I am considering upgrading my cycling shoes and currently use road cycling shoes on both road and TT bike. I heard from a bike fitter that using road cycling shoes with the boa (tightener or adjustment feature) is better on the bike than the typical TT shoes with the velcro fasteners. The bike fitter stated that the boa adjustment feature keeps the shoes on the feet tighter and enables more consistent pressure on the pedals,etc.
For shorter and up to Olympic distances every second may count, and already clipped-in triathlon shoes should be faster to mount and dismount. They’re usually also more ventilated, allow for water to drip down and have more padding for comfort. Disadvantage lays really with what you’ve pointed out - 1 or even 2 boas in typical road shoes would secure your feet like no other, which should result in better power & less fatigue. In the pro field of short and up to Olympic distances >95% rides triathlon shoes. It’s probably closer to 70% in the pro long distance field. It’s your own decision in the end.
The questions as to whether it matters is a question of your competitiveness.
Two groups… A: not really “in the mix” and are out for the enjoyment and some competition so an extra 30-45 seconds spent on fiddling with a shoe isn’t going to matter in the grand scope of things. B: others who are in the mix or really competing for every last second (even if it is only against themselves) would be well served to have a proper tri shoe.
The question is whether or not you are in group A or group B
I am considering upgrading my cycling shoes and currently use road cycling shoes on both road and TT bike. I heard from a bike fitter that using road cycling shoes with the boa (tightener or adjustment feature) is better on the bike than the typical TT shoes with the velcro fasteners. The bike fitter stated that the boa adjustment feature keeps the shoes on the feet tighter and enables more consistent pressure on the pedals,etc.
What do you think? Anyone use Lake shoes?
Thanks!
KK
I have wide feet and I have used all kind of shoes ever the years and Lake Shoes are my go to shoes nowadays…
nothing kills power mode than a tight shoe (specially during summer time or consistent effort when the foot swells a bit).
most of the wife shoes are just more material on the top (volume) with the same base while lake shoes are truly wide.
Also, as somebody else said: it depends your level of competitiveness and what you are racing. For sprint and oly prob. a tri specific shoe is the answer but for longer distance I usually go with my reg. shoes.
I am considering upgrading my cycling shoes and currently use road cycling shoes on both road and TT bike. I heard from a bike fitter that using road cycling shoes with the boa (tightener or adjustment feature) is better on the bike than the typical TT shoes with the velcro fasteners. The bike fitter stated that the boa adjustment feature keeps the shoes on the feet tighter and enables more consistent pressure on the pedals,etc.
What do you think? Anyone use Lake shoes?
Thanks!
KK
I once tried to play basketball with a bowling ball. It didn’t work well. Since then I’m a firm believer of using equipment designed for the game I’m playing.
Take a look, Scott has the Tri-Carbon shoe, that is a tri shoe, with a carbon sole and a boa closure. I have a pair, and they were awesome, but they are just a smidge too narrow for my wide feet, so anything above 90min, I was struggling with numbness in my toes, so I switched to a velcro strapped tri shoe (I have a more traditional closure road shoe as well that I will use sometimes for road riding/racing.
I am considering upgrading my cycling shoes and currently use road cycling shoes on both road and TT bike. I heard from a bike fitter that using road cycling shoes with the boa (tightener or adjustment feature) is better on the bike than the typical TT shoes with the velcro fasteners. The bike fitter stated that the boa adjustment feature keeps the shoes on the feet tighter and enables more consistent pressure on the pedals,etc.
What do you think? Anyone use Lake shoes?
Thanks!
KK
I once tried to play basketball with a bowling ball. It didn’t work well. Since then I’m a firm believer of using equipment designed for the game I’m playing.
I once tried being clever by coming up with sarcastic analogies, but found out that in reality they were stupid.
I’ve used tri shoes and I don’t think they did much for my times. They can be faster in transition but if you are not competitive (FOP, podium finisher) and/or unwilling to practice your transitions, then I’d say stick with the road shoes if they are working for you. I’d say for most, tri shoes are not going to have much benefit.
I too use elastic laces. They are quite loose. I wouldn’t use them for a bike race, i wouldn’t be comfortable sprinting with those.
But in triathlon I consistently score top tier bike splits, if not best bike split.
