By Benito Fanturo
Anyone that is serious about cycling, or even if you are an occasional rider should seriously consider getting a pair of specialized cycling shoes. I would even bet that many people have no idea that there is even such a thing as a special cycling shoe. Most people just throw on a pair of sneakers and off they go. If they only knew how much easier and better their riding would be if they had the right shoes. Sneakers don’t grip well and aren’t designed properly to reduce injury to your knees. The question is, how much is your health worth to you?
Let’s look at some of the differences between your pair of sneakers and a pair of specialized cycling shoes. Sneakers aren’t designed to dissipate heat, which builds up after an extended period on the bike. The heat in turn causes your feet to sweat and they may also become numb. By wearing a specialized cycling shoe that is designed to allow air to circulate through the shoe you are removing the heat and cooling down the foot. This will help eliminate the potential for fungus that results from lack of airflow.
The sneaker as opposed to the specialized cycling shoe is not ergonomically designed to allow for maximum efficiency while pedaling. A good pair of sneakers may help while you are walking but not while you are cycling. A pair of specialized cycling shoes will place your foot in the proper position so there is less strain placed on your knees and other supporting muscle groups. By creating the correct angle you will be more efficient when you are pedaling and less prone to injury. When you are riding you want to have the outside of your foot angled slightly inward to allow for a more natural riding motion. The sneakers will just not do this.
Another important asset to the specialized cycling shoe is the specialized cleats or grips the shoe uses. Picture a baseball player or a football player wearing only sneakers and you can imagine that they would be slipping and sliding all over the place. This is the same concept with specialized cycling shoes. Each shoe manufacturer utilizes a different type of design but they are all created to give the cyclist the maximum grip for optimum performance. A sneaker just simply can’t give you the grip you need.
Just because you don’t ride professionally doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear a pair of specialized cycling shoes. For me it’s a ‘no-brainer’. My health and safety are well worth the price of admission. There is always the potential for injury when you ride but you can help reduce this by having the right shoes. If you tried them you would like them.
About the Author:
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