Global Sports: The Benefits Of Wearing Mountain Bike Shoes

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The Benefits Of Wearing Mountain Bike Shoes

By Willie Green


Having the right shoe is essential in order to increase your enjoyment of mountain biking. It would be better to choose a shoe that is specifically designed for the mountain biker.

Coming in a variety of prices are mountain bike shoes and these can range from $70 up to over $400. The amount of money you pay depends entirely on whether or not you are a casual, once-a-month rider, a serious hobbyist, or someone who competes in races - either amateur or professional.

What are the reasons why mountain bike shoes are so expensive as well as important to have?

Shoes that are specifically designed for cycling have stiff soles and for this reason, the cyclist can transfer the power from his legs and feet to the pedals and then to the chain for greater speed. The road cyclist normally have a protruding cleat which slots into the recess on their pedals since the road cyclist is expected to be on his or her bike at all times without the need to do a great deal of walking.

A protruding cleat would be of no use to the mountain biker, who quite frequently has to get off the bike and wheel or carry it around obstacles. Not only do mountain bikes don't have recessed cleats so that it won't interfere with walking, they also are not made from totally rigid sole but one that will give just a little bit.

Available on the market are dozens of mountain bike shoes. Men will find a wider variety of designs then women, nevertheless there are quite a few styles designed specifically for the smaller foot of the average woman.

Why is the mountain bike shoe so importance? Toe clips and clipless pedals are things that occasional mountain bikers don't usually bother with and they would just hop on their bike and they're on their way. The serious cyclist, however, should have the shoe firmly attached to the pedal either with a toe clip or with some cleats in order for them to get all the power they want out of a pedaling and they can pull upward on the pedal as well as simultaneously pushing downward on the other pedal, thus increasing the speed of the bike.

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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