I started making my own cycling shoes years ago.
I always found the running racing flat upper or track spike upper much more comfortable than any cycling shoe that I had ever used. The shoes that I have made never truly wear out…I just get bored and make a new pair with the latest lightweight carbon sole and an upper that I find interesting. Over the last decade with even my “big foot”(size 46) I’m comfortably under 180 grams without the cleat.
I notice a substantial performance difference using a sub 200 gram shoe versus one that is 300 grams to 350 grams.
The costs for a new pair runs around $10 for myself. I have no problem finding people throwing out cycling shoes with a lightweight carbon sole for free.
It’s been a fun project and not very difficult to accomplish.
Cut out the old carbon sole or if using a new carbon sole…simply bond it to the upper…with the previous sole removed.
There are various bonding techniques that you can use…
I recently tried on a pair of these and mine are much more comfortable and stiffer…and lighter.
This project was staring me in the face for a long time but I think the turning point was the day years ago that I started using the Nike Poggio.
Finally, a shoe that made a difference in performance and comfort. I thought back to my days as a runner and the Nike Oregon waffle…the ultimate running shoe for me at the time. After using the Poggio I decided to start the “project”.
The goal was to beat the comfort and performance of the Poggio. Now, many years later…my own shoes far surpass the “remarkable” difference that the Poggio made.
I used these “very raw”…actually cycling shoes that Iiked…just stripped down…but very much unfinished as I only started this morning and rode in them this afternoon to do this on Strava. I’ll provide as many details on this project next.
This project was staring me in the face for a long time but I think the turning point was the day years ago that I started using the Nike Poggio.
Finally, a shoe that made a difference in performance and comfort. I thought back to my days as a runner and the Nike Oregon waffle…the ultimate running shoe for me at the time. After using the Poggio I decided to start the “project”.
The goal was to beat the comfort and performance of the Poggio. Now, many years later…my own shoes far surpass the “remarkable” difference that the Poggio made.
I used these “very raw”…actually cycling shoes that Iiked…just stripped down…but very much unfinished as I only started this morning and rode in them this afternoon to do this on Strava. I’ll provide as many details on this project next.
OK.
How do you take the shoes apart?
How do you put them back together?
What tools and/or adhesives do you use?
If you are not using a new carbon sole…you can easily remove one that you like.
Razor the edges against the sole and the upper will rip right off.
Try not to remove the cleat bolt threads…but if you screw it up…it’s easily resolved…I’ll go over that later.
Clean it up…get all the crap off that you can…that stuff is useless …excess weight.
Next Step…looking for an upper that you really find comfortable
I’m looking at this…easy to copy…but I think they did it wrong. Bootie plus shell equals overkill.
In fact the shoes are heavy…I weighed a pair at 265 grams with no cleat.
This could have been done much better.
Pretty crazy that they’re asking 900 Euro
But they do look pretty sweet
Many adhesives work. The question is " Am I going to use the sole again"?
Due to the constant pressure…it doesn’t take a strong adhesive.
If you plan on possibly using the sole again…glue sticks with heat gun will work. …shoe goo is a little stronger.
You’ll need to clamp the bonds as you go…a bit at a time.
I’ve also used various types of Bondo and JB Weld. With these adhesives…along with clamping…you will have a difficult task at reusing the sole.
I plan on taking photos of the whole process on the next pair.
So, you take a good running shoe (Let’s say the it’s $100), and a good carbon sole (Let’s say that the shoe originally cost $100), and then you cut them all up, spend $10 on glue, and glue them together.
…in the end, it looks like a crappy arts and craft project that really cost ~$210.
So, you take a good running shoe (Let’s say the it’s $100), and a good carbon sole (Let’s say that the shoe originally cost $100), and then you cut them all up, spend $10 on glue, and glue them together.
…in the end, it looks like a crappy arts and craft project that really cost ~$210.
