Shoe me!!

[Flybye]

Well, I have just returned from the physical therapist who had worked over my feet for the second time OUCH!! I now realize that I HAVE to shell out the $$ to get new cycling shoes and after doing some snooping, I have decided to go with SIDI's.

Unfortunately, the nearest bike shop with a selection of SIDI's is 500 miles away. There are a few at my LBS, but they are all men's shoes.

I am not opposed to men's shoes because I do have large feet for a woman and often end up purchasing men's athletic shoes anyhow.

Because of the distance issue, I am pretty much forced to purchase a pair online without the opportunity to try them on first and that's where I would like some advice, please.

If this sounds like your foot and you have found a great SIDI, please let me know which one:

I typically wear a 10 or a 10 1/2 in womens shoes. I love Merrell's for normal everyday shoes and wear a 10- 1/2 in them. Would that translate to a 43? Do the Sidi's run pretty true to size? The pair of shoes that sent me to the physical therapist were Shimano's and they were too narrow in the toe box, so I am guessing that I would want shoes in the wider range?

Thanks for any advice - my money will be burning a hole in my pocket until I find out which ones to give a shot!! Wait, I don't have money My Capital One will be burning a hole in my pocket......just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?

[batsheva]

Hi,

I know you say you have decided to go with the Sidis-- but I post this anyway, just as a general information thing:

I have 'birkenstock' feet - I have worn them everyday for like 15 years and even putting a pair of regular type shoes on squishes my toes now seeing as i am so used to open 'square' shoes like Birkenstocks and like Merrills.

I bought Diadora Fast Road shoe

http://outspokenbikes.com/itemdetail...gId=39&id=8992

even when hot and sweaty there is tons of room in the toebox for even the squarest feet like mine that are not used to wearing closed in shoes at all-- I am generally a 36-37 in normal shoes and these are a 38 and fit beautifully - like one full size up - no looseness and no numb cramped toes either. I have them with easy to use Shimano A520 pedals and would recommend this combo for a beginner on clipless as I am also.

Might be worth a look?
batsheva

[jobob]

We had a discussion on Sidi fit just recently, you might find some good info there.

I think the general consensus was that they do run small. I wear a women's 10, and I generally take a 41-42 in Euro size shoes, but my Sidi Dominators are a women's 42.5.

( Aha! Found the thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=219614 )

Team Estrogen carries Sidi shoes, perhaps if you give them a call they can help you out on sizing details.

good luck, - Jo.

[short cut sally]

I too was going to suggest shopping here at TE for the sidi shoes. I am giving the bike shop until tomorrow (2 weeks later for a 2 day delivery). And if they don't call, I am calling TE to see about a pair of Sidi's. I didn't realize that had shoes also, I thought it was just clothes and socks..the shopping here just gets better..I wear an 8 in my shoes I have present, which converts to a 39 Nike brand. The Sidi I tried on was 39.5, and it was okay and doable, but I want to see what the 40 fit like before I doled over the $$. My feet are so funny and I need to make that comparison to be sure. For what they cost, I want to be right. And I tried on some less expensive shoes, and those Sidi's won out. But everyone has different prefrences and shape of feet, so make sure they (which ever brand you decide on) fit you and you feel comfortable in them. Good luck, let us know how you make out..

[Flybye]

Hi,

I know you say you have decided to go with the Sidis-- but I post this anyway, just as a general information thing:

I have 'birkenstock' feet - I have worn them everyday for like 15 years and even putting a pair of regular type shoes on squishes my toes now seeing as i am so used to open 'square' shoes like Birkenstocks and like Merrills.

I bought Diadora Fast Road shoe

http://outspokenbikes.com/itemdetail...gId=39&id=8992

even when hot and sweaty there is tons of room in the toebox for even the squarest feet like mine that are not used to wearing closed in shoes at all-- I am generally a 36-37 in normal shoes and these are a 38 and fit beautifully - like one full size up - no looseness and no numb cramped toes either. I have them with easy to use Shimano A520 pedals and would recommend this combo for a beginner on clipless as I am also.

Might be worth a look?
batsheva

Thanks for the info on the Diadora's. I hadn't considered them and I will be sure to check them out. I would describe myself at the Birkenstock kind, too. Squarish feet on the front, with a narrow heel. That is why I absolutely LOVE Merrills. BTW - shoebuy.com is an excellent site to shop for regular shoes like Merrills. They ship to you for free and if you need to return shoes, you can ship back to them for free. What's not to love about that??
I have the SPD cleats on my Shimano shoes now they're great.

Thanks for your help!

[Flybye]

We had a discussion on Sidi fit just recently, you might find some good info there.

I think the general consensus was that they do run small. I wear a women's 10, and I generally take a 41-42 in Euro size shoes, but my Sidi Dominators are a women's 42.5.

( Aha! Found the thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=219614 )

Team Estrogen carries Sidi shoes, perhaps if you give them a call they can help you out on sizing details.

good luck, - Jo.

Thanks for the link to that thread, I cruised around on the threads for awhile, but didn't get to this one. I will read the comments on the SIDI's and decide between them and the Diadora's.

Many thanks!

