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Cheap cycling shoes: 10 to buy in 2021

Check out our 10 picks of high quality and cheap cycling shoes to buy this year for road and mountain biking

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Published: June 10, 2020 at 2:15 pm

If you’re looking for a decent pair of cheap cycling shoes due to a limited budget, then look no further.

We’ve rounded up a selection of cheap road and mountain cycling shoes priced under £100, to help you find the right pair for your performance requirements and budget.

If you’re not limited by budget, discover the best cycling shoes and mountain biking shoes worth buying this year, as rated by our expert testers.

Cheap cycling shoes, 10 budget choices

  • Giro Techne Women's Road Shoes: £89.99
  • Giro Berm Ladies Cycling Shoes: £57
  • Van Rysel Sportive Road Cycling Shoes 500: £49.99
  • Bont Riot Buckle Road Shoes: £99
  • Triban Reflective SPD Cycling Shoes RC 520: £64.99
  • Triban RC 500 SPD Road Cycling Shoes: £44.99
  • dhb Dorica Road Shoes: £60
  • dhb Troika MTB Shoes: £60
  • Shimano ME3W Women's MTB Shoes: £42.74
  • Specialized Recon 1.0 MTB Shoe: £90

Giro Techne Women’s Road Shoes

Cheap cycling shoes 2020
Three Velcro straps should allow for quick and easy adjustment. - Wiggle
  • Discipline: Road
  • Sizes: EU 36–42
  • Colours: Black, white/silver
  • Features: Three strap fastenings with hook and loop closings, molded EVA footbed
  • Cleat compatibility: Universal (two or three-bolt)

This pair of women’s cycling shoes have a universal cleat mount for fitting two-bolt or three-bolt systems, making them suitable for road bikes.

Along with three Velcro straps for security and quick adjustment, they have a moulded EVA foam footbed that should offer cushioning and support.

Giro Berm Ladies Cycling Shoes

Cheap cycling shoes 2020
This pair feature lugs instead of cleats to secure your feet to bike pedals. - Wiggle
  • Discipline: Mountain
  • Sizes: UK 5–7
  • Colours: Grey
  • Features: Cushioned insole, reinforced heel and toe, deep lugs
  • Cleat compatibility: None

Secured by two large touch-tape straps across the forefoot, these women’s cycling shoes also have two deep lugs in the moulded rubber outsole for grip, rather than cleat mounts.

Because of this, they should allow for powerful pedalling without being clipped into pedal mounts and help you hit the gas when you need some quick acceleration.

Van Rysel Sportive Road Cycling Shoes 500

Cheap cycling shoes 2020
These Van Rysel shoes have additional features for ventilation during long rides. - Decathlon
  • Discipline: Road
  • Sizes: UK 3–12
  • Colours: Black, snow white, navy blue, lime yellow
  • Features: Three fastening straps, ventilated sole
  • Cleat compatibility: Look Delta, Keo, Shimano SM-SH and SPD cleats

Toe and heel stiffeners have been added to this pair of Van Rysel bike shoes to provide foot support, while three rip-tabs should allow for quick and easy adjustment and tightening mid-ride.

Two ventilation openings and quick drying mesh inside the shoe have been added to the design in a bid to boost ventilation and breathability.

Bont Riot Buckle Road Shoes

Cheap cycling shoes 2020
A bold looking pair of cycling shoes that keep things simple. - Wiggle
  • Discipline: Road
  • Sizes: EU 38–48
  • Colours: Black/white
  • Features: Velcro fastenings and adjustable buckle
  • Cleat compatibility: Three-hole Look cleat/Shimano standard configuration

Claimed to deliver a competition-level fit and take beginner road cycling shoes to the next level, this pair should be ideal for someone looking for their first clipless shoes.

The design might not be to everyone’s taste, but feature-wise they keep things simple with a micro-adjustable buckle and Velcro retention system to keep your foot secure.

