Why Should You Wear Mountain Bike Shoes?

By Greg Tilley


Having the right shoe is essential in order to increase your enjoyment of mountain biking. A shoe designed specifically for the mountain biker is the way to go.

Coming in a variety of prices are mountain bike shoes and these can range from $70 up to over $400. Depending entirely on whether or not you are a casual, once-a-month rider, a serious hobbyist, or someone who competes in races, whether professional or amateur, is the amount of money that you pay.

What are the reasons why mountain bike shoes are so expensive as well as important to have?

Shoes that are specifically designed for cycling have stiff soles and for this reason, the cyclist can transfer the power from his legs and feet to the pedals and then to the chain for greater speed. The road cyclist normally have a protruding cleat which slots into the recess on their pedals since the road cyclist is expected to be on his or her bike at all times without the need to do a great deal of walking.

A protruding cleat would be of no use to the mountain biker, who quite frequently has to get off the bike and wheel or carry it around obstacles. So mountain bike shoes have recessed cleats, that won't interfere with walking, and aren't made with a totally rigid sole, but one that will give just a little bit.

There are dozens of mountain biking shoes on the market. Unlike women, men will find a wider variety of designs but still, there are quite a few styles to choose from that are specifically designed for the smaller foot of the average woman.

The importance of the mountain bike shoe The occasional biker usually doesn't bother with toe clips or clipless pedals....they just hop on their bike and they're away. However, the serious cyclist wants to get all the power he or she can out of a pedaling, and with the shoe firmly attached to the pedal - either with a toeclip or by a cleat, the cyclist can pull upward on the pedal as well as simultaneously pushing downward on the other pedal, which increases the speed of the bike.

What makes the mountain bike shoe so expensive? The price comes down to what the shoe is made of, just as it will with any other shoe. The lighter the shoe is, the better for the racer. But, lightness comes expensive. The lightest shoes on the market are the carbon fiber soles and the carbon fiber is more expensive to produce than injection-molded plastic or fiberglass and plastic.

But for less than a hundred dollars, the average rider should be able to get a pair of mountain biking shoes.




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