MODIFIED SANDALS - SPD

 For several years I've wanted to post on my blog what I've done regarding cycling shoes.  

In 2010, at the last minute before I took off on the Race Across the West (RAW), I switched from my SIDI closed toe shoe to Shimano open toed sandals.  Switching anything before a competitive event is a risk.  But I anticipated that the closed SIDI shoes would certainly create painful `hotfoot.' The risk paid off.  And I've been using open toed sandals ever since: winter and summer.  

Over the years I've made many modifications to the shoes.  This blog post shows how the modifications compare to an original, non-modified Shimano sandal.

Left to right: original sandal, recently modified sandal, 12 yr old sandal.  

Above: Original sandal sole before cleat attached.

Above: Modified sandal after sole cut (front and rear) after cleat attached.                    

                    

Above: 12 y.o. sandal after sole cut (front and rear) after cleat attached.

Note that the rear cut on the modified and 12 y.o. sandal removes the inside (pedal crank side) sole.  This is to minimize sandal `heal strike' on the pedal.  

 

Above: Strap extension.  I want my foot to have the most `float' over the pedal.  I went to a shoe repair shop and had him add two inches to the strap.  This allows me to place the cleat under the sole of my foot or at the balls of my foot.  Moving my foot around, having this maximum amount of float, allows me to avoid even a hint of discomfort on long rides.  

I've had to grind off some of the sole of the shoe to a) make it easier to clip in and out, b) save some weight. The sandals, surprisingly, aren't much heavier than the SIDIs.  

Most of the time I pedal from the mid-sole.  This means that the balls of my feet extend out past the end of the front of the sandal.  Looks sort'a weird but works really well.

Sometimes I want to / need to push from the balls of the feet.  Since the straps are loose it is easy to switch back and forth, mid-sole to balls of the feet.

I ride steeply reclined recumbents (PICS) That means my feet are out and up, unlike on a diamond frame bike, where the legs/feet are down, causing swelling of the feet.  

I could go on and on with this but I am hoping that, if you are interested, careful examination of the photos will answer your questions.