Is it important to wear cycle shoes?

Question

I want to start training for a Tri next Summer. I have just (today) been given a light wieght racing bike. I haven't ridden a bike in over twenty five years. I have to start somewhere. Any advice will be gratefully received.

Answer 1

Firstly, be very careful if you get clipped in especially as you're not used to it. Failing to uncleat in time can easily result in broken wrists etc. When I was doing sprint tri' s I found that the time taken to change footwear cost me time over people cycling in trainers, so trainers should be ok for shorter tri's where the transitions make up a significant part of the race time, but if you go with trainers watch your leg extension. Trainers are not as rigid as cycling shoes so when they bend under pressure they can cause you to over extend and that will lead to knee problems and time off the bike

Answer 2

I you haven't ridden a bike is 25 year, I think going clipless might be a bit of a big leap for you..No offence.

Answer 3

From where you are starting, to where you want to go, start without the shoes until you are confident in your riding and stopping skills.  Then you must make the leap to be competitive and comfortable in performing well, riding hard, and going the distance.  

Wearing cycling shoes that clip you in is like learning to ride a bike.  Takes practice, and won't be forgotten once mastered.

And remember to have a great time!

Answer 4

they do have an advantage as you become part of the bike, but if its your first tri go clip less and take it from there, good luck

Answer 5

I think the idea of wearing proper cycling shoes fitted into toe clips on the pedals is that you then utilize the upward motion of the pedalling motion, which otherwise is wasted.

Good luck old chap.

Answer 6

You don't need cycle shoes.   Well, you could buy some cycle shoes without buying clipless pedals.  

Probably what you need are some shoes that have a stiff sole, so it's easier to transfer power to the pedals.

Regarding when to try clipless... if you feel you would like to, I think it's better to try them earlier on than when you already have some habits ingrained and need to replace them.

Quoting Brian Lopes, "Practice does not makes perfect, it makes permanent", so if you start practicing with what you want, you'll master it, if you wait longer, then you would have to relearn some movements.

Answer 7

Avoid clipping yourself to the bike.. you'll have some pretty nasty elbows after a few attempts to keep yourself upright when stopped.

Answer 8

It is by no means essential to wear cycle shoes (I assume you mean with clipless pedals) for a tri.  You will find that they improve your cycling speed but for a shorter tri you have to offset this against the time taken to change into running shoes afterwards.  

Personally, I would recommend wearing them for training.  They are popular for very good reasons, they offer better power transfer and a more comfortable and stable position on the pedals.  You will hear lots of scare stories about how difficult they are to get out of, and that you will be forever falling over at traffic lights, but I've only fallen over still clipped in once and that was on my own drive way when I pulled in and found the wife had parked her car in a different place to normal!