Help!....making sense of shoe sizing, gulp

I've just started riding my road bike again after a long hiatus. I'm looking to upgrade my 15+ year old ugly shoes. I came across the Lake CX165 shoes and they seem to fit what i'm looking for (nothing fancy, less expensive, but still look ok). I wear a size 8 in US sizing. Lake's site converts that into a 39, but TE and Performance list the proper size as 39.5 on their Lake size charts. HELP! Does anyone have any suggestions? This whole bike shoe sizing is new to me. My Dansko and Birks are 38s. What's a girl to do?? :confused:

Any insight into this shoe thing would be greatly appreciated.

I don't think the conversion between a US and an EU size is exact. And like all shoes and clothing, there's going to be some discrepancies in sizing between brands. I wear a 9.5 (US) in sneakers. I take a 41 in Specialized, and a 42.5 in Sidi.

If you've got a Performance nearby, you might be able to try them on (though I find that they don't always have a good selection of women's shoes). You've got a range to go with--start with your street shoe size, and work from there.

I take a US size 8 in running shoes and this translates to a 39 in Shimano and 41 in Sidi. Sorry - don't know about Lake.

Try to find a shop where you can try a pair given the above variations in sizes between brands

Shoe sizing IS tricky! I wear a 7.5-8 wide and had a pair of size 40 women's Sidis that were simply WAY too narrow (and maybe even a hair short). I now have a pair of 40 men's LGs that fit really well...perhaps a half-size long, but they don't come in half-sizes at the small end of the spectrum.

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the replies. This is helping me see some of the relation in sizing. I may venture out to some of the LBS in my area. No mega stores like Performance, but perhaps I can track down a place with some shoe inventory.

Any other feedback is appreciated! :D

ETA....
Oooooh, Kirsten I'm about the same size as you. My feet are not super wide, but are on the wider side. I may have to keep mens shoes in mind.

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Originally Posted by molliewog

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the replies. This is helping me see some of the relation in sizing. I may venture out to some of the LBS in my area. No mega stores like Performance, but perhaps I can track down a place with some shoe inventory.

Any other feedback is appreciated! :D

ETA....
Oooooh, Kirsten I'm about the same size as you. My feet are not super wide, but are on the wider side. I may have to keep mens shoes in mind.

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I have the same problem you do...so few stores to actually try shoes at. Women's shoes are all B-width and too narrow...men's shoes (standard men's D-width is the same as a women's wide) often don't come small enough or brick-and-mortar retailers simply don't stock the smaller sizes. I ordered online and got pretty lucky with the LGs. I read reviews to find something that might work with narrow heels and wide forefoot--and got really lucky. I first ordered 39s and they were too small, but I could tell that the shoe would otherwise work well and it has. If I ever decide to switch to dedicated road shoes I would simply buy the road version of my shoe, I like it that much.

I normally wear a size 8 Medium in everyday shoes. I believe, for me, this translates into Euro size 39. However sports shoes, at least running shoes, require different sizes. I wear a size 9 or 9 1/2 in various running shoes. I'm not sure if this "rule" is true for cycling shoes too. My Specialized "Tahoe" shoes are 41's! It will depend on what socks you are wearing also. Feet tend to be bigger at the end of the day vs morning due to swelling, so they say to try on shoes later in the day, otherwise ones that feel alright in the morning might feel tight by evening.

Good luck and let us know what you find out.

For cycling shoe makers who make shoes in Euro sizes, I found that the Euro size between the mens and womens shoes is pretty much the same. For example, I can buy a pair of Specialized shoes in Euro size 41 in either a mens or womens and the shoes fit the same.

It is easy to buy the specific shoe you want. You have to try a shoe on by that manufacturer to determine the size, as the manufacturers don't have universal or consistent sizing within their industry. Merely find a LBS that sells that maker of shoe. Try any shoe on by that maker to determine the size. Then order the shoe you want through the LBS. The LBS will have a catalog of everything produced by that specific shoe maker.

Finally, does it really matter what the shoe looks like? I mean who is going to see it except for other cyclists, and other cyclists don't care. What is important is that the shoe fits, and for a road shoe it has a stiff sole, the shoe takes the type of cleat to fit the pedals, and the buckling mechanism is easy for a person to use. One female cyclist I knew still had flat pedals on her road bike, was thinking about getting clipless pedals, didn't know which kind because she hadn't done the research, yet spent hours of her life going around to different bike shops trying on bike shoes and not liking them because of the color, etc. I didn't get it. Choose the pedals, then choose the shoes, make sure the shoes have all of the requirements, but what they look like should be of the least importance.

