SPD Pedal/Shoe question(s) - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

11-18-2004, 05:48 AM

A LBS has offered me SPD pedals and shoes for $110. I didn't check out
specifics but I see that the Shimano PD-M535 is $30 and the A525 is
$40. I have a hybrid Trek. Shoes look expensive.

Right now I bike about 25 miles most work days and just have flat
pedals with no toe clips, mostly in sneakers. I was thinking that
adding either those or some sort of bolting scheme (like SPD) would
exercise another part of the leg. Having had Plantar Fasciitis in the
past, I feel little twinges of it after biking and feel that a
different foot motion would help prevent that.

I put inserts into the sneakers when I ride, essentially arch
supports, which has helped minimize the impact of the biking on the
arch, but I think that more support would be a good idea. And those
bike shoes feel solid.

In an interesting linkage (to me, YMMV), I finally cured the plantar
fasciitis (it was in the left foot) by breaking my right ankle on a
mountain bike when I couldn't get my foot off the pedal in time
because it was in a toe clip cage thing. By the time I did get it out,
I only managed to get it on the ground in time to break it as the bike
slid sideways in a huge mud puddle. The resulting surgery kept me from
doing anything for two months, thus giving the PF time to heal. I
don't recommend that approach but it does work.

So I'm a bit gunshy about having my foot bolted to a pedal but I can
see the advantages and I definitely need better biking shoes. Question
time.

--------- feel free to clip here when responding --------------

Do folks use bolts in urban areas where you do have to stop some time?

Should I just get better shoes and skip the clipless clips?

Are replacement shoes interchangeable for these clipless clips?

Can I ride on SPD pedals without SPD shoes, say I'm just going to the
store?

Is $110 a pretty good deal? I get to try out the shoes and I have big
and wide feet. I don't mind paying a bit more for stuff that is worth
it in the long run.

Any other comments gratefully appreciated.