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.

Tips for choosing cycling and Mountain Bike shoes: size, model, sole

 Tips for choosing cycling and Mountain Bike shoes: size, model, sole

It is now possible to ride a bicycle or mountain bike, so put on your cycling shoes and… Wait, if you don't have cycling shoes or mountain bike shoes or are considering changing them, read carefully some essential tips to choose the one that suits you as a glove. Take note.

- Tips for choosing cycling and Mountain Bike shoes: size, model, sole and products

Tips for choosing cycling and mountain bike shoes: 5 key points
Do not think that it is enough to go to your cycling store or your favorite website, choose the model you like and start pedaling. At least, if what you want is a good pair of cycling shoes that fit well to your foot and allow you to enjoy, and not suffer, a bike ride. For this, it is very important to take into account some variables that play a fundamental role when deciding on good mountain bike shoes. And it is not only important which size to choose, which will also be discussed below, but also some other issues that go more unnoticed. And here are 5 things to keep in mind.

1. First of all, not all mountain bike or cycling shoes are suitable for any discipline. Yes, it seems obvious, but it is important to advise. You should know what discipline you practice (we assume you know what bike you have), in order to know which mountain bike shoes are best for you. And we say mountain biking, because it is without a doubt where there is more variety. At least, at the very least, you should differentiate between disciplines that need more anchoring and others that require a looser foot. In summary, we could group them into two general groups, although with nuances.

There are mountain bike shoes that require constant anchoring, to practice XC, for example. In them, not only is the anchoring fixed, but consequently, as they are not designed to step on the ground (even if they have a studded sole, in case) they usually have quite rigid soles and much tighter lasts. They are the most similar to the rest of road or cross cycling shoes.

At the other extreme, would be the mountain bike platform shoes in which the feet are loose, free as air. In them, the anchoring disappears in disciplines such as Enduro, or at least it is about grips rather than anchors, with good grip on the pedal but which are also capable of allowing walking on uneven terrain. You can see the shoes that professional cyclists wear, in case it helps you. Between the two, an entire intermediate range allows you to be more or less extreme and rigorous when choosing the mountain bike shoes according to your discipline.

2. The fit system is the second aspect of your next cycling shoes to analyze. Without a doubt, micrometric wheels have revolutionized the entire foot adjustment process. Some brands, such as SIDI, manufacture their own wheel, but without a doubt there is one that has taken over the market: BOA. The adjustment system with BOA is so simple and intuitive, working in both directions and releasing the shoe with just a pull of the wheel upwards, that it has been imposed without a doubt, at least in all models of cycling shoes from mid and high range. It is not essential, but if you can afford it, do not hesitate: it is worth such a quick and precise adjustment. Of course, it is not the only system: there are velcro and there are laces. The least advisable is the lacing, although its fit is good, untying and tying, especially if you wear gloves, is a task of titans. Velcro has a good and easy fit, but they tend to lose properties over time. If you cannot economically reach a model of cycling shoe or mountain bike shoe with BOA, try a model that combines a wheel and velcro.

3. The sole and the last. Cyclists take great care of this part of any cycling shoe. In fact, it is important, although the question is sometimes incorrect: the question is not whether the sole is made of carbon fiber or other materials such as nylon, but rather that what is truly significant in a cycling shoe is the hardness or rigidity of this sole. And there are soles that are not made of fiber whose stiffness is very close to it, so that the same outlay does not end up compensating you. We also consider that greater stiffness means a better result, but remember what we have said about your demands and especially about your discipline. So consider analyzing the sole: is it finished well? Does the stud allow you good support without damaging the cleat? Does it flex a lot if you force it or is it quite rigid? And, what is essential, does the sole adhere to a narrow or wide last? Because there are brands that manufacture with so narrow lasts that many cyclists have their cycling shoes hurt the front of the foot. The sole does not completely determine the last, but it influences a lot, since you think that to build the mountain bike or cycling shoe, a clock that fits and seals perfectly on a sole will be placed. So take a look at the sole and ask those questions.

