Hi There -

Total novice here. The guy at ACA told me that crank bros candy or time attack pedals are the ticket for CX, but what about shoes? I guess I'm thinking that the best mountain shoes might not work well, as they are too stiff for running, etc? Is there a gold standard shoe for CX? What do you guys use? I'm planning of getting a pair of used MTB shoes and want to do it right! I live in CO and will be racing the Boulder CX series if that is relevant. Thanks!

Mike

What do you guys use? I'm planning of getting a pair of used MTB shoes and want to do it right! I live in CO and will be racing the Boulder CX series if that is relevant.
I'm but a hack at CX racing, but I line up in a handful each fall simply because they are fun. I'm not very good, though. Dunno if it's proper etiquette or not, but I just use my old MTB shoes, Diadora Chilis, and Speedplay Frogs. I'd just use what ya got and MTB shoes make the most sense. I did run SPD pedals for a while and I do think Times, Eggbeaters and Frogs make a difference getting in and out over SPDs. The Candy and the Times have nice big platforms that don't require you to be clipped in, which is the advantage there. I just happen to have the Frogs in the parts box.

I'm not sure there is really a 'gold standard' for 'cross shoes - pretty much any mountain shoe will work, and I've seen folks screwing around doing barriers in road shoes too.

As far as stiffness, there are some that find it to be an issue, there are some that don't. My impression of US cx (and experience w/ cx in UT) is that _most_ of the running (barriers excepted) is short and steep uphill - traction from the shoes will play a bigger part than sole stiffness.

As far as traction goes, there are two concerns - the tread on the shoes, and the ability to use toe spikes.

tread - some shoes use harder rubber than others for their tread blocks - SIDI is an example, some folks find the harder rubber somewhat slippery, esp. on cold/wet surfaces.

toe spikes - haven't used 'em, but have wished that I had the option.

Personally, I use Specialized shoes, but chiefly because they fit my feet and don't make them hurt. (that's the chief deciding factor in any shoe purchase for me, but I have picky feet).

I have had very good success with Sidi shoes. I have used the Dominator 5s and will use the 6s for this season. They are fine to run in and are stiff enough for world class MTB racing. Shoe stiffness does not seem to play a roll in the choice of top end cross racers (to the tune of many full carbon soled shoes). The Shimano top end mtb shoes have a carbon sole and are very popular at all levels. I do not have experience with Specialized, but I would give the Sidis and Shimano shoes a look/ try on.

Lake MTB shoes have 'Vibram' soles which is essentially the same rubber used in good hiking boots- they have worked well for me over a variety of terrain

I have a pr of Answer Speedsters that have a vibram sole, too. Great traction and stiff enough. Plus they came with spikes so If I need'em I've got'em. They were dirt cheap in the Nashbar clearance section.

top line Sidi shoes are very good for cross. I like the Sidi metal toe spokes, you can use thenm with any shoe. Using the plastic soccer style toe spkes tends to lead to the spike tearing off and leaving the threaded end in the shoe, which is not so good.

game-on!!! I'm getting a set of Sidi dominators off craigslist for $75 tomorrow. A friend-of-a-friend owns a bike company and I got to ride his(the bike company owners) tricked out bike today around the foothills of Denver. It was a bit sketchy in the carbon triathlon shoes & road pedals, but I got the jist, and man that is some serious fun. Kind of like mountain biking but more thinking and line selection vs just "pointing it" and letting the suspension do the work. Thanks for the insight. I'll be back, with more questions soon, going to start building a bike this week.

Mike