| The shoes you wear while touring on your bicycle will | | | | to run and climb, so have a more flexible sole while still |
| dictate a lot of your tour and will be one of the most | | | | be stiff enough to be reasonably efficient. These |
| basic decisions you will need to make. Do you want | | | | shoes have recessed cleats so you'll be able to walk |
| dedicated, hard-soled cycling shoes? Or will regular | | | | without hobbling. |
| sneakers work for you? | | | | They have recessed cleats which makes walking |
| The most fundamental question you will have to | | | | much easier and you'll be able to go for short hikes in |
| answer in this area is about the footwear you want to | | | | them. You will be able to walk comfortably around |
| use. Do you want special or cleated shoes you'll wear | | | | grocery stores or on short hikes without changing your |
| only for cycling? Or do you want one all-purpose pair | | | | shoes. You may opt not to change into other shoes in |
| of shoes? There are advantages and disadvantages | | | | campgrounds. |
| to both. | | | | Drawbacks to mountain bike shoes are that many |
| Cleats: You've seen cyclists hobbling around after | | | | people find them uncomfortable for walking long |
| getting off their bikes. They are wearing very hard | | | | distances, so still need to carry another pair of shoes if |
| soles with cleats on the bottom which help them pedal | | | | they plan to do much walking - hiking or long |
| more efficiently. With these shoes, your feet will be | | | | sightseeing trips in cities. The cleats can also clog up |
| firmly attached to the pedals so you can pull up as well | | | | when walking in mud and will need to be scraped |
| as push down on the pedals, which makes your | | | | clean with sticks occasionally. |
| pedaling much more efficient. | | | | Regular sneakers: Still other cyclists prefer the |
| In addition, dedicated bicycling shoes have a hard sole | | | | simplicity of regular shoes. With this option your |
| to transfer energy more efficiently and prevent energy | | | | pedaling stroke won't be as efficient, but you won't |
| being absorbed by the rubber. Because they are | | | | have to deal with changing shoes. Look for trail running |
| made for cycling, they are reinforced in all the right | | | | shoes that are designed for flexing in one direction for |
| places and will last longer. At the end of a long day on | | | | walking, but not to flex down over rocks or pedals. |
| the bike, your feet will feel much better than with | | | | Salomons and Keens have been well tested on the |
| regular sneakers as the pressure of the pedal is | | | | bike. |
| distributed throughout the entire sole rather than being | | | | If you opt for this choice, you'll have to decide what to |
| concentrated on the ball of your foot. | | | | do about holding your feet on the pedal. Some cyclists |
| However, that efficiency and comfort comes at a | | | | go with toe clips, others with Power Grips, and still |
| price. Due to the stiffness of the shoes, it is very | | | | others simply use pedals with spikes to prevent their |
| difficult to walk in cleats. When you need to go into the | | | | feet from slipping off. You will not have the advantage |
| grocery store or walk across a bridge or take a quick | | | | of using your upstroke, but many cyclists find they are |
| hike back to a waterfall, you will have to change your | | | | perfectly comfortable without that. |
| shoes. As soon as you arrive in the campsite, your | | | | I recommend trying all three options and see type of |
| first task will be to dig out your other shoes and put | | | | footwear works best for you. I've tried them all and |
| them on. Climbing an embankment for a better photo | | | | have found I prefer the simplicity of regular sneakers. |
| may end up being more hassle than it's worth. | | | | Others find hard-soled cycling shoes to their liking. |
| Hybrid shoes: Mountain biking shoes are one option to | | | | There is no right and wrong answer, so find what |
| stiff-soled cycling shoes that may work for you. They | | | | works for you! |
| are designed for mountain bikers who need to be able | | | | |