4. The reinforcements. There is nothing more painful than paying a good amount of money for a mountain bike or cycling shoe and, after a few trips, you notice that small frictions, bumps or scratches have caused considerable damage on it. This depends largely on the materials of its manufacture, but also on this nuance, on the reinforcements and finishes. Because look and you will see that in your cycling shoes the damage abounds in the same parts: toe especially, heel, and outer and inner instep. So analyze, especially for mountain bike disciplines, if these parts are well finished and if they include reinforcements, added, that they have considered their exposure to overprotect them. It is also good that you know when the time has come to change your shoes.

5. Materials are essential. Until quite a few years ago, leather was considered the pinnacle of a cycling shoe. Make no mistake, today there are materials whose properties considerably exceed natural leather: they breathe very well, fit and mold excellently and are hundreds of times less delicate and more resistant than natural leather. Synthetic leathers include brilliantly made cycling shoes, with anti-abrasion materials that are almost unbreakable. Also look at the inside of the mountain bike or cycling shoe: see if it is breathable, if it includes support parts of the sock to prevent them from coming off or slipping (such as the inner clarino heel) and if the shoe's ventilation is anticipates good.



What size of cycling shoes to choose?
And here is the crux of the matter, the big question, the big question for most cyclists: what size of cycling shoes do I choose? A first tip, which will be very useful not only in mountain bike shoes and cycling shoes, but with footwear in general: know the size of your foot in centimeters, do not be guided by the number. Because each manufacturer has their lasts and their sizes, so there are variations, and surely you already know. But with your size in centimeters there is no room for error. To do this, rest your heel on a wall, mark the tip of your longest toe (remember, it is not always the big toe), and measure the result in centimeters.

Once you have the size in centimeters, everything is simpler: here we leave you a comparative table by brands, although we advise you that when you have real size, look for the size that is some millimeter greater than your foot size, as well as 4 or 5 millimeters plus. Never choose a smaller size, if you hesitate between 2 sizes, it will surely be the largest one that does not hurt you. Because your finger should not touch the tip of the cycling shoe. Of course, try it on with the socks you use to go cycling and with your insoles, if you use a special one.

Choosing durable trail running shoes

 Choosing durable trail running shoes

The durability of mountain running shoes is very important, especially for economic reasons.

Mountain running shoes are subjected to much harsher conditions than road running shoes. They take bumps and scrapes for hours.

- Choosing durable trail running shoes and products

How many kilometers does a trail running shoe last?

It is difficult to say, it can be considered a good duration around 600 or 800 km for an ultra trail shoe.

Other more specific shoes for fast competitions, can last very little, even less than 200 km.

The wear of the shoes is concentrated in very well defined points:

To begin with, the rubber gives the sole . As the kilometers go by, the studs are used up, especially in the heel and toe area, that is, in the landing and take-off zones.

In this photo I show you the sole of the old Saucony Peregrinas 6 (green) and the sole of the newer Saucony Peregrine 7 (orange) before releasing them. As you can see, the Peregrina 6 tacos have already been almost completely consumed.



It is not uncommon to find shoes that offer soles with two different materials, one harder to protect these areas and the other softer in the rest of the sole to give more traction. For example the Akasha, as you can see, the sole has two colors that identify two materials, hard red, soft black



Each sole is designed for a type of terrain , the concept of this design should be respected to guarantee the durability of the sole of the shoe.

The midsole . Step by step, themidsole is compressed and expanded,the quality and quantity of material of the midsole will determine the maintenance of the characteristics over time, mainly the amortization capacity and reactivity.

In reference to this point, the weight of the runner is very important since obviously a midsole will suffer more with a 90 kg runner than with a 70 kilos runner.

The Upper suffers from the rubbing of stones and roots. The upper fabric, for example a mesh, has to be as resistant as possible to guarantee an adequate duration. As a negative effect, a thick and durable fabric could be very hot.

As I have already indicated, the upper has elements that serve to protect the foot and the upper itself, such as heat-sealed ones. The amount of these elements will determine the resistance of the upper.

Attentive! (Again), because these harder elements can represent, in turn,   critical break points since they are areas of union of two different materials a softer tissue and a harder protection that can trigger breaks in the less resistant tissue.

