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Training and exercising become much more exciting when you have the right accessories and gear. Be it training gloves, lifting belts, cycling shoes, or regular workout shoes, using them makes your exercise experience much more rewarding.
If you are someone who prefers to rely on cycling to keep your fitness levels in check, you must either have cycling shoes or be willing to buy a pair of them. In this post, we will let you know in detail everything about it. We will also throw light on whether they are necessary for spinning or not. Let’s get started.
What are cycling shoes?
Are footwear that is specifically designed for cycling or spinning. Whether you do indoor cycling or love to cycle in the outdoors, they serve their purpose pretty well. They exude a great deal of rigidity which provides the rider with better stability during cycling. They facilitate a more efficient transfer of power that comes from the rider and goes to the pedals which allows the rider to have a better overall cycling experience.
Types of cycling shoes
- MTB shoes: The durability of Mountain Bike (MTB) shoes provides you with a great riding experience both indoors and outdoors. They are SPD comfortable and hence, SPD cleats perfectly fit those shoes which makes your riding experience quite comfortable.
- Road bike shoes: Road bike shoes are designed in such a manner that makes them a perfect fit for cycling. Their stiff soles are usually made from plastic or carbon which provides them greater rigidity. This enables the cyclist to put in maximum power while cycling.
- Hybrid/City Bike Shoes: As their name only implies, hybrid/city bike shoes are versatile enough to be used for both cycling as well as walking. Their rubber-made soles make them flexible and immensely comfortable. They are a perfect blend of cycling shoes and casual shoes and are available in different designs.
Pros of investing in cycling shoes
Better stability and a smoother ride
Good quality cycling shoes that are compatible with the pedals of your exercise bike not only keep your feet in place but also contribute towards maintaining your body’s stability. This allows you to enjoy a smoother ride.
Gets you in an aerodynamic position
When you clip your cycling shoes into your spin bike’s pedals, it makes it easier for you to lower your upper body towards the handlebar. This in turn sets you in an aerodynamic position which enables you to pedal with more ease.
Prevention of injuries
Wearing a shoe that keeps your feet flat and firm on the pedal of your exercise bike saves you from many probable injuries that are associated with indoor cycling. Doing so allows you to activate your glute muscles which decreases the amount of stress placed on your lower back while cycling. also, keep your knees in alignment and prevent any kind of knee pain or injury that arises out of cycling.
Powerful strokes
Good quality bike shoes keep your feet firmly planted on the pedals. In such a case you don’t need to worry about your feet getting off of the pedals. Hence, you can focus on pushing the pedals with full force which will provide you with a great cycling or spinning experience. Exerting powerful strokes will also provide your lower-body muscles with a great workout.
Do wearing cycling shoes have any drawbacks?
You must be aware of the fact that you can ride the Peloton without bike shoes. This proves that if you have a Peloton you don’t necessarily need to buy bike shoes. Even though wearing cycling shoes have plenty of benefits, they also come with a few drawbacks. The first drawback that comes with wearing bike shoes is that you need to learn how to clip in and clip out of them. It requires a little bit of practice to completely master that movement.
Also, when it comes to buying a pair of cycling shoes, you have to consider numerous factors beforehand. Some of them include the kind of exercise bike that you have, the type of its pedals, etc. Any carelessness shown in that regard may get you cycling shoes that won’t be compatible with your exercise bike. Hence, one needs to consider many factors before making an investment in bike shoes.
How can you clip in your cycling shoes?
Well, clipping in your cycling shoes doesn’t require you to follow any complex procedures. All that you need to do is align the metal plate of your metal shoes with the corresponding pedal holes. Once that is done, you need to give it a strong push. Unclipping your shoes from the pedal requires you to twist your foot leading with your heel away from the bike.
Clipping in and clipping out your cycling shoes may require a little bit of practice. The easiest way you can rely on to clip or unclip your cycling shoes is by using your hands to clip off until you get familiar with the motion.
How can you get the best cycling shoes?
Offer a plethora of benefits but finding the one that serves you in your best interests can be pretty tricky. Well, that has a lot to do with the type of pedals you have on your exercise bike. The cycling shoes that you spot in the marketplace are compatible with different kinds of cleats. The cleats, in turn, correspond to the pedals on your exercise or spin bike.
In the current times, most cycling shoes are either compatible with an SPD cleat that has two holes on the bottom or a Delta cleat that has three holes on the bottom. Therefore, you must choose to go with the cleat that gels well with your bike pedals.
Afterward, you can buy a pair that is compatible with your cleat. Reading the product info becomes crucial in such a matter as it aids you in buying the perfect shoes. Finally, you just need to buy the cleats, most of which are sold separately.
In general, it can be said that bike shoes that clip properly and are compatible with the pedals of your exercise bike will serve you pretty well.
If your exercise or spin bike doesn’t have cleat-compatible pedals or flat pedals, you can choose to go with bike shoes that are quite similar to cleat shoes. In such a scenario, you must consider shoes that have a firm sole as it allows you to push down into the pedal firmly.
Where can you buy the best cycling shoes?
If you are someone who is investing in cycling shoes for the very first time, you must try in different sizes and models, and that too in person. The one that fits you the best and feels comfortable would be the best choice for you.
On the contrary, if you are willing to buy your cycling shoes online, shopping sites like Amazon can get you the best deals.
Final Words
By now you would have got a clear idea regarding the factors that you need to consider before investing in a pair of cycling shoes. Undoubtedly, the right pair of bike shoes can provide you with a cycling experience like never before. And we are sure that this post will guide you well in buying one for yourself.
