Why You Should Use Bike Specific Shoes

Surprise! Bike-specific shoes make a huge difference.

When you’re first starting, any old pair of sneakers works. You probably aren’t riding very long distances. Also, you are still trying to get a feel for what extra support your body needs and what bikes feel the best to you. But, once you get into riding a little more, you’re going to want to switch to bike-specific shoes. Here’s why.

Support – bike specific shoes feature a stiff midsole supporting your foot. This will help with fatigue on long rides or long weekends of riding. Bike specific shoes also provide much more grip on the pedal or allow you to connect to the pedal. The grip will help keep your feet on your pedals and avoid some of those shin scars. 

Comfort – just like other shoe brands out there, bike-specific brands fit each foot differently. If you’ve got wide feet, ask which brands are made for you. The same goes for narrow feet, high arches, or whatever you’ve got going on. Once you’ve found the right ones, you’ll start to see the benefits during your rides. 

Performance – bike specific shoes give you the most pedal contact. This means that your pedal performance will increase. If you go the clipless route, you need shoes that fit, but if you’re riding flat pedals you’ll notice the contact aspect right away. 

Pedal Efficiency – the stiffness of the sole will help with your pedal efficiency. This will give you more power for each pedal stroke due to the lack of flex from your stiff soles. 

Protection – bike specific shoes offer your feet more protection for the elements you’ll encounter. They are lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying. They offer protection to your toes and heels since those points are most likely to make contact. 

If you’re looking for your first pair of bike-specific shoes, stop in! We carry a large selection of brands for you to try and we’re here to help you find the right pair!