I currently ride my mountain bike with flat pedals. I got an at-large spot to Xterra WC in Maui this December and I am thinking it’s time to switch back to mountain bike shoes and cleats. I’ve used candy pedals in past - thinking of maybe switching to Shimano system. Getting out of pedals fast enough is an issue for me when mountain biking (which is why I ride flat pedals now) so if Shimano’s are better maybe I will make that switch. Or I could stick with the candy. I need new shoes too - any recommendations? Thanks!
I use egg beaters and Sidi Terra but just about any shoe will work. Likely a shoe with a velcro strap in front and a ratchet back would be best. You’re basically riding on a paved path on your way out and returning from the bike course so it’s easy to get and out.
At that course I was just a participator in 2017, I know they’ve changed the course a little but all the climbing was much steeper than I’ve done before. As I remember there were 5 climbs of 14+ minutes where 3 of them I had to walk the last little bit. If I had a 50+ tooth on the back it would have helped. That would be the most significant thing I would make sure I had if I went back.
I use egg beaters and Sidi Terra but just about any shoe will work. Likely a shoe with a velcro strap in front and a ratchet back would be best. You’re basically riding on a paved path on your way out and returning from the bike course so it’s easy to get and out.
At that course I was just a participator in 2017, I know they’ve changed the course a little but all the climbing was much steeper than I’ve done before. As I remember there were 5 climbs of 14+ minutes where 3 of them I had to walk the last little bit. If I had a 50+ tooth on the back it would have helped. That would be the most significant thing I would make sure I had if I went back.
Good to know!
Anyone know if there is such a thing as a tri-specific MTB shoe, and if they’re worth getting over a typical MTB shoe? Something with a loop in the back of the shoe??
Do pro’s tend to do flying mounts with shoes already clipped in, in XTERRA racing?
Any info is helpful. My wife is getting into this at long last, and is jumping into it at the pro level as early as next month. She’s somewhat experienced in triathlon, and minimally in XC MTB, but has not ever practiced a T1 onto MTB!
I don’t know if you can still find them, but I have used a pair of Gaerne Kona MTB shoes (not to be confused with their Kona road tri shoe) for many years only for Xterra. I like them because there are only two large Velcro straps, a loop in back, and 2-bolt for mtb cleats. I use them sockless with no problems when I am motivated. Regards pedals, personal preference but I have stuck by Time Atacs forever. Big platform, stomp and go, impossible for too much mud to stop you from clipping in. Worked at Maui when all else on my bike was an issue due to mud/grass.
Those look great. Can’t seem to find any online in her size.
I’m really tempted to take her S-Works Recon’s to the local cobbler who re-leathered one of her Cobb saddles and having him sew a loop on to the back of the shoe.
Lake make an xterra tri shoe. Only in men’s sizing, but it might work for her.
I just raced an xterra a few weeks ago and no one really had their shoes on the bike. I think the only guy who did was using a standard (road) tri shoe.
Lake make an xterra tri shoe. Only in men’s sizing, but it might work for her.
I just raced an xterra a few weeks ago and no one really had their shoes on the bike. I think the only guy who did was using a standard (road) tri shoe.
Interesting. I suppose some of the events are easy enough trails that unclipping isn’t really necessary, right? Do you know if that’s the case for XTERRA USA Nationals in Utah? Does going with a road shoe and pedal make sense weight wise?
ps. that Lake shoe is sweet. Her cycling team has deals with Lake so I’ll explore that.
Still would love to hear your or anyone’s take on those road shoe questions. Brainstorming how to weenie her bike/apparel weight down for all the climbing!
If she’s just getting into it, I wouldn’t be going with a road shoe. Yup, on some courses/conditions you’d be sweet, but if it’s wet/muddy and someone comes off in front of you and you’re forced to walk a short section you now have cleats full of mud which could be a nightmare to get back in. In that scenario you’d have likely lost less time just putting on/taking off a standard set of mountain bike shoes. The weight wouldn’t bother me, just the cleat issue.
Regards pedals, you’ll find as many preferences as there are options! I previously used Shimano on MTB but have now gone to Crank Brothers. On my XC bike I’d still be happy on Shimano, or Time, or any of the other options. There are pros and cons of each, but ….
She’s sort of just getting into it but also on the highly competitive side.
Just turned pro in triathlon, and placed 5th at US Pro Nat’s in the TT, and won an XC MTB race in her second ever MTB race (just a local course, but with some stout women competition) so… you may be right, I still may be going overkill on the weight-weenie-ing and optimizing, very much at the detriment of real world performance.
Do you happen to know how much single track vs. double-track or access road is on course at the Utah XTERRA event? Or how I could find out?
We typically just ride Shimano XT or XTR pedals for all gravel and MTB stuff and I’d never considered going road pedals, but if the combo of road shoe, cleat, pedal is lighter and there is a very low likelihood of her needing to unclip, I’m sure she’ll be at least as tempted as I am. haha
Here’s the bike course https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/xterra-usa-championship-bike-2021-980ecd0
I’m afraid I have no idea on the Utah course - sorry. I do know that if you’re going with road pedals/shoes for reasons of weight, you’re making bad choices. If your reasons are because you can’t get MTB shoes that have easy entry/exit, depending on the course I can see that as a trade off that may be worth taking. Not for weight though.
The Utah course is primarily single track. There are a few miles of double track after you leave pavement from the lake until you cross a paved road, but even that has a pronounced single line up it made by riders. Worth getting there early and riding at least the upper 2/3.
Haven’t done Utah but I believe there is a very full YouTube video of the course (was considering adding it to the schedule this year but won’t be able to make it). Looked like the climbing is mostly fire road fwiw.
Awesome. I’ll look for it.
Thankfully we live in a motorhome so we may head out that way 3+ weeks earlier.
Crunched the numbers and turns out, you’re right. 5 seconds saved on the climbing probably not worth all the other risks.
Do not use a road shoe and pedals at Xterra USA in Utah.
While I’ve never had to unclip there, if I did, it would be a disaster trying to stand up on dirt and/or rocks.
The first climb is very rocky, having to unclip in road shoes there would be dangerous.
The first downhill would be no problem.
The second climb is more hardpack dirt, probably wouldn’t be a big deal there but still not ideal for road shoes.
The second downhill would be no problem either except if you had to unclip on the cliff side, while the trail is dirt there’s a chance you could slide and then fall down the mountain.
Running out of T1 would be interesting on the soft soil and grass; coming into T2 on the asphalt wouldn’t be much of a challenge if you take your feet out of the shoes.
Noted! Will heed your advice.