Cycling shoe
Cycling shoes are shoes designed for cycling. They come in a variety of designs depending on the type and intensity of the cycling for which they are intended. Key features include: rigidity, for more-efficient transfer of power from the cyclist to the pedals; weight; and adaptability for use on and off the bicycle. Most shoes can be adjusted while in use, via quick-adjusting straps that have largely replaced laces.
Cycling shoes come in four basic variants, for road racing, touring, off-road or mountain biking, and spinning . Shoes for road cycling have an extremely smooth, rigid and inflexible sole, bent slightly at the ball of the foot to allow power to be transferred and focused in the toe. The quality of the shoe depends on the rigidity and durability of the sole, breathability, and overall weight of the shoe (the lighter the better). Road shoes normally have no treads, and a protruding cleat for the clipless pedal that makes them unsuitable for walking. Touring shoes sacrifice some rigidity for traction and add treads, so that the rider can both walk and cycle effectively. Mountain biking shoes have a recessed cleat and studs along the sole so that riders can negotiate difficult terrain off their bikes. Mountain-style cleats are generally smaller than road-specific cleats. Spinning shoes, a recent development, are a hybrid of road and touring shoes, with a firm sole and limited traction. The material of the spinning shoe is lighter and thinner, to maximize comfort, coolness and breathability.
Modern cycling shoes are designed to work as part of clipless pedal systems. Such systems directly attach the shoe to the pedal for maximal efficiency of power-transfer, using a cleat on the bottom of each shoe and a matched fitting on the pedal. Several manufacturers produce these systems; consequently, modern shoes usually include hollowed or perforated sections to easily insert cleats from different manufacturers. An alternative and less-expensive system, the toe-clip, accomplishes the same goal, less efficiently, by mounting a metal cage to the pedal, into which the rider inserts the shoe. By attaching the rider more-or-less firmly to the machine, both approaches increase the risks of damage to the rider during a fall, and make it more difficult for riders to recover balance; consequently, such systems are seldom found on either novice or stunt cycles.
Float and tension
"Float" is defined as the degree of movement offered by the cleat within the pedal before release begins. This can be highly important to prevent damage to knees, as most peoples' pedal stroke does not occur along a single axis. Many standard road pedal systems ship with a 6 degree float cleat. SPD-SL, LOOK Delta, LOOK Kéo, and Time cleats are also available in 3 degree and 0 degree float. Road pedal systems commonly colour-code cleats by the amount of float offered (red, black, etc) Some pedal systems have a fixed non-adjustable float, such as 6 degrees for Crank Brothers. Most cleats develop more float as they wear out.
Other pedals, namely the Speedplay Zero series, offer an adjustable float which can be restricted to only outward movement. This prevents the heel of the foot from swinging inward towards the bike, but still offers 3 to 6 degrees of outward float. Most medium and high-end road pedal systems also have tension release adjustment screws, which can be used to tailor the amount of effort needed to release to the rider's individual preference.
Sole material and shoe quality
Soles for cycling shoes are usually divided into three categories. Inexpensive shoes mostly use an injection-molded plastic sole, which is economical but heavier and prone to flexing. Mid-range shoes may use a combination of plastic and carbon fibre, plastic and fibreglass, or an all carbon fibre sole. All manufacturers' high-end competition level shoes manufactured post-2002 use carbon fibre soles. The sole material and amount of tread used in a shoe can dramatically affect its weight. For example, an expensive pair of road shoes with carbon fibre soles can weigh 650 grams, while a budget-priced pair of mountain bike shoes might weigh 850 to 900 grams.
Some mountain bike shoes have a slight amount of engineered flex in the toe area forward of the cleat mount. This assists in walking off the bike, and climbing obstacles when a rider may be carrying the bike. Generally the more expensive a mountain bike shoe is, the less frontal flex it will have.
Overshoes
Overshoes are flexible waterproof shoe coverings for use in wet weather. They are typically made from rubber or a stretchy synthetic and have a zip on the inside of the ankle. The fabric continues under the sole but is not intended for walking on, which would wear it out quickly. Most overshoes have a hole in the sole for clipless pedals.