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Planning a few nights away in the hills with the SS and I'm under no illusion that there will be walking. For those that have done it before did you go flats or clipless, and if you went flats, what were your reasons? I'm erring towards clipless as it's easier to keep rolling on the SS and I also have decent boots.
Happy to hear all thoughts, and recommendations.
Shimano mt91 or some other walking shoe type spd for me. I use a old pair of nike ones.
6 and two threes. I normally ride in normal trainers on flats. Comfy to walk in and grippy over rough or rocky ground.
Having said that the most hike a bike I ever do is on the three peaks and I do that in a set of racing shoes with a super stiff sole.
Have you tried both options? You might not want to test out something new on a long ride. Other than that you'll have to work out which one offers most advantage. Personally I would take the spds as you'll be riding more than walking?
Always SPDs (actually Crank Bros Candies) for me unless it is the middle of winter and I'm on the fatbike in which case flats. Cleats tend to ice up if walking in snow.
I trashed a pair of SPD shoes on a longer trip with a lot of hike-a-bike (cracked sole, separated rubber and plastic on the sole, etc - actually became a trip hazzard), said that next time I'd use flats and something more comfy and durable for proper mountain stuff. Good for techy riding too. But riding SS and hike-a-bike, there's a dilemma! ) For a couple of days, SPDs. Ideally MT91s or similar as suggested, prob the best bet.
I use these, (hope this works, looks like Flikrs changed again)
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Bollox!
Double bollox, I give up.
I find specialized rime pretty decent for hike a bike, (apart from I don't get on with the BG slant).
The mavic alpines look like they will do the same job, but they don't seem to make them in a full grown mans size. In fact I am getting really tired of cycling companies not making shoes in adult ****ing sizes, just because the pro's are all tiny little freaks doesn't mean the rest of us are.
Spec BG Comps/other for most of the mountains in the Lakes, same thing on 5-10 Minnars some slightly quicker wear on cleats but thats it.
I'd be wearing some Shimano MT91's for that
Unless it's slippy and slimey some Shimano AM45s will see you right for that. Not too $$$ either.
Or the new Giro Terraenduro or Spec Rime. But they are $$$
Cheers all.
Jimmy, here's your photo?
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was down the back of the Flickr sofa.
I've been using Northwave Celsius boots and they seem ok to walk in, not too stiff. I've not used flats for years and don't have any stiff enough soled shoes, but I wanted others opinions.
Specialized Tahoe sports, vibram sole, quite stiff but with a but of flex and not stupid expensive.
The best looking shoes I've seen are the Pearl Izumi ones that look like running shoes. However you'll struggle to get around the problem caused by the stiff soles with whatever SPD shoes you have.
Does anyone do a shoe with the stiff bit of the sole just at the front to allow proper flexibility when walking?
I've done long hikes in the Lakes where I've carried some lightweight trainers with me and swapped shoes for the long climbs, but I wouldn't do that for lots of short climbs.