roadies: which shoes do you wear?

[caligurl]

which shoes do you wear? sidi's? PI's? specialized? and are they comfy?

are they women's version or mens? (the mens i've seen in the cataloges only go down to size 40 and my specialized shoes are 39)

i'm looking for a new pair in black or dark grey.... but not sure what to get.. i know sidi has a good reputation.. but they are pricey!

[SadieKate]

Sidi Genius 4 (women's) - love them because they fit my somewhat narrow foot with it's incredibly high instep.

Sidi's run small. All brands are weirdly sized so you need to try on any and all shoes. Note that Sidi has half sizes that are sometimes not stocked.

[mommelisa]

Sidi Genius 4 (women's) - love them because they fit my somewhat narrow foot with it's incredibly high instep.

Sidi's run small. All brands are weirdly sized so you need to try on any and all shoes. Note that Sidi has half sizes that are sometimes not stocked.

I wear the same ones, plus you can get the 04's on sale right now, I think. I do have a half size and they're very comfortable.

[emily_in_nc]

Sidis are great but very pricy. I was lucky to get a pair for just under $100 on eBay from a gal who got too small a pair. Not surprising, they do run small. I have those in a 39 and a pair of Lakes in a 39, and there's about a full size difference between the two. I'd say the Sidi 39s are about a ladies 6.5, while my Lake 39s are more like a 7.5. I wear thicker socks with the Lakes and thinner with the Sidis!

I have heard that Sidi half sizes are wider than the full sizes. The full sizes do run fairly narrow, fwiw (like a "B" width).

Good luck!
Emily

[speedracer]

My favorite road shoes used to be Time until I tried Shimano. I'm now wearing the Shimano R215 and it is by far the best road shoe I've ever worn, and I've worn a lot of them - Sidi, Carnac, Nike, Time ... These are not cheap but the comfort is definitely worth the price. They may be worth your time to try on - or try on some less expensive Shimano models to compare.

[SadieKate]

I have both Sidi's in a 38 and a 38.5 and there is no width difference. They're even on the same sole, just a different upper. The 38.5 fit like a generous size 6 until my feet swell in our mega-hot temperatures. :eek:

Could whoever told you about the width difference have the Mega's? Sidi's come in 3 different widths.

[emily_in_nc]

I have both Sidi's in a 38 and a 38.5 and there is no width difference. They're even on the same sole, just a different upper. The 38.5 fit like a generous size 6 until my feet swell in our mega-hot temperatures. :eek:

Could whoever told you about the width difference have the Mega's? Sidi's come in 3 different widths.

No, the person who told me that half sized Sidis was a woman (don't believe Sidi makes Megas in their womens' sizes??), and she was told the 1/2 sizes were wider than the full sizes by her LBS. So much for their knowledge! :confused:

Emily

[fixedgeargirl]

I wear Sidis b/c they fit my low-volume foot and have a squarer toe box, which I require. They also last a long time, in my experience.

Sidi's own website says that the half sizes are not longer, but higher-volume than the full sizes. That is, a 38.5 is no longer than a 38, but does have a higher volume to accomodate a *meatier* foot.

[massbikebabe]

Have always worn Sidis...

even back in the day when the bottoms were wood, (this looong before clipless pedals). Just last year new bike=new shoes and I bought a pair of the womens Genius 4. Took some altering because I have weird feet, but now I love 'em to death.

karen

[Crankin]

I have Sidi's G 4. Usually wear a 36, mine are 38 Megas (yes, woman's come in Megas). They are worth the price. My mountain shoes are Sidi's, too, although not Megas. My feet swell in hot weather a bit and I have a bunion, so getting the bigger size has helped a lot.

[Steph_in_TX]

Interesting info about Sidi half sizes. I have a 40.5, but my feet are slightly narrow and they fit wonderfully so I can't imagine they'd fit a very wide foot. My big toe was hitting the side of the shoe in a 40 so I can see there might be more room in the toe box. I wear Dominators, by the way. I have enought trouble walking gracefully in regular shoes so I didn't think road shoes would be a wise decision. :rolleyes:

Steph

[DeniseGoldberg]

I'm a roadie, but I wear mountain bike shoes - Sidi Dominators. I have a high arch, and I take a size 5 1/2 or 6 regular shoe, but a 38 in Sidi's. So I guess they run a little small!

Oh - and I also use a Superfeet insole in mine.

--- Denise

[bikerchick68]

I also use womens specific Genius 4 in a 41 1/2 WIDE! Yep, they do make a wide shoe which now that I know they run narrow, makes sense... I bought wide as they fit me correctly... dang, now if only I could find wide butt jeans! :eek: :D

[CorsairMac]

I wear Specialized Road Sports in silver, mens. My MTB shoes are also Specialized.

as for the wide butt jeans??....Old Navy has several pairs: the weekenders which are a baggy fit jean through hip on down and the relaxed fit jeans which are looser through hip and thigh but taper at the ankles!

[KSH]

SIDI's. Women's.

I hate them.

They hurt the front of my leg (where the ankle and the shin meet???)... make my toes go numb... and the arch support is really annoying.

I would get another pair, but I have only had these a little over a month... and I REFUSE to drop another $150 on bike shoes.

You see, I only bought these because I switched to SpeedPlay's, so I had to get a new shoe (my previous shoe was only 6 months old, and comfy!). The selection was limited and I was not going to spend over $150. AND... I had a huge ride weekend coming up, so I didn't have time to shop around.

I will suffer for a good year before I buy more.

