The Casual Cyclist

Cycling shoes for a laid-back cycling lifestyle 

By Hutch & Robert

There is a rider in this world who rarely makes it into the media or receives praise in the press for their achievements but is in fact the backbone and foundation of the cycling industry we live in today. The everyday casual cyclist, or in some circles known as the enthusiast. The rider who rides for the simple enjoyment of the activity, whether it is only on the weekends, to school, to work, or for a friendly meetup and cruise around with friends. This type of rider outnumbers the peloton by the millions. The cycling world often talks about the top of the cycling pyramid. However, it’s the casual cyclist that forms the foundation of the global cycling community. We see them everywhere, and yet, they ride by quietly and anonymously.  

This type of rider maybe you or someone you know, and more often than not, they’re not kitted out in the latest gear, but they do respect and enjoy the equipment they have. And just like all of us, they want to be comfortable on the bike. After all, isn’t that the aim of cycling – comfort, freedom and the ability to explore our world.

Cycling shoes for comfort

Within this large slice of the riding population, you have individuals who consciously choose not to take the step into clipless-style cycling shoes and prefer to keep using their normal shoes. In reality, there is nothing wrong with that. But for those casual riders who really get bitten by the cycling bug and want to spend more time on the bike and unlock the full potential of what cycling can offer, a pair of comfortable stiff-soled cycling shoes can make a world of difference. And, here at Lake, we produce casual cycling shoes that are also easy to walk in – yes, the ideal commuter or a ‘coffee with your friend’s’ shoe.  

Unfortunately, though, there is a bit of a misnomer that if you wear stiff-soled cycling shoes, you must clip in. Let’s put that idea to rest straight away. The reality is that a combination of stiff-soled cycling shoes with a real rubber cleat cap installed, paired with mallet-style flat pedals, can work very well to improve foot comfort and pedal efficiency for long rides. Whether it is a commute or a long Saturday stroll exploring a deep forest road or a different part of your city, comfort on the bike matters. And comfort off the bike matters too; which is why we create cycling shoes that also extend this comfort.

Cycling for leisure

As you spend more time riding and cycling starts to creep into your vacation planning, the obvious next step is a weekend tour that, a year or two later, turns into a weeklong trek across a state, circling a great lake or exploring a neighboring country. Maybe that 5-day ride across Italy from the Adriatic to the Med via culture and vineyards, or a week-long ride into the Rockies. That’s when a small change to your pedal setup by going clipless could make the difference between soaking your feet all night or dancing at a street festival after a beautiful meal. And, thankfully Lake has the right selection of cycling shoes for just this type of journey.

Designing a shoe that can stay with you through that journey, is and always has been, one of our goals since the start of our brand over 40 years ago. When we introduced the world’s first MTB shoe in 1983, followed by classic touring models such as the MX100, LX50, and the LXSDL, we have always been dedicated to enjoying cycling at all levels. The whole pyramid of cyclists is important to us. Whether you are exploring villages between the Alps or pushing your bike up a steep hill in the Bay Area of San Francisco, or riding down to the boardwalk for a coffee with friends – we have one goal, and that is to be comfortable on the bike.

As a world-leading cycling shoe brand, we want to capture all manner of cycling and all cyclists across the varied tapestry of the global cycling community. We design and create possibly the greatest range of cycling shoes in the world. Why, so whoever you are and wherever you ride, you’ve got Lake on your side and comfort on your journey!