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From: c-hunt@tesla.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Biking Shoes - (nf)
Message-ID: <359@tesla.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 9-May-84 11:05:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: tesla.359
Posted: Wed May  9 11:05:11 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 11-May-84 07:21:26 EDT
References: <38200007@uiucdcs.UUCP>, <38200008@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Organization: Cornell Electrical Eng.
Lines: 20

I have found biking shoes essential; but cleated shoes are likely just
for racing or perhaps the truly fanatic tourist.

I've tried three non-cleat shoes: Bata Biker, Bata Wintour, and Avocet II.
The Batas are fine for pedaling, uncomfortable for walking, do not fix a
position for the foot, but are, in my opinion, the best value.  The wintour
is strictly a cold-weather shoe.  The Avocet is more comfortable for walking,
comfortable for pedaling, but mine were weak construction and only lasted a
single season before self-destructing (the others last longer); also, they're
a touch overpriced.  The notches in the Avocets are so wide that they don't
really seem to fix an orientation as a cleat would: its mainly a gimic.

I've tried several cleated shoes: here the concern is mainly proper fit (since
everyone uses different lasts) and cleat preference.  For the most part, you
get what you pay for.  I've found that Puma and "Colnago" (I don't know who the
real manufacturer is) are wider than others (ie, more "American").  Since quick
extraction from the pedal is essential around traffic, I wouldn't encourage
these kinds of shoes for touring except if you'll be only on the open road.
=Charles Hunt=                                      ...!cornell!tesla!c-hunt