Friday, March 2, 2012

Why Should You Wear Mountain Bike Shoes?

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By Greg Tilley


To increase your enjoyment of mountain biking, the right shoe is essential. 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. 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.

What is it about mountain bike shoes that make them a) important to have and b) so expensive?

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, it would be futile to have a protruding cleat because they would quite frequently have to get off the bike and wheel or carry it around obstacles. This is the reason why mountain bike shoes have recessed cleats, so that they won't interfere with walking and they are not made with a rigid sole but one that will just give 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.

What makes the mountain bike shoe so important? 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? Just like with any shoe, the price would depend on what the shoe is made of. It would be better for the racer if the shoe is lighter. But lighter shoes will cost more. On the market, the lightest shoes are carbon fiber shoes but unlike injection-molded plastic or plastic and fiberglass, carbon fiber is more expensive to produce.

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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