| Mountain bike shoes come in a variety of prices, | | | | women, nevertheless there are quite a few styles |
| from the inexpensive $70 range, up to over $400. | | | | designed specifically for the smaller foot of the |
| The amount of money you pay depends entirely on | | | | average woman. |
| whether or not you are a casual, once-a-month rider, | | | | What makes the mountain bike shoe so important? |
| a serious hobbyist, or someone who competes in | | | | The occasional biker usually doesn't bother with toe |
| races - either amateur or professional. | | | | clips or clipless pedals....they just hop on their bike and |
| What is it about mountain bike shoes that make | | | | they're away. However, the serious cyclist wants to |
| them a) important to have and b) so expensive? | | | | get all the power he or she can out of a pedaling, |
| Shoes designed specifically for cycling have stiff | | | | and with the shoe firmly attached to the pedal - |
| soles, which helps the cyclist in transferring the | | | | either with a toeclip or by a cleat, the cyclist can pull |
| power from his legs and feet to the pedals and | | | | upward on the pedal as well as simultaneously |
| thence to the chain for greater speed. Since the road | | | | pushing downward on the other pedal, which |
| cyclist is expected to be on his or her bike at all | | | | increases the speed of the bike. |
| times without having to do a great deal of walking, | | | | What makes the mountain bike shoe so expensive? |
| they normally have a protruding cleat which slots into | | | | Well, as with any shoe, the price comes down to |
| the recess on their pedals. | | | | what the shoe is made of. The lighter the shoe is, |
| A protruding cleat would be of no use to the | | | | the better for the racer. But, lightness comes |
| mountain biker, who quite frequently has to get off | | | | expensive. Carbon fiber soles are the lightest soles on |
| the bike and wheel or carry it around obstacles. So | | | | the market - carbon fiber is more expensive to |
| mountain bike shoes have recessed cleats, that won't | | | | produce than injection-molded plastic, or plastic and |
| interfere with walking, and aren't made with a totally | | | | fiberglass. |
| rigid sole, but one that will give just a little bit. | | | | However, the average rider should be able to get a |
| There are dozens of mountain biking shoes on the | | | | pair of mountain biking shoes for less than a hundred |
| market. Men will find a wider variety of designs then | | | | dollars. |