Back in the saddle with an old pair of Lotto cycling shoes and Look pedals
The last two days of riding have been great, I am riding on my Look pedals from the 80′s and an old pair of Lotto shoes. My mph average is up to 18!
Since the dog ate my Sidi Genius 5 shoe I have been looking for a new pair of cycling shoes to replace the Sidi’s. In the mean time, I had thought I could get by with my mountain bike shoes. My mountain bike shoes are an old pair of blue leather Nikes that I have never been comfortable in. When I bought them from a store I used to work at, the owner said, “If they don’t feel right out of the box, don’t worry, they’re leather and will form to your foot.” Reluctantly I bought them. He was totally wrong! They never formed to my feet and feel just as bad now as the moment I first tried them on. I have never truly enjoyed mountain biking simply because of these shoes that hurt my feet. I should have just thrown these shoes out and bought a new pair.
Last week I had placed an older pair of SPD pedals on my road bike and used the old mountain bike shoes. After two days of riding with them, a toe on my right foot was black and blue, and both feet hurt. I vowed never to ride with them again. The SPD pedals came off with nothing to take their place. I hoped to pick up a pair last weekend in Madison and found a pair of Mavic Zxellium shoes in white. I have always had black shoes and the white just seemed wrong to use with my black bike. I also could not find the old package where I had the shims for my Speedplay cleats.
I ended up finding my old Lotto cycling shoes that I bought back in the 80′s. The Lotto shoes are compatible with my old Look pedals of which I have three sets. So I set up the shoes and put the pedals on the bike.
The shoes felt great from the moment I put them on. The old Italian leather Lotto shoes fit as if I was 20 again. I know, you loose a lot of power because the soles are not nearly as stiff as the Mavic shoes would be, but man, what a feeling to be riding on shoes and pedals that are 20 some years old. I felt nostalgic and completely fulfilled riding with them. Ah, Italy.