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

Men's 43.5 are too wide in the heals.

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This was a concern for me buying men's shoes, but the heels on my Louis Garneau shoe are actually narrower than the heels on my Women's Sidis. There was no way I was even going to try Men's Sidis, even though they make such a nice shoe. The heel thing was a deal breaker. I can walk around in my LGs and not have my heels slip--which is important, as I will be doing cyclocross in those shoes and actually having to dismount and do a bit of running.

Well, at first I bought the Euro equivalent of my US size... 36 Sidis. Ouch. It was OK for spin. I used those on my first road bike and then switched to Speedplay pedals, so I got road shoes. I had to go up to a 38 and at that time they had the Megas (wide) in woman's shoes. Even though I wear a medium width in street shoes, I need the room. I bought a new pair of mtb Sidis for my hybrid in 37s eventually.
Then, I coveted a pair of the red Sidi Dominator road shoes and went they went on sale I grabbed them. But, they don't have the megas any more. So, I bought the 38's but after 30 miles, my feet are burning.
I have super narrow heels and a small-ish bunion on my left foot. My left foot is also almost a half a size bigger than my right. I wear a size 6 in sandals and casual shoes, but a 5.5 in dress shoes with a closed back and a heel. I am open to trying a new brand now, but don't know if I can find something that fits because a few years ago someone from TE (Surly Girl?) gave me a pair of Specialized mtb shoes in a 37 and they were HUGE on me. I sold them to someone else here on TE. Not many companies make size 36; I can deal with having the plain black shoes if need be, but I do love my red shoes that match my bike.

I wear sz 7 and my new Lake CX170s are 39s. My foot is a little bit wide. But this may be the first pair of cycling shoes where I don't need arch supports.

HTH

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Originally Posted by SouthernBelle

I wear sz 7 and my new Lake CX170s are 39s. My foot is a little bit wide. But this may be the first pair of cycling shoes where I don't need arch supports.

HTH

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I also wear a 7 in street shoes and used to have a pair of Lakes (not sure what model, a much older one) in 39. I have narrower feet. I bought a pair of Sidis in 39, and they were too short (but not too narrow), but I have since heard that Sidis run small.

Thanks to your replies, I decided to venture out. I contacted a hard core cycling coworker and got the names of the shops that have the largest road shoe selection. I picked one and off I went. Ya, I don't think there is any way I could have ordered online. I think I tried on 6 pairs of shoes!

So despite my hard core online sale loving self, I'm glad I paid more and ended up with shoes that really fit. They are Bontrager race shoes (women's) in a 40. These shoes actually have a wide toe box. Hooray!

Glad to hear it worked out for you, molliewog!

I have relatively narrow feet (B, but B-!), but I have very narrow heels and a wider forefoot. I live in sneakers or Keens because if something's narrow enough for my heel to not slide out of it, it's way too tight in the toe box. I have a pair of Specialized MTB shoes that I like, but they are too loose in the heel and I have a feeling they're not stiff enough.

I have a pair of Keen commuter bike shoes (they are more like sandals, but they protect the toes). The nice thing about these shoes is they are a US size. I usually wear a size 6 1/2 to a 7 in a US size. I know bike shoes usually run small (at least for me). I was thinking along that line when I purchased the Keen commuter bike shoes - I ordered them in a size 7 1/2. I have found they run true to US size. I should have ordered the size 7. I love these shoes, they are so comfortable and they do have the ability to use clips. :D

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Originally Posted by molliewog

So despite my hard core online sale loving self, I'm glad I paid more and ended up with shoes that really fit. They are Bontrager race shoes (women's) in a 40. These shoes actually have a wide toe box. Hooray!

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Thanks for this molliewog. I need a wide toe box and cycling shoes start narrow! I currently wear mtb shoes.

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Originally Posted by TrekTheKaty

Thanks for this molliewog. I need a wide toe box and cycling shoes start narrow! I currently wear mtb shoes.

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No prob! Here is a link to them http://bontrager.com/model/07892. The more I wear them, the more I like them. My toes have room!

For comparison I tried some Specialized and Pearl Izumi road shoes. I found the Specialized shoes to be kinda narrow the whole length. The Pearl Izumi's had a sort of pointy toe box. Not good for boxy feet.

Yeah, definitely go out and get them. I tried on a ton, too. I have narrow feet and wear a 7 or 7.5. While they say they go with Euro sizing, I wear a 38 in Euro sizing confidently (I have a bunch of shoes I bought there) and those were WAY too small.

The good news is that even though they are $$$, they will last you a long, long time! I love love love my Specialized road shoes. I have bad feet, so something that is supportive is key!