It's hard to choose the right cycling shoe from the multitude of models on the market. Carbon fiber soles? Nylon? Rubber? Velcro or ratchet closure? To make the right choice, you need to carefully analyze your needs. Here are 8 points to consider...
1. Type of cycling practiced
The cycling shoe models vary greatly depending on the type of cycling practiced. The needs for road cycling differ from mountain biking , cycle touring, or spinning .
For those who want the best of both worlds, brands like Specialized or Giro offer "leisure" shoes that combine the performance of a clipless shoe with the versatility of a walking shoe sole.
2. Frequency
Riding 2,000 kilometers a year requires a higher quality shoe than if you only go for a ride three times during the summer!
3. Budget
You need to define the budget you are willing to invest. The lighter and more breathable a shoe is, the better its quality, but it will also be more expensive.
4. Weight
A heavy person will need a stiffer shoe to adequately support their foot and avoid deforming the pedal stroke.
Once these first 4 criteria have been considered, you choose your shoe based on a few technical criteria.
5. Material
The shoe should be snug and reduce friction with the foot to prevent blisters. It should be comfortable from the moment you try it on in the store, because, due to its stiffness, it will not mold to your foot like an ordinary shoe.
The sole of most mountain biking, spinning , cycle touring, and hybrid shoes is made of rubber. This material offers good resistance and better grip on the ground, while being relatively flexible.
Nylon, plastic, and carbon fiber are usually the preserve of road cycling. "The more you lean towards carbon fiber, the better," says Steve, manager of the Bicycles Quilicot store in Sainte-Thérèse. "It's impressive and people think it's reserved for competition, but even a cyclist who does 500 kilometers a year will feel the difference."
6. Sole type
Mountain bikes, spinning , and hybrid bikes require a shoe with a more flexible sole for walking. Cleats are preferred for mountain biking and polymer soles for spinning and cycle touring.
For road cycling, however, the cleat attached to the shoe is much bulkier, and the sole is much stiffer. This will allow for more power transfer to the pedal, but walking "normally" will be more complicated!
7. Attachment
Two models exist on the market.
2-hole . Commonly called SPD ( Shimano Pedaling Dynamics), these cleats are small and concealed in the sole to allow walking. They are compatible with shoes for mountain biking, cycle touring, and hybrid bikes.
3-hole .
Sometimes known as the Look-style System , or SPD-SL, this attachment is reserved for road cycling. Much larger, it allows for better energy transfer to the pedal. "If the contact surface is large, the support and power will be better. The key is to maximize the road cyclist's effort, because it's very demanding," explains Steve.
8. Closure
At the entry-level, Velcro will often be used, but it tends to shift with foot movements. Therefore, ratchet closures are ideal, as they allow for a perfect adjustment of the shoe to the foot. Lace-up shoes are now making a comeback and are found on some high-end models.
Once the right shoe has been chosen, the addition of cycling accessories is another aspect to consider, depending on your practice.
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