How to choose your road cycling shoes?

Whether you are a beginner, a regular cyclist or a professional wearing good shoes is an essential element for your comfort and your performance. The choice of your shoes will depend on your practice and your needs.

A bicycle shoe is made up of 3 parts: the sole in contact with the pedal via a cleat, the upper and the tightening. We explain how to choose your road cycling shoes.

The important components of a bicycle shoe

The sole

According to your practice and your expectations, your soles will be different. It is the essential component of your shoe.

• Stiff sole (For a regular cyclist or a cyclist looking for performance): it is light and often made of carbon to avoid deformation. It allows the cyclist to transmit a maximum of energy to the pedal and thus ensure a better performance during your effort.

• Semi-rigid sole (More for the beginner cyclist): If you are looking for comfort rather than performance, choose a semi-rigid sole. Indeed it is more flexible than the carbon sole.

Most road shoes have a 3-hole sole that is compatible with most automatic pedals on the market.

The tightening

There are various types of tightening, with scratch, with micrometric straps and with laces.

• The scratchs are recommended for beginners. Indeed, they offer more comfort and maintain your foot sufficiently. Moreover, it is easy to adjust them even while riding.

DID YOU KNOW :

In wet weather, the Velcro straps can lose their grip. In addition, depending on the weather conditions and the frequency of use, the grip of the scratch loses its effectiveness. It is therefore essential to perform maintenance and cleaning of the scratch frequently.

• The micrometric tightening (Example: BOA system) allows you to adjust your shoe according to your foot. You can also tighten or loosen it while riding in order to have a maximum performance when you pedal. The tightening with this type of system is the most precise and most effective in therme of performance.

• The laces are back in fashion, in fact some brands offer high-end models with vintage style without forgetting the rigidity and performance.

The comfort

A well-maintained foot promotes comfort as well as the performance of your pedaling. Your foot should not slip in the shoe whether you are sitting or dancing. Also, be careful that it is not too tight to avoid injury. Indeed, your foot will swell during the effort so think of loosening your shoe during the effort.

Product expert's advice:

If you buy soft, well-ventilated shoes, they are very comfortable but are not very resistant to cold temperatures. Shoe covers will be necessary in this case, as they insulate against cold and water. Nicolas - Product expert for the cycling world About Nicolas: "Passionate about the sea and the mountains and a great travel enthusiast, I particularly enjoy surfing, trail riding, biking and snowboarding in winter."

TO REMEMBER :

• It is necessary to know your pedal system and to ensure compatibility between the two.

• The sole and the tightening system will be elements to take into account in your choice.

• If you want a rigid model to transmit all your power, then the carbon sole is made for you.

• If you are not looking for performance, for beginners or for leisure, choose a semi-rigid sole.