Cycling Shoes

Cycling shoes: cleat system, sole and closure

A cycling shoe transfers everything you produce into the pedal, so the sole is doing the work a running shoe's cushioning would ruin. That is why cycling shoes feel unforgiving off the bike and why choosing one comes down to three decisions before style enters it.

Two cleat systems, one choice

Three bolt cleats such as Shimano SPD-SL and Look Keo spread load over a wide platform and suit road riding. The cleat sits proud of the sole, so walking is awkward and the cleat wears quickly on concrete.

Two bolt cleats, usually SPD, sit recessed into a lugged sole. You can walk normally, clip in from either side, and release more easily, which is why they suit mountain biking, gravel, commuting and anyone new to clipless pedals. Plenty of experienced road riders use them for the same reasons.

Sole stiffness has a ceiling

Carbon soles transfer more of your effort and cost more. Composite and nylon soles flex slightly and are more comfortable over long days for most riders. Brands publish their own stiffness index, and the numbers are not comparable across brands. Beyond about the middle of a brand's range, extra stiffness costs comfort with very little to show for it unless you sprint or race.

Closure

A Boa dial adjusts on the move and micro-adjusts in both directions on the better versions, which matters when your feet swell on a hot ride. Velcro straps are lighter, cheaper and adjust in bigger steps. Laces give the most even pressure across the foot and cannot be changed while riding.

Sizing and Australian heat

Cycling shoes use European sizing, and the conversions vary between brands, so work from the chart on each product page and ignore your usual number. Feet swell over a long ride and they swell more in Australian summer heat, so a shoe that feels perfect in an air conditioned room can be too tight at hour three. Leave a thumbnail of room at the toe, and if you are between sizes go up. Riders with wide feet should look at brands offering a wide fit, since a narrow shoe cannot be stretched enough to fix it.

We stock Shimano, Northwave, Fizik, DMT and Bont. Add shoe covers for winter and cycling socks that fit without bunching. Our Adelaide showroom carries most of this range, and shoe fit is the single best reason to come in.