Triban Reflective SPD Cycling shoes RC 520

Cheap cycling shoes 2020
The PU reflective coating on these Triban shoes should boost your visibility during rides. - Decathlon
  • Discipline: Road
  • Sizes: UK 6.5–12
  • Colours: Reflective silver
  • Features: Reflective and water repellent PU design
  • Cleat compatibility: SPD cleats

The reflective PU coating on these cycling shoes is not only designed to be water-resistant but should offer added visibility on the road by reflecting sunlight and headlights.

A combination of laces and buckles are used for fastening. The sole is also made of fibreglass to provide stiffness and aid the efficiency of your pedalling.

Triban RC 500 SPD Road Cycling Shoe

Cheap cycling shoes 2020
An SPD cleat-compatible road cycling shoe that's available in a range of colours. - Decathlon
  • Discipline: Road
  • Sizes: UK 6.5–12
  • Colours: Fluro orange, navy blue, Bordeaux red, charcoal grey
  • Features: Toe stiffeners for protection, rigid nylon sole, perforated upper with mesh over the forefoot
  • Cleat compatibility: SPD cleats

This road cycling shoe is compatible with SPD cleats and has a fibreglass-filled nylon sole for extra rigidity when pedalling.

A perforated upper should offer some breathability during warm rides, while the lace system can be tightened to keep the shoes fitted snugly against the foot.

dhb Dorica Road Shoe

Cheap cycling shoes 2020
A semi-perforated upper should boost the breathability of these lace-ups. - Wiggle
  • Discipline: Road
  • Sizes: EU 39–48
  • Colours: Autumn glory, black, grey, white
  • Features: Lace up system, semi-perforated upper for breathability
  • Cleat compatibility: Three-bolt Look/SPD SL road cleats

The dhb Dorica road shoe design features a lace-up system for an adaptable fit and includes robust sides to help protect feet from knocks. Half way down the shoe is an elastic lace retainer to help keep them secure on the foot.

Although the upper is synthetic, it’s semi-perforated for breathability during hot or tough rides. The cleat mounts make this shoe compatible with any standard three-bolt standard pedal system. Wiggle recommends buying these shoes in one size smaller than your usual size.

dhb Troika MTB Shoe

Cheap cycling shoes 2020
The dhb Troika is said to be suitable for cyclocross, trail riding and cross-country. - Wiggle
  • Discipline: Mountain
  • Sizes: EU 39–48
  • Colours: Black, grey
  • Features: Rigid nylon sole, hook and loop closing
  • Cleat compatibility: Two-bolt cleats / SPD cleat mounting system

This is a two-bolt addition to the dhb cycling shoe range. Much like the Dorica, this pair have perforated tongues and synthetic uppers for breathability. But instead of laces, the Troikas are secured using a Velcro strap system, allowing for what’s potentially quicker and easier adjustment.

Shimano ME3W Women’s MTB Shoes

Cheap cycling shoes 2020
Cushion and support seem to have been key focuses for Shimano with this shoe. - Wiggle
  • Discipline: Mountain
  • Sizes: EU 36–38
  • Colours: Grey / mint
  • Features: Cushioned insole, glass-fibre reinforced midsole, wider cleat adjustment
  • Cleat compatibility: Two-bolt

The Shimano brand has given this shoe its TORBAL (Torsional Balance) sole technology and a reinforced insole, with the aim of striking the right balance of stiffness, support and comfort for long rides.

Its adjustable low-profile reverse buckle should offer additional security.

Specialized Recon 1.0 MTB Shoe

Cheap cycling shoes 2020
The two-bolt cleat pattern should fit most MTB pedals.
  • Discipline: Road
  • Sizes: EU 36–49
  • Colours: Aqua, rocket red, black
  • Features: Two-bolt cleat pattern, toe flex technology
  • Cleat compatibility: Two-bolt

Claiming to be perfect for dirt-focused adventures, the Specialized Recon should be a durable but comfortable addition to your cycling kit.

The nylon outsoles and forefoots are shaped to provide both a natural feel off the bike and enough stiffness for efficient pedalling.

Three Velcro straps act as closures, while the two-bolt cleat pattern should fit all major mountain bike pedals.