New shoes or new cleats?
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The modern cycling shoe is packed with technology, but fit, support, and comfort remain more important than sole stiffness or the efficiency of the closure mechanism
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The shoe plays a critical role as biomechanical interface between bicycle and rider
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Cycling shoes were originally developed from moulds ('lasts') for gentleman's dress shoes, and the very narrow silhouette remains, despite changes in manufacture
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A shoe that offers a difference in the height of the heel and forefoot can place the foot in a 'planterflex' position, similar to that attained from starting by track sprinters like Usain Bolt
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A worn and trusted pair of shoes can be comfortable, but if the structure of the upper is worn, they will no longer provide the necessary foot control
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Different closure mechanisms offer different advantages, both for comfort and use. A BOA system may be the latest, but a lace, Velcro, or ratchet mechanism may be more suitable. pic: Paul Hayes-Watkins
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Orthotics or insoles/footbeds can help to provide support to the arch of the foot
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More expensive shoes offer heat mouldable carbon soles, but it's important to understand the purpose of moulding to avoid mirroring imperfections in the feet
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Carbon soles are now de rigeur on high-end road shoes, but, like frames, different brands offer different levels of compliance and rigidity
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The importance of cleat position can not be over-stated
New shoes or new cleats?
The importance of cleat position cannot be overstated. It’s worth considering that occasionally issues with comfort and efficiency in pedalling can be caused by worn or poorly adjusted cleats, rather than by worn shoes.
Pedals too, are subject to wear, Wall adds. When the spring that controls the retention mechanism has worn out, it can be difficult to prevent the foot from rolling on the pedal. This can be especially bad news for larger riders.
A worn cleat that fails to control the foot can also create knee pain. Hewitt recounts the story of a client who recently visited the shop for a bike fit in a bid to cure knee pain. The analyst quickly identified worn cleats as the source of the issue.
“Because the foot wasn’t controlled, the knee was flying around all over the place and causing this gentleman some issues,” he recalls.
“Sometimes people just need some new cleats, but those cleats must be in the right place and used with the right shoe as a starting point.”