THE BEST CYCLING SHOES

YOUR FEET ARE PROBABLY YOUR most important contact point with the bicycle, and the right cycling shoe can offer immense benefits for your ride. Whether you're a commuter, a roadie, a mountain biker, a BMXer, or an indoor spinner, there is a cycling shoe out there designed with your particular needs in mind. But most of these shoes can be broken down into three categories by the type of sole they use.

- DAN CHABANOV

Road Shoes // Road-shoe soles are stiff (for maximizing pedaling efficiency) and smooth (no tread equals lighter weight). Many utilize a triangular, three-bolt cleat-mounting pattern compatible with the most common road-pedal systems-Look, imitation Look, and Shimano. Some road shoes also offer a four-bolt sole compatible with Speedplay pedals. Low- to mid-range road shoes often have a two-bolt pattern (in addition to the three-bolt design) to accommodate mountain bike-style cleats. Twobolt cleats allow riders to use dual-sided mountain bike pedals (which are easier to step into) and are often found on spin bikes, making them ideal for indoor riders.

Uppers on road shoes are lightweight and made from soft, supple leather or synthetic materials that aim to provide a snug yet comfortable fit. Some designs have nylon mesh to keep your feet cool and a stiff, reinforced heel cup to stop your foot from slipping out while pedaling. Knit uppers are also used for their comfortable fit and added ventilation.

Mountain Bike Shoes // Clipless mountain bike shoes have grippy lugs and exclusively accept two-bolt cleats. This type of shoe is often the choice for those who ride gravel and race cyclocross, and companies have started to make versions specifically tailored to these disciplines. While top-end mountain shoes often feature carbon soles and are as stiff as a road-racing shoe, many clipless models have a bit of flex in the sole. Depending on the shoe, this can add comfort for long events (such as gravel races) or make walking off the bike more comfortable. Mountain shoes usually use heavier-duty upper materials to withstand more rugged conditions-dirt, mud, rocks, roots-and armored toes and heels for durability and to reduce the pain from rock strikes.