| Mountain bike shoes are specialized footwear. They | | | | 1. Economical brands feature an injection-molded |
| are customized for the kind of cycling you plan to do, | | | | plastic sole. However, they are heavier and prone to |
| the model of your cycle, the terrain you are going to | | | | flexing. |
| cover and finally your personalized needs. | | | | 2. Moderately priced brands have a combination sole, |
| However, the basic criterion that makes a cycling | | | | either made of plastic and carbon fibre, plastic and |
| shoe is determined by the pedal of the bike. | | | | fibreglass, or completely carbon fibre. |
| Originally, biking shoes were made of hard leather | | | | 3. Premium brands manufactured post-2002 use |
| soles made firmer with a metal or plastic shoe plate | | | | carbon fibre soles. |
| or cleat nailed to it. The cleat had a slot that fitted | | | | How do the cleats of mountain cycling shoes differ |
| into the pedal of the cycle, while the toe clip and | | | | from others? |
| strap worked to keep the bikers grip on the pedals. | | | | The kind of pedals your cycle features determines |
| When the clipless pedal became the norm, the | | | | the cleat. A clipless type pedals requires some |
| features of the cycling shoes had to be modernized | | | | specific cleats. |
| accordingly. Hence, the shoes featured cavities or | | | | Mountain biking shoes generally come with a sunken |
| clefts to smoothly accommodate cleats for clipless | | | | cleat and studs lining the sole. This helps negotiate |
| pedal machines for instance in Shimano's SPD | | | | the tough terrains. These mountain specific cleats are |
| (Shimano Pedaling Dynamics) and LOOK. | | | | smaller than those designed for road shoes (that |
| Special features of modern cycling shoes. | | | | generally have protruding cleats and are attached |
| Mountain cycling shoes have features that make it | | | | with three bolts) and are fixed to the shoe with two |
| safe and ideal for this fun filled yet highly challenging | | | | bolts. |
| activity. They are: | | | | Quality of the shoe |
| 1. Sole is very smooth, tough and inflexible | | | | For knowing the quality of the shoe you plan to buy, |
| 2. Sole is slightly curved at the ball of the foot that | | | | check the following: |
| works to transfer force and pressure to the toe | | | | 1. The firmness and grip of the sole: A stiff sole |
| while cycling | | | | ensures better pedaling |
| 3. Adaptable while in use | | | | 2. What is it made of?: Premium brands come with |
| 4. Features either velcro straps or even more | | | | carbon soles |
| complex straps instead of laces | | | | 3. Breathability: It should ensure good air circulation |
| 5. Unhooks easily | | | | and coolness |
| Types of cycling shoes soles | | | | 4. The total weight of the shoe: The lighter the |
| The stuff the sole is made of and degree of tread it | | | | better |
| ensures determines the weight of the shoe, which is | | | | 5. Durability: It is a must to endure the tough terrain |
| vital to this special footwear. There are generally | | | | 6. |
| three kinds of soles available: | | | | |