Here again I show you the upper of the old Peregrine 6, as you can see, it has begun to break in the flexion zone of the fingers. Excellent durability, they have stayed like this after many kilometers and having put them through all kinds of quarries.



The duration of the Trail Running shoes will depend on how we will use them. To prolong their life, you have to use them in their natural habitat , that is, use them for what they have been designed.

If you put a shoe with studs and sole designed for mud running on an asphalt road , after not even 100 km you will be able to say hello to your shoes forever. (I already said it, something dies in the soul ... when a friend leaves ...)

The same, if you wear light shoes and without protections to run through a high mountain quarry, in addition to possibly hurting yourself, you could damage your shoes prematurely.

The two great forgotten ones of trail running. The insole and tongue.

The two great forgotten ones of trail running. The insole and tongue.

The insole of running shoes is one of the elements that most runners usually don't pay much attention to .

We can have the best shoe in the world ... if the template is not up to par it will spoil any expectation of a happy and trouble-free race.

- The two great forgotten ones of trail running and products

It is not uncommon to hear of sneakers that have insoles that move or wrinkle especially in high humidity conditions.

There are other insole features that may be a little less important but we should consider, such as antibacterial and anti-odor insoles. They are little things that are highly prized in the world of mountain runners.

You could say that the best template is the one you don't even know is there . That is, it does not give any problem. Comfortable, amortized and still in place. 

The tongue of the trail running shoe also often ends up in the well of oblivion. However, it is a very important and fundamental element to avoid problems with the instep of the foot.

The tongue will be the main one in charge of compensating the tension generated by the laces.

A tongue must be quite padded to compensate for this tension, but be careful because if we have a tongue that is too thick, we could have breathability problems or water evacuation problems.

It is also important to see how this tongue has been constructed to ensure that no pebbles enter  the shoe.

Nowadays almost all the tongues are sewn or are an integral part of the upper.

Sometimes there are pockets on the tongue that allow you to put in what is left over from the laces once the knot has been made. This element that could sow insignificant but is very important , especially if we have long cords, since if we do not have where to put them, they could get caught in branches , or even worse, they could cause us to trip.


Breathability and waterproofing of the mountain running shoe
I write these two characteristics together because they usually contradict each other.

It doesn't take a genius to understand that a more waterproof shoe will surely be less breathable.

It is very important to know where and in what conditions we are going to use the shoes.

If you run mainly in summer, in hot and dry areas, it is advisable to avoid waterproof shoes or those with protection against humidity.

A breathable shoe will be able to wick away sweat and dry quickly. A "cooler" and more breathable shoe will find it less difficult to evacuate the water when we go through a puddle or river.

If you run in humid and cold areas, you can think about buying shoes that have some treatment that protects against water . They do not have to be 100% waterproof, but at least they prevent your feet from getting wet right away, for example, with the morning dew.

The support of trail running shoes

The support of trail running shoes

By shoe support I mean the ability of the shoe to correct the footprint .

In conventional running (road), the support compensates for the pronation or supination of the runner.

- The support of trail running shoes and products

In trail running, however, the concept is a bit more complicated.

First of all, it must be said that correcting the prone or supinator footprint in mountain races is practically meaningless since each step we take on a mountain trail is completely different.

In road races , the steps we take are always the same and the landing is always the same, so that errors in support are repeated and accentuated with the passage of time, being necessary to correct them.

In mountain racing , however, each step we take will be different from the other.  The position of the foot changes every time so even if we are pronators or supinators, the same terrain will hide these effects.

For this reason, I say that it is less necessary to correct the tread . Actually, if you are a chronic pronator, on very long Trail Running and especially on hard terrain, it would not be bad to have a more consistent support and a system that helps to support your feet correctly. With the passing of the kilometers and with the muscular fatigue we begin to be less efficient, tending to pronate. You should look for a shoe with a midsole that does not give too much and that resists your weight well.

Much of the correction of the stride is carried out by the rear buttress, which can be more or less rigid guiding and correcting the heel support.