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From: wew@mgweed.UUCP (Ed Weiss)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Bicycle Touring Shoes
Message-ID: <17476@mgweed.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 28-May-85 12:56:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: mgweed.17476
Posted: Tue May 28 12:56:12 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 31-May-85 01:05:50 EDT
Organization: AT&T Consumer Products - Montgomery Illinois
Lines: 24

I have a pair of Bata Bikers which are now four years old.  I think I
paid $15 for them then and they are still available through Bike Nashbar
for about the same amount. I don't think there is a better buy!!!
They are a narrow shoe, similar to cleated shoes so the feeling and 
comfort are similar. Stiffness is good although cleated shoes are
stiffer. On a 1500 mile, 10 day trip a friend of mine experienced
some extreme foot problems with a running type shoe. We stopped at
a bike shop, bought Bata Bikers for $18, and his problems ended!
I don't know of a more durable biking shoe. Mine are four years old
and show wear only in the area of the toe straps ( this area is
reinforced with rubber).  I now use cleated shoes for most riding,
but the first year they were my only shoes (I rode about 7500 miles
that year) and now I use them in rain and during the winter when
I ride rollers and on special rides where some amount of walking
will be encountered. The only diadvantage is they are not cleated
shoes and therefore if you are accustomed to pulling up, you will
likely pull out of the toe straps.  It is possible to crank down
on your straps, however this leads to crunched feet and the 
associated dicomfort. If I'm nearing a hill or situation that
requires some heavy work, I'll tighten the straps temporarily.
These shoes are not the latest in fashion design (or maybe they
are depending where your coming from!), but dollar for doillar
they are the best all around cycling shoe.