| Athletic shoes used to be a specialty niche - one | | | | your foot firmly planted on the pedal at all times. This |
| which did not provide much in the way of options until | | | | will ensure that you do not lose your grip and cause an |
| very recently. However, now you can find hundreds of | | | | accident. These shoes provide optimum energy |
| different brands and styles of shoes for essentially | | | | transfer and are best for road cyclists. |
| every sport. Cycling, with its recent and meteoric rise in | | | | For a mountain biker, this type of shoe would be |
| popularity, has enjoyed a similar growth and thus | | | | incredibly dangerous. Therefore, different shoes are |
| choosing cycling shoes can be both fun and | | | | required for offroad cycling. It is vital to be able to get |
| somewhat complex. | | | | on and off of a bike almost instantly when riding in |
| For the Casual Cyclist | | | | rough terrain or on big hills, especially with the |
| For those that do not spend that much time cycling - | | | | heightened risk of falling that accompanies these |
| maybe a few hours a week as basic recreation or | | | | routes. In addition, mountain biking shoes need to be |
| transportation - specialty shoes are probably | | | | able to double as a sturdy hiking shoe or boot because |
| unnecessary. Good tennis shoes or running shoes will | | | | you may be forced to hike a ways or carry your |
| often do the trick. For these individuals, any shoe with | | | | bicycle over especially harsh terrain while on a ride. |
| a solid grip will be effective. The only advice you | | | | The closures on professional cycling shoes will vary as |
| should heed is to stay away from casual walking | | | | well, offering different choices for different riding styles. |
| shoes or old tennis shoes with worn down soles or | | | | Laces are always a popular choice, while Velcro is the |
| holes. Also, try not to wear shoes with long, loose | | | | usual selection for professionals whose feet are |
| laces that cannot be restrained. | | | | planted to the pedal. You want to choose a shoe that |
| For the Active Cyclist | | | | will be comfortable and allow you to feel safe while |
| For someone that is more active in the sport, the | | | | pedaling. If Velcro provides that feeling of safety, |
| options are more plentiful and a good, dedicated | | | | consider buying a Velcro shoe. |
| cycling shoe is recommended. As mentioned above, a | | | | When exercising, you must consider and purchase the |
| shoe that provides a good grip is vital. Not only can a | | | | right kind of equipment, especially as you begin to |
| loose sole result in slippage and injury; a good, stiff sole | | | | cycle more often and more intensely. Without the right |
| will allow you to transfer more energy from your | | | | shoes, you risk not only injuring your leg or foot, but |
| motion to the pedals and thus you will perform better. | | | | causing unnecessary pain in your lower body and |
| The choices for avid cyclists are many and will often | | | | losing a good percentage of the energy being |
| depend on your style of bike, personal preferences, | | | | transferred from your legs to the pedals. For |
| and past experience. The first and most common type | | | | efficiency, safety, and general enjoyment, consider a |
| of cycling shoe has a clip attached to the toe to keep | | | | pair of dedicated cycling shoes. |