Hey,

I can sympathize with your shoe dilemna!! I've been riding for about a year and a half and have been through 4 different pair of shoes!! I finally found a pair that fit great and they are not any brand that I would have ever expected--Nike! I actually wear mtn biking shoes even though I ride road, but I'm sure the same goes for both...i've found nothing replaces being able to try a ton of shoes on, and nothing beats actually trying them on the bike. maybe if you buy a pair you'd want to try them on the trainer first so they don't show a lot of wear in case you need to return them. I'd heard they are suppose to fit snug, and I think maybe I misunderstood what that meant because I think I was buying shoes that were too small. (When I think snug I think my climbing shoes in which my toe touches the front and I have to squeeze my foot in-- I don't think that's suppose to be the case with bike shoes ) My nikes now have plenty of room by the toes which allows me space for my feet to swell during long hot rides. They tie and velcro so I can get the perfet fit too. My foot numbness has gone away almost completely now and I enjoy riding just a little bit more. I guess what I'm saying is shoes may be like saddles-- everyone's body, including feet, are different in the way they are shaped so experiment with a million different pairs and don't get caught up with expense or brand-- go with what feels good because that's what ultimately matters!!