Cycling Shoes

Whether off-road or on the road – cycling footwear guarantee a firm and safe connection between rider and bike. But that's not all: cycling shoes also provide reliable grip and therefore better power transmission. There are models for a wide variety of purposes: with stiff soles and in combination with clipless pedals, performance-oriented cyclists get their money's worth. If, on the other hand, you prefer high-.grip shoes without a fixed binding for your city rides, you will benefit from non-slip soles.

These exciting topics await you:

• Why Do You Need Cycling Shoes at All
• Cycling Shoes for Clipless Pedals
• What Types of Cycling Footwear Are There?
  • Road Shoes – Optimized for Maximum Power Transmission
  • MTB Shoes – a Balancing Act Between Power Efficiency, Freedom of Movement and Safety
  • Cycling Shoes for Touring Rides and Daily Use – Needs to Be Comfortable
  • From Gravel to Triathlon – Special Cycling Shoes for Other Applications
  • Men's Cycling Shoes vs. Women's Cycling Shoes – Shoes With a Gender-Specific Fit
  • Winter Cycling Shoes – The Right Shoes for Cold Conditions
• Which Fastening Systems Are Available for Cycling Shoes?
• Online Buying Advice – Which Cycling Shoes Are Right for You?
  • Are There Any Recommended Accessories
• Cycling Shoes – Our Conclusion

„You can tell a gentleman by his shoes“ is an age-old British proverb. Well, cycling is not primarily about setting fashionable accents with shoes. Nevertheless, over the decades, cycling footwear have become hardly established in the field of cycling clothing. And this is no coincidence: in a way, cycling shoes are the link between riding person and machine. In addition to optimum power transmission, they offer secure grip – uphill, on straight stretches and, of course, downhill too.

Over the course of history, cycling footwear have undergone a great deal of technical development. While the first cycling shoes were nothing more than classic leather lace-up shoes with reinforced soles and sewn-on leather inserts to prevent toe clips and straps from cutting in, today's models are a science in themselves: high-tech materials, sophisticated lacing systems and application-specific designs ensure that cycling shoes have become an essential part of any cycling kit. It makes no difference whether you are riding a road bike or an electric city bike – cycling shoes are available for every purpose and every terrain.

Whether road shoes, MTB shoes, gravel shoes or cycling shoes for touring rides and everyday use – many of them have one thing in common: the clipless function that connects the shoe to the pedals. This is provided by so-called cleats, which are mounted to the front part sole of the cycling shoes and which you can click into suitable pedals and quickly release with a twisting movement of the foot. Fizik Equipment, Specialized, Giro and of course Shimano-SPD shoes are the best-known manufacturers of bicycle clipless shoes.

Your big riding advantage: your entire effort is transferred to the pedals, which means you have to exert less energy compared to cycling shoes without a clipless system and pedals. The minimal disadvantage of cycling shoes with a clipless system is that you need a certain amount of time to get used to clipping in and out, especially at the beginning. This is because click beginners in particular tend to forget that they are still connected to the bike and tip over along with the bike – an experience that even seasoned cycling professionals have had in their early days.

There are cycling shoes for a wide variety of application. To make it easier for you to choose your new cycling shoes, we present the most important types of cycling footwear below.

Road cyclists usually opt for cycling shoes with a more fixed binding and an efficient clipless system. The SPD-SL system from Shimano or the systems from Look or Speedplay are well-known. Road shoes are characterized by stiff and light soles. The ultimate in these models are soles made of carbon, a special feature that not only makes the cycling shoes lighter, but also stiffer for improved power transmission. The stiffer the sole, the better the power transmission. The consequence of this is that it is rather unrealistic to do longer walks off the saddle in road shoes. The focus of road shoes is clearly on performance, which is exactly why they should be used for this purpose.

