Going the Distance
If you don't listen to me, you have a couple of choices. You can query the wreck.bicycles.* newsgroups, but if you read those groups much, you already know that 98% of the people that post are complete idiots who don't actually ride bicycles. You're likely to get some good advice, but you're likely to get some pretty screwball advice too. How will you separate the two? Remember, many newsgroup-weenies still think canti's are better than v-brakes.
You could also buy shoe after shoe, like imelda freakin' marcos, until you finally hit upon the perfect one. This is pretty much what I've done, and as a result, I have about 10 pairs of cycling shoes kicking around the house. It makes my wonderful wife cranky, and it might make yours cranky too. Since I've already done most of the research for you, at least use my experience to narrow down the field a bit.
Option number three is to go to the cross races and see what the mid-pack A's are using. These are the guys who are fast enough and experienced enough to have some idea what works, but aren't so fast that they get shoes for free. Fast guys who pay for their own equipment are likely to give you honest and useful advice. But what if you don't live near Santa Cruz, Seattle, Boulder or Boston? You may not have a very big group of guys to choose from, since pretty much everyone who's really serious about cross lives in one of those areas. If you're too lazy to do your own research, take advantage of mine.
Cross shoes are different than mtb shoes. In cross you're running a lot, so you want a shoe with a little bit of flex in the toe (or at least a rounded sole in the toe) for a more natural running style. I have a running background, and I seem to really drive off my toes as my leg goes back. I notice a substantial difference in comfort and speed between flexy-toed shoes and stiff-toed shoes.
Cross happens frequently in the mud. There are a number of issues that affect mud performance. Removable soccer-type cleats at the toes (some even have them at the heels) are a bonus. Minimal material for soaking up water would be nice. Those comfy padded shoes can get awfully heavy when they start to get soaked. One of the most critical factors is to have the cleat bolted to the sole, with the area you walk on built up around the sides, but preferably not in front or in back of the cleat. This allows the mud to flow away from the cleat when you're squirming into your pedals, instead of getting stuck in a deep recession and just staying there. Not that many shoes have this feature.
I have Carnac Tahoes, Carnac Flights, Scott something-or others, Specialized Ground Controls, Sidi Defenders (old), Sidi Dominator II's, and Time World Cups. I've also used Nike Cairns, and some other Scott shoe with cleats that self-destructed, Shimano M210's, Shimano M51's, Shimano M110's and cheap Nike soccer shoes.
|
Shoe |
Removable Cleat? |
Mud Clearing |
Flexy Toe? |
Notes |
|
Sidi Dominator II |
Toe |
Yes, very |
Yes, very natural running |
These are my fave's for all around crossing. |
|
Time World Cup |
Toe and Heel |
Yes |
Slightly |
The heal cleats are awesome for slick mud and crappy footing. This is a great mtb shoe and my second favorite cross shoe. I just won an east bay race where my time pedals and shoes combined to make me the only guy who could consistently clip in. They do soak up more water than the Sidi's tho. |
|
Carnac Flight/Tahoe |
Toe (flight only) |
So-so |
No |
These are my favorite mtb shoes. They pretty much suck for cross because of the stiffness, but Greg Foy uses them and he kicked my ass pretty convincingly at every race last year. |
|
Shimano Type Shoes |
Not in mine, but now available |
Not very |
A little |
I can't get a pair of shimano shoes to last more than a couple months. I don't know how they can build such good hubs but such unbelievably crappy shoes. I had my first big results (11th at norcal districts) in a cheesy pair of $50 m-51's, but there was no mud that year (until the sonora nats) |
|
Specialized Ground Control |
No |
Yes |
No |
I hate these shoes. I only keep them because I won them in a cross race and I never wear them so they won't wear out. They just don't fit me. Maybe their new ones suck less. |
|
Sidi Defenders |
No (new ones have them) |
Yes |
Yes |
These shoes were great. They were just like dominators only nylon mesh instead of warm leatherette, so they stayed lighter in the wet (and dried faster). The old ones only had 1 velcro strap plus the ski buckle and I had to start using safety pins to hold my velcro strap down in the mud. I used these shoes to get 8th at the '96 nationals (masters), and to win hundreds of dollars at the Cool mtb race over the last few years. Mine stayed wet so much a couple years ago they grew mushrooms inside them. I think the new ones are called Eagles or something like that. |
|
Nike Cairns |
Toe |
? I forget |
Yes |
These shoes hurt my feet so bad I could only use them for a couple of road rides. If they fit you, I think they'll be pretty good cross shoes, but try them on first. |
|
Soccer Shoes |
Yes, dozens |
Not spd compatible |
Yes, very |
'96 was a muddy year for Surf City. People scoffed when I pulled up to the start in soccer cleats with huge blue anodized BMX pedals. On the first climb I opened up a massive gap and rode the next 40 minutes alone. I did roughly the same thing at the next 3 races, and won the surf city overall, and norcal districts. There's never since been that much running, so I haven't used them much lately, but I still have 'em for that special day. |
Buy Time, or Sidi, whichever one you like best. Duegi makes a nice shoe that's worth looking at too. Dave Carr just got some, email him at davidlcarr@aol.com and see what he thinks. I didn't get a chance to peek at the sole to see how they clear the mud.
Produced by Mark Weaver
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