[Flybye]

I too was going to suggest shopping here at TE for the sidi shoes. I am giving the bike shop until tomorrow (2 weeks later for a 2 day delivery). And if they don't call, I am calling TE to see about a pair of Sidi's. I didn't realize that had shoes also, I thought it was just clothes and socks..the shopping here just gets better..I wear an 8 in my shoes I have present, which converts to a 39 Nike brand. The Sidi I tried on was 39.5, and it was okay and doable, but I want to see what the 40 fit like before I doled over the $$. My feet are so funny and I need to make that comparison to be sure. For what they cost, I want to be right. And I tried on some less expensive shoes, and those Sidi's won out. But everyone has different prefrences and shape of feet, so make sure they (which ever brand you decide on) fit you and you feel comfortable in them. Good luck, let us know how you make out..

What a bummer to have to wait that long at the LBS. I know exactly what you mean about wanting it to be right for the $$ - I have spent more on the physical therapist than I care to all because I didn't get the right shoes for the $$ I went cheap the first time and it ended up costing me more in the long run. Good advice to check here. Thanks!

[mimitabby]

I am sitting here with a brand new pair of SIDI Dominators on my feet. They are a size 40. I have wide feet and often end up wearing a size 9 even though my feet are only the length of an 8.

I am trying to decide whether I can keep these beautiful dusty rose and red shoes, or if i have to send them back. For some reason they never have size 41's.

So they are kind of tight but lengthwise, they are just right.

i hope that helps.

[Flybye]

I am sitting here with a brand new pair of SIDI Dominators on my feet. They are a size 40. I have wide feet and often end up wearing a size 9 even though my feet are only the length of an 8.

I am trying to decide whether I can keep these beautiful dusty rose and red shoes, or if i have to send them back. For some reason they never have size 41's.

So they are kind of tight but lengthwise, they are just right.

i hope that helps.

Just a warning on the tightness isssue - that's what sent me to the physical therapist - my Shimano's were too tight from toe to toe or ball of foot to ball of foot and compressed my feet which in turn compressed my nerves in my foot and led to both toe numbness and problems with the ligament that connects my big to to the heel. It isn't fun to have a physical therapist dig at your toes and stretch out the ligaments in the bottom of your feet I hit him on accident today because it hurt so bad - OUCH OUCH and OUCH!
Just a thought for you.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Mimi-
Your feet are going to swell after several hours of riding...don't get ones that are snug anywhere, or you'll wind up with tingling and numb feet.

[Biker Jo]

We had a discussion on Sidi fit just recently, you might find some good info there.

I think the general consensus was that they do run small. I wear a women's 10, and I generally take a 41-42 in Euro size shoes, but my Sidi Dominators are a women's 42.5.

( Aha! Found the thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=219614 )

Team Estrogen carries Sidi shoes, perhaps if you give them a call they can help you out on sizing details.

good luck, - Jo.

Just an FYI: I'm the one that started the above thread, and I thought it was time to give an update.

I wound up returning the Sidi Bullets (size 40) and instead bought the more expensive Dominators in 39.5. (My normal shoe size is 6.5 wide.) I was still experiencing toe pain, so I decided to bite the "bullet" and go for a fitting. Well, to make a long story short, since the fitting and some major adjustments, including saddle height and fore-aft adjustment, I have experienced absolutely no foot problems! The shoes are very comfortable. It was definitely a good investment.

Jo (not the same Jo in the quote)

[KnottedYet]

Shimano shoes are what caused Trek420's toe catastrophe on ALC this year.

I have wide toes/narrow heels and have great luck with men's Specialized Tahos. I can't wear Merrels because they are too narrow in the toes, but I can wear Birkenstocks, Chacos, and Keens.

[mimitabby]

yeah, you guys are probably right; but i am SO bad with shoes, I can't stand to leave ANY shoes on. The ones I currently use on my bike are so loose they slosh. I have feet that like to be barefoot. I am concerned that their poor fit might be part of why I had the problem yesterday on a longer ride.

what kind of shoes can I wear?

[RolliePollie]

Mimi...nice feet! Look at the difference between yours and mine...mine are sooooooo narrow and flat! Like my Teva tan lines? I can't believe I'm actually posting a picture of my feet. And a HUGE picture at that...I don't know how to make pictures smaller!

So what shoes should I be wearing? My current pair are PI road shoes...quite comfy until I get to about mile 20 and I get numb toes and hot spots. I had to buy them on the small side just so my feet wouldn't slip out at the heel. Have tried different insoles, repositioning my cleats, etc., but it doesn't help. The only thing that helps is stopping to get off the bike. But once I get back on the bike, hot spots and numbness return. I'm getting very frustrated.

[Trekhawk]

I am sitting here with a brand new pair of SIDI Dominators on my feet. They are a size 40. I have wide feet and often end up wearing a size 9 even though my feet are only the length of an 8.

I am trying to decide whether I can keep these beautiful dusty rose and red shoes, or if i have to send them back. For some reason they never have size 41's.

So they are kind of tight but lengthwise, they are just right.

i hope that helps.

WOW Mimi they sound a little small to me but hey our feet are all so different.
For what its worth I wear 37 in Birkenstocks, US 7.5 in Keens and 41 in Sidi Genius and Dominators. I love my Sidi shoes they are super comfy.