After upgrading your bike pedals, chances you, you should upgrade your road bike shoes as well. To help you out, we are going to go over some of the best road bike shoes available, and why you should consider these pairs over others.
The most important aspect of picking out a new bike shoe is how comfortable they are. Trust me, there is absolutely nothing worse than riding 100 miles in ill fitting shoes.
It becomes hard when trying to select road bike shoes because there really is no way to just test them out. The store is not going to let you go outside, ride your bike for 50 miles, then let you purchase them. So instead of taking them for a spin, here are some ways to make sure you the best road cycling shoes that fit well.
See the Best Selling Road Bike Shoes Here
Making The Fit Perfect
When you put the shoe on, you do not want it to rub your heels at all. This is crucial! Next, you want to make sure that your toes have plenty of room to move around to ensure maximum blood flow. This is a big deal for longer rides and adequate space will allow for a more comfortable rid. Since bike shoes are usually much stiffer, they need to be comfortable. If you put the shoes on and it is rubbing up against your foot, I am willing to bet it will rub against your foot for the next 10,000 miles you put on your bike.
Another thing you need to think about is where the cleat is going to mount. You want to be able to mount it right under the ball of your foot. Most shoes I have seen do a great job at this. Just make sure to stick with name brands and you shouldn’t need to worry about this.
I always suggest that when you get your shoes, check them out before you go on an actual ride. Put them on your feet, see how they feel, and then use a pencil to mark where the ball of your foot is on the shoe for the cleat mount. Once this is all done and you are satisfied with them, you can go on your ride!
More on Sizing Your New Bike Shoes
Road Versus Mount Bike Shoes: What Is the Difference?
Road bike shoes will typically have a 3 point attachment clip to attach on your cleat. The cleats you will be wearing are a lot larger than mountain biking cleats and will deliver the maximum amount of power to the pedals.
Mount bike shoes will normally have a little tread on the bottom of the shoe and can be more comfortable for walking around in. They are typically a bit easier to clip in and unclip as well.
However, with all that being said, road shoes are still what I prefer. They give you more power to the pedals and are great when cycling long miles. Think of road shoes as performance shoes while mountain shoes are for comfort and hobbyists.
The Best Road Bike Shoes Under One Hundred Dollars
Alright, you only have a Benjamin to spend. That will work! I have laid out some nice road shoes that will be a great deal and leave you money in the bank for more bike upgrades!
The Shimano R078 Road Bike Shoe
If you want value, this has to be the shoe you check out.
This shoe is designed and released as an entry level show but I am not really sure why because it is so great. Shimano shoes are made to last and they do a great job not breaking down under stress. Typically, from my experience, most riders tell me they have had their Shimano shoes for at least a 3 year period.
With most shoes, the first thing to break is typically the top of the shoe. Thankfully, Shimano has made a very tough leather top that is also able to stretch and put up with the abuse that the road and heat will put on it which keeps it from breaking down fast.
Being an entry level shoe, the sole is made out of fiberglass which is extremely hard, stiff, and delivers power to the crank well. They are a bit heavier than more expensive shoes that use carbon soles but carbon is going to not be as strong and some of them will not have the strong top that this shoe has. While a bit heavier, I like to recommend this shoe to almost everyone.
I always like to pick brand name shoes over no name shoes. Sure, you could get a carbon sole from a company you have never heard of before, or you could go with a heavier sole like these, and get a name brand. I will go name brand any day of the week.
Another aspect of these shoes that I really like is that the shoe allows my foot to breath. This allows my feet to feel great and not get too hot on long bike rides.
If you are looking for an affordable road shoe but also something at the entry level that will be able to handle all you put it through for the next few years to come, this shoe is what you should buy. The shoe fits well, has enough room for your toes, and just lasts while providing what you need, power to the crank.
Click here to read reviews and see more of the Shimano R089
Louis Garneau Men’s Revo
These are another one of my favorites and you can typically find a great deal on them which means you can grab a pair for about a hundred dollars.
Louis Garneau shoes are the best of both worlds, not only do they work extremely well, but they look great as well. They are made with care, and they show it. This is another great choice for an excellent road shoe to add to your collection if you have been riding for a while, or have a little bit more money to spend as a beginner.
This shoe has the typical design of a 3 strap system and a mesh upper part to keep your feet cool during the hot summers. It starts to add some features that the Shimano shoe above does not have with the heel retention system which gives the heel area some more cushion and fits a little tighter. This helps increase your power during your upstroke for maximum force.
One of the main deciding factors of going with this shoe over the one mentioned about is that this one comes with ventilation in the sole of the shoe. Shimano gives you this feature if you spend more money on a high priced shoe, but I like that the Garneau gives it to you for this amount of money. If you want to keep your feet cool and comfortable, this is a must have feature for those long summer days.
In terms of what shoe is better, this could be argued until the ends of time. I think both shoes offer excellent value for the money and both are about as stiff as you will find in any beginner shoe. If you are not looking for a race shoe, but something to use every day, either of them will serve you well!
