Commuter cycling shoes and SPD trainers
Commuter cycling shoes look like trainers but hide a stiffer sole, which transmits your effort to the pedal without hindering walking. Two families share this page: models compatible with two-bolt SPD cleats, where the cleat sits in a recess in the sole, and trainers for flat pedals, with grippy rubber.
Do you need special shoes for cycling in town?
An ordinary trainer bends over the pedal: the foot sags around the axle and the arch soon gets tired. A city cycling shoe keeps the look of a sneaker but stiffens the forefoot: the adidas Velosamba reinforces its midsole over two thirds of its length, and the VAUDE Dualflex sole stays stiff under the pedal and rolls through as you walk.
SPD or flat pedals: which system should you choose?
SPD-compatible shoes take a two-bolt cleat, recessed into the sole: it clips the shoe onto an MTB or city clipless pedal without stopping you from walking. This is the case with the Velosamba, the VAUDE TVL Pavei II, supplied with a removable cleat cover, the clipless version of the Endura Hummvee and the Shimano AM903. Three-bolt road cleats cannot be fitted to them.
Trainers for flat pedals rely on soft rubber that grips the pins: Stealth on the Five Ten shoes from adidas, StickyFoot at Endura, Tack Rubber at Giro, and a rubber developed with Michelin at Northwave. Ideal if you stop often.
Winter, rain and visibility
For winter, the Velosamba Cold.Rdy is insulated and its whole upper reflects the light from headlights; the VAUDE TVL Asfalt Dualflex Winter STX combines a waterproof membrane sock with Primaloft insulation. High-top models, such as the VAUDE AM Moab STX Mid, better protect the ankle from splashes.
Size and fit
Try them on with the socks you wear on the bike, keeping a little room in front of your toes. adidas points out that the Velosamba can come up large: if you are between two sizes, take the smaller one. The Shimano GR501, the Five Ten Freerider Pro and the VAUDE AM Moab Gravity come in women's versions.
Completing your city outfit
To stay dry, pair your shoes with waterproof trousers that cover the instep, and choose socks or overshoes from the clothing accessories. Cycling trousers and the full range of urban cycling gear complete the outfit.
Which commuter cycling shoe brands to choose?
adidas transposed its Samba to cycling with the Velosamba: a reinforced sole, compatibility with two-bolt cleats and three reflective stripes, in leather or in the insulated Cold.Rdy version; its Five Ten line adds the Freerider Pro for flat pedals.
VAUDE, a German outdoor equipment brand, makes the TVL Pavei II, SPD compatible with a partly recycled SUPtraction sole, and the TVL Asfalt Dualflex, stiff under the pedal and flexible for walking.
Shimano offers the GF800 and the women's GR501 for flat pedals, and the AM903, whose SPD cleat, set 18 mm further back, stabilises the foot.
Endura, a Scottish brand, offers the Hummvee for flat pedals, with a StickyFoot sole, and for clipless pedals, with laces and a hook-and-loop strap.
Giro designed the Tracker for leisure and e-bike riders: a flat Tack Rubber sole that moulds around the pins, with single-pull Fastlace or BOA dial closure.
Northwave, founded in Montebelluna in Italy, fits the Clan 2 with a flat sole whose rubber was developed with Michelin.
Commuter cycling shoes on sale
Replaced colours and versions go to urban clearance, and new models to new arrivals. The winter sales let you pick up an insulated version in the depths of the cold season.
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk normally in city SPD shoes?
Yes: the two-bolt cleat stays recessed in the sole, surrounded by rubber. On a tiled floor, you can sometimes hear it touch the ground.
Can the Velosamba be used with road pedals?
No, it only accepts two-bolt cleats of the SPD type. Road pedals with three-bolt cleats require a specific road shoe.
Is a city shoe suitable for mountain biking?
Flat pedal models such as the Five Ten Freerider, the Giro Tracker or the Northwave Clan 2 come from mountain biking and hold well on tracks. A leather sneaker like the Velosamba is best kept for the road and the city.
How do you look after leather cycling shoes?
Brush off the mud once it is dry, clean with a damp cloth, dry them away from a radiator with newspaper inside, then feed the leather from time to time.
Do you need specific shoes for an e-bike?
No, but a stiff, grippy sole remains more comfortable and safer; Giro in fact designed the Tracker for these riders.
