I wanted warmer shoes for winter riding in Wisconsin. my winter riding is mostly road riding, but I ave done 8 or 9 trail rides qith them too.
I like the warmth and the ankle coverage.
They fit my wide feet very well, and have a very adjustable fit. If I am not careful I can get them too tight and my feet will be cold. Set them to the right tightness and they are warm and comfortable with great control.
I do have wide feet, and when set properly for my feet, there is a bit of the velcro visible. I wish the flaps were a bit bigger, but people with narrower feet probably feel the opposite.
So far they have worked great for riding about an hour and a half at a time six days a week in temperatures ranging from 11 to 60 degrees. Typically it has been in the 30-35 degree F range
It is often snowy, and I have been rained on about a half dozen times now, and my feet/socks have never felt wet showing that they breath pretty well too. WHen I wore shoe covers in the past my feet were often wet from sweating.
After using these shoes this winter I will never go back to shoe covers again.
Unfortunately, this is the first pair of Shimano shoes that fit me poorly. Unfortunately, I had to ride in them to figure out they horribly rub my outer ankles when peddling so I can't return them. I've tried to mitigate with adding thicker insoles which has helped a little bit. The good: they're warm. The bad: most everything else in my case unfortunately. Could entirely be just a personal fit issue, but I do ride/have had three other pairs of Shimanos which I really like, hence the trust in the brand. These ones are just not good for me nor my feet.
Good fit for my narrow/flat foot. Really warm. Have yet to truly test long wet ride. Unfortunately, one lace already developed a knot/bubble and does slide through the tightening strap. Should be easy replacement, but bummed it happened so soon (1-2 months in).
Good fit for my narrow/flat foot. Really warm. Have yet to truly test long wet ride. Unfortunately, one lace already developed a knot/bubble and does slide through the tightening strap. Should be easy replacement, but bummed it happened so soon (1-2 months in).
More and more I ride in the winter months whenever possible. Cold hands and feet are the bane of cold weather cycling. I rode on a mix of gravel trails and a bit of road with wind chill in the 20's. These boots are superior to my road boots in that they seem totally wind proof. Wearing a single pair of Castelli wool socks I couldn't believe how warm and comfortable my feet remained. Given how insulated they are I wouldn't ride with them over 35-40 degrees. When I did my feet actually felt a like clammy. I don't know how they'd hold up in the very wet conditions I've heard people describe. They do feel very heavy as well if that's important to you. As I said my road boots feel light but not as protective and warm.No need for chemical warmers with these for me anyway.Oh I sized up one size as recommend by Western staff for a perfect fit!
Fingers and toes can bring your riding to a close. Ever think you'll lose digits after a ride? I was riding in the 20-30 degree range with great shoe covers and chemical warmers because I really didn't ride my old heavy mountain bike much. There was some suffering. This year I wanted the option to take my Iron Horse 4.5 instead of my expensive road bike when sun glare and wet roads made riding too risky for me, I sized up from 46 (winter road boot and shoes) to 47 as suggested by Westernbikeworks staff, the boots fit perfectly! I rode yesterday in windy thirty-degree weather. Wow! What a difference! My feet were almost sweating with one pair of Castelli socks and no warmers. These boots look like they will last forever, and the price is right! very happy
So, after years of riding with cold wet feet I decided to give the Shimano MW501 a try. The first ride out the temperature was at 22 degrees and wet. With a wool pair of socks these shoes rocked. My feet were warm and dry, which is a first while riding for a long time. I used to put the bike up for the winter but not anymore.
Pros:
Waterproof, a thin layer of flannel type of material, with wool socks they will keep ur feet warm, grippy, sturdy, made to last
Cons:
Price (but you get what you pay for) and they run a size big (I wear a 13 so I ordered my typical 48, had to return them for a 47).
Bottom line. GET THEM if you are tired of cold wet feet.
I love this shoe! It's warm on the trails and is also great for a commuter trip to the grocery store that might include icy walkways. The deep lug soles provide plenty of traction on combination snow, ice, mud & rock trails. It is a good fit for my D width foot and provides solid support with good power transfer to the pedals. So much easier than an over-boot or plastic bag inside my warm season shoes.
I have used them for fat biking in the snow. I plan to use them during the wet spring mountain bike rides. I think they will keep me dry for the most part. I'm hoping they will repel water through the peddling river crossings.
Feet are warm and dry. Typical ride is 40 miles 3-4X per week over a mix of paved gravel and single track. Shoes have been warm and dry. Layer over the top of shoe collar is key to keeping dry. Plenty of room for winter socks.
Been using the Shimano MW501 shoes for weeks while mountain biking and road biking in temps 15+. Gone are the rides with numb toes! In the past I would use my normal bike shoe with toe covers and it was not enough. Never realized what a difference winter shoes would make. I like the shoe overall but am not the biggest fan of velcro around ankle. Although I have not had issues with it yet, it is a bit awkward. Not a deal breaker and still love the shoes though.
I wasn't sure these were worth getting even on sale but I'm so happy I tried them. So comfortable and easy to put on, warm and waterproof. I used to struggle to use conventional shoes and tug on heavy waterproof shoe covers. I'd literally shout in frustration and break a sweat getting them on. It used to factor into my decision to ride or not...these shoes eliminate that struggle. Very happy.
Fit is great, the lacing method is spot on and very simple to use. Support is terrific and they feel really connected to the pedals with the cleats. Appear to be very weather resistant, with the covers over the laces. Warm and comfortable.
I always wanted to get a pair of winter cycling shoes. These sows are fantastic and I've been using them with my gravel and mountain bike. Order your normal size and the shoes will accommodate thick socks. My feet have been warm and dry even on wet and snowy days. Great value.
My shoelaces were damaged by the tightener after 5-6 trips. I need to go find replacement laces already, and am not at all sure how to thread them through tighteners and the little tab at the end.
I needed something to keep my feet warm during my first winter of riding. I originally bought covers, and those worked fine, but these winter boots take it to a new level.. They are warm, easy to get into, and easy to set up. I use Egg Beaters on my fat bike, and I've had no problems with fitment. Crank Bros. provides a paper guide to judge if shims are needed, and they were in this case. I also had a little trouble early on because I had not tightened the cleats sufficiently , but reading directions was the remedy here. I use these at any temperature lower than 50deg, and am very glad I decided to buy them.
