Mountain bike shoes and pedals?

Question

What is a good combo of shoes and pedals to get for me, the average weekend warrior looking to upgrade his bike? I don't want to spend more than my bike is worth. Shoes cleat pedals? thanks from the noob!

Answer 1

I've heard that the most comfortable and convenient clipless shoes are the Shimano biking sandals, though not everyone agrees. I am currently investigating a few SPD sandals, since I live in Florida heat and humidity.

SO I guess the point of my answer is to keep sandals in mind

Answer 2

I would recommend Shimano SPD pedals. They are the most widely used pedals so you have more opportunities to ride other bikes. And, the basic ones are cheap:

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/16422-2...

Now shoes are harder. Since this is one of the three contact points of you to your bike, your shoes can make a huge difference in your comfort while you ride.

Also, shoes are the main power transfer point on the bike. Your shoes affect the performance of your bike!

I really believe that shoes are a worthwhile investment. Buy the best shoes that you can afford, I also recommend trying shoes on before you buy them (get them at a shop). I also recommend replacing your shoes when they ware out. When you start to feel your shoes flex, buy new ones. I usually spend about $200 on my shoes. If I had the money, I'd ride Rocket 7 shoes for sure.

http://www.rocket7.com/shoes.htm

Answer 3

If you get on and off your bike for obstacles and/or trail work, a hiking show-style MTB shoe will be best.  Cleats on those kinds of shoes are recessed, unlike racing/competitive shoes, which look a lot more like road bike shoes. Racing/comp shoes are narrower and often stiffer, and more expensive, with protruding cleats.

Sandals are awesome if you know you will *never* be off the trail, and know the trail is *clear of debris* that may injure your toes.  My Shimano sandals are awesome, and I hear that Keen is making some great MTB sandals, too, with a lot more protection for your feet.

As for pedal system, everyone knows SPD, so you can always ask another rider to evaluate whether your pedals are behaving right.  That is important if you don't know how they're supposed to feel in the first place.  Cheap pedals have a tendancy to fall apart in a way that makes them impossible to put back together.

I use Egg Beaters by Crank Bros.  They're awesome.  Nothing sticks in them - no mud, no wood, no bark, no snow.  They always work.  Your cleats slide into them like butter.

Answer 4

hi i ve had titainium screws in both feet from a buniun op the butcher i mean surgeon who did it wud av bin betta off sewing me sum  crows feet  on cos there worse than b4.i wear a pair ov timberland ankle boot good strong sole long lastin wetha proof  good fit cos they do em in halves.im a size 9 1/2  depending which way mi screws r pointin.

Answer 5

craigs a funny troll - anyway, i have some SPDs, just some cheapos i got years ago. you can get some cheap SPDs for around 30-40 bucks. and you can get some good entry level shoes for around 40-50 bucks. I think SPDs are good for cheap and mountain. there are other brands like crank brothers and time, but these can be more expensive. check nashbar.com for some good pricesand some ideas on what things cost. anyway, clipless really make a good difference in riding, on both hills and road. good luck, have fun.

Answer 6

Get some shimano clip in's off the web.  My dad and his cousin both have the cheapest clip-in's that shimano makes, and they work great and are easy to get in and out of, but you dont come out when you dont want to.