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Does an "ordinary" touring cyclist need special cycling shoes? This question reaches the MYBIKE editorial team from time to time. The answer is yes! At the very least, cyclists who go on longer weekend trips or even cycle tours lasting several days should treat themselves to a pair of cycling shoes. The reasons are obvious: special rubber compounds for a slightly harder sole on the forefoot allow more pressure on the pedals and therefore more effective pedalling. This effect is further enhanced if the soles are fitted with a cleat. Clicked into a special pedal, this saves the cyclist up to ten per cent of energy compared to pedalling without a click mechanism. In addition, the push and pull phases make pedalling rounder and therefore more ergonomic.
So much for the theory based on scientific findings and many years of experience. In practice, the search for the ideal cycling shoe often proves to be somewhat more difficult. One important point: many cyclists do not like to ride with their shoes clipped in. One of the main reasons for this is the fear of not being able to get off the pedals quickly enough and safely in the event of an accident or when stopping at traffic lights, for example. However, this fear is unfounded, as the click mechanism releases almost automatically when the pedal is adjusted very slightly.
Another consolation: All test shoes that are designed for cleats can also be ridden without a click mechanism without any problems. Simply leave the special sole piece on the sole over the cut-out for the cleat! However, the walking comfort of some cycling shoes suffers as a result. Alternatively, you can opt for a well-designed cycling shoe without the click option, such as the Fizik Ergolace Flat model, and accept a little less pedalling comfort.
- Rockrider MTB ST500 from Decathlon
- Terra Ergolace X2 from Fizik*
- 5.10 Kestrel Lace from Adidas Five Ten
- Gauge from Giro
- Escape Evo from Northwave
- X-Alp Launch from Pearl Izumi
- SH MT-501 from Shimano
- Hjul from Vaude
- SD15 from Sidi
- Pavel from Vaude
- Trailcross LT from Adidas Five Ten
- Ergolace X2 Flat from Fizik
You can download the complete comparison test of the cycling shoes including all individual ratings as a PDF below the article. The test costs 1.99 euros.
Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in MYBIKE. We don't charge for them, but the opposite is the case: we do charge for them - hundreds of thousands of euros every year.
