Road Bike Shoes

Unfortunately no! This is a near constant discussion between riders looking at shoes. Just like with cycling clothing, some brand’s shoes are sized smaller and narrower than others. The best way to ensure a good fit is try shoes on, or look at sizing guides and user reviews online – this is especially worthwhile if you have particularly wide / narrow feet and often have difficulty fitting regular footwear.

This depends largely on the type of riding you do. If your usual rides involve clicking in and not putting feet down for the duration of the ride, then road shoes are likely to be a good option. If your gravel rides involve mud, ‘gloop’ and walking / pushing then a shoe with a recessed cleat, such as a MTB style shoe might well be a better option. MTB shoes also tend to have less ventilation to keep mud and water out. If your road shoes have a stiff carbon sole, a padded insole can help reduce vibrations from rougher surfaces such as gravel.

Probably no. Don’t get caught up in thinking you need the lightest / stiffest of everything for bike riding. The most important consideration is fit, and if the shoes are comfortable for the duration of your rides.

During warmer weather, shoes can get a little ‘whiffy’, it is worth regularly washing shoes with a mild soap and warm water, allow them to dry slowly. During the cooler months a quick wipe down with a damp cloth should suffice. Shoes can be kept a bit cleaner in cooler / wetter months by using overshoes, they also keep your feet warmer and drier.

There are a couple of options which work well. For both methods get any mud off first. Stuffing shoes with dry newspaper and leaving them in a warm place works well. If you have them at hand, use nappies instead of newspaper - clean ones work best! The absorbant crystals in nappies will draw out moisture from your wet shoes.

For most riders, yes, having a solid but safe connection between them and the pedal helps efficiency and ensures that feet don't rotate or slip off pedals. However, there are lots of mountain bike riders who prefer to use flat pedals with flat MTB shoes. Also, for very short (5 minute or less) trips to the shops, pub or office, it might be easier to use regular shoes - dress for the location, not the trip.

There are no hard and fast rule with this. Generally, the worse the conditions you regularly ride in, the more MTB type pedals and shoes will suit - particularly if your rides include touching shoes down on the ground a lot, or walking / pushing. The more smooth, dry, fully ride-able and predictable your usual gravel tracks are, the more likely you can get away with road pedals and shoes.