Cycling shoes are a must if you own a spin bike, and they’re also extremely common on road bikes. The shoes are stiff enough to properly transmit force to the pedals, and the cleats lock you securely into the pedals so you don’t slide around. With the right shoes, yYou can also spin the pedals in circles instead of just pushing down on one foot and then the other. This is good news.
The bad news is that when your bike is fitted with special pedals that work with cycling shoes, it becomes nearly impossible to ride without shoes. There is no problem with this if you are the only person who has a bike. But if you want your partner or roommate to be able to borrow a bike, things get tougher. I live in a household of five, and I wouldn’t mind letting my husband and older kids ride my Peloton — but do I really want to buy several extra pairs of specialty shoes when someone else wants to hop ?
Pedal adapters bridge the gap
The most accessible style of pedal is one that’s flat, with a toe cage or clip into which you can slip your sneakers. If you’ve ever hopped on a bike in the cardio section of a gym, you’ve probably used them.
Pedal adapters give you that same feel on a Spin bike. TeaAK Peloton bike as an example. TeaHey use Delta look cleats, which are not very common outside of the Peloton ecosystem. The pedal has a horseshoe-shaped section that attaches to the shoe’s wedge, but it cannot take up the toe cage or otherwise adjust the sneaker.
That’s where paddle adapters come in handy. They snap into special pedals, and provide a flat surface. There are types that give just that surface, but the more useful types also have an attached toe cage. Here’s a video showing how they work,
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Pedal adapters also exist for other styles of cleats, such as the more common SPD cleats. there is also a Universal platform that can take any hit, but you have to attach it yourself. To start comparison shopping, search for “toe cage converter” or “adapter platform” along with the name of your cleat style.
Reversible pedals are an alternative to SPD cleats
Another option is to replace the pedals entirely. Most spin bikes can use any standard bicycle pedal, so you can choose any style you like from bike stores or online. (installation is easy, but remember the pedal on the left uses a backward screw thread,
When I had Spin shoes that used SPD cleats (the more common type that are not Peloton-specific), I used inverted pedals like these Which had an SPD attachment on one side, and were flat enough to use with shoes on the other. I used my bright red cycling shoes when I rode, and my husband and son would flip the pedals the other way to use the bike with their sneakers.
If you’re traveling, it may help to know that the Peloton bikes you find in hotels usually have these types of pedals (and not delta cleat). But if you’re housesitting for a friend Or otherwise want to try a bike that only has clipless pedals, then get yourself specific adapters for that style of cleat.