Traditional Cycling Shoes (and fully sprung shepherds boots)

[Basemetal]

Not a review yet, just a heads up.

Gentlemen of a certain age might have lamented the passing of the flat soled touring shoe... I didn't because I didn't know they had gone until I started to look for a new pair over the last few weeks.
My cleated Italian toe eaters are doing fine, but I miss my flatties so hit the interweb.
A myriad SPD and look clipless pedal options, but nothing plain and flat to be seen...

But I've found them! Here

No cleats on these, just a rigid flat sole that works very well with toeclips and quill pedals (I know, I know... ). Hard to describe why they're so good, but if you're of a certain age....


While on that site it's worth a look around.

Fully Sprung Shepherds boots were the Holy Grial for knowledgeable hill walkers before the lightweight boot revolution. They cost about £100 in 1985, so £165 isn't too unreasonable 26 years later. Here they are... available in vibram, hobnails, tackets or plain leather soles



I don't need the boots just now, but I've ordered the Cycling shoes and will update this after I've used them for a while

[JungleBert]

Those Shepherds boots are the business, I've been after something similar for ages, I'll let you know if I order some, thanks very much for the link.

[Basemetal]

I notice my link goes to the 'Hill Boot' Vibram version, if you click on the 'Shepherds Boots' you'll see the other sole options.
I'm fighting temptation here, but trusting they'll still be around when I do need a nother pair of boots

[John56]

I wore a pair of shoes very similar to these over 30 years ago when I used to pedal my Claude Butler Majestic round the Suffolk lanes. My mates laughed at them but they make a huge difference to foot comfort with quill pedals and toe-clips. Thinking about it my Majestic is still hanging up in the garage, right next to the unused Halfords mountain bike I bought about 10 years ago.

[Chris the Cat]

I notice my link goes to the 'Hill Boot' Vibram version, if you click on the 'Shepherds Boots' you'll see the other sole options.
I'm fighting temptation here, but trusting they'll still be around when I do need a nother pair of boots

Just a guess ! William Lennon ?
They made me a pair of their hobnail boots but with a plain stitched on leather sole, in black with leather laces.
A nice wide last, the best boots I own !
Like you I REALY fancy the Shepherds boots!!
Great stuff.
My best.
Chris.

[bardster]

They are in the same valley as Robin Wood, ask him to pop in and say hello Would fit in with his traditional crafts if they still make them themselves

[mrcharly]

Get theeself into some SPD shoes and pedals, young man!

[Basemetal]

Get theeself into some SPD shoes and pedals, young man!

I like the freedom of placement that flatties give me (and I don't want to change all my pedals ).

[HPFlashman]

I have a serious hankering for these:



http://www.quocpham.com/products/index.html



After a colleague needed kneesurgery after running SPD pedals, those things has had no appeal for me.

[Basemetal]

I saw the Quoc Pham's .. (his touring model looks practical too)... but £100/149 versus £46 kind of clinched it for me
The reviews describe the Quoc Phams as "cycliing slippers" in fabulously soft leather.

Touring boot looks like a novel winter boot too (albeit price TBA).

[HPFlashman]

Having had a browse through the boot/shoe site, there was much drooling over this and that.

[mrcharly]

I have a serious hankering for these:
After a colleague needed kneesurgery after running SPD pedals, those things has had no appeal for me.

Then their pedals were either faulty or the cleats were not positioned correctly. spds allow 5degrees of rotation either direction, which is more than enough to avoid stressing knees.

I had many years of using traditional toeclips and cleats. The very cheapest spd pedals and cleats are far far better and less likely to cause injury.

[Basemetal]

Cycling shoes arrived today, unfortunately not a good match for my feet. Lasting of the soles was a bit untidy, with some roughening of the uppers beyond the sole lines. Stiffening shanks seemed a little differently aligned between Left and Right too. Maybe just unlucky, but I've taken advantage of the " no nonsense returns policy".

Now, new pedals or Quoc Phams?

[the laird]

I'm thinking of the shepherds boots with cleats fitted,I would only need one pair of shoes.

[HPFlashman]

Now, new pedals or Quoc Phams?

Quoc,Quoc....