Your feet are a major contact point when on a bike, and they have the greatest workload and responsibility. For this reason, it’s vital that the way you connect your pedals is up to the job. This is true whether you ride with standard flat pedals or clipped in, and on- or off-road.
The first point is largely moot for those who prefer road cycling, as roadies ride clipped in. This is because of the more efficient and powerful pedal motion that comes from being attached to your bike - you can provide power to the rear wheel on the push and the pull of the pedal, rather than just on the way down.
Off-road, however, there’s still a divide between clips and flats, which largely depends on what sort of riding you do. Disciplines where pedalling isn’t that important tend to prefer the simplicity of flat pedals, while in more dedicated cardiovascular activities, like cross country racing, are turning to clipless pedals for the same efficiencies that make them popular with their lycra-clad road-racing cousins.
Keeping contact with your flat pedals over rough terrain is still vital though and while a good set of pedals can help in this regard, it’s vital to get a pair of shoes with a grippy sole that can hold on to them. It also needs to be made of a tough, cycling-specific material to avoid it being ripped to bits by spikey pedal pins.
Then you need to decide what sort of fastening you want, and here there are two main considerations – a BOA ratchet system for the ultimate all-round hold, or traditional laces or Velcro for a more stylish and laid-back look.
The best cycling shoes for under £100
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Best clipless shoe for racing
www.tredz.co.uk
Super clean and sleek, these Scott shoes look fast. They feature a stiff footbed that helps you maintain power through the pedals, while the ergonomic shaping ensures that they stay comfortable, even after a long day in the saddle. The enclosure is BOA, so they are quick and easy to pull on and off. Thereu2019s an additional Velcro strap for lower-foot adjustment.
Best shoe for flat mountain bike pedals
www.adidas.co.uk
These shoes from Adidas are deceptively well-featured. While they look casual, they have a Stealth rubber sole - this holds you tightly to the pedal, so much so that youu2019ll feel clipped in. The Five Ten Freerider are hardwearing, brushing off all sorts of wet and muddy abuse. They take care of you, too, with loads of padding and a hard toebox to help protect your feet from crashes or flying rocks. There is a sleeker-looking, water-resistant 'Pro' version available, but they're more expensive, and they arenu2019t really worth it unless you do a lot of riding over winter.
Best road shoe without BOAs
www.wiggle.co.uk
Believe it or not, not everyone likes the fit of a BOA ratchet, and that can really limit the choice of shoe available to them. Thankfully Fizik can take care of such a need with the Tempo R5 Powerstarp for road cyclists. These Fizik shoes feature a Velcro strap that wraps all the way around your foot for a snug and comfortable fit, with sleek and clean external lines and the ability to easily slip waterproof overshoes on top in winter.
Best clipless MTB shoe
This mountain bike shoe is bulkier than the road-based clip-in equivalent, with more rugged styling and protection allowing clipless pedals on the trail. There are two Velcro straps that allow you to adjust for a snug fit, and the rubber sole with chunky tread means you can walk off the bike without stumbling and wobbling around.
Best value clipless road shoe
www.halfords.com
The Boardman Carbon is a great shoe - it has a super still and lightweight sole made from carbon, and a BOA-like fastening system. These are certainly premium features for such a reasonably priced shoe. Rubber bumpers fore and aft also help you walk and protect the sole when you're off the bike, and an understated grey colourway would help even the fastest sprinter fly under the radar.