals. At Bontrager its index ranges from 6 to 14.

Trouble finding a shoe that suits you?

Fortunately in today's market there are alternatives if we have trouble finding a shoe that suits us. The Spanish brand Luck works with made-to-measure shoes starting at around € 200.

We can also try special templates for ourselves. Another alternative is insoles or even thermoformable or thermoformable sneakers. What is done with them is to put them in the microwave or in the oven for a few minutes and then put them on so that they adapt to your foot.

Conclusions
To choose the perfect shoe, we will look beyond one type of closure or one color or another. The important thing is that it adapts well to your foot. And is that each brand and each shoe works with different lasts and not all of them can come in handy, so the recommendation is to try before buying, because an inappropriate shoe will make our output turn into hell.

How to know my cycling shoe size?

 How to know my cycling shoe size?

It is very cumbersome to buy a pair of shoes online and it is not your number. You have to return them or exchange them with the disorders that that implies. For this reason, we tell you how to choose cycling shoe size.

- How to know my cycling shoe size and products

Cycling Shoes Size
In these articles we tell you how to choose cycling shoes or which are the best cycling or spinning shoes in our opinion. But, with the method that we show you below, we will help you choose your ideal size.

How to know the size of your cycling shoes?
We tell you:

Tape a sheet of paper to the ground. To take the measurements we are going to draw a line with the contour of your feet.

Cycling shoe size. How to measure the foot

Place the foot perpendicular to the edges of the paper:

• Draw the entire outline of his foot to the end, leaving a closed line. You can wear the cycling socks that you normally wear.
• Mark your foot length on the paper. Use the marker to draw the straight line of the contour.
• Measure your foot length. Use a tape measure or ruler to measure from top to bottom. Write down this number. This number will largely determine the size of your shoe.
• Use your length to find your measurement in the size chart, please note that depending on the brand of your choice the size also varies.

Equivalence table of cycling shoe size among manufacturers

When to change cycling shoes

 When to change cycling shoes

Jerseys, shorts and other cycling equipment enters and leaves our closet at a higher speed than shoes do. One of the reasons may be the price or that they withstand the passage of time better, but when do we have to change our cycling shoes?

- When to change cycling shoes and products

How to take care of your cycling shoes
Cycling shoes require a little more attention when cleaning and conservation, it is not enough to throw them into the washing machine, in fact it is totally contraindicated. But in return they can last us years and even decades fulfilling their function as the first day.

It is advisable that at the end of a route they are cleaned with a damp cloth to remove any dust or mud that may have accumulated. Paying special attention to the areas of the closures where dirt infiltrates. Here you can use sticks to clean the BOA dials or the different parts of the clasp.

Afterwards, it is almost mandatory to dry it with a dry cloth and let the shoe dry completely, but it should not be done by applying heat sources or leaving it in the sun for a long time.

Both leaving them wet and applying excessive heat can cause the sole to lose rigidity and much of its properties.

Another key point are the coves. The cleats will have to be replaced from time to time, when they show signs of oxidation or when they begin to show signs that they do not hook well or are unintentionally loosened. Its price is low and the change is simple, you just have to pay attention to leaving them in the exact position so that we do not have postural problems.


Useful life of a shoe for road cycling or mountain bike
So if we take good care of our shoes, will they last us a lifetime? Well, without a doubt we can say that they will last longer than any other footwear that you use with the same frequency. But let's see where they can

Obviously, if you have a fall or accident in which the shoes have suffered significant cuts or friction, they will have to be changed. But if you have broken a clasp, BOA clasp or cord, I advise you to look online and take them to your shoe rack before disposing of them, since in most cases the clasps can be replaced.

In the case of mountain bike shoes, their change will be determined by the sole. With this type of shoe, you tend to walk more with them in mountain areas where the heel of the sole is irretrievably worn out. So it will be time to change them when your sole shows signs of wear.

With road shoes we can take real surprises, as there are cyclists who continue to pedal with shoes that are 20 years old and continue to perform perfectly. If they are high-end models, in some cases they have nothing to envy to some new models. If the shoe is well cared for, it can last for a long time, since road shoes do not walk much and suffer little wear and tear.

So we can tell you that most of the time the changes of cycling shoes will be produced by wanting to try others with greater rigidity, lower weight or other benefits or for pure aesthetics.