iow wrote: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) $matches[2] IMG_20191023_131239_266.jpg
thanks iow. It feels an honour to get a reply from such a well-respected brand. As I look between the Reynolds and the Dromarti, a deciding factor has to be how easy it is to get them resoled. It looks like Reynolds can do this. Please can you advise whether your team at Dromarti will resole a shoe?
I have no suggestions to offer, but I'm still working out how you manage to keep shoes looking respectable from one end of the day to the other. I couldn't manage that on a single 12 mile commute, unless using covers, which were more faff than changing shoes.
Winter mud can be a challenge for sure but I find toe covers cover most eventualities with full covers if need be. They are tiny to stash away and easy to wip on and off ... so far so good after a few years.
Thanks Mark, yes I did wonder if you were using using covers, I hadn't considered the storage issue, which may be why I couldn't fathom not simply changing shoes. I'm sorry not to have any practical suggestions, but continue to follow with interest.
mr_mark_sid wrote:thanks iow. It feels an honour to get a reply from such a well-respected brand. As I look between the Reynolds and the Dromarti, a deciding factor has to be how easy it is to get them resoled. It looks like Reynolds can do this. Please can you advise whether your team at Dromarti will resole a shoe?
Many thanks! Mark
Thanks. No, the Dromarti aren't intended to be resoled. Apart from some 2000 Euro custom shoes, I'm not aware of any SPD shoe which is - The R.E.W Reynolds are a great choice, but check that their SPD brogues can be resoled as they look to be a different construction from their flat shoes.
thankyou iow for a very professional response. I am going to get the Reynolds for this winter (and the next ...) and Dromarti for next summer (and the next ...).
I can reveal why I need smart black shoes in that I am a parish priest. I know that the red stitch on the Dromarti will make my parishioners assume I have aspirtions to be a cardinal ... as if!!
Thank you very much all for these comments. I will still wrestle about the giro and the quoc pham but I think I have a clear enough idea how to make my longer-term investment.
A different approach.Try a pair of flat mtb pedals with the replaceable threaded grub screws which provide fantastic grip on any shoe.I,m a fan of spd,s and have them on all my bikes bar one,i.e.my "shopper" which have the said mtb flats.I also use this bike for ride-hike trips enabling light walking shoes to be used.Decent mtb flats can be got sub £20,worth a try maybe.
I had some of the Exustar leather shoes that Chris Juden used to rave about. They stretched after a while and I could only wear them with extra-thick socks thereafter. Also, laces are a bad thing on cycling shoes, especially if you ride fixed.
If you must buy leather cycling shoes, buy them a bit tight to start with.
As a parish priest wouldn't you be better off with SPD sandals, as I think you'll find that's what Jesus would have worn?
I have some Northwave goretex MTB shoes with vibram sole. They're great for walking and waterproof as well. Although I don't use them everyday, I have had them for about 8 years.
thanks rogerzilla. Good tip re:leather. I have a way of threading the laces into the inside of the top lace hole to keep the lace-tie safe....but thanks for the heads up.
love the sandles idea borisface - thanks for the giggle. I often muse on 'What bike would Jesus ride?' For now I am guessing a Thorn ....
Lake use black leather in many of their shoes and boots, so I suggest you look at their MTB and winter ranges.
I suspect some of their shoes and boots might appeal were it not for the silver 'Lake' logo on the sides. I think that logo is typically embossed, but I think that the silver lettering itself could possibly be peeled off or otherwise removed, although it would probably be a tedious painstaking task.
as if!! 