Knowing how to choose adequate shoes for our foot and for the cycling discipline we practice is as important as what bicycle buy us.
Now, what should I look at when buying a cycling shoes? Many buyers when going to the store sin of focusing on colors, brand or whether it has one type of closure or another. The reality is that there are many more factors to take into account. We go in parts.
Road cycling shoes
In general, cycling shoes are more rigid than street footwear so as not to lose power in each pedaling. Soft and flexible soles are not the most suitable for bicycle.
But inside the cycling shoes, the roads to practice on route are the most rigid, since they are conceived only to pedal. The more rigid they are, the better they will transmit the power in the pedaling.
But let's not think that rigidity in the shoe will imply discomfort. What we have to do is try many and find the one that best suits our foot.
Due to their rigidity, these shoes do not give themselves as the street footwear, so when you try them they should be perfect, half more number is recommended, since in summer the foot swells with heat, and in winter we can put A fatter sock.
The road cycling shoes are not intended to walk, so the less you make it the more the coves. Depending on the area where we live we can look for them more or less ventilated.
>> What are the best cycling shoes brands?
Mountain, Ciclocross and Grave Sneakers
Although rigidity is always important to be as efficient as possible, the shoes of
Mountain Bike They are usually less rigid than roads, since it is more common for us to walk on time.
In addition, the sole is accompanied by rubber tacos, to be able to walk without the hinding cove.
When buying some mountain cycling boots we will look if they have the pools and reinforced heels, which always is good to be protected from possible blows with rocks, stones, branches, etc.
Triathlon shoes
In the triathlon, maximum rigidity, aerodynamics and have good ventilation sneakers are sought, since the triathlon season is heat time. In addition, wet feet are usually, since we come from the swimming sector.
Triathlon shoes have to be easy to remove and put, so they have a heel strip to facilitate it and usually have Velcro closures.
Platform pedal shoes
In modalities such as enduro, freeride or descent, where the transmission of power is not so important and the comfort, technique and freedom of the foot are used, shoes without coves, with reinforcements and soles with good grip.
Winter cycling shoes
To combat the cold of winter and rain there are cycling shoes specifically indicated for winter that can combine high rods covering the ankle with tissues to repel the rain like goretex.
For winter you can also combine the road shoe that is used during the rest of the year with some covers.
>> Are cycling covers in winter?
Types of closures
Another important aspect to consider when choosing a cycling shoe is the type of closure. Depending on the system you carry, the footwear will fit more or less to our foot.
Lace -up closure
The classic cord continues to use a multitude of disciplines such as BMX, Enduro, Urban, Mountain Bike, etc ... even on road with models such as Empire Turn. This type of scales has in its favor that it is cheaper and customizable, but by which it has the danger that the cord is hooked on some element of the bicycle or in a branch when passing through paths.
Velcro
They are fast closures to remove and put on the shoes. And they are also light. But they have the handicap that over time can lose properties, especially if you practice mountain cycling in mud areas.
Millimeter closure of ratchet or buckles
Although until recently it was a type of closure for mid -range and high cycling shoes, with the arrival of Boa closure has been relegated to the background.
Boa closure
This closing system makes 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 system, but eye, they are not so reliable.
It is a fast and comfortable system, although the cable cast is important and try if the shoe fits our foot well. Among its cons is the price: it is usually a more expensive footwear.
Cycling Footwear Materials
Depending on the weather in the area where we live, of the discipline that we practice and of our level of demand we will need some shoes with some qualities or others. The type of material with which they are made will provide us with a different level of ventilation, comfort, protection, response capacity ...
>> The importance of choosing cycling socks well
Body and fabrics of the shoe
Cycling shoes are usually made of synthetic tissues or skin, we have to look for one that adapts well to the foot and does not stretch when pedaling so as not to lose power. If the shoe has a silver mesh inside, that will help the evacuation of the sweat of the foot.
The sole
A sole with a more rigid material better transmits the power, but if it does not adapt well to your foot it can be uncomfortable. The materials of the sneakers range from the rubber, plastics, nylon, to mixed with carbon grafts or carbon fiber.
Nylon soil shoes will help us walk, since they are more flexible, they are also cheaper. Carbon fiber will give us lightness and rigidity.
Regarding rigidity, it is not a matter of black or white, brands work with indexes that determine this value. For example, Scott uses an index between 6 and 10 stiffness, where they inform us that 6 is for cycotourists, 7 and 8 for fans and 9 and 10 for professionals. In Bontrager its index ranges from 6 to 14.
>> Are automatic pedals essential?
Problems to find a shoe that suits you?
Fortunately in the current market there are alternatives if we have problems finding shoes that adapt to us. The Spanish brand Luck works with tailored shoes from about € 200.
We can also try special templates for us. Another alternative is templates or even thermomoldable or thermoformable shoes. What is done with them is to put them in the microwave or in the oven for a few minutes and then wear them to 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 each brand and each shoe work with different hms and not all can come well for us, so the recommendation is to try before buying, because an inadequate shoe will make our outlet become a hell.
