I can remember my first pair of cycling shoes. They were a pair of New Balance that I got on a sale at my local bike shop. The colors were green, black and gray. The soles were made from plastic. I don't remember now how much they cost but it probably was not much.

Those shoes were good at the time. For a beginner, they served their purpose and they did it well.

At the time I did not know the difference between some of the fancier models and what I had. I knew about Time, Sidi and some of the other expensive models. I did not know what made them different/better besides the name.

Since then I have come to realize that the stiffness of the sole converts into energy to the pedals. I probably lost a good amount of my pedaling energy due to my plastic soles. They were stiff plastic yet they would still flex under intensive pedaling strain.

Another key factor in cycling shoes is the amount of airflow that your shoes let in. When your feet get hot they start to fatigue. The hotter they get the faster they fatigue. So to prevent or delay the fatiguing process, airflow is essential.

For a beginner, the type of shoes you get is not as critical. You should really start considering these features when you want to get more out of cycling.

If you are riding in many races a year, or wanting to, this would be the time to consider your present shoe condition.

Another thing to consider in shoes is their weight. When you get to the higher levels of the cycling echelon, weight becomes more of a priority.

The last part of the cycling shoe that should be addressed is the fit. What I mean by this is how well it hugs your foot. Does the shoe fit like a surgical glove, nice and snug, or like an old sock that has lost its elasticity?

Looking back on my first pair of shoes, they were not the surgical glove fit. They would slip on my heel on occasion. I would tighten the straps as best I could yet they still did not fit into the surgical glove category of snugness.

So when you're out looking for shoes remember these points and you should get a great riding shoe for your needs.