Mountain Biking: The Benefits of Wearing Mountain Cycle Shoes

When it comes to all-time popular outdoor activities, it’s safe to say mountain biking makes it among the top. Though it originated in California, the US, specifically the Marin County, it quickly became popular in Australia because of the unique terrains that presented enthusiasts for the sport with some challenges and more adventure.

There are many parks dedicated to this sport in the Land Down Under, you won’t lack in options when looking for a thrilling experience, picking from some of the most exciting trails like the You Yangs Regional Park with a gorgeous scenery, the Eagle Mountain Bike Park with trails for every mountain biker pro and beginner, the Toogoom Trails for a great workout, or get a better look of the highest peak in the country from the Thredbo Mountain Bike Park – the choice is yours.

Apart from the thrill, this outdoor activity provides you with the benefit of an improvement with the cardiovascular fitness, lessening the danger of heath diseases as much as 50%, followed by a boost with the immune system thus lessening the danger of diseases in general, providing a whole body workout great for the joints, muscles, brain power, balance and coordination.

Now, to be able to reap these benefits of course you’d need a sturdy bike to serve you with the quality required for the rough terrains but that’s not the only key to having a top-notch experience: you need the adequate mountain cycle shoes. These shoes were created for performance, and even if you don’t think them necessary because you could use whatever pair of sneakers you already have, fact is they come in handy with the rides.

You wouldn’t have to worry you’d have to sacrifice fashion for performance, though, since the range of these specialised shoes is wide and you can easily find a pair that’s both stylish and functional.

So, What Are The Benefits?

If you’re still new at the sport, it’s okay to cycle with your old pair of sneakers for some time but if you intend to take the sport seriously and really feel the benefits it can provide you with, then it’s best to buy your suitable pair of mountain cycle shoes. The main difference that makes them better than your regular shoes is the fact they’re stiffer.

This property is important to offer you a better grip, something that would help prevent accidents and your feet slipping off the pedals when you’re going downhill through a rough trail. If you’ve been asking yourself “What are the best mountain bike cycling shoes?” then it’s advisable to look for the ideal middle between stiffness and traction, since getting a pair that’s too stiff wouldn’t be of help when you’re not cycling.

Furthermore, it’s essential to look for other useful features, such as water resistance. Even if they aren’t 100% waterproof, it’s best to find those that are quick-drying, and along with this it’s necessary to look for breathability too. Moist conditions in the shoes are ideal for fungal infections so you need something that promotes a fresh and dry environment. Besides, you probably wouldn’t feel that comfortable cycling with wet feet, would you?

As soon as you’ve paid attention to this when shoe-shopping, next up is checking whether the mountain cycle shoes you need are flat pedal or clipless, based on the pedals your bike has. When shopping online, you’d know a great store by having all the features specified, like the pedal systems the shoes are compatible with, the closure system as well as the sizes.

If you intend to change the pedals sooner or later, it’s a good idea to buy a pair that’s multi-use. Now, when it comes to the differences between the flat and the clipless, the first have a wider arch thus they offer more stability and the lacing system makes them ideal to keep mud and dirt away, whereas the latter are known for the pedaling power thanks to the stiff sole and they can really change your mountain biking experience though it takes time to get used to them.

Also, in the colder, rainy days they might not keep your feet warm so you might want to think about this, that is unless you want to pay more. Now, when the last thing missing to consider them the ideal shoes is comfort, then pay attention to the material they’re made of, particularly the upper part; some of the best to choose are mesh and synthetic leather with a vent design that allows for improved air circulation.

All in all, considering the sturdy design, the mountain bike shoes are much more durable than your regular running shoes so you can expect to wear them time and time again. Best of all is you can even use them for a stationary bike when the weather prevents you from having the outdoor adventure.