Slippery Shoes

Posted May 7, 2001
8,085

Q: I just bought my first pair of clipless road pedals and I think they're a great upgrade. However, I've nearly killed myself because the hard, slick soles don't grip the road when I put my foot down. Why to road shoe manufacturers ignore this hazard?

A: It sounds like you bought the wrong type of shoe for your needs. Instead of hard, slick soles made for performance riding, you'd be a lot happier with rubber treat "walkable" soles designed for touring or mountain riding. Some, such as the popular Shimano SPD shoes, even recess the clean so only the sole touches the ground. To make your present shoes safer for walking, glue on rubber heel and toe tabs, perhaps using the tread of an old tire. Jim Langley