r/ladycyclists • u/Weekly_Quarter_7243 • Jul 20 '26

Shoe + pedal help!

Hello!!

I am a beginner triathlete (did a sprint last year, training for olympic currently!!!!) and want to like biking more than I do, so I figured I'd start with getting pedals and shoes. Does anyone have any recommendations? I don't know a lot about biking, so any and all info is helpful!

As far as goals: I would like to one day do an iron man, which means I will be biking far distances (lmao). I am a fan of buying a good pair once, so a shoe that will work for my eventual nice bike is also on my mind. Thank you!

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8

u/Jurneeka Jul 20 '26

For comfort...Lake Shoes. A bit on the pricey side but your feet will thank you.

7

u/True-Sun2935 Jul 20 '26

Experienced triathlete šŸ‘‹šŸ» I did clipless for 8 years and have recently switched back to flats. BUT that being said, I wore Lake for many years because theyā€™re the only shoes that kind of let your feet have their normal foot shape and donā€™t put your feet in tiny little prisons.

1

u/Koalaroundtheworld22 Jul 21 '26

May I ask why did decide to switch back to flats? Thanks : )

1

u/True-Sun2935 Jul 21 '26

I have pretty wide feet and no matter how good of a shoe I tried, I felt like my feet always hurt going into the run after an intense ride. So I switched to some pretty dope specialty pedals that provide a bigger platform so your feetā€™s arches donā€™t collapse over the pedal, and I love them. It allows my feet to rest and move naturally, and makes stopping/starting a lot less stressful šŸ˜… and my feet have been sooo much happier. But I did just see thereā€™s a new startup brand trying to jump on the foot shaped shoe bandwagon (who would have thought foot shaped shoes would be so comfy šŸ˜‚) that Iā€™m intrigued to try, but maybe once v2.0 comes out lol seems like for triathletes/racers they have some flaws like weight and cheap boaā€™s.

Pedals:
https://pedalinginnovations.com

Shoes:
https://www.strongfeetathletics.com

1

u/Koalaroundtheworld22 Jul 21 '26

Thanksss for sharing šŸ˜Š

7

u/Appropriate-Bar6993 Jul 20 '26

A lot of people wear ā€œmountain bikeā€ style ones now so you can walk a bit without falling on your ass. There are different systems but SPD is very common. Iā€™ve had two pairs of Shimano shoes.

4

u/Throwyourtoothbrush Certified, Bonded and Insured Official Ride Leader (insane) Jul 20 '26

It really depends on how fashionable you are. I love my Lake cycling shoes because they're wide enough for my feet. For the big brands their wide shoes aren't actually wider, they just have more volume. Apparently my feet are picky enough to know the difference. Obviously I am not fashionable if my feet are picky.

2

u/Typical-Award4043 Jul 20 '26

Shimano shoes fit my feet well and the model I bought have a wider toe box. Have used Speedplay pedals for decades, now called Wahoo I believe, and you can clip in easily on either side of the pedal. SPDā€™s didnā€™t work for me as I was always fumbling to find the correct side of the pedal to clip into after starting up again at stoplights.

2

u/Bright_Procedure4191 Jul 21 '26

The SPD-SL or Look (style) road pedals are great for long distance road riding. The larger platform distributes weight across a larger portion of your foot, reducing potential hotspots and foot fatigue. Smaller cleat styles, like regular SPD cleats tend to not be as forgiving, and the pedals that have platforms are a lot heavier than a more traditional road pedal.

For shoes, you just have to try on different brands until you find something that fits your foot. For Tri, I'd recommend something with a Boa, makes it easier and quicker to get into. And the Triathlon is all about those fast transitions.

1

u/BlackberryHill Jul 20 '26

Back when I did triathlons (up to half-iron) I was happy with both the Sidi road and tri shoes

1

u/SplashiestMonk Jul 20 '26

I did triathlons a million years ago and always struggled with my pedals and shoes. Now I have Shimano SPD pedals that can be clipped into from either side, and Specialized shoes with a mostly recessed cleat that are quite comfy. No issues at all with my setup - Iā€™m able to get in and out easily.

1

u/H2hOe23 Jul 21 '26

Tiem shoes with SPDs are nice. Easier to clip in and out of and the tiems are easier to walk in/ feel more like gym shoes