Ride On: Choosing a Cycling Shoe

(From an email from info@spinning.com on December 17, 2007)

The right shoe can make a good Spinning® class great. Cycling shoes are available in a variety of styles and price ranges, so whatever your needs, there's a shoe that fits.

When shopping for cycling shoes, look for:

A stiff sole
Stiff soles boost leverage on the pedal and decrease foot fatigue
A good retaining system
Laces, Velcro straps or other retaining systems hold your feet securely in place, which aids the upward movement of your pedal stroke, and lend stability by reducing movement. Shoes should fit tightly at the heel—the heel cup should be snug against the heel so there is minimal to no slipping during the pedal stroke. However, the shoe should not be too tight—it is helpful to let the foot move a bit inside the shoe (especially the toes) to ensure adequate blood flow and circulation
Shoe breathability
Riding indoors generates considerable body heat and sweat, so make sure the shoe features mesh or another breathable fabric that circulates air to your feet.
Safety
Most road cleat systems have large protruding cleats that can make walking difficult and hazardous in a gym environment. For Spinning classes, your best bet is a shoe designed for indoor cycling with a recessed cleat or SPD® (Shimano Pedal Design) system and a rubberized sole for safety—the SPD cleats fit all the bikes at Brock.

See these later articles, which also advertise makes of shoes sold at Spinning.com!

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