At last! A shoe model made specifically for bike duty

Reviewed by T.J. Richardson, PCI #139T/EMSCI #010
IPMBA Vice President
San Antonio P.D. (TX)

When it comes to buying shoes for bike duty, there are many different choices available, but not all have all the necessary features. The soles of shoes should be both smooth and stiff. A smooth surface allows the shoe to move in and out of the toe clip without getting caught. Shoes with very aggressive lugs on the sole can get caught in the "bear trap" of the pedal, making it difficult to get in and out of the pedal. If you cannot get in and out of the pedals, you end up hitting the ground a lot. A stiff sole is important because bear traps can cause pain and even nerve damage in the ball of the foot, similar to the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome. A stiff sole protects the ball of the foot from the bear trap pushing up into the foot on the downstroke.

I recently had to buy shoes and had a terrible time finding what I wanted until I saw Bates Enforcer Series Special Ops Bike Shoe in the Gall's catalog. I ordered a pair and now I swear by them. They are stiff enough to ride in, but flexible enough to run in; the front of the sole grips well in the running/sprinting position. They are lightweight and comfortable, which is essential, especially if you are working an all-day event. I recently pulled a double shift in them and wore them for over 20 hours. At the end of it all, my feet were the only things that did not hurt!

They lace up like any standard 3/4 shoe, but they also have a flap across the laces and two Velcro tie straps that cover the flap. This not only covers the shoe laces - keeping them from getting snagged on something or caught in the chain ring - but provides excellent ankle support. The back of the shoe has an indention cut down in the Achilles heel area, relieving the pressure that normal duty shoes can put on the upper heel area when the toes are in the riding position. In addition, they have reflective materials built into the uppers on both the back and side, important at night when vehicle headlights are coming at you from all angles.

The cost of the Special Ops Bike Shoe is no more than any other 3/4 shoe and much less than some. The greatest part of all is that they are specifically made for patrol cycling. No more trying to make an inadequate patrol shoe or an overly stiff cycling shoe work. The shoe fits, and I am doing my best to wear them out as I await for the new and improved Special Ops Bike shoe that has been promised by Bates this year.

For more information, visit www.batesfootwear.com or call 616-866-5500.

T.J. can be reached at tjrichardson@hotmail.com.

(C) 2002. This review originally appeared in the Fall 2002 issue of IPMBA News.