Many mountain bike riders also rely on energy-saving clipless systems, especially the SPD system from Shimano. But, the binding of these MTB shoes sits more loosely. This increases freedom of movement without having to sacrifice the connection between pedals and bike. If you want to be on the safe side and reduce the risk of accidents, there are clipless systems that release not only with lateral movements but also with sudden upward movements. So-called flat pedals are widely used by trail shredding people. These are platforms that are equipped with pins and thus provide sufficient grip even without a clipless function. In combination with suitable cycling footwear that have a stable, profiled and non-slip sole, these models of MTB shoes guarantee maximum riding pleasure without having to sacrifice good power transmission, freedom of movement and safety.

You can use cycling shoes with or without a clipless support for touring bikes and commuting as well as for everyday use. The decisive factor is your personal preference. In contrast to special road shoes, touring shoes have a slightly softer sole and a higher wearing comfort. Cycling shoes with a non-slip rubber sole and without a click system have the advantage that you don't have to unclick them if you need to brake frequently and abruptly in heavy traffic. You can also wear them like normal sneakers in everyday life. It's best to try out different models if you're still unsure which cycling shoes you feel most comfortable in.

In addition to these three main groups, there are numerous sub-categories of cycling shoes. This is because cycle shoes are designed very specifically for different purposes. Gravel bike riders, for example, do not rely on classic road or mountain bike shoes, but on a mixture of both, that are called gravel shoes. Triathletes, on the other hand, have road shoes that are particularly easy to put on and take off in order to lose as little time as possible in the transition zone. There are now also special shoes for indoor training. These have excellent breathability and a particularly high level of comfort, for example.

In addition to the intended use, cycling footwear can also be divided into cycle shoes for women and men. Cycling shoes for women are adapted to the anatomy of female feet, while cycling shoes for men are adapted to the anatomy of male feet - so it makes perfect sense to choose gender-specific models.

Another important criteria is the season. For example, there are also cycling shoes for winter. These shoes are particularly warm, so you can ride for a few hours even in temperatures around freezing point.

Cycling shoes can be equipped with anything from a simple hook and loop and lace fastener to a precise ratchet, twist or quick-release fastener. This allows you to easily open the cycle shoes and adjust them with millimeter precision. Cycling shoes with a BOA closure are particularly popular with many cyclists. This is a special closure system that uses wires and dials to ensure a comfortable and tight fit. Laced cycling shoes are very trendy among racers. However, they offer less support than cycling footwear with a rotary closure.

As you can see, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to bicycle shoes. To help you make the right decision when buying your new cycling shoes, we have put together a few tips below to help you find the right model:

• If you want to ride your bike sporty or over longer distances and use your leg power efficiently, choose cycling footwear compatible with a clipless system.
• For those who prefer freedom of movement but still want to play it safe, cycle shoes without a clipless system and with a sole with good grip are the right choice.
• For optimum slip resistance, combine them with flat platforms including pins.
• Cycling shoes with a clipless system need a compatible pedal system.
• Road cyclists generally prefer clipless shoes.
• Freeriders usually prefer cycling shoes without clipless-function
• Cycling shoes for winter provide sufficient insulation thanks to a windproof and waterproof membrane and a warm lining.

The simple answer to this question is „yes“. After all, there is a whole range of equipment and accessories for cycling shoes that should be in every cyclist's wardrobe. These include shoe covers, for example. They are particularly recommended in the cold season or in the rain. There are also aerodynamic overshoes, which are often worn by racers in time trials to reduce air resistance. If you combine cycling shoes with a clipless system, you will of course need clipless pedals. You will also need the right cleats for the corresponding clipless system. Tools – usually standard Allen keys – are also required to fit the cleats.

Whether for your leisure sport, your training, to prepare for a triathlon, for road cycling, mountain bike riding or touring – cycling footwear is available for all field of application and types of bikes. In our range, you will always find a large selection of suitable models for men and women. Your own taste and motivation will ultimately determine which cycling shoes model you choose.