The big question here is are you putting your shoes on in transition or having them already clipped in? Hopefully the latter, in which case road shoes are the obvious choice for anything longer than a sprint.
Unless T1 goes straight into a sustained climb you can almost always find 2x 5 second spots to slip into the shoes, then tighten whenever you can. The biggest mistake you see often is people jump on their bike and immediately start putting their feet in. It makes much more sense to stomp onto the top of your shoes and get up to speed, then put your feet in one at a time, trying to scrub off as little speed as possible. Done this way the difference between road and tri shoes ‘put-on-time’ is basically zero, and you get the more efficient road shoe for the rest of the ride.
I am considering upgrading my cycling shoes and currently use road cycling shoes on both road and TT bike. I heard from a bike fitter that using road cycling shoes with the boa (tightener or adjustment feature) is better on the bike than the typical TT shoes with the velcro fasteners. The bike fitter stated that the boa adjustment feature keeps the shoes on the feet tighter and enables more consistent pressure on the pedals,etc.
What do you think? Anyone use Lake shoes?
Thanks!
KK
Anyone use the Giro Empire SLX (with elastic laces)? I was considering treating myself to a pair of those to use 70.3 and full-distance races. They are pricey, but I love the look. I’m not sure how they feel. The problem with buying shoes, for me at least, is that it takes several rides before I make up my mind. That makes it a bit riskier to go with something expensive.
I am considering upgrading my cycling shoes and currently use road cycling shoes on both road and TT bike. I heard from a bike fitter that using road cycling shoes with the boa (tightener or adjustment feature) is better on the bike than the typical TT shoes with the velcro fasteners. The bike fitter stated that the boa adjustment feature keeps the shoes on the feet tighter and enables more consistent pressure on the pedals,etc.
What do you think? Anyone use Lake shoes?
Thanks!
KK
Anyone use the Giro Empire SLX (with elastic laces)? I was considering treating myself to a pair of those to use 70.3 and full-distance races. They are pricey, but I love the look. I’m not sure how they feel. The problem with buying shoes, for me at least, is that it takes several rides before I make up my mind. That makes it a bit riskier to go with something expensive.
The Giro Empire is a great shoe for triathlon after modification. There are a few responses on these shoes in this thread.
I am considering upgrading my cycling shoes and currently use road cycling shoes on both road and TT bike. I heard from a bike fitter that using road cycling shoes with the boa (tightener or adjustment feature) is better on the bike than the typical TT shoes with the velcro fasteners. The bike fitter stated that the boa adjustment feature keeps the shoes on the feet tighter and enables more consistent pressure on the pedals,etc.
What do you think? Anyone use Lake shoes?
Thanks!
KK
Anyone use the Giro Empire SLX (with elastic laces)? I was considering treating myself to a pair of those to use 70.3 and full-distance races. They are pricey, but I love the look. I’m not sure how they feel. The problem with buying shoes, for me at least, is that it takes several rides before I make up my mind. That makes it a bit riskier to go with something expensive.
The Giro Empire is a great shoe for triathlon after modification. There are a few responses on these shoes in this thread.
Thanks for sharing that link. I honestly don’t know if I could work up the nerve to cut the tongue out of a shoe that costs that much, but maybe I wouldn’t need to. It seems that removing the tongue is necessary for slipping on the shoe while riding. I’ve never done a clipped-in mount and am unlikely to ever do it in the future.
I am considering upgrading my cycling shoes and currently use road cycling shoes on both road and TT bike. I heard from a bike fitter that using road cycling shoes with the boa (tightener or adjustment feature) is better on the bike than the typical TT shoes with the velcro fasteners. The bike fitter stated that the boa adjustment feature keeps the shoes on the feet tighter and enables more consistent pressure on the pedals,etc.
What do you think? Anyone use Lake shoes?
Thanks!
KK
Anyone use the Giro Empire SLX (with elastic laces)? I was considering treating myself to a pair of those to use 70.3 and full-distance races. They are pricey, but I love the look. I’m not sure how they feel. The problem with buying shoes, for me at least, is that it takes several rides before I make up my mind. That makes it a bit riskier to go with something expensive.
The Giro Empire is a great shoe for triathlon after modification. There are a few responses on these shoes in this thread.