Guidelines for cyclocross shoes
July 2002
 
 

CX shoes	Shoes are largely a matter of personal choice and fit, but a number of people have asked me for recommendtions so here's a short note on the subject. For more information, check Mark Weaver's review of shoes for 'cross; he also has reviews of pedals by Time and others.
Features to  look for	Apart from good fit, which is probably the most important of all, here are some features to look for when shopping for shoes. Runnable sole.  That is to say, a sole that's good for running.  Ideally the sole has some flexibility so the toe can bend.  Super-stiff MTB race shoes, carbon soles, and the like will not be as comfortable.  Additionally, a soft rubber lugged sole is good.  A harder sole will have poor traction on pavement, and will transmit more shock to your heel. Knobby sole.  Even if you have toe spikes (see below) you will still want lugs all over the sole for traction.  This includes around the cleat area for flat running, as well as in the heel for downhill runs and dismounts. Sockets for toe spikes.  This is essential for wet courses with any kind of a runup.  Fortunately the upper end of most manufacturers' lines feature spike sockets.  Note: If your shoe has no sockets, and you are handy with tools, you could rig your own.  Go to the hardware store and buy "thread inserts" which are a cylindrical metal piece that has one set of threads throgh the center (for your spikes) and another on the outside to thread into the sole. Get the #10-32 size (referring to the inside thread) as that is the spec for most cleats including Sidi spikes and soccer cleats.  (10-32 is also equivalent to the Euro M5 thread). The inserts should come with instructions for drill hole sizes.  Drill the shoes, screw in the inserts (maybe with some kind of glue to keep them in place) and now you have sockets to run spikes, or not, as needed. If you can't find spikes locally, try online at Cyclocrossworld.com. For regular soccer cleats, check any large sporting goods store. When you don't have spikes mounted remember to keep a phillips-head screw (i.e. the "X" slot type) in the socket to keep out dirt. Non-velcro closures.   This is a secondary feature but I have found that velcro straps can loosen up in wet and muddy conditions.  Velcro straps also seem to creep or stretch more easily than other types.  I have had better luck with more secure ski-binding type closures which are found on many upper-end shoes.  My favorite is the new Sidi Action which has a ratchet over the instep plus two rotary actuated closures--tres cool.  Most commonly you will find a ratchet strap over the instep plus velcro over the toe area.   Finally, once you have the shoes fit to your foot, you might want to trim any overhanging ends of the straps so they don't catch on things during dismounts. Deep heel cup.  You want the shoe to grip your heel securely so you don't slip in the heel while running up-hill (leading to blisters), or, in the worst case scenario, slipping out altogether in muddy conditions and leaving your shoe at the bottom of a mud bog.  Trust me, that happens. Lightweight uppers.  This recommendation from Mark Weaver is not about weight per se; rather, it's the idea that thin uppers won't soak up water and make your shoes heavy in wet or muddy conditions.
A few CX shoe recommendations	Here are just a couple of shoe recommendations from my personal experience. Mark Weaver has several others described in his review. These recommendations are based on features, not on fit which varies from person to person.  You will be best off if you go to the local store and try the shoes on, which also allows you to check out things like sole softness and flexibility.  Alternately, you may find a better selection at online stores like Cambria Bike, as long as you don't mind shipping them back if they don't fit. Sidi.  A lot of guys in NorCal use these shoes, myself included.  All of the upper end shoes have toe spike sockets and reasonably runnable soles - flexible, but the lugs are a bit hard for my taste.  The Dominator model is very popular. The top-end Action model has very cool techno closures that are micro adjustable and will never fail in the wet.  The Dominator also comes in narrow width, standard and wide ("Mega"). Northwave.  I have never tried these myself but I saw a pair in the store and they have very nice soles - flexible shank with soft rubber lugs.  Shimano.  The upper end models have spikes and nice soft rubber soles.  Avoid the carbon models which may be too stiff.  These were the first shoes I used for 'cross. I added my own toe spikes and I liked them except for the velcro coming loose all the time.

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