Why Are Cycling Shoes So Narrow? Detailed Explanation
If you have ever seen a pair of cycling shoes, then you will know that they run a little bit narrower than standard shoes. Ever wondered why this is? Want to know whether the narrow shoes have an impact on your cycling ability? Let our experts explain absolutely everything that you need to know.
So, why are cycling shoes so narrow? Well, it is because if they weren’t narrow, your feet would be bouncing around in the shoe. This expends extra energy and means that you are not able to put as much force down onto the pedal. The result will be far more inefficient cycling.
Of course, this doesn’t tell the whole story about why it is so important to get the right fit for your feet when you are cycling. Let our experts go into things in a bit more depth for you. This way, you can be sure that you will end up with the pair of shoes that complement your cycling rather than works against it.
Why Are Cycling Shoes So Narrow?
There are a couple of reasons why cycling shoes are so narrow in comparison to other shoes.
The main reason is because when you are cycling, you do not want your feet to be moving around too much. This will be expending energy that would be better place into the actual cycling.
If your feet move around, then you will also be putting uneven pressure on the pedal. This could slow you down. It may only slow you down a little bit, but the result is having to put more effort into your cycling in order to maintain a fairly consistent speed.
While you can cycle in wider shoes, it isn’t something that we would recommend if you are doing a lot of cycling. It will require too much energy, and you really will be traveling far too slowly.
Some people also believe that cycling shoes are narrow due to their manufacturers. There is some evidence that people living in Europe have narrower feet than those living in the United States. Since many of the best cycling shoe manufacturers are located in Europe, then the shoes are going to be naturally narrower. This is especially true with shoes that have been manufactured in Italy.
In recent years, more and more American cycling shoe manufacturers have started to appear. If you are looking for shoes that have a bit more width to them, then you should be picking up cycling shoes from an American manufacturer. However, do bear in mind that you still need that ‘snug’ feel to the shoes, otherwise you really won’t be helping yourself.