Choosing the right cycling shoes and gear for you
Here at BikeChain, you’ll find over 100 pairs of kicks from the best cycling shoe brand on the market, Northwave. Whether you’re after affordable, entry-level options below $100, or you only want the very best, it’s all here. We also offer a great line-up of cycling cleats, again from Northwave as well as BBB and Time.
So, how do you choose the right gear for you? The type of riding you do determines the best footwear for you, so let’s start there.
Road riding shoes
If you’re just starting out biking, chances are you will be wearing runners or comfortable, sensible flat footwear. Once you progress and feel more relaxed and confident on the bike, we strongly recommend you upgrade to a road-riding-specific shoe.
Typically, this means a ‘clipless’ shoe. This term is a complete contradiction and can be confusing, as it infers the shoe doesn’t clip. On the contrary, a clipless shoe features a clip that slots into pedals, keeping the foot firmly in place and requiring the rider to ‘clip-out’ in order to remove their foot from the pedal. But more on this shortly!
Benefits of road shoes
Lightweight - the more cycling you do, or the more you focus on performance, the lighter you want your shoes. The reason is obvious - even though you are on a bike, every revolution (a full cycle of the pedal) takes effort. It’s all about marginal gains!
Sole stiffness - a stiff sole contributes to more efficient transfer of power from the foot through to the pedal. As such, the stiffer the sole the more energy-efficient the shoe.
Ventilation - all that effort works up sweat and swelling. Good road bike shoes feature ventilated panels or breathable material that encourage air circulation around the foot, helping to reduce sweat and swell.
Power - we touched on this briefly earlier. A clipless shoe also contributes to more efficient power transfer. How? Because it encourages as much performance in the upward pulling motion as it does the downward pushing.
Road cycle cleats
Choose between a two-hole or three-hole cleat. Most road riding shoes feature three sole holes, making them compatible with Time, Look, Shimano and Wahoo Speedplay cleats.
The two-hole cleat system is compatible again with Time and Shimano but also crankbrothers. Be mindful that road bike shoe cleats protrude from the sole, making it awkward to walk for very long (and doing so usually results in penguin imitations!).
Mountain bike shoes
You typically have two choices of MTB shoe - flat or clipless. Flat will feature textured soles that help to grip the pedal. They enable the rider to swiftly take their foot on or off, rather than having to firstly clip in or out.
Clipless mountain bike shoes generally feature an integrated two-bolt system from Time, SDP or crankbrothers. Unlike their road equivalent, this recessed design means the sole is fairly flat and therefore the cyclist can walk or ride easily off the bike (and not imitate a penguin, as we mentioned earlier!).
Benefits of MTB shoes
Protection - typically speaking, the more expensive the shoe the more protection it tends to offer such as ankle cover, waterproof or water-repellent features or buckle-and-ratchet straps for a more secure fit.
Sole stiffness - the power transfer from foot to pedal is improved with sole stiffness.
Ventilation - look for ventilated panels or breathable material that makes the shoe as ventilated as possible.
Power transfer - a clipless shoe enables the rider to have an upward pull that is as efficient as their downward push.
Mountain bike cleats
Unlike road bikes, MTBs tend to use the two-hole system, making them compatible with Time, crankbrothers or SDP.
CX or Gravel bike shoes
Whilst some brands are beginning to create CX or gravel-specific bike shoes, the majority of MTB options will be appropriate.
Tips for fitting into bike shoes
Follow these handy hits to find a perfect fit for you:
Aim for a snug fit that is comfortable. Nothing too tight, nothing too loose. Don’t forget - many styles of bike shoe enable you to tighten them width-wise, so you can start very snug and then release during the ride as the foot naturally expands.
Allow a few millimetres in front of your toe tips. Unlike walking or running, there is no need for the foot to move forward in the shoe. As such, don’t opt for too much space in your riding shoe.
The heel should hold your foot in nicely. If your foot moves out of the shoe when walking, it’s not the right fit for you.
Make sure nothing is poking into your feet or scratching (velcro straps?) your skin. This sensation will only amplify during the ride.
So, now your kicks are sorted, let’s look at cycling shoe accessories!
Our range of cycling accessories
Bike shoes are a little like a car; when something breaks down over time, you can often replace the part without replacing the entire shoe itself. It’s sustainable, budget-saving and makes smart sense! We stock a handy range of cycling accessories sure to save money. Items include hardware and strap replacements, arch support and cleat covers.
Contact us
If you have any more questions, just contact us. We’d love to hear from you and do what we can to find the perfect bike shoe fit for you. Remember - we offer AfterPay, making it easy for you to enjoy your purchase now and pay off in smaller instalments. Don’t forget we deliver free Australia-wide when you spend more than $100.
