Which work spd shoes - 3000 miles per year?

[mr_mark_sid]

Dear Forum,

I am struggling to find commuting spd shoes which are presentable for meetings. They need to be black leather and suitable for wearing all day on and off the bike with multiple rides in a given day and through all weather.

The best I have found lasted 6 months. I want to do much better, maybe two years or more. I have been spending £40 to £60 until now and replacing every 6 months. That budget implies £160 to £240 over two years but I do not want to spend that money on one pair without being pretty certain they will last.

I have had a look a quoc pham and dromarti. Has anyone experience with how well these last?

All suggestions and experience very welcome.

Thank you!

Mark

[fastpedaller]

Could you take a pair of 'work shoes' with you to change into?

[mr_mark_sid]

Thankyou for responding fastpeddlar. Sadly I can't change shoes. I am rushing between engagements often with full paniers and so I end up without time or space for extra shoes. I do need presentable shoes on arrival.

I do agree though. The extra engineering for dual use often seems to lead to failures.....

[slowster]

A pair of cage pedals, e.g. MKS Sylvan Touring, Zefal toe clips and whatever shoes you like.

[mr_mark_sid]

thank you slowster. I will keep considering the toe clips option. It would certainly be cheaper and your suggestion is a good prompt...

However, for riding I have a personal preference for clipless pedals and hence my quest for better shoes for the job. Further suggestions very welcome!

[landsurfer]

These are superb... LEJOG, commute, week day ride out .... i cant fault them ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mens-Cycling ... c&LH_BIN=1

On one pair of mine i removed the velcro straps and with a punch and eyelets i converted them to lace ups .... why .... because i could ...
Super shoes ...

If you want business shoes with SPD cleats .. best of luck ... they'll cost more than my bike ....lol

[mr_mark_sid]

thanks landsurfer. These do look very good. I have had success with those materials in the past. I will give them a careful look.....

[slowster]

Not black and I think Reynolds' last is reckoned not to suit wider feet, but these don't look too bad.

[mr_mark_sid]

Wow, the Reynolds ones look cracking! Half price too and I might get away with the dark brown....

I just emailed them to work out how and when I specify size in the purchase process...

[Ray]

The Exustar are well made and polish up well:
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m6b0s154p33 ... vio-SP-705

[Squibnocket]

I have used a pair of Quoc Pham for the last 2 1/2 years. They've been fantastic, comfortable straight out of the box. Used for daily rides and touring. I'd certainly recommend them and they'd be on my list when they wear out but I can't see that happening for a while.

[JakobW]

I wouldn't expect any pair of leather shoes to survive a year's daily wear in all weathers, at least not without a resole, and most SPD soles can't be replaced. I'm pretty hard on shoes - I walked a couple of miles most days (at least pre-lockdown!) - but on my most-worn pairs I'd expect to have to get them re-heeled every six months or so and re-soled once a year. I suppose if you're cycling most places rather than walking then the wear may be less.

That said, I've heard good things about both Dromarti and Quoc Phams; Giro Republics also come in classy-looking leather, and have replaceable wear pads. I think Reynolds are made to order, so they may well be able to do black. William Lennon's cycle shoes are suitable for wider feet, and can be made in a variety of styles and colour combinations, but i think they still don't offer an SPD sole. Might be worth checking with them, as from the look of the Reynolds pic they might be a standard Vibram item.

[iow]

Dromarti - The finest leather cycling shoes on the planet.
I'm bound to say that as I own the brand, but I have a pair which have covered 25k+ miles on the bike and 100's of miles walking which still look fantastic. (Mod's please remove if this is in breach of forum rules)

[iandusud]

These are not leather but are comfortable off the bike and I think very presentable.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-dorica-mtb-shoe

[mr_mark_sid]

thank you ianusud

These are not leather but are comfortable off the bike and I think very presentable.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-dorica-mtb-shoe

I agree they are comfortable and I had high hopes but this is one of my fails.

Sadly this material (and not a criticism of the shoe but the material) has failed for me relatively quickly on two or three different shoes. I am surprised it is still used. It seems to crease when wet and then fail at the crease or at the glued seam at the sole. I have had dhb dorica and muddy fox (sports direct) shoes fail after around three months in the same way. The Exustar Stelvios that Ray suggests above have provided best longevity in the ones I have tried (around 9 months) and I think the different material had a lot to do with that.

Thank you all for the posts. This has to be the most helpful set of suggestions I have had from a query!

Mark