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General: look cleat tri hole clipless mtb shoes

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    not a big deal but I was wondering if anyone know of a look cleat (tri-hole) that's not a road shoe (aka has some tread on the sole)? I've been told it doesn't exist but I thought I'd try a forum just to be sure.

    don't tell me to just get spd pedals and shoes. I bought these looks for cheap and I don't want to buy another clipless set.
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeOct 25th 2009
     
    as far as i know they do not exist.
    • CommentAuthorfixedpuch
    • CommentTimeOct 25th 2009
     
    gotta go with road shoes....
  4.  
    I concur, what you're looking for doesn't make sense to produce. You can certainly buy covers for the cleats, if you don't want to sound like a tap dancer...
  5.  
    Posted By: suicide_doorsI concur, what you're looking for doesn't make sense to produce. You can certainly buy covers for the cleats, if you don't want to sound like a tap dancer...


    I just want to be able to walk around with some descent traction in a shoe that looks half-way normal. I don't see what's so ridiculous about the idea that maybe not everyone that buys Look pedals is (or wants to appear to be) a pro racer. they do it with spd pedals fine, I don't see whats so hard about making a tri-hole version.

    I should say too, they need to make bike shoes with some sense of style. All these bright colors, shinny plastic, with mesh everywhere, and velcro straps all over the place - I know cyclist like to show off, but shiit man, theres limits to everything. first person to invent a clipless shoe that looks like an adidas samba is going to make bank.
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeOct 25th 2009
     
    Posted By: Crank PedalerI don't see what's so ridiculous about the idea that maybe not everyone that buys Look pedals is (or wants to appear to be) a pro racer.


    its not a looks issue as much as it is a clearance issue. you can find look compatible shoes with a tiny amount of thread on the heel and the toe but that is the extent of it
  8.  
    Posted By: Crank PedalerI don't see whats so hard about making a tri-hole version.

    Before I speak to this, here is some imagery:

    Bolt patterns compared:


    Shoes compared:


    In case that wasn't enough to answer your question: It's hard because three bolt cleats are gigantic and span almost the entire width of the shoe. Either the shoe would have to have a sole which extends well past the width of the shoe itself, or it would have thick, heavy lugs which protrude below the cleat. However you slice it, duck flippers or elevator shoes, you're walking around looking like Frankenstein. Not to mention, wider soles mean the shoe is heavier and less aerodynamic, larger lugs mean the shoe is heavier and therefore it takes more work to pedal. To wit, I've never seen or heard of three bolt shoes with walking tread of any kind. Nor are adapters made (to my knowledge) which make an SPD shoe take a three bolt cleat. It just doesn't make any sense.

    I know you don't want to be told to get an SPD system, but perhaps you should have made sure the system you purchased (however cheaply) would work for you in the first place prior to purchasing it. The SPD cleat was designed to be small enough so that the shoes could be worn while doing a small amount of walking or running, three bolt was designed to be aerodynamic, light and comfortable on the bike, and then to be taken off. No one wears them around after a race.

    You can do whatever you want in your cycling shoes, but as far as I'm concerned, real clipless shoes (road, touring, or mountain) don't make a lot of sense as street shoes. I mean, you could wear them, but they're going to hurt your feet if you start walking around all over the place in them.

    As for fashion, there was a thread about cycling shoes relatively recently, I think there were a few less flashy models mentioned. Plenty of people have also modified normal shoes for SPD cleats, and even added rigid soles. I've not seen anyone modify a shoe for three bolt.
  9.  
    Posted By: suicide_doors... I've not seen anyone modify a shoe for three bolt.


    I did, almost 25 years ago, well before the SPD era began:


    I just wanted a pair of more "normal" shoes for MTB use, but back then (mid '80s) racing shoes was pretty much what you could get if you wanted to go clipless. So I went the DIY route, found a pair of shoes with fairly stiff soles, drilled the soles and put some T-nuts in from the inside.


    I have a pair of cleat covers that lessen the tap-dancing sound somewhat and provide some more grip than the cleats themselves.


    The shoes are OK for shorter walks but they aren't super comfortable. The protruding cleat makes it feel a little like I'm walking in slalom boots.
    As suicide_doors says, to be able to have the cleat recessed, the sole would have to be silly wide and/or thick. It doesn't make sense. If it did make sense, I'm sure there would be a product available on the market.
  10.  
    Ha, that's great.

    You're right about one thing, CP, I bet there are plenty of people who would pay for a street shoe modification service.
    • CommentAuthoreaglerock
    • CommentTimeOct 26th 2009 edited
     
    Posted By: suicide_doorsYou're right about one thing, CP, I bet there are plenty of people who would pay for a street shoe modification service.

    I absolutely would do so.

    I've been keeping my eyes open for shoes appropriate for touring - stiff soles for pedaling, but reasonable to walk in and nondescript in appearance. I have Shimano MT30s, which are fine: SPD, non-eyecatching dark grey, laced with an elastic lace-restraint. The problem is, they're suede; not good if you run into wet weather.

