| By Mr.Andrew Caxton | | | | fact is that apart from the general discomfort that |
| Mountain bike shoes are an integral part of your | | | | bikers experience during mountain biking, there is also |
| mountain biking equipments since the right shoes can | | | | the trouble of feet swelling during treacherous terrains. |
| make your ride comfortable and help you to handle | | | | It is therefore wise to use laceless mountain biking |
| strenuous pedaling and difficult situations like feet | | | | shoes. These not only provide comfort during general |
| swelling etc. during long mountain biking trips. There are | | | | biking but also allow more room for your feet in case |
| a wide variety of mountain bike shoes available | | | | they swell. Mountain Bike shoes are available in many |
| nowadays ranging from Clipless pedal shoes to | | | | varieties and options. There are mountain bike shoes |
| custom-made mountain bike shoes. However there | | | | having stiff soles for mountain bikers who require |
| are some basic as well as individual specific factors | | | | pedaling power. Then there are the flexible shoes |
| which can help you decide and select your mountain | | | | which can be used while biking as well as trekking in |
| bike shoes. Investing in a good pair of mountain bike | | | | the mountains. The choice is yours. However if the |
| shoes is essential since they can comfort your feet | | | | selection process seems confusing you could get the |
| and prove enjoyable, safe and efficient while you go | | | | opinion and advice of other experienced biking |
| mountain biking. Nowadays you can easily find shoes | | | | enthusiasts or the salesperson at the mountain bike |
| designed for use with clipless pedals as well as shoes | | | | retail outlet. Unlike in the past, mountain bike shoes can |
| with toe clips and standard pedals which give bikers | | | | be custom-made to suit your liking or your specific |
| the opportunity to pick and choose. However in the | | | | requirement or the type of terrain you wish to explore |
| past the choices were limited and clipless pedals did | | | | during your next mountain biking trip. The basic principle |
| not exist. Bikers had to struggle with shoes having | | | | to follow is that your mountain bikes pedals determine |
| toe-clips and this sometimes caused hindrance while | | | | the type of shoes you should wear. Though having |
| riding. For instance, if there was an accident during the | | | | mountain bike shoes with either Velcro straps or |
| race, the biker could not free his feet from the | | | | complex straps instead of laces is a good choice |
| toe-clips thus causing the biker to fall with the bike and | | | | since such shoes can be opened or unhooked. Also |
| hurt himself as well as damage the bike. Shimano | | | | some more aspects for consideration while buying |
| Pedaling Dynamics The viable option of Clipless pedals | | | | your mountain bike shoes is that the shoe should be a |
| available nowadays is preferred by bikers mainly | | | | little curved at the ball of the foot and the soles should |
| because of the safety factor that they offer. An | | | | be smooth, tough and inflexible. Basically the shoes |
| alternative to Clipless pedals are Mountain Bike shoes | | | | should be adaptable while you are mountain biking. |
| with Shimano Pedaling Dynamics (SPD). So if your bike | | | | Andrew Caxton is a syndicated columnist on different |
| does not have the option of Clipless pedals, you could | | | | resources like . A focused website that offers the |
| very well use mountain Bike shoes with SPD. A known | | | | best articles on cycling shoes and sport tried. |