I've got Shimano SPD road shoes - and they are horrible. They have the same fit as a welly, and reinforcement on the sole causes a horrible pain on long rides.
So I'm looking for alternatives.
What's the problem? If you remove the insole, you can see the sole is reinforced with vertical bracing triangles: Much the same as roofing trusses: After a 100km you can clearly feel these through the insole, it feels like walking on lego with thick socks.
I have 3 cleat shimano road shoes which are lovely - they have a much better fit and a flat bottom. But I hate road cleats. On london roads, my treking SPD pedals mean I always get away from lights fast, even if I didn't clip in first time: Plus road cleats don't float enough for me, neither do they release as easily as I want, and they don't shrug off mud when I pop into the bushes for a pee.
So I'm asking for a favour - if you have SPD shoes, do you mind taking the insole out and seeing if the sole is flat?
Thank you kindly...