Are Cycling Shoes Worth It?
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I tested three pairs of shoes to see if pro-level cycling shoes can make you sprint faster.
Sneakers https://amzn.to/3sPy6uF
Mid-level Shoes https://amzn.to/3sCO4b3
Pro-level Shoes https://amzn.to/3NalIyk
Strava activity for this ride https://www.strava.com/activities/7994346950
Bike https://www.velopasadena.com/product/bmc-roadmachine-five-394882-1.htm
Bike Computer https://amzn.to/3BFI8S2
Power Meter Pedals https://amzn.to/3MBBtN7
Bike Saddle https://amzn.to/3zuyKCa
Shoes https://amzn.to/2VdW84X
Saddle Bag https://www.orucase.com/collections/all-products/products/saddle-bag?variant=12984166514741
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When you think about the fact that the pros are all getting on the podium based on a difference of sometimes hundredths of a second, even a marginal increase in performance makes a big difference. But for most people, the difference in how we do in a race is mostly just coming down to our preparation and whether or not we have the best equipment is pretty far down the list of priorities.
I do not care how many Watts I might produce with any shoe, I care for how comfortable, good-looking and easy to handle shoes are. The pro-level shoes in this "test" maybe lightweight but they feature outdated technology using velcro straps for closure. If the mid-level shoe in this had proper full-carbon soles, it’s beat the "pro level" by a mile.
If you just want to break a big number of watts for a second or two, drop down a few cogs on the final seconds of your sprint. Your cadence is too high and you are losing some power bouncing around. With a lower cadence and a higher torque you can squeeze a few more watts out. Sprinting takes a lot of core stability and good technique in order to channel your energy into just the direction of movement of the pedal. You can do more watts with just improved the technique and no greater ftp.
I am not trying to break anything but you forgot to mention clip-on pedals, for leisure cycling, I prefer Nike Challenger OG at $52.97 can’t go wrong!
I’d love to see you go back to mid-level shoes after breaking the 1200W and try to repeat it in those cheaper shoes. I expect it’s just as likely to make it pass 1200 after you got rid of the mental blockages… and expectations.
yeah , I’ll never buy cycling shoes
Midrange shoe is more comfortable and it lasts longer and prolevel shoes are all very narrow and my feet are very wide like flippers because of doing martial arts half my life with bear feetโฆ๐
Would seem only right that if your going to use sneakers that you would use traditional pedals with toe-clips and straps. You might surprise yourself. I do find that narrow sneakers work best.
Taking to account the price of the bike with newest Ultegra di2, extra 200$ for shoes is nothing.
Congrats with beating 1200 watts!
Of course this review is for racer cyclists. We urban proletariat cyclists rather use our sneakers, unless we plan to tap dance anywhere, that’s the time we use cleats.
Just wear crocs
what about toeclips?
Of course not, cycling is all about your physical ability not accessories
Best advice: $30 crocs work amazing
If i would only buy what i need the industry would die out. I buy the highend shoe because i want the best.
So Sebastian Vettel abandons F1 for his YT channel ๐
My all-time favorite shoes are the cheapest SPD ones from Decathlon.
They’re super versatile and easy to walk in and each pair lasts 10-15K km (6-10K miles for those who measure stuff with body parts and plant seeds).
And they cost about 50 EUR.
If i would only buy what i need the industry would die out. I buy the highend shoe because i want the best.
Thanks for watching! Remember to use code MITCH20 for 20% off your first order with Bombas ๐งฆ
I have the Fizik Vento Powerstrap shoes too. I replaced an 8 year old pair of Fizik. I wish they hadn’t changed how they sized their shoes as I like better how the old ones fit. I do love them though. Especially in the hot and humid N.C. summers. I can feel the air moving through them. (The old ones are narrower and I have somewhat narrow feet.)
The jump in power from flats to clipless says more about the rider than the shoes.
I would say the sneakers deserve an honorable mention for giving the magic ability to average a performance above all individual inputs ๐
Good (and reassuring) conclusion for the average Sunday rider. Thx for the video.
yes
just wear thongs, or crocs, that is all you need, we have been riding for years and that is the only foot wear we use !
