Awkward Roadie Tries Carbon Shoes

I wanted to start taking cycling seriously, so I decided I needed carbon soled cycling shoes.

I had read that the stiff soles increase your power transfer by 30%. Since I was riding a lot slower on the old Salvation Army Schwinn bike than I wanted to, I figured that such a large gain in transfer would really transform my riding.

So I went to the bike shop, and grabbed a pair of Diadora Road Shoes with sweet carbon soles. They were blue and had a stiffness factor that was ridiculously high. Exactly what I needed.

But after my third ride with them, I couldn’t figure out why everyone raved over them. They made me slow, wobbly, and clumsy on the bike.

I constantly slipped and slid in them, and I simply could not make myself pedal any faster. Clearly, the marketing ploys had fooled me. Power transfer increase. Pfft.

The next day, I decided to try them again before giving up. I pulled up to a ride with my good friend, Heath, and asked him if he liked the new shoes.

“They’re awesome,” he said. “But why don’t you try them with clipless pedals?”

 

 

Got an awkward story? Join in the fun, and submit yours to us. We just might spread the love by publishing it.