Mountain Bike Shoes? Me? I rode with platform pedals and tennis shoes for 4-years. After my trip to Colorado in the summer of 2010 I decided to get some cycling shoes. This is why. I probably saw 300 bikers in my two weeks in Colorado and ... I only saw two people without biking shoes. Me, and ... a really geeky looking teenager with pimples and a bad haircut. I watched him ride and decided I didn't want to look like him!

Guess which one was me!

Seriously, I was convinced there must be some advantage to official mountain bike shoes if all those experienced bikers used them. Now that I have ridden with them for 6 months I have decided I really like them. I feel I gain more speed and power and my feet no longer slip off the pedals ... tearing skin in the back of my calf.

My Specialized Platform Pedals

I had the most problems when I've come to a standstill, panicked, lifted straight up, and couldn't get either foot out. I am finally (8 months later) getting used to twisting my foot well before I put it down for a stop. If I am riding in rocky terrain and don't feel comfortable "locked into" my mountain bike shoes, I simply click both feet out and ride like I did with my tennis and platforms. The Vibram soles on my Lake mx 165's (see below) help keep the pedal centered under my shoe.

I am also the type of person who likes to do more in my mountain bike shoes than just ride. I'll usually ride as far as I can, then hike to see a waterfall or an old gold mine, or a cave, etc. I also tend to do some hiking just to complete a ride, often over the rock and rubble on the trail. I was looking for a shoe that was comfortable, durable, and reasonably priced.

Sidi's Dragon II felt the best

I went looking at some local stores, trying on mountain bike shoes made by Shimano, Specialized, and Sidi. The size 44.5 of the Sidi Dragon II felt the best on my feet (of course they cost $464). Although I did find them for less money online, I did not like the hard plastic soles for hiking ... and I was also worried about how Cindy would react when I told her how much they cost.

My Lake mx165 shoes

I took a chance and ordered the Lake mx 165's online for $65, without trying them on. I had read good reviews for them on the MTBR site but could not find any store in San Diego where I could try them. I ordered a 44.5 (just like the Sidis) and figured I could return them for a different size if needed (there was no restocking charge so I would just have to spend the $6 shipping).

I am happy to report that they fit me perfectly. The Vibram soles are great for hiking and I have had no problems getting them to click into (or out of) the pedals, like some reviewers claimed. The rubber tread does make the shoes pretty heavy (which might slow a racer a few seconds per mile) but they seem to be very durable, with extra thick rubber on the toes, heels, and the outside above the pedal.

I ordered two sets ... less shipping.

As I've said elsewhere, when I start a career in racing I will invest in some lighter (and much more expensive) shoes.

CLEATS: I read that cleats do wear out so I ordered two pair of Shimano Sm-SH 56's, which shipped for the price of one.

I did get the ones that release in any direction except for up. So far they have released when they were supposed to and have held at the right times.

PEDALS: My bike came with Shimano PD-M770 pedals on it. I took them off and installed Specialized platform pedals which I happily rode for 4-years. When I decided to try the cleated-shoe, I just put the Shimano's back on.

These Shimano pedals came on my bike.

Hybrid Pedal

They have worked well for me since. Since the pedals do have moving parts I make sure I clean and lube them just like I do on my chain or suspension pivot parts. A friend and fellow biker (Jens Jensen) recently told me about the Shimano PD-M647 pedals, which look like a combination of cleated and platform styles. I have not tried these, yet they look like they could keep your foot on the pedal when not clicked in (especially if you had the Vibram soles of the Lake shoes. I would have to worry about how long they would last ... since the teeth on the pedal look like they are made of plastic.

Do you have a shoe you really, really like?

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