[CorsairMac]

KSH: I think I paid all of $50 for my Specialized MTB shoes, they have a stiff sole, cleats and are easy to walk in. You could maybe sell your Sidis on Ebay and use the money to get something a little cheaper and more comfortable. I'm pretty sure there are other brands of shoes that will work with the Speedplays.

[cindysue]

sidi's mens road shoe. I had to get a bigger size than my shimanos. Honestly, I don't think they are worth the extra $$$. I have no complaints about the shoes. I just don't think they are worth $250.............. I bought them when I switched over to speedplay pedals.......

[snapdragen]

Wow, lot's of Sidi's out there. I have Diadora Chili Woman mtb shoes, they've always been comfy.

[Biking Chick]

Another vote for Sidi Dominator ... two pair. I had pair of Shimano but had a lot of problems mostly to do with the way the tongue of the shoe 'hit' the top of my foot. I love my Sidi's

[sarahkonamojo]

Specialized MTB. They are blue. 38s and I wear a 7.5 US. I've been haviing foot pain on long rides so I keep fiddling with my shoes. Just put in Superfeet insoles, had my bike fit. etc.

Otherwise nice shoes. easy to walk in. Use SPD. Might have to go to real road shoe and a pedal with a bigger platform... $$

SKM

[spazzdog]

Sidi Genius 4 here too. I love them. I have a full size diff btn my feets and I can cinch these babies up real nice.

[betagirl]

Hi

I use Lake CX160's with Look pedals. I recently switched to the Look's from bebop's. I like the shoes a lot, have no complaints about them. The Look clips are easy to get in/out of. I have the red cleats so I have some float. I don't think I could use the black ones and be stuck in 1 position. The bebops were just as good, except the cleats would get beat up walking around and get mud stuck in them. They don't make caps for them for some stupid reason.

[wabisabi]

OK, this is a report on the Sidi Dominator mtb shoes; I got for road riding after the recommendations here, and because my old shimanos were wearing out. I have had surgery for bunions on both feet, and they still tend to be on the wide side (thank goodness for living in a place where Birks and danskos are professional wear!) I found them on sale, and got men's because experience shows that these usually fit me better. The salesperson said that they men's are made a bit differently (I think with respect to the arch), but I wear stiff orthotics so that doesn't make much of a difference.

They are definitely wide enough, and the adjustments are great--one foot is wider and I love being able to make the adjustment. They are soft leather and really comfortable, and the soft leather will conform to my feet. Also nice and stiff, stiffer than my previous ones, which is very nice on standing climbs, yet pretty walkable and not slippery. Also pretty cute and do not make my feet look big. So, while they are pricey, they will last a long time, are really comfortable and work very well, at least that is my justification and I'm sticking with it.

It is finally lovely here, breezy but clear, lots of whitecaps and sailboats out on the ocean, in the low 60s, and tailwind coming back, yea.

[Jo-n-NY]

Hi Caligirl,

I haven't been on the board for a couple of weeks because of a major transition at work. I just saw your post. I use Specialized mtn shoes, ladies I think are size 38. I use them on my road bike and really like them with my Speedplay Frogs. My regular shoe size is a 7 1/2, however sneakers are a size 8.

However, unless I missed it, what bike did you decided on if you decided. I have a Specialized Dolce Comp that I am super happy with, however, but I hear that Specialized will be coming out with a wsd all carbon bike for 2006. I know I take aluminum over steel only because a light bike is more important to me. The lighter the better. With a carbon seat post and fork, bumps do not seem to be an issue for me, but I do try to avoid them if possible just to save from things getting loose on the bike. I would have to see a major difference in the ride to go for all carbon and look forward to checking out the Specialized when it comes out.

Anyway, sorry to ramble. Just curious as to what your new bike will be. Either way, sure sounds exciting.

~JoAnn

[Dianyla]

I have a very high arch, high volume and very wide feet. I also have problems with morton's neuroma and am still healing from some metatarsal bruising and neuropathy that I sustained on a 500-mile trek a year ago. I also have a half-size difference between the left and the right. After various misadventures in Shimano MTB shoes that were too narrow causing much pain and numbness, my feet trotted me down to the LBS and held me for ransom and forced me to buy the Sidi Dominator 5 Mega MTB shoe. In a Mens 43 Wide.

And would ya know, I'm only 5'4"!!! :o

Are they worth $230? Maybe, maybe not. They are well made. But after much trying on and gnashing of teeth I bought them because they were the only shoe I could find that's wide enough in the toe without slopping around in the heel, and they are very adjustable.

[wabisabi]

Dianyla, I am with you--I have much the same foot profile, including a neuroma; it feels hard to justify spending so much $, but having happy feet and riding a bike are both pretty important to me so it is worth it.

[caligurl]

However, unless I missed it, what bike did you decided on if you decided. I have a Specialized Dolce Comp that I am super happy with, however, but I hear that Specialized will be coming out with a wsd all carbon bike for 2006. I know I take aluminum over steel only because a light bike is more important to me. The lighter the better. With a carbon seat post and fork, bumps do not seem to be an issue for me, but I do try to avoid them if possible just to save from things getting loose on the bike. I would have to see a major difference in the ride to go for all carbon and look forward to checking out the Specialized when it comes out.

Anyway, sorry to ramble. Just curious as to what your new bike will be. Either way, sure sounds exciting.

~JoAnn

hi joann... haven't picked on yet... still in the looking/deciding arena! glad to know about the specialized wds carbon! i'll be lookin forward to seeing it in person!

from what i've read and been told... a steel frame for me would be very light (3 pounds or under!) as it could be made with the lightest stuff.... it's all so confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!