Click here to read reviews and see more of the Louis Garneau Shoe
Getting A Shoe And Pedal Set – Great For Beginner Riders
In this section I want to go over road bike shoes and why it may be a good idea to get some shoes and pedals in a single set. Remember that road bike shoes a pattern of three holes on the bottom and a large platform for placing the cleat.
Mountain bike shoes, like I have mentioned in other posts, are also great for the first time riders. They are usually smaller, much easier to walk in, and are also easier to clip on your bike with. I want to focus on the road biking shoes though, so let’s get into that.
Venzo Shoes/Pedal Set – A match made in heaven
Finding a pair of shoes that is comfortable and high quality for under 100 dollars is pretty hard, but pair it with pedals and you will be hard pressed. However, the time has come!
This pair has a cleat that comes with a LOOK style which is very easy to start using if you have never used road shoes before. The platform is well made and will deliver the power to the crank both on the down stroke and upstroke for maximum efficiency.
While these are a fantastic deal, they will not last you as long as if you put some money into each component separately. They might last you a few seasons but a lot of the problems that will come up is that the upper part of the shoe will detach from the sole after hard use so keep this in mind. Even with this bad luck, climbing hills is easy, and feels great on your feet.
For a beginner who just wants to get started, buying a pair of shoes that comes with some pedals is a great first investment. You can get started cycling for a low entry point, and that is all that really matters.
Click here to see more of the Venzo Shoes and Pedal Set
Shimano SH-WR35L – A Beginner Cyclists Shoe For Women
While I said this is a beginner shoe, this is much more than the Venzo shoes I have mentioned above. The quality of these is so much better. They are very durable and should hold up for years.
They are made from a synthetic leather. If you have never had a shoe made of this stuff you should know that it is extremely durable and weather resistant. On top of that, they do a superb job of attaching the upper and sole so that they will just not seem to tear apart. I have literally never seen this happen so if you go with this shoe, it should last a good long while.
Like most shoes, this Shimano comes with the 3 Velcro straps placed on the top of your foot to allow for the most ventilation to keep your feet dry during long pedaling sessions.
While they look stunning in white, the most important part of this shoe is that they can be used with any cleat you decide to go with. There are pre drilled holes that will attach to a road bike cleat but also a mountain cleat. You can choose whichever you want and this shoe will fit, which is great for beginners.
Click here to see more of the Women’s Shimano SH-WR35L
The Road Bike Shoe For Wide Feet!
Like a lot of people around here, I have wide feet. Previously, it was very hard to find a shoe that would fit my feet so I had to buy expensive shoes.
Buying something that is hundreds of dollars is hard for almost any cyclist when there are so many other awesome things you could be spending that money on.
That is why when i saw that Shimano came to the occasion and released a wide foot cycling shoe I was super happy.
As you can see from what I have mentioned throughout this post, Shimano’s hold up well and are a great buy. These are no different. Made with a synthetic leather upper, and big mesh for the proper ventilation during the summer, the R088 is great for any wide footed cyclist.
Keep in mind that these have a technology called Dynalast. This allows the sole to flix a little bit without losing the power to the crank. What this brings to the table is comfort and anyone who rides lots of miles knows that getting more comfort can be a huge factor.
You can see from the picture that the top strap has a ratchet. Have you ever had a long ride where your shoes felt too tight or not tight enough? Instead of stopping, with the R088 you can just reach down and fix that problem instantly saving you time and energy.
For the price, and how well it fits on a wide width foot, check it out!
Click here to see Wide Fits on Amazon
What Are The Best Road Bike Shoes For Men Under $300?
If we are talking about the very best on the market, I like to talk a lot about Sidi. These are so great that if you can manage to get your hands on one, you will probably never buy another brand of shoe as long as you are riding.
What makes these different from any of the other units I have mentioned here? Well, professionals use these. If you want to enter the elite, you need a pair of these, which will bring you to the next level!
What shoes am I talking about? None other than the Sidi Genius 5. Sure, you can get a more expensive pair, but if you want to keep your wallet from crying, the Genius 5 are where it is at.
They are so far about the other shoes mentioned on this page, you really have to put on a pair of them to believe it.
They are super breahtable, are water resistant, very comfy, and dry out in record time.
They also come with a ratchet system for easy adjusting on the go and fit your foot like a baby in a cradle. If you are looking to transfer the maximum amount of power into your bike, these are the shoes. Get a pair and try and climb up a steep hill and you will know exactly what I am talking about!
Click here to check out the stunning Sidi Genius 5
Best Road Bike Shoes For Women Cyclists
When it comes to the selection offered to women, it is a lot less than men. While men are predominent in the sport, I still think that the ladies should have just as big of a selection.
While searching for the perfect women’s road shoe, I noticed that most of them are white. After a long ride, you will know that white shoes are impossible to keep clean.
I then came on the pearl Izumi Race RD shoes. These look great, come in black to stay clean looking, and are top quality.
They are very comfortable and transfer the power to the wheels with ease.
So ladies, if you have been searching for your perfect fit, I have found it!
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