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

[molliewog]

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??

Any insight into this shoe thing would be greatly appreciated.

[Owlie]

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.

[macski]

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

[zoom-zoom]

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.

[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!

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.

[zoom-zoom]

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!

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.

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.

[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

[emily_in_nc]

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

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.

[molliewog]

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!

[TrekTheKaty]

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!

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

[molliewog]

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

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.