Why do cyclists use shoes with cleats?
Serious cyclists use cycling shoes because of how well they transfer power from your legs to the pedals.
Wear flexible sneakers, like running shoes, and youll notice the sole bending during those out-of-saddle climbs.
I ended up using hiking shoes before I finally gave in and went shopping for actual cycling shoes.
Your shoes and pedals need to be compatible
Cycling pedals and shoes are not universally compatible.
This is what locks on to the pedal.
There are a bunch of different cleat systems.
(If youre riding outdoors and youre new to cleats, get the 56.
Its easier to unclip.)
This is where spin bike owners can breathe a sigh of relief.
You just need something to connect your foot to your bike.
Not sure what to search for?
These cleats and pedals are sometimes called clipless," even though people talk about clipping in.
That’s to distinguish them fromtoeclips.
(You know, thecage things.)
Look for “SPD pedals” and “SPD cleats” or “SPD shoes.”
(you’ve got the option to also buy the cleats on their own.)
This means they need to have screw holes in the right places.
Some shoes can take multiple types of cleat; check before you buy.
(Sometimes shoes will come with cleats attached, but not always.)
verify that you’ll have a set of cleats for each pair of shoes.
You only need one set of pedals per bike, of course.
I foundthis videohelpful when installing my cleats.
If yours are a different style, just look up a video about the throw in youve got.
After a few rides, youll have a better sense of what you might want to adjust.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Reversible pedalswith SPD on one side and toe cages on the other.
They come with SPD cleats to attach to your shoes.
Or buya pair of standard SPD pedals(no toe cage option).
They also come with cleats.
Now that youve got the pedals and cleats, all you need is a shoe.
Fortunately, tons of cycling shoes are SPD-compatible.
(Theyll have two little screw holes next to each other.)
Try these:
This Shimano unisex shoeworks with SPD or Peloton cleats.
TheTIEM Slipstreamlooks like a cute sneaker, but is actually an SPD-compatible cycling shoe.
It is also SPD-compatible.
Shimanos high performance indoor cycling shoehas a twisty-knob (BOA) closure and great reviews.
And consider your shoe options.
Better to pick a shoe that fits your foot and that has a convenient closure.
These Betoosen shoescome with LOOK Delta (Peloton-style) cleats already installed.
These Asphodelus shoescome in artsy styles and, again, have cleats pre-installed.
