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Retro shoes.
I like my retro bikes just as they are...so clipless pedals are out.
To that end...does anybody have any good leads for old style cycling shoes re 1980’s...or maybe a touch earlier.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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In all fairness, it almost certainly NEVER happened…
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Handmade in Derbyshire......
https://williamlennon.co.uk/product-category/cycle-shoes/
Your dedication to preserving the authenticity of retro bikes is commendable! It's all about staying true to the essence of the era. If you're on the lookout for vintage-style cycling shoes from the 1980s or even earlier, you're in for a treat.
One excellent place to explore is Kicks Lounge, an online shoe shop known for its diverse and curated selection. There you'll discover a treasure trove of footwear options that perfectly capture the essence of bygone eras. From classic designs to timeless styles, they offer a variety of choices that are sure to resonate with your love for retro aesthetics.
There were a pair of Shimano ones in the Help the Aged charity shop in Addlestone recently - still had the cleats for clips and straps. Good nick, size 7 - nearly bought them for £10!
What size shoes do you wear doc?
I’m a size 10. Not sure if that translates to a size 10 cycling shoe though...
Thats a shame, I think I still have an old pair of Le Coq Sportif mesh shoes with shoe plates in size 7 in the garage that I would have sent you, they are no good to me but I cant bring myself to throw them out. Is anyone interested in them for the cost of postage if I do still have them?
Thanks for the replies folks.
Whilst I have a few replies from folk who know their stuff. ...another question.
I’m probably not alone in finding cycling clothing tricky to buy online due to sizing problems. Buying second hand retro shirts on eBay seems particularly fraught with sizing problems...obviously there appears to be big differences between UK, EUROPEAN and USA versions of XL (i’m 6’2”)...any tips?
Oh gosh, I hope you don't need a US XL! Just ask the seller to put a tape measure on the garment.
The Holdsworth shoes look as though they're made by HNB. I have 3 pairs of different styles by HNB, and they are the very best.
https://www.hnbshoe.com/negozio/
I've also worn out a pair of Quoc Pham Fixed, which are superb. They sell out very quickly though. It was trying to replace mine that I found HNB.
https://quoc.cc/products/fixed-black
I have also used a couple of the traditional small English brands, but they were very poorly made and fell apart very quickly. They might last for an Eroica, but they didn't stand up to the rigours of touring.
The HNBs and the QPs have done thousands of km in all conditions.
Gosh. Those HNB blue ones with the tricolour band are yummy....also the quoc ones...I can see exactly why you like those.
Glad I posted now.
I'll be watching this with interest. Been looking for a suitable shoe for ages for use with flat pedals, so grippy, stiff sole and road styled. Am using Adidas Terrex at the moment but they are not very stiff.
Planet X do a version of the above mentioned without cleat holes.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/SHHOLRS/holdsworth-roughstuff-classic-touring-cycle-shoe
Gosh....they’re nice. They may well be the very thing for me....in fact i’m sure...thank you.
I will keep them relatively pristine for worthy rides. In general I find you can find a wide range of decent footwear made for other uses is any of the large sports shops. Slim fitting, reasonably hard soles and comfortable are easy to find...but they’re not the real deal.
Gonna order the tan ones....they kinda have the retro look more than the black ones...do you think so?
I see that SJS still supplies nail on cleats, but most "traditional" cycling shoes seem to come with screw fittings for modern cleats. Maybe these https://reynolds-england.com/products/pre-order-new-classic-road would work, but though these https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/SHHOLCA/holdsworth-campione-classic-leathe... look marvelous, they take 3 screw cleats. I can't see any wooden soles either, but haven't tried googling outside the uk. Presumably genuine pre-clipless era shoes come up on eBay? I still have some Campagnolo Triomphe (?) platform pedals with toeclips, but the shoes have long gone.
Ah, maybe this is the answer, these http://www.yellowjersey.org/tocleat.html cleats should work with any retro 3 hole shoe including those ersatz "Holdsworth's" above.