The Benefits Of Wearing Mountain Bike Shoes



by Willie Green


In order to increase your enjoyment of mountain biking, having the right shoe is vital. The way to go is a shoe that's designed specifically for the mountain biker.

Mountain bike shoes have a variety of prices and such prices can range from $70 up to over $400. Depending entirely on whether or not you are a casual, once-a-month rider, a serious hobbyist, or someone who competes in races, whether professional or amateur, is the amount of money that you pay.

Is there something we need to know about mountain bike shoes that make them so expensive and important to have?

Helping the cyclist in transferring the power from his legs and feet to the pedals and then to the chain for greater speed are shoes that are specifically designed for cycling because they have stiff soles. Since the road cyclist is expected to be on his or her bike at all times without having to do a great deal of walking, they normally have a protruding cleat which slots into the recess on their pedals.

For the mountain biker who quite frequently has to get off the bike and wheel or carry it around obstacles, a protruding cleat would be of no use. So mountain bike shoes have recessed cleats, that won't interfere with walking, and aren't made with a totally rigid sole, but one that will give just a little bit.

On market, there are dozens of mountain biking shoes available. Unlike women, men will find a wider variety of designs but still, there are quite a few styles to choose from that are specifically designed for the smaller foot of the average woman.

The importance of the mountain bike shoe The occasional biker usually doesn't bother with toe clips or clipless pedals....they just hop on their bike and they're away. But since the serious cyclist wants to get all the power he or she can get out of pedaling, they can pull upward on the pedal as well as simultaneously pushing downward on the other pedal which can increase the speed of the bike if they have the shoe firmly attached to the pedal either with a toe clip or by a cleat.

Why is the mountain bike shoe so expensive? Well, as with any shoe, the price comes down to what the shoe is made of. If the shoe is lighter, then it would be better for the racer. But, lightness comes expensive. The lightest shoes on the market are the carbon fiber soles and the carbon fiber is more expensive to produce than injection-molded plastic or fiberglass and plastic.

The average rider, however, should be able to get a pair or mountain biking shoes that costs less than a hundred dollars.




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