Need new road shoes

[LisaB]

I wore a pair of Nike mountain bike shoes with SPDs for years, and they fit but I never liked the way they looked (they were blue ... and made my feet look huuuge - OK, I'm vain ). Then I moved to a pair of Specialized road shoes that I like, but they're a smidge too small and while they may work for my daily commute, after the 50-mile tour on Saturday and again on Sunday I thought I'd have to remove my big toes just to stand riding another mile.

So today I'm looking at some Pearl Izumis (based on one woman's comment this weekend), but what are some styles/brands ya'll use? I ride with clips, currently Speedplay Frogs, but am amenable to going back to SPDs.

Suggestions? Recommendations? Love your shoes? Tell me, please.

[Bikingmomof3]

I am the second owner to these: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=9804

I absolutely love them!!

I also have Shimano mtb shoes, which I use on my road bike.

[indysteel]

I wear SIDI Zeta mesh road shoes (women specific) and use Keo Sprint pedals. I really like the shoes. I have no complaints, although I find that they're more comfortable on long rides if I wear a slightly thicker sock too. Most of the people that I polled at the various bike shops that I frequent recommended them over other brands and told me they'd last forever. The Zetas come with three velcro straps. I've heard some complaints about SIDI models that come with a ratcheted strap--that the ratchet comes loose after repeated use. For the money, the Zetas seemed like a better bet to me.

[Nanci]

Sidis! I have Zetas, I think. I hate road shoes, but they are very comfortable and pretty.

[sandy45]

DH has AXO and I have a pair for my road bike in the mail to me. I have a pair of Shimano for my MTB...they are comfy...i could wear them for regualr shoes!

[HipGnosis6]

Bike shoes are expensive and so I've only worn the one pair.... I bought Sidi Blazes not terribly long ago. I adore them.

[Cari]

I love my Sidis.

For MTB I use women's Dominator 5's with SPD pedals. On the RB I use women's Genius 5's with Look Keo pedals. I'm very happy with both, although I do need to wear them with thick socks because I'm sort of between sizes.

Dominators and Genius shoes both come with the Ultra SL buckle -- the ratcheting thingie that others have mentioned on the thread. I really like that I can make precise adjustments to the top strap, even while I'm riding, and I do this frequently. But my first bike shoes were the three velcro variety (Sidi Bullets), and I sorta miss not having that buckle thing sticking out there.

I recently saw the 2007 catalog and the women's colors are *gorgeous*. Genius 5 in red with silver straps, Sidi Zetas in a pearly white, Genius 5.5 in CSC colors (white with red and silver accents), and Dominator 5's in a dark metallic blue. If you liked last year's colors, snatch them up (on sale!) before they're gone, and if you didn't, you'll have lots of options to choose from now.

Cari