Shoes for the Big Foot gal

[christyh861]

I am looking at trading up from my MTN/commuter shoes to road shoes and ditching my SPD pedals. I am having issues on long rides (numbness, rolling off the side of my shoe etc) that I am hoping the switch will help.

I like the idea of shoes specifically designed for womens feet, but I wear a size 11 shoe and most womens specific cycle shoes stop @ a 43. Knowing that cycle shoes can run small I feel forced to look at mens models.

Anyone have input on brands that might be more "friendly" to the big footed gal?

I dont race but on average ride 25+ miles a day during the week and 40+ on weekends. Planning to complete at least one century this year. So more touring than anything else.

Thanks
christy

[zoom-zoom]

I don't know if they are "friendly" to a woman's foot, but I have had good luck with Louis Garneau shoes. I have their top-of-the-line mtn. shoe and just ordered the road equivalent (like you, I am having issues on my road bike wearing 2-bolt SPDs...feeling like the cleat/pedal is too small and the shoes too flexible for long road rides) and Shimano 105 road pedals.

What I like about the LGs is they have narrower heels, like a women's shoe. My LGs actually fit my heels better than the women's Sidis I had been wearing. I have a really wide foot, so women's shoes don't work for me, but men's so often have heels that my heels slip out of.

[7rider]

Also a size 11 here.
I've heard about Louis Garneau, but haven't tried them.
I have some woman's Specialized which fit okay. I have some hot foot issues with them on longer rides, but that's a cleat issue.

[Fredwina]

another size 11 - found happiness with Specialized Body Geometery's and SPD's

[OakLeaf]

I can wear Spec', but ideally I'd have wider shoes. They'd be way too narrow for me to run in.

Also, their newer shoes are built differently and seem to be narrower.

I wish I could try on some shoes without driving an hour (an hour and a half for LG or Mavic)...

Signed,

Size 11EE

[maillotpois]

I'm an 11 and am presently wearing DMTs in a 45, and really like them.

I find for long rides, it really helps to have a longer size shoe, but keep the straps tighter so the shoe is long enough, but my foot doesn't jam in the toe. I didn't have the straps tight enough on my 400k and ended up with a black toenail. That was just careless on my part.