the shoe in the area known as the ball of the foot it has been discovered that a significant fraction of the overall power transmitted to crank 5 is done during this second half of the pedaling cycle and it is therefore incumbent to design a cycling shoe which maximizes this upward thrust and resists elongation resulting from the upward and rearward thrust of the foot the present invention differs from prior art cycling shoes by providing substantially non elastic strap 7 extending from location 8 which is proximate the upper heel of the shoe to a location 9 proximate the ball of the foot it is noted that location 9 is the point where pedal strap 4 and cleat 3 form a vertex as such when the foot is pulling upon pedal cage 11 between the 6 00 and 12 00 positions non elastic strap 7 provides a line of force between upper heel 8 and ball 9 which enables the foot to exert power during the upward and rearward thrust which is undissipated by the flexibility of the shoe generally the beneficial results achieved through the use of substantially non elastic strap 7 can be realized whether said strap is located interiorally of the shoe that is on its inner surface between the inner and outer cushions of the shoe or even on the shoe 39 s exterior surface further although said strap is shown being stitched to the shoe as a continuous body beginning from the inner side of the shoe continuing around proximate top edge 8 and terminating substantially at the sole on the shoe 39 s outer side at.