Review: 45nrth Ragnarök Winter Shoe – For Cosy Toes | Bike Self Locking Pedals

On some shoes you’ll find a ratchet buckle replacing the top strap. The advantage of a ratchet is that it’s very easy to adjust the tension as you ride, either to tighten it for a big effort or loosen it off if your feet are getting tired.

Ride Concepts Wildcat “Featuring cranked-up stability and ankle protection, it’s a mid-height, sticky-soled, flat pedal brawler.” The Wildcat are somewhere between a mid-height and high-top shoe, with a small ankle strap for adjustments on the go. Claimed weight 482g. $120 USD.

Ride Concepts TNT Ride Concepts’ mid-height, flat pedal offering with an ankle strap for on the fly adjustments. $160 USD.

Flat shoes are, as you would expect – flat. They don’t have the cleat recess on the sole are designed to have sticky soles to help keep your feet planted on flat pedals. Flat shoes are generally more flexible in the sole and the upper than clip-in shoes, although there are some exceptions and have a more casual look to them. You can’t use flat shoes on clipless pedals or vice versa, the sole of a clip-in shoes isn’t designed to offer much grip on a flat pedal and similarly using a flat shoe on the smaller platform of a clip-in pedal with protruding cleat mechanism won’t be great for comfort or grip levels.  You’ll find a style of shoe to fit you and your budget though whether you choose to clip-in or ride flats.  

When anyone first starts cycling, it’s advised that they buy – after the bike of course – a pair of cycling shoes and clipless pedals. The benefits of using these over flat pedals in terms of comfort and efficiency are huge.

Yet again Canyon has no idea about their own mudguards and recommend clip-on guards as a temporary solution… for a bike out for a year with…

The cartridge-style axle assembly is widely used in Shimano’s pedal range, and offers well-proven durability. When needed, it’s also very easy to service.

Frodo – look after your knees friend cos you’ll miss them when they’re gone. For 360 power stick with flats and focus on lifting your trailing leg on each pedal stroke. I think Ned Overend mtb legend may have come up with that.

Speedplay’s ‘lillipops’ are road specific pedals that gain their power-transfer-platform from the cleat, as opposed to the pedal. This means the cleat needs looking after as it’s integral to an efficient pedal stroke.

Off road though I just want to throw a foot out or down every so often, so flats all the way for MTB.

& my fashion tips: Shoes are best closed-toe and flat –

Roadies are a finicky bunch, however, and so the A600 has only been modestly successful from a commercial standpoint. Shimano hasn’t even bothered to update it since it debuted eight years ago. However, the rise of gravel riding has brought the idea back to the forefront since two-bolt pedals and walkable shoes are much friendlier in that environment than any of the usual road options.