How to Maintain My Cycling Shoes?
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If you want your bicycle shoes to last as long as possible, you should keep them clean and properly maintained.
Cycling in a spin class or triathlon is sure to leave your cycling shoes soaked in sweat and with a stinking smell. You’ll get nasty shoes if you keep doing this without a good cleaning cycle.
If you are wondering about “How To Maintain My Cycling Shoes?”, stick along to learn how to cycle without stopping the shoes’ life cycle.
Table of Contents
Clean Your Shoes Regularly
Upkeep is key. If you clean your bicycle shoes right after each use, they won’t have a chance to get terribly nasty, and you’ll be able to use them for much longer.
Clean your shoes immediately
- Wipe dirt, filth, and perspiration from the exterior and underside using a brush or moist towel.
- To allow for sufficient airflow, unbuckle the shoe as far as possible and remove the insole.
- To clean, deodorize, and help in the drying process, use a shoe powder or cleaning spray (or both).
Deep Clean Every Now and Then
You’ll need to give your cycling shoes a deep clean every once in a while to keep them fresh and in good shape. Buckle up and get your tools ready.
Take Out the Insole and Wash It in Soapy, Warm Water
Most of the sweat that comes off your feet is absorbed by the insoles, so you’ll want to pay extra attention to them. Don’t be afraid to put them in a bucket of warm, soapy water. If you don’t have a bucket, you can put them in the sink or use soap and warm water instead.
Rinse Well With Soapy Warm Water
Use the same method you used to clean your insoles to clean your shoes. Again, don’t be afraid to put them in warm soapy water, they’ll be fine. If you got mud or dirt on your shoes, now is a good time to use a brush or a wet towel to rub the outside and bottom of the shoes to get rid of all the dirt and mud.
Air-Dry Immediately
After cleaning the insoles and shoes, air-dry them quickly. The sooner your shoes dry, the less chance there is for germs to thrive. Keep your shoes unbuckled and in a well-ventilated area, not in a gym bag or closet. Don’t put insoles back in shoes until they’re dry.
Spray Away Germs and Odors
Even if you give your shoes and insoles a deep rinse, they may still need a little extra help getting clean. You might want to spray them down with a cleaning spray made for sports equipment, which won’t irritate your skin or damage the gear but will still get rid of odors and germs.
Shoe Powder for Faster Drying
Using shoe powder helps speed up the drying process and guarantees that there is no moisture left in your shoes when you get back on the road. Consider the potential health risks of talcum powder when selecting a shoe powder, and if it contains scent, make sure it’s natural.
Ready for your next ride? Put your insoles back in. If you’re a visual learner, this video will be of great help.
Be Handy
Having spoken about cleaning, now it is time for maintenance. You don’t need a professional to fix your cycling shoes. Let’s get into the details.
- Check Velcro strap and strap-and-buckle shoes for loosening or wear that might cause them to cease working. Velcro never stops. Gunk should be removed if it clogs the interlocking “fingers.” Using an awl or pick, remove Velcro debris.
- Look for little screws on buckles and straps to make sure they’re secure. This sort of fastening enables you to change parts if they’re accessible from the shoe shop.
- Check your cycling shoes’ cleats. These wear out fast, particularly if you walk a lot. Look for signs of wear and weakening on the edges of the cleats that are caught by the pedal jaws. Another good way to detect cleat wear is to always keep a backup pair of cleats on hand. That way, you won’t have to go out and purchase them when you need them.
- Cleat bolts may get rusted into the soles, making them difficult to release or remove. But you can always get them out in some way. Penetrants are effective, although it might take a long time to loosen frozen bolts. Heating the screw makes it operate quicker. But be careful! You don’t want oils and penetrants flowing over and into the shoes, and heating anything other than the bolts might destroy the shoes.
FAQ
When should you replace your cycling shoes?
Cycling cleats should be changed every 7000 kilometers on average. The sort of clipless system you use, your riding style, how frequently you walk in your shoes, and the riding conditions all influence how quickly they wear out. You may change the cleats on your bicycle shoes up to ten times before you need to replace them.
How can I deodorize my bicycle shoes?
When it’s sunny, you may leave your shoes outdoors to allow air to circulate. If this is not feasible, consider putting baking soda or charcoal inside your shoes. These chemicals absorb unpleasant odors.
When will cleats wear out?
As your cleats wear down to the point of replacement, you’ll notice the following signs: it’s either too difficult or too easy to twist out of them compared to when you first bought them, and the connection between the pedal and cleat will have more play or looseness than before.
How to clean my white cycling shoes?
The trick is to simply soak the shoes with detergent first. Allow it to stand for a few seconds before gently brushing the sole clean. Rinse until the foam is gone, then air-dry the shoes. You may also clean the yellowing bottoms with shampoo and dish detergent.
Enjoy Your Cycling Shoes for Longer
You know now the answer to “How To Maintain My Cycling Shoes?”, you can keep your cycling shoes in the best shape possible and save money wasted on new shoes. If you’ve never repaired your shoes, this article should be a step-by-step guide for you.
