Can You Use Cycling Shoes Without Cleats?

Many cyclists use cleats and clipless pedals once they start cycling consistently. Cleats feel more efficient and comfortable, especially when pedaling at a high cadence. Your foot also won’t be sliding around in a cleat, which is great!

While cleats have their benefits, they also have their downsides. And sometimes, you may want to cycle without them. 

This brings us to our main question, can you use cycling shoes without cleats? 

The short answer is yes. You absolutely can use your cycling shoes without cleats.

 All you have to do is remove the cleats. But before you rush to remove them, you should know that it may lead to some comfort and even safety issues. 

So if you want to take a break from cleats, I’ll discuss how to do it safely and without compromising your comfort. We’ll also discuss everything you need to know about clipless pedals and cycling shoes. 

Cleats and Clipless Pedals 

The cleats and clipless pedals system includes an attachment that you mount onto the sole of your cycling shoe. This attachment ‘clips’ onto the clipless pedal so that your foot is pretty much attached, giving you better bike control.

Once you finish cycling, you can simply unclip your foot from the pedal.

Calling it the clipless system can be confusing because you ‘clip-in’ the cycling shoe to the pedal. But the name came up as an attempt to differentiate this pedal type from the traditional toe-clip. Some people refer to clipless pedals and shoes as clip-in, but it’s all the same.   

There are two main types of cleats and clipless pedals. There’s the two-bolt system, mainly used for mountain biking, and the three-bolt system, usually used for road biking.

Mountain bike shoes have a two-hole cleat, which is recessed, and you can even walk in them. Road bike shoes, on the other hand, have a three-hole cleat. The cleat is protruding, so they aren’t ideal for walking.  

Can You Ride Your Bike Without Cleats?

Yes, you can remove the cleats from your cycling shoes and start cycling. However, you won’t be very comfortable if you’re using clip-in pedals. A cleated cycling shoe is meant to attach to a clipless pedal. 

Without the cleats, this attachment isn’t possible. The pedals don’t have a big, even surface for the shoes to rest on (like flat pedals). This can make riding without cleats uncomfortable – and even unsafe! You might find your foot sliding off the pedal.

It may work for shorter distances, but you won’t want to do it. Trust me!   

Benefits of Using Cleats While Cycling

While clipless shoes and pedals take some getting used to, many cyclists will tell you it’s one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. 

Cleated shoes ensure your foot is fixed to the pedal so it doesn’t slip or slide around. As a result, you’ll be able to pedal more efficiently.

The clipless system also securely connects you to your bicycle, and you’ll have better control of the bike. It makes it easier to cycle on obstacles or at higher speeds. 

Cleats and clip-in pedals offer more comfort, especially over long distances, ensuring a good and secure foot position, regardless of the terrain or your cycling speed. Because of this, You’re less likely to strain your muscles and joints or get injured after intense cycling. 

The Downsides of Cycling Cleats

The main downside is that using clipless shoes and pedals can take some time to get used to. Using them is more complex than standard flat pedals; you might even fall over a few times. But once you get used to them, you’ll never want to go back. 

Another thing, you have to make sure that your clipless pedaling system is adjusted correctly. If it’s not, you’ll have quite an uncomfortable ride and may even hurt yourself.

You may be unable to wear cycling shoes with cleats if you have an injury. A friend of mine had an ankle injury, and having his foot in the same position for a long time while cycling was not a pleasant experience. 

Lastly, clipping and unclipping every time you want to get on or off your bike can be tiring, especially if you must keep doing it frequently. Sometimes you might also forget to unclip when getting off and fall over–if you’re still not used to it.  

Bike Riding Without Cleats

Cleats on cycling shoes are awesome. They allow for better control of your bike and efficient energy transfer. However, it doesn’t hurt to have options. So on the days when you don’t feel like having your feet clipped onto the pedal, here are some alternatives. 

Using Flat Pedals

If you need a break from cleated shoes, consider installing flat pedals. These are the more common pedal types and you can find them on all kinds of bikes. They are wider, giving you a more stable platform to rest your foot on. 

More importantly, you don’t have to wear your road cycling shoes. You can wear other shoes–whatever you’re comfortable with. 

A flat pedal may be a little less efficient, but it’s more forgiving, especially for beginners. Besides, you don’t have to worry about unclipping your foot in time when stopping. 

Now, switching from a clipless pedal to a flat pedal every time you need to can be tiring and time-consuming. Luckily, you can use clipless pedal adapters and save yourself the trouble. 

All you have to do is attach the adapter to your clip-in pedal, and just like that, you have a flat pedal, and you won’t need cycling cleats. 

Bike Pedal Strap

Clipless pedals and shoes secure your foot to the bike, improving efficiency and control. You lose these benefits when you use your cycling shoes without cleats. However, there’s another good alternative–bike pedal straps. 

Pedal straps, like clip-in pedals and shoes, prevent your feet from sliding off the pedals. You’ll still have better control of your bicycle and efficient energy transfer–all this without using cleats. 

Unlike cycling shoes with cleats and clipless pedals, pedal straps are easier to use, even for beginners. Another great thing about them is that you can wear regular shoes too and pedal efficiently. 

Although pedal straps are awesome, the clipless system still offers better power transfer; just be aware.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Have to Wear Cleats with Cycling Shoes?

No, you don’t have to wear cleats with cycling shoes. However, it will depend on the type of pedals you have on your bike and a couple of other factors. If you have clip-in or clipless pedals, cycling without cleats wouldn’t be wise. If you have flat pedals, then shoes without cleats are perfectly fine. 

Can You Ride on Clipless Pedals Without Cleats?

You can ride on clipless pedals without cleats. But once you try it you’ll not want to. First, it’s uncomfortable and you won’t go far without getting frustrated. Secondly, it’s easy for your foot to slip and this can be unsafe. 

Why Do Cycling Shoes Have Cleats? 

Cleats provide a secure connection between your foot and the bike’s pedal. Unlike with standard pedals, you never have to worry about your feet sliding off the pedals, especially at high speeds or while trail riding. 

The clipless system also offers a smoother ride and better power transfer. 

Can You Walk Around in Cycling Shoes? 

This depends on the type of cycling shoes you have. The best cycling shoes for walking would be mountain bike shoes. They have a recessed cleat which allows you to walk comfortably. 

Road cycling shoes, on the other hand, have a protruding cleat. You can try to walk in them, but it will be awkward and uncomfortable.

In Conclusion

So, can you use cycling shoes without cleats? Yes, you can. But if you’re riding on clipless pedals, you won’t be comfortable without cleats, and your feet can slide around too much.

The whole point of using cleats and clip-in pedals is to ensure a stable attachment to your bike. You won’t struggle to find a good position, and you can ride any terrain without your feet slipping off the pedal.  

If you want to cycle without cleats, the safer way would be to use flat pedals. You can use these with pretty much any shoe you like. Even better, consider getting a clipless pedal adapter. It converts your clipless pedal to a flat pedal so you don’t have to take out the whole pedal.

You can get pedal straps to enjoy the benefit of being connected to your pedals without cleats. They may not be as efficient as the clipless system, but your foot won’t slide off. You’ll still have great power output and enjoy a comfortable ride.