Iโm kinda confused at the beginning where the average of the sneakers is higher than Sprint 1 and 2.
Aside from that, congratulations on breaking the 1200.
You were losing grip on your Nikes because you are riding on standard reflector type pedals. When riding on flat pedal shoes the pedal itself makes a massive difference.
I think this test would have been even better if you had included a pair of flat pedal cycling shoes (and maybe even some SPD sneakers) so that you weren’t just comparing street shoes to clipless shoes.
Hi, just a couple of points of discussion concerning the objectivity of some testing criteria/methods. feel free to comment ๐ :
– Power testing: isn’t testing with sprints a bit odd as 1. Sprints are super volatile by nature, 2. if you do 3 full-out sprints even within the same day the power usually goes down by the time you reach the expensive shoes? I don’t know whether you did more than one take per sprints also but potentially yes.
– Function: the most expensive shoes you chose are summer shoes. If you pick e.g. the Fizik R1 the material is far better, works 4 seasons etc.
– Basic cycling shoes: the gap you found between the normal shoes and the mid-tier ones would be filled by the basic cycling shoes with rigid plastic soles. The clipping itself gives an incredible boost in wattage.
In any case the best bang for the buck I believe remains the mid-tier (owned all of the 4 levels). Nice video overall in any case ๐
Suprising you were going with the red look pedal plates.
Had no problems with accidently clicking out in sprints ?
I would always drop out of my pedals as a kid.
Always needed the black ones…
Great review and comparisons. Interesting to see the diminishing point of returns with the high end shoe. I guess if you’re a pro, or even just racing regularly, then any extra power is worth it but for your average weekend warrior, the mid range is a more than satisfactory compromise.
Boa dials are a better fit every time and doing 6 max level power tests in one ride is ludicrous if they are truly MAX power
You are Sebastian Vettel’s twin๐ …by the way, great video.
Sneaker means you donโt need to bring an extra pair of shoes. Connivence should also be a factor.
We had a similar conversation a few days ago. I have an entry shoe & 2 pair of Fizik. A pair of Decos & a pair of Overcurve R4. I have to try this one day. I went on a shoe bender.
Yes
just cycle in crocs like a real man
Vans, cuz im broke hahahaha
My SPD Bike shoes did only cost 65โฌ
I don’t bike at all, could someone explain what I’m looking for on his socks at 4:02?
I prefer sneaks… Then install a toe cage.
I would have added Five Ten flats. I personally think they work great on a road bike. Stiff sole and they stick to the pedals, and when you get off the bike they’re just a regular shoe.
Feel like working on your form would result in better results.
You look like your loosing a lot of your driving force in your sprints.
Most of us recreational cyclists dont even have that much of watts as you, so defnitely mid level shoes! Great video.
54 dollars for 3 pair of socks.. Lolllโฆ๐๐
I currently wear two flat pedalling shoe pairs, Ride Concepts LiveWire and adidas Five Ten FreeRider. I have had plantar fasciitis before and the roads here in Boston have a ton of potholes, so getting shoes with some stickiness to the bottoms and a full hard sole to ride on is key.
on my experience, you can only really appreciate the cleats shoes on climb.
Think you were selling those Nikes short with those plastic pedals. I would re-test them with a more aggressive metal pedal.
great test, man! it is a tricky one..i think using something like the Garmin power pedals with cycling dynamics to tell the full story of your pedal stroke efficiency would also help, be a more complete picture of whether or not you’re using enough of your pedal stroke to get the benefits of the stiffer shoe? i don’t have the most efficient pedal stroke myself, it’s about 60%L-65%R so I don’t tend to bother too much with super stiff shoes, its a waste on me.
for people who do race and dont have a massive budget and deal often with damage etc, the mid level shimano shoes are one of the best go to shoes. You can also easily get them customized with some paint and some artistic skills, they arent worth much so your money isnt wasted.
umm the average of 848 and 884 is not 886. Otherwise, nice video.