    For my tastes, plain black hard-surfaced leather would be ideal. It's Sno-Sealable, it goes with whatever you're wearing and doesn't scream "hey, civilians; I'm a cyclist (clickclickclick)!" when you walk into the diner in Gillette, Wyoming. There used to be a whole industry that made shoes like this, before NASA materials and Velcro made us all look like we were wearing clown shoes.

    There are a few sources today, but the price for almost all of them is off the charts. Vittoria released the 1976 series (Lorica uppers, hard rubber soles, recessed SPD mount) in May. To date, the only retailer with inventory I've found in the US is Superb Bicycle, a fixed-gear/fashion hipster operation in Boston, who refuse to announce what the fuckin' price is. This leads me to the paranoid suspicion that you're supposed to call in, and they'll make up a price depending on how cool they think you are.

    It turns out that Alex Singer, the constructeur in Paris, carries shoes. They're beautiful; but 225€/300€ is $335/$447 at today's exchange rate, and that's before shipping and customs. No thanks.

    The European shoe manufacturer Exustar (the company is headquartered in Holland, but who knows?) has had a model called Stelvio for the last few years, which has run through several generations. Leather uppers, hard rubber soles, steel or fiberglass midsoles, laced, SPD-compatible. All the online retailers I've been able to find are in England, and inventory of normal sizes is all gone. I just found the US distributor, who carries the latest generation: The SRT707, and you can buy them directly from the distributor for $100. This shoe is a little dainty-looking, with a short heel; but it's cheap enough that it might be worth a try. Fixed-gear folks might want to take a look; they also carry laminated leather double straps for $45.
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeOct 26th 2009 edited
     
    Posted By: eaglerockIt turns out that Alex Singer, the constructeur in Paris,carries shoes. They're beautiful; but 225€/300€ is $335/$447 at today's exchange rate, and that's before shipping and customs. No thanks.


    beauty is really in the eyes of the beholder, those shoes are horrendous.

    Posted By: eaglerockSRT707


    these on the other hand are quite nice looking, sporty but not too "hey look at me."

    count me officially interested
  13.  
    If you want my opinion, which I know no one does, but fuck off. What was I saying? Oh, right, I have loved a long series of Diadora Chili shoes, and I just don't care how they look. They're comfortable and last damn near forever.
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeOct 26th 2009
     
    Posted By: suicide_doorsThey're comfortable and last damn near forever.


    good to know. they are still ugly.
  15.  
    Yeah, but so is everything made for feet and cycling together.
    • CommentAuthoreaglerock
    • CommentTimeOct 28th 2009
     
    Posted By: suicide_doorsI have loved a long series of Diadora Chili shoes, and I just don't care how they look. They're comfortable and last damn near forever.

    If they last damn near forever, why have you needed a long series of them?

    Not a bike issue, really; more of a logical/rhetorical conundrum.

    Posted By: Aaron C
    Posted By: eaglerockIt turns out that Alex Singer, the constructeur in Paris,carries shoes. They're beautiful; but 225€/300€ is $335/$447 at today's exchange rate, and that's before shipping and customs. No thanks.

    beauty is really in the eyes of the beholder, those shoes are horrendous.

    Posted By: eaglerockSRT707

    these on the other hand are quite nice looking, sporty but not too "hey look at me."

    count me officially interested

    Here's proof that aesthetics is not just subjective, but also unexplainable. I look at the Singer shoes, compare the profile and design to the Exustar shoes, and I say "These are the same shoes". There are incidental differences: The Exustar has holes in the uppers (bad; less weatherproofable), and has stitchy stuff on it (purposeless and distracting; but less important than the price). The Singers are handmade with leather soles, while the Exustars are machine-made with rubber soles. The Exustars are designed to accept SPD cleats, while the Singers aren't. But from 20 feet away, I'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference.

    The significant difference to me is the big price gap, but I know enough about handcrafted stuff to be unshocked by the price of the Singers; skilled labor costs, which is why Singer's bikes cost. It was significant enough, though, for me to have put in a few hours' Google-time over the course of about three months to track the Exustars down.
  17.  
    Posted By: eaglerockIf they last damn near forever, why have you needed a long series of them?

    First pair was borrowed from my cousin, who took them back. Second pair went from '97 to '04, at which point they smelled so bad (I have a condition, I believe the medical term is Gorgonzola foot) that my girlfriend at the time threw them out. Third pair was mysteriously lost in a move. Fourth and fifth pairs went from that point until now, one being for mud, rocks, and getting generally beaten to shit, the other for city riding. Sixth and on, well, they don't make them anymore, so I wait for good deals on eBay.

    I suppose a long series it is not, but it has been my last thirteen years of life. What I should have said is that I've never had them break, rip, separate, or die. Well, other than due to my particular odor.
    • CommentAuthoreaglerock
    • CommentTimeOct 29th 2009
     
    Posted By: suicide_doorsI suppose a long series it is not, but it has been my last thirteen years of life.

    I believe the legal term of art for the evaporation of those several pairs of shoes is: "Acts of God".

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