The Importance of Specialized Cycling Shoes

By Susan Bennet Ward    
Whether you are cycling for leisure, or as a professional, specialized shoes are an alternative to keep in mind when you go shopping for a new pair of shoes. People that only cycle sporadically can do well with a simple pair of tennis or running shoes, but, one should keep in mind that such shoes can never match the comfort and performance of cycling shoes that are made especially for this activity. Here are the most important traits of shoes that will have understand why it is essential to get a specialized pair, especially if you are growing serious about your cycling.

A good grip of the pedal

Probably the most important aspect of a pair of cycling shoes is their ability to grip the pedals. Without a good grip of the pedal, you are in serious danger of falling off your bike and suffer an accident, and, perhaps, even injuries.

For this reason, it is also recommendable to change your shoes every now and then, as the soles may grow too worn out to provide the same reliable grip.
Created for comfort

Specialized cycling shoes have a certain great trait that other shoes on the market may not be able to provide. These shoes are created with comfort in mind, as they need to offer you hours of riding without putting strain on your feet or making them feel numb.

The sole of these shoes are made of special materials that provide enough flexibility, so that your feet are not kept too tight or too straight inside the shoes. These shoes take after the special anatomy of your feet, providing you with what cyclists often call 'a second skin'.

Power transfer

Another important thing to keep in mind when you go shopping for shoes is that the best are those that offer great power transfer capabilities. What does this mean? When you pedal on your bike, the power from the movement of your legs is transferred to the pedals, and the pedals make the bike move.

Specialized cycling shoes are designed in such a way that they ensure great power transfer, which means that it is easy for you to ride, and ride faster than you would when wearing a pair of regular sports shoes.

This special capability has something to do with the stiffness of the soles. While the soles provide enough grip, enough flexibility for the feet to feel comfortable, they also need to provide great power transfer.
Mountain biking shoes

Even cycling shoes are split in several categories. For instance, mountain biking shoes must be created differently from road cycling shoes. Grip is important for such shoes, but also they need to ensure that you can quickly get off the bike, in case something goes wrong and you are about to fall off.

You also need your mountain biking shoes to act as great hiking shoes. You will not travel only by bike, and your feet do not have to suffer because of the uneven rough terrain you will have to walk on.
Road cycling shoes

Many prefer road cycling shoes, when they are searching for specialized shoes, because of their great versatility. However, they need to act as walking shoes, as well, because they will be worn as such, once you get off your bike, and you start walking.

When searching for a pair of specialized shoes, you need to make sure that they are comfortable enough and that they can serve the purpose you are buying them for. Also, keep in mind that there are specialized cycling shoes for women and men, and take this into consideration, too.

Susan is a full-time freelance writer. She is an avid traveler and reader and enjoys writing on health & fitness, travel, parenting, relationships and personal development.
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