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I ride flat pedals on the trail bike but have recently picked up a Cube Attain to commute to work a couple of times a week. I'm running flats on the Attain currently, but am looking to move to SPDs as I'm finding myself getting out on the road bike more often that I expected.
I've been looking at various touring/casual SPD shoes and wondered if anyone had experience? I'm really after something that looks like a trainer and that can be walked in easily off the bike. My office dress code is casual, I normally wear a pair of Converse for example.
I've seen the Shimano MT3, which perhaps don't look enough like a normal shoe. I've also looked at the Giro Rumble VR, which don't look too bad in the blue colour (from pics online anyhow).
But then reviews of the Giro stated the soles were fairly stiff. I've seen some other by the brand Chrome, but they're more than I wanted to spend really.
Any other views, experience or ideas?
As you've noted, a cycle shoe needs stiffness, yet a walking shoe benefits from flexibility. I wore DZR Minna shoes to commute and at work, but they snapped across the shank after a year. Bought a "dedicated" pair of Giro shoes and now I just change shoes before and after cycling. Didn't care for the Shimano touring shoes - looked a bit... orthopaedic for my tastes.
All cycling shoes look a bit special off the bike. I just leave a pair of trainers at the office to change into.
Thanks for the confirmation, that's where my thoughts seem to be heading at the minute, I may as well just leave a pair of trainers at the office as mentioned.
[edit] [i]Cross posting make this reply a bit irrelevant[/i]
The chromes that you've already looked at are the ones I reckon look the least like a cycling shoe, I've not tried them but I did bookmark them from a previous thread for later reference.
Like Drlex said above what you want from a cycling shoe is pretty much the opposite of what you want from a casual walking around shoe. Can you not get the best cycling shoes you can justify and leave your converse in a drawer/under a desk at work? That seems less of a compromise.
The other benefit is keeping your cycling shoes for just cycling means they last years, all my bike shoes are over ten years old and look like they've got a few more years left in them. Prior to that I tried to use a pair for both walking and touring (to save on luggage space) they didn't last 18 months.
There is a company making very smart SPD shoes. Can't remember the name.
I can't see why you'd want to wear cleated shoes all day though. Keep some shoes at work and change?
What size are you? If you're a 9/43 then I have a pair of Vans exacerbate 2 that you can have for post costs (or free if you can pick up from Leeds) they look the same as a standard pair of Vans skate trainers right down to the waffle sole but with spd fixings. Email in profile ,
Some of the Scott MTB shoes look like cross trainers, e.g. [url= https://www.scott-sports.com/us/en/products/2389634755005/SCOTT-Metrix-Shoe ]Metrix[/url] or the [url= https://www.scott-sports.com/us/en/products/2518411033016/SCOTT-Sport-Crus-r-Shoe ]Sport Crus-R[/url]
Separate office shoes are the best option, wearing cycling shoes that are soaking from wet weather commuting is grim
The merlin shoes are inexpensive and quite practical
I have a set of Giro Republics. They look pretty shoe like but are a good cycling shoe. They do a reflective one too which is what I'd get when these die.
They're "OK" for walking about in and the tread bits can be replaced.
I just wear socks in the office, or a pair of shoes I leave there if I have a client or whatever though
^ [url= https://roubaixcycling.cc/2017/06/30/giro-republic-lx-shoes/ ]Republic LX review [/url]
Scotts, their trekking jobs look like a tough style approach shoe/trainer thing and have very flexible soles.
That smart place in Newcastle sell them cheap a lot.
Only concern would be wet feeling stinking the place out on rainy days.
I like my Giro Republics. Not waterproof, so wear covers if it's wet. I wanted to move to MTB type pedals for my commute as I was constantly wearing out left cleats, problem solved and nice shoes.
Cheers, Rich
Definite change of shoes. Ones that are 'ok' to walk in won't be great to ride and will only be ok to walk in.
Get some decent ones to ride in, don't have to spend much, and leave a pair of shoes at work.