Time for new bike shoes?

JenHen

When is it time to replace bike shoes? I've had mine with  no issues for 3+ years.  But this season one of them has started to bug me on long rides -- kind of feels like it's too small (big toe hurts the same way it does when you run in shoes too small). Maybe my foot grew? Or the shoes shrank? I don't get it. I am on a different bike - could that be the issue? Any thoughts?

rlh2000

OOOH I want in on this thread. Not to steal it, but I bought my shoes about 5 yrs ago and my criteria was they were the cheapest in the store. They have served me well and I don't know what I'm missing in the more expensive model, but they are now falling apart a bit. To add to Jennifer's questions, would love to hear tips on buying new ones!

JenHen

Haha - I hear you Rachel! My criteria was cheap and it also helped that they matched my bike. I have no idea what to look for or really expect from bike shoes. I know plenty about running shoes, but nada about bike shoes. Hopefully someone with more knowledge than us will have some helpful advice

David Leventhal

I've got nothing to add...but I look forward to hearing the responses from those who do. I've got cycling shoes...but not tri shoes. Ponder every now and again about what I might be missing, if anything.

davidpettigrew

From slow twitch - http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/When_is_it_time_for_new_cycling_shoes_P3285020/

Al Truscott

No point in skimping … if Sidi or other high end brand fits, get them. I have  a pair of Sidi Tri shoes from 2000 I still use as my second pair in Colorado, a pair of winter mountain bike Sidi shoes from the '90s, and another MTB pair at least 10 years old. It's like cars - an old Mercedes is better than a new Chevy, and lasts longer. Inner soles and heel pads area replaceable.

rlh2000

So as someone who lives mostly on a graduate student stipend, what is the benefit of not skimping? Comfort? Durability? In other words, convince me to spend a weekend working the PT gig at the hospital to make the $$ to buy the good ones :-)

jaleslie

I've only had 2 pairs of road shoes, and I have on tri pair.  My first road shoe was entry level (plastic sole) Shimano.  Had all kinds of problems with "hot foot" (usually my right).  Got some of the expensive Specialized insole...helped a little, but still hot foot.  

Bought an expensive ($200) Specialized pair with a wider toe box than the Shimano (hot foot is usually pinching of the metatarsal heads leading to numbness/nerve impingement with swelling that occurs with heat/time (I live in South Texas, so it's hot most of the time).  I LOVE them...totally comfortable all day long.  I crashed last year and screwed up one of the buckles.  It still works, but takes a little effort to get it to tighten.  The upper is starting to crack in a few places (I've had them for 4-5yrs now).  I'm not giving up on them until they fall apart!  When they do, I will make sure the replacement pair has a wide toe-box (and I do not have a wide foot).  

A good pair will last for many years, unless you're riding in salt/snow/crap all the time.  As Al suggested, I too would not skimp on shoes....they are a investment that will last many years, dividing up that cost over the years.  Just make sure they fit and have some wiggle room in the toe box (width).  Your feet will swell and you don't want any rubbing/compression.  

The tri shoes I got for a really good price.  I don't think they are much faster to get on/off than a pair of road shoes with a functioning buckle....I only have to loosen/tighten the top buckle and it's not much slower than the velcro on the tri shoes.  My tri shoes are Mavic.  The main reason IMHO to have a tri shoe is so you can wear them without socks and pee on the bike!  I would not want to do that to my road shoes and I would not like to wear my road shoes without socks.  

Not sure that helps much, but.....that's all I know.  

JenHen

Thanks everyone! Your insight has helped a ton. I think I'm going to try some new insoles first, and if no better than I'm going to look for a better shoe with a wider toe box. When I think of it, my shoe has only bugged me on really hot days, and I suspect my feet swelled a bit.