{"id":30727,"date":"2018-02-01T16:18:29","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T22:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gearinstitute.com\/?p=30727"},"modified":"2018-02-05T09:48:31","modified_gmt":"2018-02-05T15:48:31","slug":"need-know-cycling-shoe-stiffness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gearinstitute.com\/need-know-cycling-shoe-stiffness\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Need to Know About Cycling Shoe Stiffness"},"content":{"rendered":"

So you\u2019re looking to buy a new pair of cycling shoes for the upcoming season and have a few questions.<\/p>\n

Many aspects of shoes, say colors, choice of either leather or synthetic material upper, or the type of tightening method (Boa-dial, ratchet strap, Velcro, or laces), are pretty easy to decide on. But with most manufacturers hyping the benefits of shoe stiffness, the decision-making process gets a little more difficult.<\/p>\n

Just like a bike, cycling shoes can be soft and compliant or stiff with better power transfer, depending on the materials used.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have 26 bones, as well as a bunch of muscles and tendons, in our feet, which all do fantastic things for us while walking \u2013 adapting to uneven ground to prevent injury, improve traction, and making us efficient walkers and runners,\u201d said Stephen Quay, footwear guru for Specialized<\/a>. \u201cBut once you connect a person to a bike, this adaptation no longer needs to happen. In fact, that foot collapse represents an inefficiency; your full power isn\u2019t being transferred to the pedals. Our objective is to transform the foot into a rigid lever, turning it into a point of adaptation between the hip\/knee extension and the crank arm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most entry-level shoes use a nylon footplate; as the price point goes up, so does the quality \u2013 and hardness \u2013 of materials. Mid-level shoes often use fiberglass or a mix of the two materials to create the footplate, while carbon fiber is used in many of the more expensive shoes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe more layers, the thicker the carbon, which means increased rigidity,\u201d said Diana Pickler, Footwear Product Manager for Pearl Izumi<\/a>. \u201cAnother way to increase strength in carbon is to change the angles of the fibers to overlap in a crisscross-like pattern. The materials will be heated, then put in a compression mold to fuse the layers and create the desired shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

Specialized creates additional stiffness with its torsion-box construction, Quay claims. Inserting a lightweight spacer between the sole\u2019s two carbon walls creates, in essence, a carbon box that\u2019s stiffer than standard layering.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Bontrager’s Race DLX is a solid, entry-level shoe with a carbon-reinforced sole.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Each manufacturer has its own stiffness index; Scott has a standard 1-10 scale with its Road RC shoes at the top, while both Shimano and Specialized go beyond even Spinal Tap, rating its shoes up to 12 and 13, respectively. The lack of an industry-wide standard has led to some shenanigans, Quay joked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been a few brands that (we believe) have copied our stiffness index and seem to always be a point stiffer than us at any given price point,\u201d Quay said. \u201cNothing fishy there at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

So why not go with the hardest, stiffest mid\/outsole for every shoe? Price, comfort, and usability. The experts interviewed generally agree that competitive or serious recreational cyclists should aim for the stiffest shoe their budget will allow, but more casual riders will benefit from a less efficient, but more comfortable, shoe.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Northwave’s Outcross Plus shoes offer enough flex for hike-a-bike, while still retaining a decent stiffness. The Michelin outsole grips rocks nicely.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are some exceptions however. Some mountain bikers spend more time off the bike, hiking over debris or up an impossibly steep section of singletrack, so more flex is crucial. Each manufacturer has their own way to balance stiffness and flex, says Gianni Franco, Research and Development Manager at Northwave<\/a>. Pearl Izumi uses a shorter, three-quarter sized shank that allows flex in the toe and rear without compromising the power, as well as rugged, lugged rubber outsole for traction.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, the desired stiffness will vary\u2014not only based on your preferred cycling discipline\u2014but also on your type of steed, says Pickler. The Sidi Dominator\u2019s softer plate provides less harsh trail feedback for riders on rigid XC-type bikes, while many full-suspension riders might gravitate toward a stiffer shoe, like the Shimano S-Phyre.<\/p>\n

Can engineers create a shoe that\u2019s too stiff? That\u2019s definitely up for debate, but Quay admits there are definitely diminishing returns.<\/p>\n

\u201cPotentially, there\u2019s a point when you\u2019re already [effectively operating] at 100 percent efficiency,\u201d Quay said. \u201cAt that point, adding more stiffness would seem useless and would just result in increased weight and cost.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s the best? Can you have a super-stiff sole that\u2019s still very comfortable? Yes, but it requires another investment.<\/p>\n

\u201cA good insole or sockliner is key to the balance of comfort,\u201d Pickler said. \u201cHaving a quality insole with proper arch support and forefoot cushion can help combat the discomfort that may accompany a stiff plate, especially on longer rides.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking for the right pair of cycling shoes for you? Check out our latest reviews<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"So you\u2019re looking to buy a new pair of cycling shoes for the upcoming season and have a few questions. Many aspects of shoes, say colors, choice of either leather or synthetic material upper, or the type of tightening method (Boa-dial, ratchet strap, Velcro, or laces), are pretty easy to decide on. But with most Read more ›<\/a>","protected":false},"author":313,"featured_media":30731,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3182,2448],"class_list":["post-30727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bike-shoes","category-biking","article_category-gear-school"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat You Need to Know About Cycling Shoe Stiffness | Gear Institute<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gearinstitute.com\/need-know-cycling-shoe-stiffness\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What You Need to Know About Cycling Shoe Stiffness | Gear Institute\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"So you\u2019re looking to buy a new pair of cycling shoes for the upcoming season and have a few questions. 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