Carnac makes a shoe called "Carlit" that could serve as an indoor soccer shoe in a pinch. :-) It's designed for cyclotouring, so it doesn't have cleats, but it's light, stiff and reinforced in the areas where the toeclips and straps go. The lack of cleat prevents all-out sprinting, but on more casual rides, it's hard to notice a difference. And you can walk in them. They are nicely made, and they aren't very expensive (maybe it's the lack of carbon fiber...)
For those with knee problems, an uncleated shoe may be a good idea altogether.
One minor caveat: The toebox is a tad small for my feet.
There used to be the Sidi Touring model, which was a lot softer and thus not too well suited for really long rides (more than 150 miles), but very nice for walking around all day. Rivendell used to sell them, so there may be some barely used ones out there.
Finally, NOS cleated shoes show up at various suppliers once in a
while, check Bicycle Classics et al. Usually these are somewhat odd
sizes, not the "standard" 43-45 that many American cyclists seem to
wear.
--
Jan Heine, Seattle
Editor/Publisher
Vintage Bicycle Quarterly
c/o Il Vecchio Bicycles
140 Lakeside Ave, Ste. C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.mindspring.com/
Indoor soccer shoes are a reasonably comfortable improvisation. The ones with relatively flat soles, straight lacing (not the cock-eyed offset lacing that has become all the rage) and a place to tuck the laces in the top of the tongue fit into toe clips comfortably and with hardly any play. They tend to be light, and can be gotten with good ventilation as well.
John Barry
Mechanicsburg, PA
> Are there any classic shoes and cleats still
> available from any
> manufacturer? If not, does anybody have any good
> improvisations?
> D. Walter
> Tucson, AZ
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