The best indoor cycling shoes offer increased comfort and breathability for maximum indoor cycling performance

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST INDOOR CYCLING SHOES FOR YOU

It may not seem like rocket science, but if you already recognise the need for indoor-specific shoes, then it only stands to reason that there are certain factors you need to consider when making your choice. Here’s a breakdown of all the things you should take into consideration while making your choice.

Which type of cleat do I need?

For the most part, road shoes use a three-bolt mounting system, and mountain-bike shoes will use a two-bolt setup. If you’re looking to get shoes for a spin class or something like a Peloton bike, all spin bikes have pedals that work with two-hole SPD cleats, while some will also have a Look Delta pedal on the underside.

Your road bike will already have pedals screwed into the cranks, but if you’re putting together a dedicated indoor setup, it might be worth looking at a pair of MTB shoes.

With lugs designed for scampering up steep inclines, and over rocks and roots, MTB shoes have considerably more traction than road shoes; something you’re likely to appreciate if you’ve ever tried to run to the bathroom mid-workout and hit the tiles with a bit too much speed.

Which sole material is best?

It’s well established that carbon-soled shoes are stiffer and lighter than their nylon or carbon-reinforced cousins. However, when you’re spinning on the trainer, weight is hardly a consideration, but comfort should be. The vast majority of us can’t flex the board-stiff carbon plate on a top-end race shoe, and shoes that are too stiff can cause undue stress on knees and ankles – especially when the bike is essentially bolted to the floor. A small degree of flex vastly improves comfort and helps alleviate overuse injuries without sacrificing much, if any, power transfer or efficiency.

Nylon soles on offer today are plenty rigid enough to make for efficient power transfer, but, with a bit more flex than their carbon compatriots, they can offer improved comfort and don’t leave quite as big a dent in your wallet.During long indoor sessions, you’re not moving around on the bike the way you do riding outside, and so some areas that otherwise wouldn’t bother you can get a bit irritated – which is something less-rigid shoes can sometimes help with.

How do I stop my feet from overheating when cycling indoors?

Riding inside is a sweaty proposition at the best of times, and the airflow that keeps your feet cool as you spin down the road is, of course, gone. A shoe that relies on pin-prick perforations, therefore, is going to become a sauna.

To keep your little piggies from becoming crispy bacon, look for shoes that have lots of mesh and an open design, and then use a good strong fan to keep your body cool. The less heat your body needs to expel, the less heat it will send to your extremities.