Understanding the role of the shoe
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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
Understanding the role of the shoe
While the concern of many riders for their cycling footwear extends no further than appearance and comfort, the shoe serves a distinct bio-mechanical purpose: to hold the foot in a position that keeps it aligned to the knee and offers a powerful leg extension.
Many facets of the shoe help to achieve this goal, from the shape of the sole – specifically it’s off-set (more of which on the following pages) – to inserts that support the arch.
Wall and Hewitt say that the feet of riders in the UK are typically weakened by the Western lifestyle, where shoes are worn from an early age and many work at a desk.
Desk workers typically adopt a slumped standing position, Hewitt says. “We don’t really walk, or run, or stand up a lot anymore,” he explains. “Our shoulders become rounded, and so to balance ourselves we go into a slumped position. That position puts a lot of weight on the outside of our foot, so we never contact our first metatarsal and the foot gets weak and flat.”
Weakness in the foot can lead to it spreading, particularly for older and heavier riders. The result is the need for a wider shoe with greater support.
“In the West we’ve got weak feet because we don’t use them,” Wall adds. “One of the side effects with cycling is that we expect to sit on a bike for six hours, have the foot controlled in a plantarflex position [with the heel raised – more of which below] with no support and not have any issues.
“We get junior riders in, super fit, great power to weight ratio, but ask them to do a one-legged squat, and they can’t control the foot,” he continues.
“The knee drops in, and that’s where they’re getting the discomfort. That’s why it’s important to have the support in the shoe for most of us Westerners.”