[Closed] what shoes for flats?

I've been using Vans skater type shoes for last 18 months. The grip is superb but they soak up water like a sponge. They're coming towards the end of their life now as the sole is getting ripped apart by the pedals but they've lasted well considering the abuse they've had and they only cost £35. In the market for new ones too but can't find something that will be decent for winter riding too.

Any decent stiff-soled skate shoe from TKMaxx is a good starting point - if you can get leather ones they'll at least be slightly more water-resistant too.

Teva Links - very impressed with mine and they don't absorb water.

after this- [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/why-doesnt-anyone-make-a-decent-non-spd-style-winter-shoe ]http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/why-doesnt-anyone-make-a-decent-non-spd-style-winter-shoe[/url]

I have these to try tonight-
[url= http://www.treds.co.uk/product/mens_footwear_trainer/vans/edgemont_%28weather%29blk-red/52805/ ]http://www.treds.co.uk/product/mens_footwear_trainer/vans/edgemont_%28weather%29blk-red/52805/[/url]

aha they look good, thanks 🙂

How stiff are they?
I'm used to carbon soles, so want something fairly rigid if possible.

5-10 freeriders, or those new giro ones look good:

http://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/eurobike-your-starter-for-ten/

I want to find some more nike meelees.

Please report back on the stiffness of those Vans please - want me some of those!

5-10 Freeriders, they take a good beating and last the distance. The only disadvantage I've found is that the tongue takes ages to dry.

Haven't found anything that grips the pedals as well as Stealth rubber from 5.10. And if you're following Eurobike, they are bringing out the Freerider in a lighter version, better colours and possible non-spongelike tongue... Finally....

Vans Gravel are good. A little more water resistant than normal ones, with stiffish soles that are pretty grippy.
Expensive ( i wouldn't pay full price for them) but worth picking up if they're in a sale.

The Vans were pretty good, serpantly not stiff but nor floppy, kinda middling stiffness midddling grip. Socks stayed dry aswell. I'll put my shimano plastic inner bit in to stiffen them up.

5-10's for me. They're simply great.

they're pretty good for motorbiking too.,

5-10s for me too

I'm still rocky my old school AM40's, thinking of getting them re-soled with stealth at [url= http://www.feetfirst.resoles.co.uk/cycling_mtb_shoe_repair.php ]feetfirst[/url]

[img] [/img]

I liked my AM40s but they fell apart.

I like these: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=55371&_$ja=kw:shimano+am41|cgn:shimano+am41|cgid:3667980556|tsid:40896|cn:Chain+Reaction-UK-P-Exa-Eng-DT-SE|cid:207166756|lid:26250420225|mt:Exact|nw:search|crid:13600892356&gclid=CKK59ouEkrICFeTHtAodm3kABA (note - could well be cheaper elsewhere - just the first place i found them on a search)

Deal with the elements pretty well, stiff enough for me and very grippy with these: http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&rlz=1C2CHFX_en-GBGB460GB460&q=shimano+dx&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1280&bih=705&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=4111613243776355941&sa=X&ei=r8RAUMjOBOSp0QXJwYEw&ved=0CD8Q8gIwAQ

smcicr - the AM41s are good, just look a bit non descript compared to the AM40's, essentially the same shoe though. The DX pedals are good but not as good as say a DMR V12 or Vaults, the pins are too small on the DXs IMO, the bearings are supposed to be better though.

my old Innovate Terroc330s are ace when it's dry and warm otherwise Merrells.

@rewski - the DX's came with two sets of pins (short and long) - i'm running the shorter ones currently as this is my first foray into flats after being spudded for years - my shins were just too afraid of the longer pins - at least to start with 😉 They've been great so far in terms of general performance.

As for the AM41's being nodescript - yep, but then that was a plus for me, i prefer understated to a lot of colour where bike shoes are concerned 🙂

@ smcicr - apologies, assumed you were considering buying so no offence. I have DX's and DMRs, the pins are a smaller radius too, I find they don't lock into the AM40 soles as well as the DMRs, good pedals none the less. Easton Flatboys are a good too.

5:10s in the dry. No better shoe. Teva links for long wet rides because they dry out quicker.

I really like my AM40s but sadly both pairs are slowly dying, and there's no more size 9s in the world 🙁 Still, they've each lasted at least twice as long as my Impacts did, so.

Freeriders are good. Even more good if you nuke them with waterproofing spray before you ever wear them! Seem much better made and more durable than the Impacts were (tbh, this is not hard)

5-10's on Wellgo Mag1's

End of thread.