Cycling Shoes for men & women

If you use your bicycle for sports intensively and spend many hours riding on the road or off road special cycling shoes are indispensable. Cycling shoes present a direct connection between the cyclist and his or her bike. Their stiff sole transfers the power of the person pedalling immediately onto the bike. To be able to accomplish this task cycling shoes are connected to the pedals with a special click system. Cycling shoes tightly embrace your feet and provide a firm hold so the power can be transferred without losses by the feet sliding inside the shoes.

Cycling shoes according to their use

Cycling shoes differ significantly depending on the type of cycling sports they are intended for. For cyclists on the road of course road bike shoes are the first choice. All those who cycle off road should opt for mountainbike shoes. For tourers and everyday users shoes with a sole of reduced stiffness and thus better off bike comfort are recommendable.

• Road Bike Shoes have a smooth and stiff sole without considerable tread. This makes them very lightweight which again has a positive effect on power transfer. In the front area a pedal plate (cleat) is mounted which locks with the corresponding road bike pedal. You should not have to do a lot of walking or running with road bike shoes because the sole is extremely inflexible, the cleat is the most elevated part and the sole tread with grip can only be found at the heels and tips. Adding to that, the high grade sole is easily scratched.
• The sole of Mountainbike Shoes is also very stiff. But the outsole features a studded tread at the sides, heels and tips. The studs, often made from rubber, provide the necessary grip on off road running sections. MTB shoes can also be fastened to corresponding MTB click pedals with special SPD pedal plates.
• Triathlon Shoes differ from road shoes only by their upper construction, the sole concept is the same. For triathletes not to lose valuable time in the transition area the shoes feature one or two easy-to-close Velcro straps and one large easy-on loop. A soft low friction interior construction without tongue allows you to wear triathlon shoes barefooted. The material is breathable and dries quickly.
• All mountain/tour/everyday cycling shoes have a more comfortable fit and a very durable upper shoe construction. The sole stiffness index presents a good balance between cycling and walking (bike ´n walk). These cycling shoes transfer more power than conventional sneakers or outdoor shoes but you can also comfortably walk shorter distances. A robust treaded rubber sole provides secure grip. Some but not all mountainbike cycling shoes can be equipped with pedal plates for a click system. Variants covering your ankles protect your ankle joint and provide additional firm hold in mountain regions.

Cycling shoes, whether with road bike or MTB sole, are also available specifically for winter. They feature a warm lining and from outside they are protected by a waterproof and windproof membrane. An ankle-high gripper, mostly made from Neoprene, prevents water and cold temperatures from penetrating.

At Bobshop you can simply select all cycling shoes by cycling shoes for women, cycling shoes for men and by season (summer/winter). All cycling shoes with treaded sole and grip can be found in our online shop under MTB shoes.

What makes a cycling shoe a cycling shoe?

1.       The sole

The crucial characteristic of a cycling shoe is the sole because the stiffness of the sole determines the degree of power transmission. The soles of standard cycling shoes are made from Nylon. Possible reinforcements in the pedal area made from carbon partially enhance the stiffness. Demanding cyclists prefer soles with higher overall stiffness. These are soles made from Carbon-Nylon-composite material and of course soles made completely from carbon. The higher the carbon ratio of the sole the stiffer and more lightweight it is and the more expensive the shoe becomes.

All soles have a cleat cutout in the pedal area. MTB cycling shoes are compatible with SPD pedals, road bike shoes with SPD-SL pedals. Sidi cycling shoes are renowned among performance oriented cyclists and well known for their extremely high grade and efficient sole constructions.

2.       Upper shoe

The upper shoe is responsible for a perfect hold within the cycling shoe. The foot must have a firm hold without sliding otherwise the power transfer would be reduced. In cycling shoes the upper shoe usually is made from faux leather. There are only a few high class shoes made from natural leather. The upper shoe should be ergonomically shaped, embrace the foot completely and feature a low friction finish. Summer cycling shoes have to be well ventilated, either by the use of mesh material or by perforations in the leather. The elasticity of the material should offer comfort without compromising the hold. Reinforcements in heels and toe areas provide additional firm hold.

3.    The Fastening

The optimum fastening enables you to individually, quickly and easily adjust the cycling shoe to the shape of your foot. In this context it is important to keep in mind that the shoe might need to be re-adjusted on bike. For traditionalists the classic lacing system remains the best choice. On bike though it is difficult to lace. Lacing is accomplished in a much easier way either with Velcro straps which might give in over time though or with a combination of ratchet closure on the instep and Velcro straps across the front of the foot. Ratchet closures can be quickly and reliably fixated and they also allow for micro adjustment on bike. More and more cyclists opt for Dial closures (e.g. BOA). Fine wires serve as wide range lacing and are continuously adjustable with a dial closure. The dial closure is super easy to handle on bike. Dial closures are also combined with Velcro straps very often.

4.    The insole

The insole of a cycling shoe should offer support for your foot and regulate the foot climate. For this purpose the insole should be ergonomically shaped, quickly wick moisture away and should feature a bacteriostatic, odour inhibiting surface. Often insoles can be removed and replaced with an individual insole. In some Scott cycling shoes the sole can be adjusted to the arch of the foot with two inserts of different thicknesses.

Cycling shoes with SPD or SPD-SL click systems

The Shimano click system, apart from Look, Speedplay, Synchros, etc. is the system most frequently sold in Germany. Cycling shoes with SPD system (Shimano Pedaling Dynamics) guarantee a perfect power transfer to the pedal. With the click system you can not only hit the pedal without sliding off but you can also pull it upward. The entire pedalling procedure becomes more efficient thanks to the cycling shoes with SPD system. The exit action requires a simple twist of the foot. The exiting force is individually adjustable.

For MTB cycling shoes the robust Shimano SPD system is recommendable. The pedal is compact and dirt repellent in its construction and ideally fits between the treads of MTB cycling shoes. For road bike shoes Shimano offers the flat SPD-SL pedals which ideally match the smooth road bike soles. The corresponding cleats feature a rather wide construction thus making walking more comfortable.