Road Shoes // Road-shoe soles are stiff (for maximizing pedaling efficiency) and smooth (no tread equals lighter weight). Many utilize a triangular, three-bolt cleat-mounting pattern compatible with the most common road-pedal systems-Look, imitation Look, and Shimano. Some road shoes also offer a four-bolt sole compatible with Speedplay pedals. Low- to mid-range road shoes often have a two-bolt pattern (in addition to the three-bolt design) to accommodate mountain bike-style cleats. Twobolt cleats allow riders to use dual-sided mountain bike pedals (which are easier to step into) and are often found on spin bikes, making them ideal for indoor riders.
Uppers on road shoes are lightweight and made from soft, supple leather or synthetic materials that aim to provide a snug yet comfortable fit. Some designs have nylon mesh to keep your feet cool and a stiff, reinforced heel cup to stop your foot from slipping out while pedaling. Knit uppers are also used for their comfortable fit and added ventilation.
Mountain Bike Shoes // Clipless mountain bike shoes have grippy lugs and exclusively accept two-bolt cleats. This type of shoe is often the choice for those who ride gravel and race cyclocross, and companies have started to make versions specifically tailored to these disciplines. While top-end mountain shoes often feature carbon soles and are as stiff as a road-racing shoe, many clipless models have a bit of flex in the sole. Depending on the shoe, this can add comfort for long events (such as gravel races) or make walking off the bike more comfortable. Mountain shoes usually use heavier-duty upper materials to withstand more rugged conditions-dirt, mud, rocks, roots-and armored toes and heels for durability and to reduce the pain from rock strikes.
This story is from the Issue 05, 2022 edition of Bicycling US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 05, 2022 edition of Bicycling US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
ONE MAN'S OBSESSIVE CRUSADE TO Take Down Zwift Cheats
Indoor cycling and virtual racing are booming, and so are the ranks of digital dopers abusing the platforms.
WHAT I LEARNED WHEN LOST IT ON A MOUNTAIN BIKE
A lifelong roadie tries singletrack for the first time. It did not go as planned.
THE UNLIKELY HERO WHO RECOVERED OVER 200 STOLEN BIKES IN ONE AMERICAN CITY
It was a sunny day in the summer of 2022. There were some things I had to move into the house, so I left the garage door open. I was gone less than 15 minutes.
YOU CAN BE MORE THAN JUST A CYCLIST
I'VE ALWAYS HAD A LOVE FOR SPORTS, starting with the usual team ones such as football and baseball. But that faded in favor of more individual pursuits. Watching my dad roll down the driveway to go for a ride, I wanted to do the same. The bike was my first taste of freedom, a freedom to do it my way.
THE RIGHT SADDLE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
UP UNTIL RECENTLY, I WAS, AT BEST, A TWICEa-month cyclist.
HOW TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE RIDER YOU USED TO BE
CYCLISTS OF ALL LEVELS GO THROUGH various phases or eras over the years they spend in the saddle. For the vast majority of riders (myself included), these things happen privately, without fanfare.
BIKES MAKE THE WORLD A MORE INCLUSIVE PLACE
LIFE'S A BEAUTIFUL PUZZLE THAT COMES in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD CYCLING SCENE, ANYWAY?
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF INVOLVING myself in a few populous and dramatically different cycling communities.
CHOOSE GEAR THAT INSPIRES YOU TO HAVE FUN E
EVEN THOUGH I TEST LOADS OF CYCLING gear for a living, sometimes I get locked in on particular items and find it difficult to enjoy competing products, even if those products have obvious advantages.
WHY YOU DESERVE A CUSTOM BIKE
Custom. The word evokes passionate opinions about what constitutes a custom-made bike and who gets to ride one. There's this idea that they're wildly expensive pieces of functional art meant only for the fittest, fastest riders.