Mountain Bike Mud Races
If the Shoe Fits…Wear It
Whether you ride mountain bikes or road bikes, finding the perfect fitting cycling shoe is vital. If you do a lot of bike riding, then you need to look into getting yourself some shoes specifically made for cyclists and the unique needs of the sport. Having the right biking shoe on could make a lot of difference in your overall comfort, proficiency at the sport and your enjoyment.
How Are Bike Shoes Different?
Shoes specifically designed for cycling have cleats built into the soles that allow you to snap right into the pedals. This system is very similar to that used with skiers and is commonly referred to as a clipless pedal when listed as an option by bike manufactures. The original system was actually invented in 1895 by Charles Hanson but wasn’t used on a mass production scale until 1971 by Italian bike manufacturer Cinelli. In this system though the rider had to latch and unlatch the shoe by hand, giving them the nickname of ‘death cleats’. In 1984, the modern version of clipless pedals and corresponding bike shoes was introduced by the French bike manufacturer LOOK.
With your bike shoes’ cleats snapped into place you can pedal more efficiently, as there is a lot less power lost between your foot and the pedal. The bike acts more like an extension of your body than something you are strapped to or are pushing. Besides the cleats, bike shoes typically have much firmer soles than regular shoes. This is found more in cycling shoes made for road racing, but generally speaking this type of shoe as a whole has a much stiffer sole. Again, this is to improve the energy transfer from your foot to the pedal. Energy, and thus efficiency, is lost when you push down and the sole bends.
Most serious cyclists consider bike shoes and clipless pedals to greatly improve their performance, comfort and the overall experience of the ride. Make sure you know what kind of cleats your shoes accept or vice versa. There is no universal system and some shoes are not compatible with some pedal and cleat combinations.
How Bike Shoes Should Fit
When looking at buying bike shoes, you need to make sure they are a sound fit, first and foremost. A little room to move is recommended as your feet do swell as the temperature inside and outside of your body changes. Biking shoes need to fit tightly around the heel and through the bridges of your feet. You will know if you have a good fit if your feet feel comfortable when the shoe is removed. While after any extended period of exercise your body might feel a little beat up, your feet shouldn’t hurt all that much. If they do, you should consider different shoes or talking to an experienced bike shoe salesperson or user.
Remember that not all bike shoemakers produce shoes that have the same dimensions. Like other shoe companies, you might wear a nine in one brand and an eight in another. If you have wider or narrower feet, different shoes are going to fit you differently. Since these shoes are so important when it comes to riding comfort and performance, make sure they fit well. Try a bunch of different brands and styles on to find the ones that work for you.
Types of Bike Shoes
Bicycling is a giant umbrella term that has many varieties. There seems to be more specialized styles of riding everyday. Along with the different disciplines, comes the variation of bikes and gear to meet the specific needs of that style. Depending on what kind of riding you are going to be doing, you will need a different kind of shoe. Here are some of the main kinds of bike shoes, why they are different and what to look for.
- Mountain Bike Shoes: This category of cycling shoes are engineered to allow you to easily click into your pedals while also easily being able to walk or run in them. This versatility comes in handy in competitions like cyclocross or for riders who find that they often have to dismount and get around on their feet from time to time. Inside this biking shoe category, we can drill down even further. The two main groups of mountain biking shoes are off road and standard. Off road shoes have a raised arch to help you grip the dirt and mud better. Standard shoes allow you to clip in but are also comfortable to walk in.
- Road Bike Shoes: This variation is specifically made for road racers and features a much stiffer sole compared with other biking shoes. Again, this is meant to increase efficiency and decrease the loss of energy between leg and pedal. It also disperses the weight evenly across your entire foot, so you don’t have specific areas of your foot that hurt more than other. One down side to these shoes is that you don’t want to walk very far in them.
- Triathlon Bike Shoes: For those triathletes out there, there is a special category of shoe designed just for you. These are made usually with a giant Velcro strap that secures the shoe tightly but allows for quick transfer between the different legs of the race.
There is a specifically designed shoe for every riding style in the bike industry, from track bikes to BMX bikes, there is a shoe to fit your style perfectly.
About the Author
USMC 2010 Mud Run THIS IS OFFICIALLY THE LARGEST MUD RUN IN NORTH AMERICA
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