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Afternoon all
I'm 50(almost), have 4 bikes for all occasions and have ridden for circa 40 years with SPD pedals and shoes.
I've written here before about my continual search for a warm shoe but have grudgingly and grumpily come to the conclusion that I need to give flat pedals a go and either bust or prove all the sage advice I've been given re warm feet and clipless pedals not working.
I've acquired a pair of flats and went out this morning in -5C but dry conditions to give them a whirl. I used my Shimano MW7 winter boots which have soles that in fairness aren't really for flat pedals.
First impressions:
My feet stayed warm and I could get to like these if I could only get my feet to stay on the pedals. In rough uphill and downhill sections, my feet were getting bounced off the pedals which was a little disconcerting.
Therefore to fully give these flat pedals a proper go I'd like to get some proper flat shoes / boots so I'm looking for the collectives thoughts and advice.
I've ideally like:
Something that's warm
Something that's waterproof
Something with a high(ish) boot profile
Something that has velco or quick lace system NO LACES PLEASE.
Something that could in a pinch be used with clips if the need arose.
Does such a moon on a stick shoe / boot exist?
Five Ten Trailcross GTX and warm socks. They have laces but I don;t find them a problem on my non GTX trailcross.
Where is your foot on the pedal? Clipless typically ends up ball of the foot over the pedal axle but flats are more secure if it's mid foot over the axle and drop your heels a bit. It helps, but it's no substitute for a grippy pedal.
If you have a flat soled boot you like already, then vibram do a sticky dots sole unit that can be resolved onto most footware.
It'll come. I had three months of feet coming off pedals, as I relearnt foot position and technique. Be patient.
Something that could in a pinch be used with clips if the need arose.
Forget it. Get some dedicated grippy sole shoes. Look for some FiveTens in the sales to learn with and wreck over the next year.
If you're lacephopic... Five Ten Freerider Pro Mid VCS
When it's cold enough for snow... Five Ten Freerider EPS Mid
Something that could in a pinch be used with clips if the need arose.
do you mean a shoe that still has cleats in it? but to be used primarily and frequently on flat pedals?
this is the moon-stick condition, especially as I guess you have a stack of existing part worn clip shoes in your possession.
Also you used these shoes:
on flat pedals in -5 degrees and found they didnt grip on the pedals?
I'd rather use running shoes or hiking boots than those. Are the soles plastic or very stiff rubber (rubberIm guessing, based on the micheline logo, but all my old spd shoes were plastic)?
Just buy something that's made for the job, IMo can't go wrong with 5:10's.
And what pedals are you using?
And summer I'm on these:
https://www.adidas.co.uk/five-ten-freerider-pro-mountain-bike-shoes/FW2822.html
Get some sealskinz socks. Game changer for winter riding
Cheers for the feedback all. As usually, some sage advice from the collective.
I chatted to my LBS today so will be swinging by him tomorrow for a butchers inc a shoes try on session.
I’ve a pair of Gore Gore-Tex socks which I’ll probably be digging out. I can’t find them now in the UK so will try and source some from the states or ex-army ones. I never got on with any of the sealskin socks….water just oozes down the neck and you end up with wet and cold feet before long.
If it's stiff enough to take a cleat it will be horrible as a flat pedal shoe, you need give in a flat pedal shoe if you want any kind of control. If you are riding in. A pair of cleat ready shoes that will be part of why your feet jump off.
I'm using my old, worn-down-at-the-heel Gore-tex lined Salomans on my flats (with Sealskins.. or, rather, Sealskins so old, they're Porelle Drys 🙂 ). They work pretty well, not cold at all... obviously no cleats, but as they're basically walking shoes, they're good for the odd walking bit!
I never got on with any of the sealskin socks….water just oozes down the neck and you end up with wet and cold feet before long.
I use the knee length sealskins complete with a pair of waterproof trousers and a Vaude Moab Mid STX boot. Water cant get inside the sealskins due to the overlap with the trousers. I let the ankle zips out a bit on the pants so they go over the cuff of the boot.
Toasty dry feet everytime. And believe me I've ridden through some truly awful weather this winter.
I use the knee length sealskins complete with a pair of waterproof trousers
yep seconded. Thermal knee length sealskins and waterproof riding trousers (Fox Ranger water trousers FWIW) have been a game changer for me this year!
just stuff them in a non-absorbent pair of flat shoes, which for me is Specialized 2FO jobs, mostly made of plastic.
I’ve a pair of Gore Gore-Tex socks which I’ll probably be digging out. I can’t find them now in the UK so will try and source some from the states or ex-army ones. I never got on with any of the sealskin socks….water just oozes down the neck and you end up with wet and cold feet before long.
I ride in DexShell socks of various heights & thicknesses all year-around.
They just work, and work well.
https://www.outdoorgb.com/b/DexShell/