Hey Twist

[Twitchin Kitten]

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I need proper shoes to ride in. Do you have any suggestion for me? I don't street ride and I don't want shoes that attach to my pedals. Speaking of pedals - plastic pedals in the woods suck. Mine are chipping away hitting those roots on the hairpin curves.

Anyway, aside from sneakers are there any mountain biking type shoes out there that come recommended? I need something a bit sturdy because I'm always hitting my toes on things lately.

I need a starting point for my research is why I'm asking and I trust you on all things bicycle

[twisteroo]

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I actually have a couple pairs of those shoes that clip to the pedals......OK...on to reality.
I don't use them. I ride in my old nike sneakers. My attempt to ride cross county was with my old nike sneakers. I met lots of other people out there on the road just wearing sneakers also.
I do use good steel pedals and these. http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_100...5294_-1___
I have them on every bike I ride. The just kinda keep your foot in place and give you that little bit of security knowing your foot is not gonna slip. After a couple of rides it is just second nature to be able to slip out of them. I can slip in and out in the dark (ha-ha...boo yah!!!!) without even thinking about it.
As far as a sturdy sole? I got nuttin, I ride in sneakers.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Those look ok. Any recommendations for metal pedals? Mine are plastic and are breaking down with every ride. Shitty grip too

[AnthonyG]

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As far as shoes a good cross training shoe or minimally aggressive hiking shoe not boot tend to work best unless your looking at locking pedal shoes which unless your semi pro you dont want to be doing that.

When it comes to pedals what matters most is the quality of bearings and the metal the studs that grip to your shoes and the type of metal the pedal shaft are made of. Crank Brothers make some amazing pedals I love them never had an issue with slipping and pedals are mostly chrome moly steel which is the same metal on the inside of a rifle barrel strong as hell. They run about 60-70 dollars when I got mine, shimano makes some good sets and would be in that same price range these would be considered more top of the line for pedals. On amazon there are a few brands like rockbros and modovo that make aluminum pedals and they run about 30 dollars definitely a great budget pedal and will hold up to intermediate riding.

I had the front shoe holders like twist linked at one point and I could never get used to them and felt them to be more of a hazard than help to me. Everyone's different though and some ride better with them.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Shoes are a problem for me. I have been riding in water shoes. Yes, flimsy water shoes because sometimes I like to get my feet wet down by the beach - if there are no jellyfish in the water

A heavy shoe won't do in the summer and not so much more in cooler months. I may go with sneakers like Twist said and give it a go. I've got an old pair. I hate my feet all covered up because they get so hot which makes my body excessively hot. Those 90º / 90% humidity days are killers when you wear shoes.

They have some running shoes that are designed to be cool on the feet but I need to see if they're sturdy enough to protect my toes where those big protruding roots are. Right now I have the trail memorized so I slow down enough in those areas. The ONLY thing I was afraid of were those spiky felled trees. Jesus, if anyone fell on those! They're moved off trail now. Stupid trail volunteers probably put them there as they were set up like trail boundaries. Even someone walking and falling on them can get seriously hurt.

[twisteroo]

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Yup, the shoes are personal preference. I do fine with sneakers.
I have a couple of different make pedals Nothing high end. I have a pair or two of Giants and I know I have a set or Rollfast. I've never spent more than $25 on a set of standard pedals.
If you try those cheapo toe clips make sure the pedals have the mounting holes for them, usually you pop a reflector off and mount them right in those holes. You should be able to get both in a local bike shop so you can see what you are getting and make sure they fit together. And yeah, when you spin a set of half way decent pedals with good bearings you will wonder how you put up that plastic crap.
Your pedals should take a 15mm wrench to get off and remember one is a right hand thread and one is left. As you pedal they are always going in the direction that would make them tighten.

Water shoes, really???
Anything will be a step up. Fold those water shoes up and put them in your pocket or strap them to your handle bars in case you want to go wading.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Yeah, water shoes. They're fully trashed now. I used them because they're not sandals and not 'hot' as well. My Doc Martens weren't working out as they were catching those little growing sticker vines in the toes. Plus they were awfully heavy. Summer and shoes and me do NOT get along.

And yeah, hated my pedals from day one but just was too lazy to do anything about it. Not 100% on the toe clips but I will look into them and make sure the pedals I do wind up getting has the holes for them should I go for them later on.

Now if only my seat post would stop slipping causing my back rack to sit on my wheel like a goddam brake
Yes, it's tight. It's frustrating. I put some white tape on the post so every mile or so I look down and when it reaches the frame, I get off and raise it again. Getting off the seat on the 'rough spots' doesn't prevent it either.

[twisteroo]

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My mountain bike seat post will slip, slowly, but it slips no matter how tight I get it. Other bikes have no problem. If you come up with a solution besides welding it let me know.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Well at least it's happening to everyone and not me being a fat ass or something.

JUST tried to go for a ride. Nope. Another flat tire. I cannot patch it again. The strips to prevent the punctures are not working. I'm going to head to Kmart to get some tubes because I'm not paying a dime to my bike shop for tubes again. I went to him with a flat and told him to just put a new tube in there and I bought another new spare tube to take along. When THAT tube got to the point I can't patch it anymore, I took out the "NEW" one I purchased from it's box and the motherfucker sold me my own tube. I'll chance it on the Kmart tubes for now. Fucking bike tire was fine when I washed it late yesterday afternoon too.

I'll take my ride this evening after I fix it now.

[Biker Dude]

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My mountain bike seat post will slip, slowly, but it slips no matter how tight I get it. Other bikes have no problem. If you come up with a solution besides welding it let me know.

If it is using a pinch clamp something like this

You can go in between with a file and take some of the material off. That would allow it to pinch tighter.

You could also tack weld on the seat tube, that would stop it from going in farther, but wouldn't be 'welded in'.